Gday all
Gotten back onto this after a figure sculpting 'binge'...
It was the Sherman Mk.III, but with the addition of the Formations M4 conversion then presto! A mid production M4...(ok so the update set does have earlier less common air cleaners, and I have kept the 3 piece transmission cover...)
Making all the tedius things such as the brushguards and periscopeguards, the later TC sight, etcetera...









It will have the T48 tracks common to many US Armoured divisions initially in NWE. I'm thinking of plenty of stowage, but at this stage just want to get something enough to enter our biggest comp here next month...Can be topped up later
Give me any thoughts or tips as something extra to spruce 'er up!
Cheers
Bradley

Bradley,

No tips. Looks great so far! Looking forward to seeing further progress shots. Well done!

Lookin' good Brad. I'd expect no less from you.

Rob

Thanks lads
I'm at that most critical of points (for me), which is getting all the small things applied such as the guards, running gear, lights, mesh, etc. and then following up with some good stowage... I have yet to get everything together successfully and have a completed model to my satisfaction, but hey, here's hoping!

Hi there

I agree, I think your doing a great job on your own there. One question though, if I may. Where did you get the clear headlights? I think that may be my first resin casting venture.....

Thanks for sharing

Stuart

nice sherman..i see you're working on two shermans. looking forward to see more WIP shots. well done and thanks.

Gday Stuart


The clear lights are actually part of the kit, and with due care can be made into fine headlights! Need to paint the rear a silver, then mask the front and prime and paint as per usual
~ Ed thanks for your words, but this is my solo venture at the moment... The other was a Tarawa M4A2 which I also converted into an M4, and it ended up in a muddy diorama a few months back...

Hi again more work done, bit by bit...
I made the horn guard out of flat brass bar. The wire is 8 Amp fuse wire...



A close up of the periscope guard, which once again is made from 8 Amp fuse wire...



I made the locking bar (?) on the latch copying the Formations version (which I broke!) using reference, but it would seem there are more than one type of hatch configuration, namely the length and position of the latch, and the inclusion of a protective head pad etc. So this could very well be a dawgs breakfast of hatch details...


Cheers
Brad

can i ask why you didn't use the photoetched parts in the detailing kit?

All the details look great Brad. I really like all the work on the commander's hatch.

Gday Steven
Simply, I don't like 'em!
the periscope guards aren't flat metal like you would get from PE. I've yet to see convincing guards, as PE is 2 dimensional, and the parts are generally too fine for injection plastic.

And Pat thanks for you words on the commanders hatch. I have since seen more reference pics which show the variety of styles when it comes to the hatches. I'm settling on removing the small locking ring (centre bottom) and scratching a protective pad...
Brad

Excellent work mate,
yet another 'Bradleyised' Sherman is rolling off the production line, wouldn't expect anything less from you. As for pointers, you know i'm no Sherman expert so will just say keep up the good work.
As for scratchbuilding a pad for the commanders hatch I may have a tip for you:
When I built my M4A3 I used one of those mis-shaped (square) Tamiya Bread bags you find on their earlier German figures, I trimmed it down and rounded the bottom to give it the correct shape and removed the 'loop' details. It has that 'soft-padded' look that a normal peice of plastic doesn't, as if its had a few heads bumped against it!

You can see it in this pic anyway, see what you think:



Cheers and keep up the good work!

James

Thanks James, but I should have stopped you at


Great idea though, and I like the thought process on the irregular surface.
Thanks for the kind words too mate.
Tonight I have further 'Bradleyised' the turret with some casting scars and irregularites. I do this a bit, but I think it adds that little bit extra to suggest the casting process.
Progress shots to follow!
Cheers
Brad

lol, I almost said that you may not have any being such a shermanaholic but I thought everyone has at least one old set of Tamiya German's sitting around! Obviously not you though! Might even be worth buying a cheap old set for the breadbags alone, the amount of Shermans you get through!

The casting irregularities sound like a great idea, the rate they were churning these babies out they were never bound to be perfect castings!
will look forward to the pics,

Cheers,

James

Gday all
Got some more work done
Fitted some foundry numbers to the turret top. The numbers are accurate from reference, but not specifically to the tank I'll produce... Finished the head pad for the commmander's split hatch.


An overview of the mixed media...Seems a shame to coat it!


Finished the open driver's hatch detail, both top and bottom. Used some ref. pics for the additions, including a reshaping of the original DML hatch, a locking pin and scratching a head pad and interior screws for the periscope mounting.
Wanted to add the clips for the foul weather hood attachment on the sides of the hoods, but they are so small I needn't bother?


Cheers for looking
Brad

Looks great Brad,
Excellent attention to detail as always!




I know exactly what you mean! when you've got a real hybrid in front of you it does seem a shame to cover up all those different colors of plastic and etch!

Cheers,

James

Brad,

You've really poured the detail on. I think that paint and weathering will only make that detail pop more. Those periscope guards are great. I have to try that.

Regards, John

Thanks lads.
James, I primed the turret tonight with flat black. There are a couple of flaws that have now arisen, which will need to be doctored up...

John, the periscope guards can be furthe improved with 4 extra drill holes on the inside of each arm on the housing, and the insertion of a tip of wire to replicate the the bolt holding them in place. In reality they have little 'feet' that sweep inwards on the horizontal...

Hi again, some more progress...
Primed the turret a flat black. (Obviously!)
Added some brushguards for the rear lights. Buggered up the Formations ones I had. One had an airbubble too, and was super fragile...



Comtemplating some stowage options. Made these for another M4 a while back, but they may come in handy... Also the ubiquitous bucket will be making an appearance, and a frypan if I can find one...(Didn't Tamiya have one in a set?)





Brad

Lookin nice Brad!
These all those bits and pieces u were telling me you picked up?
Cheers

Looks great Brad, the stowage complements it well, Particularly the bucket, a frying pan would be an excellent addition! Perhaps theres one in Tamiya's (dare I say it?) GERMAN field kitchen set .

Anyway, keep up the good work,

James

Gday Dave
Glad to see you around again...Yep, there's some extra bitsenbobs on this'n... Don't worry, I haven't forgotten the resculpt on your insurgents



hehe touche...
Was this the kit with a couple of snags also? That's what I'm talking about! Maybe a captured wurst hanging near the bucket...

nice looking build so far, quick question, the weilded armor in the front for the driver and gunner, wher they kept hollow or was additional material placed under for added protection?

Thanks Robert
Nope, what you get is what you see!
There is the expected gap resulting from only the plate laying on an angle...
You see a few pics here and there of Shermans with their guntube cleaning rods laid horizontally behind/through both applique plates.
HTH
Brad

Hi again
Some more work has been done, namely the installation of the grouser vent grilles, some minor putty/filler work, found the rear idlers Separately have been working on a figure of an infantry officer from Verlinden. I converted him slightly to suit my needs, and show the rough idea of where I want him in the dio.









Separate question regarding him...
He is the highest standard Verlinden figure I've seen; well detailed and super crisp also... Does anyone know if there is multiple resin colours for Verlinden figures? I also have a set of tanker parts which do look like cheap copies in a caramel colour...