Hi, I'm Jay nice to meet you all I'll be in this campaign as soon as my Dragon M4A3 Sherman 105mm HVS comes in the mail I'm quite excited so I hope I'll make a few friends and alot of critics lol. So just message me about anything and I'mm all ears for any advice you would have for me.

Welcome Jay

When the Shermie arrives make sure you let us know what you have planned for it.

What paints do you plan on using ? Do you have an airbrush ?

Cheers

Paul

Ok pretty much my plans for it should have it ending up in a display case somewhere as my first sherman let alone my first 1/35 tank and to get experience from it and most of all enjoy myself while working on it. For the colors I was thinking Tamiya and was wanting to ask some people on their ideas on the color of green I should use for it from anyone who has done a sherman in the past and had it turn out to the right color they wanted. Of course I'm going to want it to appeal to me and just wanted to see how the colors looked on a Sherman in general. So whoever has pictures I can look at feel free to private message me. I'm going to either use my dry mud from mig or go with a mix of dry and wet mud on the tracks and the tank. As for the airbrush yes I've got one I have a part for it on the way since just recently it started to continuasly spray and found out the O ring was gouged up a little bit. So now I'm just waiting for the mailman who seems to be taking his time even though it hasn't been long since I've ordered it, I'm sure you guys know this feeling lol. Well thanks for everything and talk with you later

Jay: I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. Looks like we'll both be learning a lot from this campaign


Guys, I'm not sure what to build for this campaign. Here is a list of options for me, let me know what you all think:
(all 1/35)
Tasca M4A1 Direct Vision
Tasca M4A1 Mid Prod
Tasca Sherman II Direct Vision (El Alamein)
Dragon M4A2 Late PTO
Dragon M4A3 (76) W
Dragon M4A3 HVSS POA-CWS-H5 Flamethrower
Tasca Firefly Vc

Jeremy, if you don't mind me being selfish, I have both the Tasca M4A1 Mid-production and Tasca Firefly Vc in my stash, so I wouldn't mind to get your thoughts on either kit. I have plans for the M4A1 for a future build, but I'm still collecting the AM pieces I need. Hopefully I can make that my second build for this campaign.

They are both beautiful kits and well engineered, and they shouldn't need to much extra work oob. If they weren't so pricey, I wouldn't mind adding some more to my stash. I would encourage you to build both of them if you have the time Just out of curiosity, what extras are you planning to ad to your M4A1 build?

I really want to build "Hang It N". I just need some figures and decals to finish off the AM. I'm planning to use the Monroe Perdu umbrella kit, which is a bit oversized, but should work well enough. I'm looking forward to it, but I have two campaigns ahead of it, so it will be early 2011 before I start.

Ahh well then allright lol. Hopefully you and I can grow together on this and other future models just keep in touch and I'll let you know when I get my model in. To keep track of you I'll send you a message for if there's a friends list I am not aware of it. Nice to meet you and talk to you later

Hi, Jay! We're all friends! Just post your questions and photos of your builds. This is a great community and I'm sure you'll get some good advice. I've really benefitted from the advice and suggestions of other members. Being an Armorama member rocks!

Just joined and started my first Sherman ever tonight with Tasca's new M4A3 76 (W)

Questions though: Can anyone point me to some reference photos that show the locations of all the foundry marks on the M4A3 76 (W)? I feel like there are some missing, like on the transmission cover and turret.

Very excited to finish this kit because it just melts together.

Excellent choice, and no rush on the build, this campaign is going strong for a whole year mate




Sounds good, and there's no friends list on here, but you can subscribe to threads that you like and receive notices via your email. And as Michael said, we're all one big family here, best site you could join!

And I've noted your vote on the M4A3 Flamethrower




I've been wondering the same thing about the foundry marks on the transmission cover while researching the M4A3E8. Most of these tanks that are in or on museum grounds seem to be lacking any kind of foundry marks, however the M4A3 itself does have the foundry marks, so I'm not sure what to think yet. My guess is that a clean transmission cover would be correct in both of our cases. As for the turret, are there no foundry marks on the one supplied in the kit?

Hey Sean there ARE definitely markings on the transmission cover. The late 'sharp nosed' cover has the markings on the centre of the underside. I posted on your new thread a link for you...

Michael, my thoughts on the Tasca M4a1 mid production are as follows.
Super fit of components, some nice innovations but some of the smaller parts are easy to break as the plastic is quite brittle?
Something else to know is that Tasca has included a rivetted hull as per their early M4A1 release. The 'early' M4A1 accurately represented a Pressed Steel Car hull (the foundry) which had the rivetted hull and angle bottom plate on the hull rear below the engine doors. Problem here is that they did a limited production run of only a few hundred so therefore the majority of earlies used were different to the kit.
Now this is exacerbated for the mid or later production M4a1s which were welded hulls. Tasca calls for us to carefully remove the rivets to realise a welded hull, but only problem is that that angle bottom plate as mentioned earlier should be a rounded style as I believe all welded hulls had. Therefore this will require some putty and carving or some plastic tubing cut and fitted. I have done this successfully although it can be a little fiddly. I went the putty option and carefully smoothed and sanded back.
Just an example of Tasca doing an accurate and excellent job, but unfortunately producing a minor hull version. Wouldn't be a problem if they included 2 rear hull tubs, as I'm sure having the rivets present to remove is a better option than there being none and having to add them if wanted!

