ARMOR - Sherman Family Group Build

QUOTE: [i] thanks for that so if i primed my sherman, would a colour like the greman red-brown (which i use as their red oxide primer) be a close enough fit? or should i use something different? regards, nick

It should look fine. The German primer I saw on the Patton Museum Panther was a very pure, intense, red, but I think the American was more of a bit browner iron oxide color. In any event, if you scrape some green away (the compliment of red) it should intensify even a browned down red.

Ron

Nice job, Renarts. That weathering is great, eventhouogh it isn't finished!


Murray, looks good so far !
That' a wierd way they have the turret made. Is there one piece that fits on the bottom side of that turret ? Or is there more than one ? Is there something that covers that large square joint ?

Coming along great Murray. We'll make a treadhead out of you yet !!!!!

Nice progress on the Sherman, Murray. The engine looks cool for a 1/72 kit.

Hey guys. Thought I'd post a few pics with an update how my build is going. I haven't checked in for 50 or 60 pages, so just as a reminder, here's the kit I'm building: Italeri 1/72 Sherman



This is actually a really nice little kit. I haven't built a lot of armour in my time, but I have built a few 1/72 aircraft recently and this kit is very nicely detailed. Not at all sure how 'accurate' it is, so I'll leave that up to the experts. The interior includes quite a nice representation of the radial engine (5 or 6 pieces). It's a shame to hide it, and I think I'm going to leave the 'access hatch' open. Here's where I'm at right now (ignore the 'black' stuff... I was playing around with my airbrush the other day and needed something to paint...)



Here's a detail of the running bits. I'm learning that it probably would have been better to assemble this stuff last. Learn as I go, I guess...



I had a real 'problem' with the way the hull fits onto the chassis. As you can see, the frount part of the hull is too long and doesn't allow for the hull to sit properly. I had to trim about 1-2mm off the top so that it would sit down.



Here's what it looks like after the front piece has been trimmed and the hull is on. I put the tracks on for a test fit to see how they'll look. I'll need to put a little glue on the tracks to hold them against all the running gear, but I think they actually look pretty good for 1/72.



Here's another shot from the rear so you can see the engine mounted.



Feel free to offer any suggestions or comments.

Murray

That Sherman is looking good Mike!!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by petbat Here's my silly question..... there does not seem to be enough room between the main supports and the inner racks to move the shells back and forth so the heads or rears can be brought out of these holes. How did they get 'em out????

Without digging through a pile of reference pics ..... I'll go with the simplest of answers. The interior of your Achilles if slighly off scale, slightly out of dimension, and the shells are slighty off scale too. All this resulting in the problem that you now have.

That's my story .... and I'm sticking to it.

I use a set of jewelers pliers. They have flat nosed point ends and the jaws are smooth, flat and wide. They are made for doing bends like that. The rounded forward section can be bent around a dowel to get the shape, the rest can be done with the pliers.

Heat the brass with a torch, just enough to make it turn color and let it air cool. this will anneal the brass and make it easier to work without it getting too brittle. Brass work hardens so if you have to bend it a bunch or make frequent errors, just repeat the annealing process.

You can pretty much do everything that an etch mate can with a razor blade, steel rule or a metal shim. It's just breaking it down into its steps to get the easist bends

Mike

good looking shermie thier renarts. i to started my indy tracks tonight i got one spure of them painted and cleaned up and to more spruces to do and i got only six of them put together but my nerves got to me. anyone got a homemade gig out thier to help in with the holding and keeping them stright?

Excellent looking Sherman Mike. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us.

I need some help. I don't have a etch mate or hold n fold. I am having trouble getting the pe brass strip to make the track skid curved bend to match the plastic piece on the boogie assemblie. Is there a trick to get the bend? I am afraid if keep bending the brass it will break.
mark956

Very nice Mike.

Sherm. The Achilles build has been delayed by frequent attacks by the Panther Group Build. Interior is being painted at present, but another 15 of the required 27 -17 pounder rounds are yet to be to cast before I can start installing them.

