Yep, closure! And yes, a Sherman with a proper main gun is very much more menacing than with the original 75mm.

Really nice work! It's a great feeling to finish stuff up and clear it off the bench. 

Very nice. Shermans look far more menicing with large guns like this. Well done.

BK

Winding up old build logs today, here's another one.

IMG_1904 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_1905 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'm trying to close up a lot of dangling threads, and actually finish the models.

Thanks!

Sharp work!

Finally, markings are on, using a little of something from a lot of different sources, some waterslide, some dry transfer.

IMG_0197 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Thanks all. G: Yup, I found a few here and there, most on the Lee.

Always great to see stuff under the first coat! 

Not as much fun seeing a flaw here or there that somehow you never spotted before. 

 Hmmmm;

 These are not among my best loved pieces of Armor. BUT! You have given me new interest here! These look like two, undergoung a full operational restoration. Very good work here. Be careful though, I saw a line that said " Apprentice Rivet Counter". Please keep that apprentice? This is awesome work!

Looking awesome!   

Wowza! They look amazing with a base coat of paint!

Paint shop is open, finally!

IMG_8912 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Yesterday and today have been the first calm days in weeks, plus minimal construction traffic to stir up dust. Yee ha!

Can't wait to see some paint on them. 

RB I think you have well and truly passed your aprenticeship! Wonderful work. I too am looking forward to the painting and weathering.

Cool, looking forward to seeing them all primed up! 

I love every little bit of them!

Yes, prime. Then work some magic!

Ready for paint!

IMG_6846 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_6845 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'm still debating on stowage, but the tanks themselves are done, next step would be primer if I decide to do them "naked", but I'll probably add some crew personal gear first.

Gamera

Awesome!!! I too love the different colour plastics from all the different companies! 

 

Just doing my part to keep unwanted plastic out of the oceans.

Awesome!!! I too love the different colour plastics from all the different companies! 

Define "kits", lol......

Roughly, a dozen.

Those two are looking really good. Just curious how many kits are you working on right now? 

Anthony, you got me.

Moving right along, turret fittings, empty smoke launcher brackets, tools, hull-side grab handles/tie downs and a lower barbed wire bracket on the Cummins tank.

IMG_6138 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_6139 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'm getting perilously close to paint time.

Hey Russ,how come those kits have so many different color plastics ? 

Making nice progress

Great to see you moving forward on this. Really need to get a pile of my stuff done. 

Looking good. 

Also see Moose or only Squirrel?

Peace-

Boris

Not shelved! Having an abundance of time while at home, waiting for my mandatory off-work break due to Covid, I pushed ahead with these two while tinkering with a few more Shermans. I'm still finding a high degree of parts interchangeability between different manufacturer's kits, very helpful. The two turrets are moving along nicely, as well as some glacis detail on the "Bet".

IMG_5939 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

At this point, anything that fits and is appropriate is going on. I was surprised to find that Tamiya loader's hatches fit perfectly in both turrets, which is good 'cuz that's all I had.

I'm waiting to do any more on the M51 until I get the SabingaMartin book with the Gimel tanks. Right now I think I need to use the rear stowage bin instead of the folding rack I have on it, and maybe a couple of other things.

The cast FDA on the early tank was bugging me. Although it was not "wrong", it was unlikely on such an early M50, so I dug out the last MP 3-piece cover I had and swapped it out. Sounds quick, but it was a whole evening and a fair amount of putty, scrap and super glue, with MrSurfacer the final touch.

IMG_5881 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I feel better now. It's not that all M4A4 hulls kept the 3-piece covers throughout their long service life, quite to opposite actually. But an early M50, still with the Continental engine would most likely still have had the 3-piece cover.