ARMOR - Sherman Family Group Build

QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak As Peter has already mentioned, the G.B. has come to a most glorious completion with only a few stragglers left to come in. Did someone say my name?

Guess I hear my name being screamed, too!

Okay, here's where I am. Firefly is finished, except for the Formations tools (right there with you, Larry) and the tracks (with you there, too!!) Last weekend, I lightened up some of the Humbrol Bronze Green paint I've been using. It came out a little grey for my tastes, but that may be right for all I know. I sprayed a coat on doing my best to leave recesses and panel edges dark. Didn't do real well with that, but I've never done that technique before and it was a learning experience! In the process of turning the tank around, I caught the starboard side PE headlight guard and stripped it right off the tank. Took the headlight with it. It took me until Monday to find the headlight. (Thank you Mr. Vacuum!) So now I get to fix that little challenge. It turns out, I had the guard glued on so well, it actually broke the pe rather than just pop the glue joint.
To be honest, I keep forgetting to work on the Formations tools. They take a lot of delicate work to get them off the carrier. But they sure are worth it! I need to pull them out of their protective box and leave them on my work table. I've got the figure bodies pretty much painted. Still trying to decide on exactly what color to make the commanders scarf. Probably go with a dark brown or an od of some sort. I'm also not sure what color the leggings should be, but since they will probably wind up inside the turret, guess it doesn't matter much. I was thinking a very light khaki, but maybe I'm thinking of the U.S. spats.

Hopefully very soon for this one. Got to get on to other projects (that probably won't get finished for a year or so!!

Wondered the same thing Larry. Is odd.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak As Peter has already mentioned, the G.B. has come to a most glorious completion with only a few stragglers left to come in.

Did someone say my name?

Yes, I am still laboring away on my Sherman M4A1, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little bigger. I've onyl got to attach the suspension to the tank and put my tools on from the Formations fret and building will be conpleted. Oh, and the treads, which are individual link. Then it's painting, and I'm done.

Question: I notice in American Tanks of World War II that a lot of the restored Shermans have OD treads -- all of them seem to, in fact, at least in that book. I suspect this is because the tanks are painted with the treads still on. Should a WWII-period tank have any OD on the treads, even if it's mostly worn away?

thundergod: I missed your post! Sorry. It's the 105mm howitzer "assault support" version.

All: Thanks for the coments/complements. I really enjoyed this one and with only one color I could really concentrate on weathering technique.

I fell ya Tread. I too am doing a bash of kits so to speak. I got a book called american tanks of WWII. Lots of shermies with afew that confused me at first.The E8 is in this book with the cast hull and welded hull also a few different turret styles. So I got myself the Italeri A1, dragons E8 conversion and verlindins 76mm turret. So is this a ok combo.Ya think.

As Peter has already mentioned, the G.B. has come to a most glorious completion with only a few stragglers left to come in. That of course doesn't mean that there isn't going to be some ongoing Sherman building.
But being a Shermanaholic doesn't have to be a lonely journey, there are many of us around. Ask any questions you wish and we'll do our best to come up with the answers.

But I'll ask the first questions .... what breed of Sherman is Lulu and what kit(s) are you using to build her.

Tread. As afflicted as you are, I hate to tell you that the cure is out of date. There are a few of us that have been undergoing treatment for a considerable period of time, but due to infrequent usage of the remedy have seen the infliction linger well beyond the designated date of cleansing being 15 March 2004.

Whilst some are still afflicted and are still slow at responding, have have past the period of no return. The clinic cannot be opened to treat any new patients.

It may be best if you look to find treatment via the D-Day or Normandy GB clinics ( i see you have been there before). Otherwise perhaps venturing into the field of establishing a new clinic of your own, down the track when other medical experiments have run their course, may relieve you of your horrible itch.

Howdy fellas,

I'm quite sure I'm putting my head on the 'chopping block' here but.......what the hey.....

I've recently acquired a non-curable case of an infectious and hideous disease called, for lack of a better term, 'Shermonia'! In an effort to rid myself of this ailment, I've scoured both reference source's, and the internet looking for a cure. But, unfortunately to no avail......;-(

So, tucking the disease under my arm, I have embarked on a crusade to learn as much as I can about this dastardly affliction before I go to the great Tank-Boneyard-in-the-Sky!

As illustration of these efforts, I've begun building several interesting variants of this nasty 'cur'....some simple, some not-so. And because this ailment is infectious, and the only cure in site is learning (and building) as much about the subject matter as I can, I would be most humbled if you guys could allow me to participate in your "Sherman Family Group Build" so that I can get just a little closer to the 'Cure'.....:-)

Many thx in advance.

Tread.

Oh, and just to 'name-drop' a few.....one of my most ambitious efforts to rid myself of this 'tainted' mind-set is a variant of the Sherman by the name of 'LuLu'. A direct result of all the 'scratching' from the 'Shermonia' rash.............

Thanks RAF.

Hmmm, just had a look at the pics on Shermie's site (No, I'm not vain, well maybe a little) and I noticed that in the 3rd pic you can see the tan plastic of the kit between the turret and the turret ring. I removed the securing pins from the turret to make it easy to insert the turret with the hull hatches up so high. Seems I didn't put it on right when the pic was taken! (The fit is that tight, that if you turn the turret in the ring the paint is actually scraped away.) Oh well, to err is human.........

