There are several ways to put it back, I use Mr. Surfacer which I let slighly dry and then rough it up with a stiff brush. You might be able to do  the same with other brands of primer too.

I use this method:

http://paulbudzik.com/tools-techniques/Cast%20Texture/creating-cast-texture.html

Paul

http://paulbudzik.com/tools-techniques/index.html

Hey,

        Another way is HERE.

 Go down to the third post which shows texture on the glacis..... works the same way on a turret too, very controllable. This example is applied over resin so use a thin layer when applying to styrene.

 If you don't like how it looks, just re-apply the solvent and go over it again.

Glad to hear this is apparently retooled.

The originl Tamiya kit was 1/32 and was bad.

@GMorrison: this kit is not a re-tooled Tamiya kit.  It was a newly tooled kit, originally made by Tasca (now Asuka). Asuka sold a bunch of these to Tamiya who has re-issued them with some Tamiya items.  There is no linkage btn this kit and the 70s era Tamiya M4A3E8

No amount of re-tooling could have helped that old dog.

Other Tasca/Asuka kits available in other manufacturers' boxes are a Firefly VC (Tamiya) and an M4A1 (Eduard).  But Asuka is producing theirs again as well.

Even better!

Oh gee, the Asuka/Tasca kits are the Cadillac of the 1/35th Sherman market. A little more complex than the typical Tamiya kit but certainly no more complex than Dragon or AFV Club. I'm trying to finish up their Jumbo kit myself and have started on a Korean War tiger face M4A3E8 too- no idea when I'll be done though.

Nice write up Paul - I think I'm going to use your technique because it looks like it better matches the specific texture on the Easy Eight turret.  Couple more quick questions if you don't mind - where might I procure a burr (Michaels or Hobby Lobby, maybe?) and what size is best (2mm seems to be common from my Amazon searching).  Also, while you're working the burr over the tank how much pressure do you apply and do you use a rolling motion or more of a drag across the surface?  

Thanks again to everyone who responded!  This is my first armor in a long time and it's turning out to be a little more challenging than I thought!