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

if it turns out as good as your se5 and ferrari, it will be awesome!!!!

Sorry guys, I haven't worked on my M4 for a couple of weeks. I've been working on a 1/32 Trumpeteer Wildcat, 1/350 Trumpy Essex, and 1/350 MHM Spruance, all at the same time and I was getting a little burned out on the M4. So many models, so little time.

Also what was the standard tanker uniform color in '44 France? I thought it was OD. But my Tamiya instructions have it as a tan. Which is it?????

Mike,

Nice job so far! I really like the stowage on the bustle (like the whole thing, actually). My hands seem to get more and more shaky each year and I have to take my glasses off to see what th' h' I'm doing on small parts... annoying getting old!

Therriman,

The tanker coveralls (HBT's) faded to a light sage green. If your tanker is wearing wools, the trousers would be a dark OD, while the shirt a greenish light OD.... Confusing, eh? IF I have a chance, I'll take some photos tonight and post them on RonUSMC's site. Boots are russet brown. The winter bibs I have in my collection are a light greenish tan as is the tanker jacket.

I'll also post some photos of my progress so far. One small step forward at a time! Always seems like finishing one thing brings ten other little details to mind!

Ron

Just a few answers to your questions:

Build22: Yes, there is another piece that joins up to the bottom of the turret. I did get it put together last night, but not before the pics were taken (the turret was just temporary for the pic.) That large square joint has a piece that goes in from behind (I think it's a hatch of some sort.)

Chris: Sounds like you made it to the Dief Center! Hope you enjoyed the displays... what was your favorite??

I'm getting close to firing up the paint booth, so I'm hoping you all can help me out a bit:
- What would be the general interior color? I think the instructions say to paint it white, but I thought I'd check with you guys. What about the engine area? Were the engines painted white too?
- There's a join line where the side skirts are attached to the main hull (primarily at the very front of the skirts). Is this join line supposed to be there (I'd rescribe it if it's supposed to be there)? Or should I putty it over and smooth it into the hull? (I'll edit this post later with a pic of what I'm referring to)
- There's a 'gap' at the front, where the side skirt meets the front armor, Shoud that gap be there, or be filled in? (pic will be added later.)

Murray

Murray - interior is white, same with the engine compartment. The engine itself is not, here's a pic that should help a little bit anyway.


I'll wait for the pics so you don't get pointed in the wrong direction on the other 2 questions.

Thanks Mike, I will give that a try.
Murray, Your tank looks very nice.
mark956

Mike you've done a fine job. Great details you've put into it.

Murray your Sherman is coming along nicely. It looks like a really nice kit.

Hey gang,,,,, Robert will be posting some pics for me shortly but as you can see i am close to being done. The weathering still needs to be done but its getting there. Right now it has the fresh off the assembly line look. Well in anycase tell me what you think and hopefully buy the begining of march I should be finished. This weekend I will be doing my other hobby,,, German WW2 reenacting. So I probably wont get much done this weekend.

Thanks for posting the pics for me Robert.

And on that note ..... here they are.

Looks good so far. It's an M4A3 75mm if I am not mistaken?

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak 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.

Thanks Sherm....I think!!!! As a silly question.....Ha,Ha. Back to the drawing board I guess.

FieldGrau23...nice looking Sherman...
Mike...exquisite!
Murray...looks good.......

Regards, Dan

Feldgrau, looks good!

Didn't get anything done last night and can't get onto RonUSMC's site... so... hm. Well, Hm. Took some photos of uniforms and such.. some of the in progress Sherman, but can't get onto Ron's site. hmmm. hm. oh well.

R.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray Kish Chris: Sounds like you made it to the Dief Center! Hope you enjoyed the displays... what was your favorite??

hmm, I'd have to say it would be Bob Aaberg's scratchbuilt WW1 AFV (man, i can't remember its name now) but, Cam Tetrault is amazing!!! those planes of his are simply amazing, especially that tomcat.

Is Ron's site still down??

I got the upper hull glued onto the lower and the transmission bulges onto the front housing. I'm still struggling about what to do for my idelers. I was exstatic when I found an extra set in my Italeri UMSC Sherman. Until I noticed all the ejector pin marks on the back side Guess I'll have to keep looking and thinking.

yep, his site is still down, man, i'm so anxious to put the next quiz up too, cuz itsan awesome one. oh well,

Very nice Feldgrau.
mark956

U.S. tanker uniform pics ..... compliments of Ron P.

Bill - I used the Italeri idler's too .... a couple of drops of CA fix them up good.

Poniatowski's progress

Excellent looking model Ron.
Thanks for posting the pictures Robert.
mark956

And here's the progress on my Firefly.

The PE is a combination of kit supplied, Eduard, On The Mark, and Royal Models.
The barrel is from Jordi Rubio and the commanders hatch is from the parts box and is from the Tamiya Churchill. Ran across a couple of references that show this conversion made on British based Shermans before the U.S. released the late all round vision hatch.

Wow! That's looking great, Sherm. The barrel is really fantastic. Too good a temptation to start with my Firefly...He-he-he. Gotta fight it now......ughhhhhh.

He-he-he.

Ron and Robert, your Shermans are coming together beautifully.
The details are awesome!

Regards, Dan

Ron,

The details on your model is just AMAZING! Wheeew!

Robert, that Firefly is looking great.

Poniatowski Yours is looking great to. Did you do the interior work yourself or was that a kit? I had seriously thought about doing the interior of mine, but decided against it due to time constraints. I think I will however do it on the PanzerKampfwagon IV J I have waiting for me.

wow, amazing tanks there, ron and robert!!!

Great job, Fieldgrau - looking good

Ron P. - are going to leave anything out ? - great job

Sherm - did you hire someone with little fingers to do those periscope covers - that's patience put to the test - nice job

Everybodies work on their Shermans is great!


I haven't fallen off the end of the earth yet.

The BARV is still progressing, but I am having to scratchbuild the walkways. The kit supplied PE parts for these didn't quite cut it.

I'll post some pictures when I get back from travelling. Work's got me running again!