Great job, Rick. You've dressed up those Academy bogies very nicely. And those little chains -- they are a detail I usually skip, so I'm anxious to see how they come out with paint on them (i.e., hope they don't clog)..

Bryan's post got me thinking -- any plans for the markings on this one yet? Are you going to use the Tarawa decals?

Yeah this one is going to be for a Tarawa Sherman..I just finished scratch building the rack on the back last night and I added the last little details... I should start the painting process tonight or sometime this week ... Can't wait to try out those decals... Still not sure which of the 12 tanks to do so far it is between Condor or China Gal.. The only thing slowing me down on this baby is my Friul tracks ..I have to redrill each link and I have found that I'm better changing the wire for straight pins otherwise they keep falling apart. Fun stuff..Not! Thanks for the comments guys.

Rick

Should the gas cap in the center, behind the engine access panel be there? In looking at my references, mostly the "Sherman Bible" by Hunnicutt, it appears that for the tank to be on Tarawa, it would be a 1943 tank right? So my question remains....I could be wrong, but I am building the same kit and removed my gas cap in the center rear.

Bogies: Geez, I thought I did well to thin down the skids and add a few bolts underneath. I never considered adding them behind the return roller.

Where is this "depression" that is mentioned? The pics that show it are not loading.

Thanks, Mark

Hi Mark ...Hmmm ... Well I'm using MMiR Sherman book as a reference and it shows the squared off hatch M4A2's as having the cap there ... So I'm sticking to that ...Who knows? .. Depression ? what depression ?

Rick

Okay here are my latest pictures taken by my friend Daniel Munoz.... The kit is finally painted ..Black first then Tamiya's OD and 2 more coats of OD with dark yellow added to it ...Two filter coats were added one was Model masters german camo green and the other was interior ivory color. And last but not least a black pin wash ...Some scuffing with a pencil has been done but the weathering has just been started ..Oh the decals are just amazing ..easiest decals I've ever used ..I used future as a gloss coat laid the decals on ,added another coat of future and a polly S flat coat ...

This is my scratchbuilt Jerry can rack seen on all Tarawa shermans...The Jerry cans are not fixed and will be removed for weathering..

Tools have been painted I base coated the wood with a sand color and used burnt umber oil paints to make the wood grain ..Straps are painted in burnt sienna .

Front view ..don't worry the sprockets aren't glued on ...still have to paint the glass in the periscopes..

A strange thing happened when I put my friuls in "Blacken-it" They came out rusted ,but hey I can deal with that ... :-) How cool is that!!

I've done alot more since these pictures ..I actually repainted most of the kit in a lighter OD because the future darkened it more than I wanted ..more filters and it has been dusted with MMP powders...first experience with these ...I LIKE IT! Now on to the base...I hope everything will be ready for Halifax...!
Let me know what you think guys.

Rick

Sweet looking Sherman. I will have to try those color combos

Thanks for the comment..

Rick