Silly question. All the pics I have show the 17 pdr rounds on 2 'inner' racks inside the main 'support racks' (the ones the M10 tubes fit in). The Brits used a head to toe method of installing the rounds, with a belt attached to the top and bottom of the two inner racks, which when buckled held the rounds in place. The top rounds sit inside circular cut outs in the racks but the lower rounds appear to be 'threaded' into holes cut in the racks. ....Here's my silly question..... there does not seem to be enough room between the main supports and the inner racks to move the shells back and forth so the heads or rears can be brought out of these holes. How did they get 'em out????

Anyway, running gear is all attached to lower hull, Upper hull almost as far as I can go without cementing the halves together (need to fix the incorrectly angled hatch hinges though). Turret is ready for paint, too. Should finish the beast within the build time frame.

Looks great so far Mike. Nice work on the tarp !!

Detail wise .... second to none.

Looks great so far, Renarts. The details are exceptionally outstanding!

heres my progress to date.

I still need to do the indys and there is some tweeking to do on the details. The barrel is scratched from a length of plastic I put on the lathe. The equipment stowage straps are tape, painted. The periscope guards are copper wire and the extra stowge cleats are the same. It has its first go around of weathering. I used a light OD green drybrushing as a sort of glazing and then started on the road dirt color. This seemed to give it more depth and I liked the effect. I need to fix some things or hide them like the case of the silvered decal on the back deck. Thanks to Robert for sending me the livery for Lord Strathcona's.

Let me know what you guys think so far.

Mike

Scubaboy - O.D. anything that was visible from above was painted the exterior colour.

Quick question, the floor beneath the turret of the M10, the one the gun crew stood on, is that white or O.D.?

Progress update - or lack of!
Was going to do this OOB but them decided to add some minor AM parts so I am anxiously waiting for parts.

The ones on the site look great, can't wait to see the rest.

I can't wait to see the new Shermies on the groupsite...!

Regards, Dan

I'm real close to being finished. I'm trying to post some pics but can't get on Ron's site.
I just realized last night as I was mounting my Sherman on it's base I forgot to put on the .50 cal. I've attached most everthing now, a couple more figures the antenna and I should be done.

Well I am at the paint stage on Oddballs Sherman [still collecting the junk we was carrying. Still need that loudspeaker and I am starting the track for the diorama.

Jacob is at the stage and needs to decide how much snow he needs

Welcome aboard John ..... I'll get a page on the site built for you.

Rich - sure, send them and I'll get them posted for you.

Bob - never worry about the size .... I just resize them on this end.

Robert, thanks for posting the pic. I was worried about thier size when I E'd them, I haven't figured how to resize pics before sending them.

Hey Robert just wanted to let you know that I am slowly but surely almost nearing the end of mine. Still need to add the sponson covers that you guys had early on in the build thread and then its just a matter of putting the three sub assemblies together and then washing and weathering. If I email some pictures to you will you post them for me?? I dont have them in web form and am not sure how to get them there. Then of course as soon as I finish the model I will email the completed pics to you.

Okay, since there is only one other "Jumbo" on the list and only a month left, I'll comit to the M4A3E2! Why does this feel like marriage... or the end of it?!
John

Hey John,
I'll e-mail you a list of the builders and what they're doing if you would like. I need to attach it though so if you'll e-mail me your address, I'll send it over to you. The e-mail through the site doesn't allow attachments.

But don't be limited by someone else doing the same kit. Everyone's takes on it's own unique flair.

It's Feb 15th ..... half way through the build and we're seeing some finished kits already.

Dan's M-50, Bob3242's Kangaroo, Erock's German Sherman, Digger's boiler plate M4, and Dwight's M-51,

Others I know are nearing completion. So where's everyone at with their builds, a few members have been quietly building away.

Let's have a roll call.

Here's where I'm at:
Ram - built and waiting for first splash of paint
Firefly Ic - adding the details, should be ready for paint by the end of this week

Robert, is there a easy way to show the different variations of Shermans that are already being done? I am sitting on the fence wondering if I have enough time to start and if one of the kits I have is unique to the group.
John

Thanks Robert. Looking Very Good.
mark956

Here's a couple of teazer pics from the site.

Dan's M-50


Bob3242's Roo

Thanks Robert...the site is filling up!

Regards, Dan