Nice choice guys!

No need to rush.



~ Jeff

Hello,

I can finally say I have finished my Sherman. Maybe it's not a top class finish, but I find it decent enough to consider it done (within my skills range

So this is how it looks now (sorry for poor photo quality, but my temporary photo booth consists only of few sheets of towel and regular desk lights ):





Please provide me with some feedback what you think about the model (especially paintings/weathering) as this is only my 4th model finished and I still need to learn a lot.

Regards,
Radek

PS. Where should I upload the campaign finished model pictures?

Radek,

This is only your 4th model? We're all in trouble as you improve from here! Very nice work! You might want to look into ways to tie down your stowage, there are plenty of great ideas all around this site. The gallery is here to upload the photos.

Michael

Thanks for good words and tips Michael! I still need to learn a lot about... subtlety in modelling . Before I came back to modelling I studied "the Internet" about various techniques of painting, weathering etc., but still with all this things in my head I sometimes overdo the effects (on this Sherman I had to wash away whole mud effects once, because they looked like if my model fell directly into dogs... you know what ).

Radek

Your sherman is great for only your 4th build, I am building my 1st Armor kit. And if mine is 1/2 as good as yours I will be happy. What di you use for your weathering?? I am just at that stage right now. She looks to clean to me right now. Pics coming.

hello, RadekZ superb job.

Hi Eugene,

I strongly believe you will be more than happy when your model is finished and you'll keep me ashamed

As for weathering. This is the picture of all things I used:



And now I will try to recreate the steps I performed:
1) gloss varnish under decals, decals and then gloss again;
2) I made a pin wash with Vallejo 73203 (Umber Shadow);
3) as pin wash was acrylic I followed immediately with dot filter (various of oil paints you can see to the left. In first run I skipped buff) - used some white spirit to work with dots.
4) I applied satin varnish because I repeated the dot filter technique - this time with extensive use of buff colour (that gave me some nice looking subtle streaks).
5) again varnish - this time matt followed by streaks made with AK interactive AK024 & AK069 (I used brush with thin long hair - sorry don't know what's called).
I used several layers of varnishes to secure layers I found fitting my requirements (you know, just in case, if you mess up next layer you can wash it up without damaging job well done ).

Later I made some wet effects and weathered tracks' metal parts with vallejo's and mig's rust washes (it was rather drybrushing as I knew I would spoil these effects later with mud).
And mud/dust - made with mig P033, P028 and Mirage P008 supported with AK048 Pigment Fixer.

Hope it helps you a little bit

Count me in. Does this project have to be a fresh start kit? If so, no problem as I have about thirty untouched Sherman models.

Made some progress on my Dragon firefly Vc.

decided I couldn't live with the weld line trenches and set about filling them with styrene rod and turning that into a lightly raised weld line (or just as a filler for the trench in the places the position of the weld line needed to be corrected). Also added more weld lines with smaller sized styrene strips. In both cases, they were textured/blended into the hull with liber applications of liquid plastic glue and an old xacto with the sharp tip broken off.

first pic shows the un-blended/textured rod and a couple of the trenches left unfilled:


second pic shows the end result. also removed the extra little bit of molded-on armor plate at the rear of the turret splash gaurd. I'll replace it later with more accurate representation. Oh, and I removed the sand skirt mounting plates along the bottom edge of the upper hull, which will also be replaced... eventually

Radek

WoW that is nice I have only 2 colors Yellow Ochre and Raw Umber but the are (Windsor newton) Water based Oil colors. Does that mean the only use water and not odorless turpentine?? I have no Idea.

So my sherman is complete minus my attempet at a wash and maybe a try at some weathering, I really wish my crew was better I just could not get it close to being ok. But as them being first time a figures I guess they are ok. I wish the jacket was lighter like pictures I have seen and had decals for them. Oh well, but once flat coat is on calling her done. Critiques are welcomed.

Eugene,

job well done. Great build so far, those tracks look brilliant. I also love the way you painted figures (something I'm still struggling with - good thing Tamiya included excess figures, so there's room for practice ).

In case of acrylics - I'm not an expert, but logic (aand google )suggests - yep, water should be OK, but I would let somebody with more experience to give you suggestions.

I would suggest the approach I used for testing premade washes or washes I created myslf - I have used some styrene sheet (in fact it was old plastic food box), made some lines and dots with exacto knife, glued some parts to it (sanded it all a little bit) - you know, just to emulate uneven surfaces. Then I used regular primer to prime the surface and covered it later with gloss varnish. Then I had an excellent training material to check washes (also filters as well). Cheap way if you don't have old spoiled kits

Ok everyone I am just about completed, I dont think I did the was right.Though I tried the touch the lines thing and it looked like there was no paint and then the other way I felt like I was painting it. I don't lilke how the running gear came out. So I am open to tips and also when I sprayed the final flat coat the weathing on the tracks dissapeared. Anywhoo here is almost final pics. I just have to make a back drop next.

Alright Completed Build as promised, This kit will be my guiena pig kit for future stuff but I think for my first kit and figures it is ok. What do you think.

Sherman M4A3 A12 from 25th Armored Rgt, 14th Armored Divison, Germany 45'

Congrats Eugene! I like you got the shine off and some dirt effects on. Washes work best with enamels or non water based oils. Water doesn't flow well and usually blobs. (Not saying it can't be done the reverse), but its way easier to base paint models with acrylics and then flow the enamels/oils over that. Pick up the AK WEATHERING DVD when u get a chance. Its very good. I think luckymodel carries it for under $20.

Hi Eugene,

Excellent finishing and don't bother too much about this wash thingy. I ruined my first 2-3 models because of bad washes (and I used enamel oils), but always learned somenthing.
And as I said - your finishing is brilliant, so nothing to worry about

Regards,
Radek

Wow, I missed this altogether...So many in-progress projects though, I hesitate to jump in..but that Tamiya 105mm Sherman kit that's been on my shelf for years is waving at me now....Hmmm..

Hello ALL its been awhile since ive posted so heres some photos I took with iphone Jumbos moving along have already painted and amin the process of touch up and decals.

ok don't know what happened they down loaded into my gallery fine oh well off to troubleshoot.

Sascha(Ironowl)

off to the Painting and decal section then shes finished

Sascha(Ironowl)

sorry about the bad photos I am having to use my Phone camera ugh.

Sascha(Ironowl)

hello,
I will say that it is finished. thank you Jeff for this great campaign. and all involved for these superb kits.
steph

This is, by far, one of the Best collection of different Sherman builds, I've ever witnessed! Fantastic works to all of you!!

Okay, I'm in. I hope I can pull this off, since I'm starting late. I started on July 10, but just now got the pics up. This pic is my first night's work.

July 13 Work - Looks like a group of TRON bikes!


July 18 Work - Will be painting lower hull and bogies separately.

Gotta picture of the boxart Jerry?



Jeff