Gamera, it's about $7 for a BIG can, and I usually get a half-dozen or so paint jobs from each.

Schatt: thank, gives me the warm fuzzies too.  :)

Thanks RBaer I will have to pick up a can or three of that!

It's good stuff!

My RB barrel showed up last week while I was out of town, it's pretty.  Good timing, too.

Speaking of RB barrels, it doesn't have the very prominent groove that the real item does, looks like a big key-way along the top rear of the tube itself. I contacted RB and they replied promptly and courteously, but said the groove would have been too expensive to do.

I would have paid, most likely. So now I need to decide whether or not to try and duplicate it, at the risk of screwing up a part I waited a month to get.

Well, I went ahead and very carefully cut the groove, glad I did. You can barely see it in the pic, but it's there, and after weathering, will pop.

It's long........

Next will be clear gloss, what few decals there are, then weathering starts. Whee!

Holy moly, that's one long barrel on your Pershing! Looks really menacing...

Having finished my T-34 in the 1944 GB, I'm ready to get started on the Academy M-18 Hellcat. I've been looking forward to this for a long time! Last night I washed all the parts, and I was pretty surprised at how may sprues there were. Lots o' parts.

That posterboard is 28"x22", btw. The kit comes with both vinyl tracks and individual-link, which is what I plan to use. Should be cutting plastic in a few minutes.

Looks cool Steve!  I'm doing the same kit for this GB, so I'll definitely be watching your build, hopefully I'll pick up some nice tips

Oh cool, I didn't even see that. Seems like a nice kit so far, but I'm a little disappointed with the small sheet of decals. I really wanted to use the "broken circle" stars on this build, so I think I'm going to buy some. So far the only ones I've found are from Archer, but I'm afraid they might look out of scale.

In case you haven't seen it, here's a link to the Tank Overhaul episode where they restore an M18. Seeing this years ago was what got me fired up to do this kit in the first place.

I've seen that episode, I love the look on the vet's face as he's telling them to go faster!

Man you all are doing great work!  Heck, I'm learning from just reading everyone's posts!  Thanks to all...and keep the pics coming!

Eagle90

Wow, long time no post, but now that I have my IDF Super Sherman about wrapped up, I was able to do a little here with the Super Pershing. Super!

Hull and turret got a gloss coat, decals (what few there are) went on the hull, and both got the first sludge wash. The hull has been worked with alcohol and a Q-tip, turret has not....

The pic doesn't do a good job of showing the difference, it's more noticeable "in person".

Whee!

If it's not too late to throw my hat in the ring here, I've been searching Ebay for my next kit, and I picked up Tamiya's M4A3 (105) Sherman, I haven't gotten it in the mail yet, but I'm looking to do it in Winter white camo, probably with Eduard's PE detail set.  More details when I get the kit sometime this week.

I was going to enter the 1944 GB too, to compliment my 1943 GB badge, but that's ending in two weeks, and I don't think I'm awesome enough to finish by then.  VE day is definitely doable though.

Ghostrider114

If it's not too late to throw my hat in the ring here, I've been searching Ebay for my next kit, and I picked up Tamiya's M4A3 (105) Sherman, I haven't gotten it in the mail yet, but I'm looking to do it in Winter white camo, probably with Eduard's PE detail set.  More details when I get the kit sometime this week.

I was going to enter the 1944 GB too, to compliment my 1943 GB badge, but that's ending in two weeks, and I don't think I'm awesome enough to finish by then.  VE day is definitely doable though.

Hey Ghostrider,  not too late at all!  You have until 8 May.  So welcome aboard!  Glad to have you.  I'll get you on the list!  Thanks for joining up!

Eagle90

Thanks, the recent movie Fury inspired me to do a Sherman (despite the film's many problems).  I was going to do an Easy 8 (like Fury), preferably that Tamiya/ex-Tasca kit, but I've been having trouble finding it, so I settled on the 105.

I've got a local HobbyTown that's been keeping that kit in stock....   it's full-pop retail but it didn't stop my wife from buying it for me as a birthday gift.

So, the Super begins to take shape:

First layer of dust, then clear flat is on. Next is more dust, but not much because this thing is supposed to be "new".

Ghostrider: Sounds cool, one of the few Shermans I still need to do is the 105 howitzer version.

RBaer: Nice, very intimidating from that angle!  

By the way, does anyone know what those tubes on top of the Super Pershing's turret are for?  I have that tank in WoT and I always wondered.

Don't quote me on this but I assume they're to compensate for the greater recoil of the larger gun. HeavyArty would probably know the correct name for them.

Ghostrider: I love the look of the Sherman with that Howizer mounted in the turret!

RBaer: Not a whole lot to do untill she's finished. Looking really good as always!

As Cliff pointed out already, I believe those tubes are springs mounted on there to absorb some of the recoil of that long gun...

cool,

I just got my Sherman in the mail, I'm definitely doing the winter cammo version.  I also ordered Eduard's detail set for this thing.

Ghostrider114

cool,

I just got my Sherman in the mail, I'm definitely doing the winter cammo version.  I also ordered Eduard's detail set for this thing.

Hey Ghostrider,  I did my first white wash for the Orphan GB and please be sure to post how you do yours!  I'm all for checking out different ways and techniques, and I'll be watching your winter wash for sure!

Eagle90

Right regarding the tubes on the turret top, "equilibrator"  is the term, IIRC. The recoil from this gun was pretty ferocious, and there was also the balance issue, due to the extra weight of the massively longer gun tube itself.

Part of the appeal of this thing for me is the "Rube Goldberg" appearance of the whole contraption, definitely out of the norm for something actually deployed the the US.

nothing to show yet, just waiting for the PE to show up before I really get started.

Oh Tamiya, you never fail to put your Trademarks in the most inconvenient places possible.

That marking is actually an example of a hull casting mark.  Here's another from a real derelict;

regards,

Jack

Wow...that's awesome! Score one for Tamiya.

yeah cool,  thanks.

I won't sand it off then.  This is why it pays to do research on the subject you are modelling.