Brad

That would be a great help, Keith. Thanks a lot.

Martin, thanks for the pictures. Seems like I will be bending a lot of fine wiring

Sean,

The later "sharpened beak" trannies that I have seen have markings on the underside. Here is an old Italeri one I detailed based on a now-lost pic of some real ones.



The numbers are a tad overscale, but I didn't have my mitts on the very nice Archer decal sheet at that time...

Tom

Ok...hopefully I'll post in the right spot this time.So the first part of this post is basically a rewrite of the one posted in the wrong thread plus some updates.

So here's what I've been working on for the Sherman campaign.

-Tamiya M4A3 Sherman 75mm/w VVSS
-Aber Sherman Super detail set
-Aber U.S. Antenae set
-Friuli type 54 E metal tracks
-JB Model brass M2 barrel and PE set
-JB Model aluminum 75mm tank barrel

Please note that this is a rebuild so to start off the entire kit was stripped,patched up and all unwanted molded details removed.Athis point I also swapped out the commander's cupola.





I then added the sponsons,weld seams,periscope guards built out of brass rod.



I also drilled out the drain holes at all the fuel refill ports,replaced all molded handles with brass rod.

Then came the extensive photo etch.What an amazing set by Aber.I had used PE before but not to this extent and my soldering skills are still only in their infancy, but I think things came out ok...



http://i387.photobucket.com/albums/oo318/rambo44_photos/shermancampaign032.jpg" BORDER="0">


Then came the wonderful Friuli tracks.A lot of work,but well worth the effort if you ask me...

...then in their base color of XF-69 Nato Black and XF-52 Flat Earth mixed at about a 60/40 ratio.


Here are the bogeys;modified and primered.



And here is the most time consuming part to build...the rear bustle rack, and it is completely operable(foldable)


...I have a short video of it being folded and reopened but I'm not sure how to post a video in a thread.

The hull is done and primered, ready for pre shading(undertoning).I scratchbuilt the tow cable ends using aluminum tubing,the tips of the tow cable off an M113,and the cable itself is from a picture hanging kit I bought a my local Dollar Store...





Last but not least...a couple of mock up shots along the build process...




As always,comments and criticism are welcome.Prgress updates to come soon,thanks,
Ron.

Ron: I'm going to have to rethink my decision to let go of my Tamiya M4A3 after seeing your progress so far.

Looking good Ron. Nice job on all that PE and I like the tow cable. There's alot of great work going on here!

Chris

Great work all

some progress on my dragon Normandy M4

stowage is from legend, the hedgerow cutter is form calibre 35 and the figure is a modified verlinden.











Martin

Hi Guys,

Lots of terrific work going on here, excellent range of Shermans.

Al

Incredible skills are being displayed here!

With that in mind I post my mediocre scratchbuilding.

Tamiya's old M4A3 fit my plan perfectly. A few updates and with all the add ons peculiar to Marine Shermans the innacuracies will not be noticed. Besides the price was right!

One issue was there are no aftermarket wading trunks for the A3 rear. So I made my own.









The trunking over intake grills was usually taken off completely to aid cooling in the tropics. Chicken wire and sandbags cover the deck. I'll be using bridal veil and Apoxie Sculpt bags.

The exhaust trunking was left on adding some degree of protection to the rear.

So far so good.

G

Hi Folks,

Made a little more headway on the firefly. I tossed my first attempt at the springs for the hull hatch covers, these seem a little closer to scale. The RB metal barrel went together nicely and I have to say that i will be using thier barrels more often. I have replaced the inset weld lines on the tank with styrene rod and streched sprue.

Next step is to find if the Firefly's of the Canadian GGHG had the add on hull armour, and the storage box on th turrent rear. Will have to try and source some track for the hull and turrent side.






Eric

Great work everyone.

We have had a death in the family and I need to make all the relevant arrangements. So I won't be 'around' for a little while.

Keep up the good work.

Paul,

My sincere condolonces and best wishes to you and your family.

Michael

I have a Sherman question which seems logical to ask here. I know many of you have built or are building one of the excellent Tasca Sherman variants. As far as I can tell, they all have in common parts D8, the tow rings. Has anyone here managed to get one of those suckers on the kit without breaking them? 'Cause I sure haven't! I can't even trim the stubs to make for a bigger gap without breaking them in two!

Any advice, as always, is appreciated!

Michael

First off .... Paul ..My condolenses to you and your family . Take all the time you need ...Family first!! We'll hold down the fort for you...
Micheal... I just tried to put those suckers on yesterday ...Got two on(removed the plastic knobs) and broke two...
And to the rest of you ...great stuff guys ..!!
I'm just finishing up the build...Should start painting some time this week!