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

Hey Edmund,

She's looking better and better every day. Looks great with the paint and dec's on.

Looking good as usual Edmund. Hope you get well soon my friend, I'd like to see this sherman when all is done.

Rob

Thanks Rick I will take F'n Nice Build as a jewel of a compliment!

I am just now getting over the flue and should be able to get back to modeling tomorrow.  I am now a Poster Boy for Flue Shots so all you glue spreaders put down the appliactors and go get your flue shots!!!!  YOU DO NOT WANT THE FLUE TRUST ME!!!!! 

Phil_H wrote:

Hey Edmund, She's looking better and better every day. Looks great with the paint and dec's on.

Hey Phil I haven't been able to get near it for almost a week but I will start the process tomorrow it should be fun! Thanks for looking as always.

satch_ip wrote:

It really does look awesome and has me researching kits to build.  Are these Orange Box kits made by Dragon?

Thanks Scott!

They are Cyber-Hobby kits which are an arm of DML.

scratchmod wrote:

Looking good as usual Edmund. Hope you get well soon my friend, I'd like to see this sherman when all is done. Rob

Thanks Rob I am just getting through the worst of it and I cannot wait to get back to it!

Back From the Dead Build Update:

I was finally able to get back to the bench after a week of Flue.

I was able to mount the headlights, paint the MG's and the periscopes.  I aslo glued on the hatches and painted and weathered the steel tracks for the fornt glacias.

I thought I would post a few pics so you would know I am still alive.  I will work on the Formation pioneer tools next but whoever designed them should burn in six rings of hell.   It's not going to be fun removing them form the resin blocks and getting them ready to paint.

ZombieModeler!

Your new name has been chosen.

It looks anything but undead, more like unreal!  The tracks look really good on the glacis, but I can't help but keep looking at all those bright markings and think...Do the Schobs system on it, let's see you make it come alive.

(I posted a quick WIP of that base in dios, of all places--need some color tutoring when you get a chance, buddy!)

Welcome back, Mr. Schnobs!

Bill 

wbill76 wrote:

Nice to see you're not dead after all Edmund! The details are taking shape and you've discovered the bane of resin details...the pour block removal on delicate parts! Depending on the parts, you may be better of using, carefully, a pair of sprue cutters vs. a razor saw for the more fragile/delicate items.

Thanks Bill Squared for the comments!  I am funny!

I hear you Bill and I am using a fine razor saw but Holy Cow Man this is Crazy!

Ed, the sherm is looking great brother.  Cutting the tools out is going to be a challenge but you can handle it trooper.

Bob

Svenne Duva wrote:

Congratulations on your very nice build Schnobs, this is just getting better and better! Looking forward to your next post :) Svenne

Thank you Svenne for the kind comments!  I am glad you are on board for the build.

BeltFed wrote:

You could try to lessen the thickness of the blocks by cutting them in half with a razor saw and then sand the remaining block until its wafer thin.  Then go back with a knife and trim it all up.  Just a suggestion.

Hey Jon,

I went with cutting out each segment and I have only broke one tool so far.

figure freak wrote:

NICE, and i would just use the kit parts

Thanks Brian!  Yes I wll probally use a combination of both the styrene and resin parts.

agentg wrote:

FREAKIN' SWEET!!!

Freakin Thank You Wayne!

disastermaster wrote:

Better, better & better...........................

And Better and Freakin Better !

Thanks Steve!

This is looking better each time I check in, now that you are healthy.

I hate to rivet count your photod, but in the turret close up, it looks like your brush shed a bristle between the commandet's hatch and that vent fitting, my oil wash brushes do that all the time, you should be able to fish it off there befre it dries.

Other than that, looks fine from every angle.

Keep it up, continue to march!

Bill 

Thanks for the extra pair of eyes Bill I wil llook for that.

I am going to try to get some serious traction tomorrow!

Sanity Check:

I have read some posts about thaving to shorten DS tracks and one of you fine chaps made me aware earlier in this thread that my tracks might need to be shortened.

I mounted the tracks before painting to get your collective opinion.  I don't see that I would need to but I admit I have limited experience with Shermans so I w ill leave to you.

Shorten or not to Shorten that is the question gentleman.

Oh man, Edmund--shorten, definitely! They are too long, for sure! What a bummer!