Ericand Derek, I missed you posts earlier on (saw them on the GB site though). Congrats and a fantastic builds.

Bill, not drilling out your tracks! You disappoint me. With all the hard work you've put in so far I would think a little extra time would be worth it . Besides, the men with their funny coats are quite nice and I'd enjoy your company. They even let us build models in our little rubber rooms.

Petbat I am impressed. You have built one fine looking Achilles. Well worth the wait to see it.

SITE UPDATE

Petbat's Achilles has been added to the G.B. Site.

That shermie looks great Derek is that the break through or howitzer kit? I sure wish I was around when this build started, seems all the top dogs are in this build and could of learned alot ...funny thing is I was working on a jumbo at that time. Funny I went from building tigers to building shermies ,they are both great tanks but the shermans go together so much faster with its complex camo patterns...hehehe

Great job on the M4A3 105 , Derek

Regards, Dan

Sounds good Derek.

Bill - whatever you would like to put in it. Some have been simple just describing the kit used and others have been a little more "wordy".
And if you come up in the fall again.......
just bring your Firefly and I'll help you get it finished.

Thanks for the comments.

Pics and write-up on the way this weekend for sure, maybe even tonight.

Robert, I know it's posted (way back), but what do you want in the write-ups? At this rate, I'll be able to hand deliver it when I come up for the conference this fall!!

Nicely done Derek !!!!!

Can you send me some pics for the site ..... and your write-up too please.
ShermanGroup@shaw.ca

Great work Derek. Looks like a nice clean build.

Nice Job Derek!! Let's take it for a drive!

Ron

Derek:
hip hip hooray! hip hip hooray! hip hip hooray!
3 big cheers on the completion of a fine build,
i think ur M4A3 105 sure looks great !

edog:
ditto on ur M10 !

have a great long weekend, everyone!

frosty

Fantastic, Derek! I love the finish. You really did a fine job. Congratulations!!

It's done! How late am I?
Not much to say about the kit except "New Tamiya!" sure is a nice build.
A track broke but a little glue solved that problem.
Had to scratch my original Dio idea due to space considerations and a botched re-sculpt of a figure. New idea in the works.

On to the model: Built straight OOB and base coated with Testor's rattlecan OD.
It got a light wash of Burnt Umber craft acrylic (Delta Ceramcoat). The final weathering with pastels started with straight Burnt Umber then went to a mix of Burnt Umber and (I think) Raw Sienna. The final layer dusted on with an old makeup brush was a dark yellow (Ochre?). The last thing I did was run a pencil around edges of the hatch openings for just a touch of shiny.
I may not know the right names for the colors but I'm learning how to use them!

Without further ado I present My M4A3 105mm Sherman for your viewing pleasure!








Hope you liked looking as much as I liked building.
Comments/criticisms welcome.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw Why can't you guys post those pictures when I need them!!! Why don't you ask before shaving rivets off of the tracks shoes

Oh sure! Next you're going to be telling me to stop and ask for directions!!!

SITE UPDATE

4 pics and the write up of Edog's excellent M10 have been added to the site.

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw Why can't you guys post those pictures when I need them!!!

Why don't you ask before shaving rivets off of the tracks shoes

QUOTE: Originally posted by petbat You can see 2 different versions of the '77'. Natch, the ones I have are like #2 and the ones I need are the more 'stylish' ones #3. Typical.

I'll scan the markings for you tonight Peter .... you're in luck, #2 is a perfect match for the Canadian markings.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Peter - white 77 on red over blue square ???? If so you can use it for the 5 A.T. Regiment, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, May 1945. They had 2 batteries that used the Achilles. I can e-mail you the rest of the markings if you'd like, they look fairly straight forward.

In regards the the red over blue square with white 77: Check out this pic.

You can see 2 different versions of the '77'. Natch, the ones I have are like #2 and the ones I need are the more 'stylish' ones #3. Typical.

I'd love some help with markings and would really appreciate anything you can give me Robert. I will send a separate email so you can respond to that. ( I have built the Achilles with the early spoked road wheels, but at this stage I'm not going to worry if the vehicle in the pics have the later style). Cheers.

I would really like to finish this build (again) 'cause it is annoying me that I went to a lot of work scratch building stuff to correct the kit, fabricationg the 17 pounder rounds, etc, and it was finished until I tampered with the weathering. And now I'm stuck on something as lame as markings.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poniatowski edog! The M-10 looks super! Makes me cold just to look at it. Robert, et al, can you believe how worn down those track chevrons are on that Firefly!? Man, they must've polished a lot of cobbles with that thing! I'd like to climb in and take a look at the milage on it, must be pretty high. Ron

Not only that but notice how they are worn

edog! The M-10 looks super! Makes me cold just to look at it.

Robert, et al, can you believe how worn down those track chevrons are on that Firefly!? Man, they must've polished a lot of cobbles with that thing! I'd like to climb in and take a look at the milage on it, must be pretty high.

Ron

Why can't you guys post those pictures when I need them!!! That pic would have saved my bacon on the tracks, mg cover plate, and the bolted plate between the trans. housing and the hull!!! Whaaaaaaaa!!!!

I swear, I'm going to do another of these things and chalk this one up to a first build!!

lol

Robert, the pics and my write-up should be in your mail box. thanks...

QUOTE: Originally posted by Captain Caveman What a great photo that is some skills with a camera

Had the picture taken by a British professional photographer who goes by the nickname of "Jon the Shutterbug".