Build Complete #9 Cyber-Hobby Orange Box Sherman M4A4 75mm WIP

Edmund,

My only concern is that the stowage items need to appear to be "in contact" and resting confortably on the hull...no gaps or awkward lifting edges.  Sculping a little milliput pad, if you will, insures that the resin pieces have something to snuggle down onto.

rick

Understood Rick.  I heve never actualy made a tarp from scratch yet but I am game. I saw Andy had made one with eyelits which was nice touch.  I might need a little push in the right direction.  I know to use talcum powder and to roll it out and then set it in place and that's the extent of my knowledge.

I finished all the detailing I thought but I forgot one antenna mount and the search light which I will paint and mount seperately.

I them primed both the turret and hull seperately with Mr. Surfacer 1200. I wll let it setup overnight and start painting tomorrow.

WOW, Edmund--thats, uh, a lot of pictures there of an unpainted model. The dial-up guys are going to hate you...

Looks ready for some paint in the mornin'! 

Yeah I know Karl I just love the look of a primered model.

Sorry Dial up guys!

That pose is just Bad-AZZ..... lookin' good.

Ooops,

        spotted a seam on the hull ball mount for the MG.

LOL!  Yeah I think it looks cool too. That's why I threw up shots of very angle for the extra set of eyes.  Thanks for the catch Steve!

I took care of the gap on the idlers as well.

This is going to be a freakin blast to paint and weather and I have a three crewman Canadian crew from Ultracast to fill the hatches.  I picked up some black evergreen to make a pedestal for the crew hatches today.  The TC is the only figure that is a full figures and he will be sitting on the rear hatch.

Stay tuned.................

OK, looks great, let's get the green on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill 

OMG!

I'm gettin' a green on!

LOL!  Both you and Steve made me laugh so hard this morning I burbled coffe through my nose.

I ran my primered pics by my Sherman expert this morning and he nixed my use of the plastic headlight gaurds and I had placed them to far back and also pushed me to use the Formations MG ball mount and resin barrel which I did.  Here are so more before and after pics of those changes and the last pics before I basecoat I promise!

I officially have OCD and refuse to take my meds!

Schnobs wrote:

LOL!  Both you and Steve made me laugh so hard this morning I burbled coffee through my nose.

  Before all the burbling, here's the picture in my mind....

Just hopefully not back into the cup.

 Your refinements to the headlight guards and the MG ball mount have really helped. You need to add the welds to the front and rear lifting lugs shown below.

Hey Steve!

I missed your last suggetion on adding a weld to the front and rear lifting lugs before I basecoated today so I will save that tip for next time!

I sprayed a coat of Gloss White to the inside of the turet due to the the fact that the Ultracast TC will be sitting on the rear of the turret ring and you will be able to catch a glimpse of the inside.

I also glued a black evergreen mount for the figure busts across the sponsons and test fitted the figure placement.

I was satisfied with the fit and the fact that you cannot see past the figures into the interior which is bare as Mrs. Hubboards Cupboards!

I applied the basecoat with a mix of Tamiya Lovie Drab, Khaki Drab, Dark Yellow and Clear.

I will have not applied any highlights as of yet I wanted to get some perspective first.

I cannot believe I am the first to say I like it.  Very nice blend there, warm and authentic looking.

I can't wait to see where you take this, Edmund.  The care and attention to detail are shining through, this is going to be a show stopper. 

Well done--so far, but the pressure remains on.  I know you are up to the challenge.

Bill

Thanks for the kind words and support Bill they are appreciated as always.  I had a little problem with Humidity last night as well.  I was putting down my sencond thin basecoat and I happen to galne at my regulator and i nocied the resovoir was about 1\4 full of water whcih suprisedme and right then I spit 3-5 blobs of water right on the main glacias plate.

Oh well I cleaned it up the best I could and it will be covered by extra tracks used as space armor on the front but it's the principal of the thing.  I will keep a closer eye on tha tin the future and I only glanced at it because I was thinking about Wbill's humdity problems so ultiamtely it's his fault!

I chosse to apply both a brown and green Mig filter last night before I sprayed two light coats  of Future this morning.

After some research on marking placement I applied the decals and after they were dry shot another coat of Future over the top,

Here are some natural light shots before I start the finishing the details and further weathering.

Looking good, Edmund--I would suggest a little bit of post shading with some darkened OD in the creases and corners, if you really want to be adventurous..?.

Easy on that Future, bud....

wbill76 wrote:

Looking good Edmund! I plead the 5th in relation to any humidity issues!

Thanks Bill the low pressure must of moved North!

the doog wrote:

Looking good, Edmund--I would suggest a little bit of post shading with some darkened OD in the creases and corners, if you really want to be adventurous..?. Easy on that Future, bud....

Thanks Karl.  I think I have been fairly adventourous on this one a Canuck Sherman was definately way out of my comfort level.  The pics do not do it justice but is does have some darker shadowing.  I will see what I can do though my fine tip AB is arriving in th email from Badger today. I had it two weeks and I dropped it so I sent it in for free repairs  I am not affliated with Badger in anyway but I have been very happy with their products and their customer service.  They are a fine Midwestern company and will have my business as long as I am in this hobby!

