¹⁄35

Tasca Sherman III

The other detail at the front end is the set of foundry marks I added to the transmission. These early one-piece transmissions were marked with “E4186” (the Ordnance drawing number), a serial number for the individual casting, and a batch reference (“LO ###”) for heat treatment. The marks could be on the upper left side under the hull MG, dead centre of the upper edge (in extra-big lettering), or underneath near the lower bolt strip where nobody can see them. I used Archer’s excellent resin casting marks decal sheet for the job, cutting as close to the marks as I could since the whole sheet is effectively one big decal. (I needed a magnifying glass to find some of the marks…) As usual, I placed some Micro-Set in the intended spot, added the decal, and top-coated with Micro-Sol to make them snuggle down.

Moving round to the back I added the “parcel shelf” again from Italeri, but with side braces from 0.010x0.030” strip. Most of the kit details went on as advertised except the spanner and sledge-hammer on the rear plate, which were relocated lower down. None of the tools have any securing straps, so I made mine from 0.010x0.040” strip. I laid one strip over the tool from tie-down to tie-down, and then a second slightly shorter strip with a pointed end, secured at one end only. The buckles are from four short lengths of 0.010” rod laid out in a box shape at the crest of the strap. While this looks ok, the extra work is a shame – Tasca ought to include straps.