This makes me see red, actually. There is just no excuse for this kind of egregious, amateur error by Dragon! I mean, I don't know how you're going to shorten and then glue/stitch those tracks together in a satisfying way without having a very evident seam?

I'd deep-six these turkeys and find a set of AM tracks for it!

Makes me even more resolute NOT to purchase any Dragon kits with DS tracks, unless they're on vehicles like a modern MBT where the skirts hide the junction!

P.S. Save yourself the headache--use the kit tools, Those resin ones will not have any significant benefit, and to be honest, you'll probably break at least two or three trying to remove them from the block.

Schnobs - did I get in on this guy too late or what?

Really sweet build...but those tools look like a chore and a half. Are they really that much better than kit (or other sourced) tools to justify the extra work cutting them out?

Hey Karl,

I respect your opinion on DS tracks Sir and my Sherman expert agreed with the concensus so I ordered a set of Panda Plastics T-62 Steel Chevron tracks for $21.95 plus postage.

Here's the link if anyone is interested:  http://shermantracks.com/

I have broken two of the resin tools so far but I am a Pig in the Ham and Egg Breakfast.  The Pig is comitted and the chicken is involved.  I have come this far so I will finish what I started but agreed they are a hassle but at the end we can determine together whether its worth the effort.  The shovel is freaking gorgeous compared to the kit part.  I will post pictures once I get them painted and mounted.

Edmund,

Bummer about the tracks.  Waiting to hear how you like the Panda tracks.  I've got a few of Dragons Shermans with the DS..... now viewing the tracks in those kits with a jaded eye.

This build is looking absolutely exquisite!    And to think I got to see all of these parts in their infancy at McMinnville.  Pretty cool to see this start from that stage.

Cheers

Dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the support Sir. I decied to to focus on getting the turret completed while I am waiting for the Panda Tracks I ordered today to arrive so I started by painting the molded resin stowage on the rear turret box.  I used Vallejo paints for the details and oil washes to ouline and blend.  I also primed the remaining turret stowage that iIwill paint and mount tomorrow.

Here is some before and after pics:

Schnobs wrote:

hughes2682 wrote: Edmund, Bummer about the tracks.  Waiting to hear how you like the Panda tracks.  I've got a few of Dragons Shermans with the DS..... now viewing the tracks in those kits with a jaded eye. This build is looking absolutely exquisite!    And to think I got to see all of these parts in their infancy at McMinnville.  Pretty cool to see this start from that stage. Cheers Dave Hi Dave, Thanks for the support Sir. I decied to to focus on getting the turret completed while I am waiting for the Panda Tracks I ordered today to arrive so I started by painting the molded resin stowage on the rear turret box.  I used Vallejo paints for the details and oil washes to ouline and blend.  I also primed the remaining turret stowage that iIwill paint and mount tomorrow. Here is some before and after pics:

BTW as for the stowage the helmet on the turret stowage is wrong for a Canadian tank the Canadians used the same helmets that the british used. Americans used the M1 steel helmet and the helmets used by Great Britain Canada and Australia were similar to the steel helmets used by the US during the early part of WWII.

Hi Edmund,

The stowage is looking very fine, this whole project is shaping up to be a stunner.  I can't wait to see your toot about the tracks, this is a very informative build.

Bill

Hey Michael!

You would have to take any innacuracy claims to Resi Cast as the item is marketed as UK Commonwealth tank accessories and I just slapped paint on it.   I like how it turned out though.

Thanks for commenting.

Actually, the helmets  are fine.  Close examination reveals that the helmets are not US M1 helmets, but are in fact Commonwealth AFV helmets.  This style was similar to the paratroop helmet, but was shaped to allow the use of AFV crew headsets beneath it.

Ed looks great man. keep the pics coming.  Love what you got so far.

Bob

Thanks Bob you wish is my command.  I finished painting and mounting all the turret stowage today. All I have left on the turret is to mount both antennas which I will tackle next.

All the turret stowage would of been mounted to the sides of the turret by footman handholds which next time I will actually scratchbuild and use lead foil for straps.

Nice snaps, Ed, your photography is excellent.

The turret is coming along to put it mildly.  Stowage is crazy detailed, are those lace holes in the boots?  The painting is very good, I like the subtle varieties of green and tan that are the soldier's world.  I like your approach as we discussed earlier.

What's the wear around the commander's hatch, colorwise?  It looks REAL.  I expected that from you, I just need to know how you did it so I can "borrow" it. 

Bill