I did appy Fuutre before and after Decals this time becasue on my last build with the Hetzer I actually ended up with a little silvering when I skipped the second coat of future and just shot a coat of MM flat Acryl which I had done successfully before.  It might of been a one off but I didn't want to take any chances.

The dacals went on nicely, Edmund.  I am surprised how colorful this one is, the US versions were pretty drab by comparison.

Looking forward to weathering majic.

Bill 

Looking good! One suggeation I might offer: shorten the tracks before you do the final assembly, seems like all the Dragon M4 tracks are two or so links too long.

Looking forward to seeing this one move along.

Remember, only the top left tailight is red.

wbill76 wrote:

Schnobs wrote: Yes they are and I beleive strongly that the same guy who writes the assembly instuctions for DML moonlights at Ikea. I've yet to build a single DML kit that didn't have at least 1 error in the instructions somewhere. Sometimes the error is just a simple mis-numbering of a part (i.e. B58 when there is no B58 on the sprues)...sometimes it's much more serious as the case here where parts are reversed or not called out at all. I'll never forget the gold standard of errors...the Luftwaffe version of the 251/17...there was an error in EVERY SINGLE step with some steps committing multiple fouls along the way.

Yeah I know the Dragon Imperial Series Stug IV (early) had a glaring error in the instructions. The tow hooks that were in the front of the Panzer IV and Stug IV ( the big pieces in the front that the spare track holder went between) were shown on the box art and the painting instructions but were ommitted in the assembly steps and also marked as do not use on the parts diagram. I haven't started it yet but I also got the eduard zimmerit set and the zimmerit that goes on the front plate reflects that error as well. Oh well I'll just attach it with double sided tape and cut out the notches for attaching the tow hooks and then use the kit part to mark where I am going to cut it out to attach the tow hooks no biggie.

Thanks Bill I had to perform soem sugery to get them to fit on the front transmission covers but it was worth the effort.

I want to aplogize for the lateness of my post replies.  I have just went through two weeks of hell.  Parents with school age children will understand.  My daughter brought home a cold from school that she was over in 2 days and after 1.5 weeks I was just getting over and she brought up the Flue that again she shook off in two days and I am on my third day and just want to die!  Icky stuff gentleman icky stuff.  I want to ground her from school until I can catch up here!   Thansk god for my lovely hard working wife or we would all be naked and hungry!

RBaer wrote:

Looking good! One suggeation I might offer: shorten the tracks before you do the final assembly, seems like all the Dragon M4 tracks are two or so links too long. Looking forward to seeing this one move along.

Thanks for the suggestion Russ.  I didn't catch that when I dry fitted the tracks.  I will dry fit them with some blue tac to hold them down over the rollers and post pcitures before I paint them.

hughes2682 wrote:

Ed, Man that Sherman is lookin' good! Cheers Dave

Thanks Dave your build is superb BTW!

Cheers Squared!

disastermaster wrote:

Remember, only the top left tailight is red.

Got it Thanks Steve!

Edmund - Nice job on the decals...nice build overall. And in my favorite color too!!

I agree with Karl but you have to be comfortable. Before you try with the new AB, test it on something first. If you feel good with the AB, give it a shot. You want to try to get the features to POP

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks Michael for the kind words my friend.

Sorry to hear about the plauge hitting your homestead, Edmund.  There is a bunch of the icky stuff going around down here as well.

To the Sherman......F'n Nice Build!  

Rick

Schnobs wrote:

Citadelgrad87 wrote: The dacals went on nicely, Edmund.  I am surprised how colorful this one is, the US versions were pretty drab by comparison. Looking forward to weathering majic. Bill  Thanks Bill I had to perform soem sugery to get them to fit on the front transmission covers but it was worth the effort. I want to aplogize for the lateness of my post replies.  I have just went through two weeks of hell.  Parents with school age children will understand.  My daughter brought home a cold from school that she was over in 2 days and after 1.5 weeks I was just getting over and she brought up the Flue that again she shook off in two days and I am on my third day and just want to die!  Icky stuff gentleman icky stuff.  I want to ground her from school until I can catch up here!   Thansk god for my lovely hard working wife or we would all be naked and hungry!  RBaer wrote: Looking good! One suggeation I might offer: shorten the tracks before you do the final assembly, seems like all the Dragon M4 tracks are two or so links too long. Looking forward to seeing this one move along. Thanks for the suggestion Russ.  I didn't catch that when I dry fitted the tracks.  I will dry fit them with some blue tac to hold them down over the rollers and post pcitures before I paint them.  hughes2682 wrote: Ed, Man that Sherman is lookin' good! Cheers Dave Thanks Dave your build is superb BTW! Cheers Squared!  disastermaster wrote: Remember, only the top left tailight is red. Got it Thanks Steve!

Naked and hungry in the right context is not a bad thing...