¹⁄35

Backdated Nichimo M4A1

The Tracks

The tracks came from an RHPS set and it’s the first time I tried single links. WOW! Tedious to say the least, but I really like the look. The tread pads had a sink hole on each side, so they were puttied, wet sanded and then painted with a combination of Testors Rubber and Humbrol Dark Gray and highlighted with lighter shades. The end connectors were painted with Testors Rust and washed with oils, then dry brushed with Testors Gun Metal.
 

Painting

I wanted to do something different than standard OD, so I used Monogram Pro-Modeller Olive Drab acrylic as the base coat with Tamiya Red Brown and White for the camouflage scheme FM-5-20B as used by the 1st Armored Division’s 13th Arm’d Regt. in Italy 1944.

The markings are for a tank from the 1st Battalion’s Able company, 3rd Platoon. I sprayed the white first, masked when dry then the OD, followed by the brown free handed. Do not make the mistake I did and add a drop of dish soap to the paint if you are using anything but water for thinner. I added it to the alcohol/paint mix and it retarded the drying time to about 2 weeks, no kidding. The turret star came from the Nichimo kit and the rear deck star from a 1/48 Wildcat kit. The unit markings, name and bridge weight insignias were hand painted and then artist oils were used for the weathering, mixed with white glue and static grass for the mud etc. added to the running gear and tracks. I finished with a couple coats of Floquil Dust and a final coat of clear matt coat to smooth it all out.
 

Stowage

No WWII US tank is complete without a bunch of stuff hanging on it and piled on the back. I scrounged through a bunch of kits and came up with jerry cans, bedrolls, a sleeping bag, ration boxes, ammo can etc. but wanted a few extra “oddities.” I scratch built a captured German Officers suitcase from modeling clay and masking tape, painted with oils and a bucket added to the rear. I added a tissue and white glue tarp to the back of the turret and hung two musette bags to boot. The tow cable is 10lb. picture wire and aluminum tubing, painted with Testors rust and washed. As per normal practice in the 1st Armored division, I added 2 rows of spare tracks to the front of the hull.

Copyright ©2002 - Text and Photos by Lauren Blakley (chief). All Rights Reserved.