Guys,
I have finished this tank with a lot of help from you guys, Thank You.







Semper Fi,
Don "Gunny" Franklin

That's a GREAT build...and the flame effect is very cool.

Care to tell us how you did it?

-YL

I'm going to have to write an article on how to do this. It really started as something to pass the time while waiting for something on the tank to dry.
Here' how you do it:
1. Take a white wire the size of your nozzle
2. push cotton balls down around the wire.
3. Apply superglue to the wire and pull the first cotton ball down on to it.
4. Keep doing this unit you have cotton balls up and down your wire.
5. Start spreading the cotton away from the wire and nozzle.
6. You will probably want to pull off extra cotton on the first couple of balls to make them smaller.
7. Keeping the nozzle white, spray the cotton with yellow.
8. As you go outward toward the end spray orange.
9. Add just a hint of black toward the end and at bulges in the flame.
10. I sprayed mine with gloss coat, don't know if it did anything though.
And thats it, Happy burning.
Don

Nice work Don, the flame effect is a very nice touch.

At first I thought it was Photoshop, because it looked so real! Then I thought you might have used some of that expanding foam, and just carved it into the proper shape...

Great idea, though, using cotton balls. Fantastic job on the painting and shading of the flame stream, too. Thanks for sharing the tip!

-YL

Nice work Gunny. I hope my "Cairo" comes out as well.

Mike T

Mike,
What Kit are you going to use?
Don

Wow! That's fantastic! I don't believe I've ever seen anything quite like it before.

Now THAT is a compilment, Thanks.
Don

I almost jumped in my seat when I saw that flame coming at me. Incredible. I have never seen anything like that modeled before anywhere. The way you painted the flame also is very convincing. Really like the different camo patterns on one tank. Not to mention the "target clock". I love seeing little details like that. It's that kind of detail that makes a kit your own.

She surely is one sharp Sherman. Ha.

Don, great work on this one. It is really a fantastic Sherman and will be a great entry into the flamethrower tank campaign.

You should consider entering this for the MoM competition.

Thanks for sharing

The tank looks great, but I have to admit that the flame effect is what really blows me away.

Please do a detailed report on how you did that!

GG

That is one heck of a build. That flame adds the right touch!

Thanks for sharing everything.

Turned out great Don.

Great job! What kit did you use? Anything scratch built?

Heh, I'm still amazed how well that flame came out Don. Great build!

Kit:
Italeri U.S. Marines M4 Sherman

Scratch Built:
Wood side armor- Balsa wood with Granite bolts
Hatch screens- Plastic window screen
Tracks- Off old Tamiya M4A3 kit
External sight- made from plastic, lost the kit part.
Tow cable- Used ship rigging line with kits plastic ends.
Extra track for armor- From various kits
Large box on right rear- Sheet plastic
Helmets- Tamiya with superglue to make the camouflaged covers
Sand bags- Milliput
Water spout and line- Plastic rod
Fording stack supports- Plastic rod
Straps for tools and helmets- Aluminium foil
Headlight- Aluminium foil back with hot glue gun drop
Commaders vision ports- Drilled out and replaced with Kyrstal Klear
Gunners periscope- Plexi glass filed to shape
Antennas- metal wire
Stowage on rear of turret- Modified kit part
Bolts for bogies- plastic rod and resin cast hex
Troop phone bag- Modified Tamiya back pack

I think thats all,
Don

Awesome job i love the camo'd planking and the flames look fantastic the best i have seen yet i have got to try that.

Ron.

GG,
I posted this earlier on how I did it. I want to do it again with a diorama using my recently acquired DML Tarawa Marines. I plan on photo documenting the build because I want to join the Pacific Campaign that kicks off December 7th. If it works out well, I will submit one of those how to articles here.
Here' how you do it:
1. Take a white wire the size of your nozzle
2. push cotton balls down around the wire.
3. Apply superglue to the wire and pull the first cotton ball down on to it.
4. Keep doing this unit you have cotton balls up and down your wire.
5. Start spreading the cotton away from the wire and nozzle.
6. You will probably want to pull off extra cotton on the first couple of balls to make them smaller.
7. Keeping the nozzle white, spray the cotton with yellow.
8. As you go outward toward the end spray orange.
9. Add just a hint of black toward the end and at bulges in the flame.
10. I sprayed mine with gloss coat, don't know if it did anything though.
And thats it, Happy burning.
Don

Don, that is a superb build. Love the flame effect. Any chance of doing a step by step feature? I've signed up for the pacific campaign and am planning on having a bunker torched by a man portable flamethrower and want to get the flame effect right. That is without a shadow of a doubt the best flame effect I've seen!

Hi Don. Would definately agree with Karl ... its something most modellers avoid like the plague, and from the few that did attempt it, none have been as convincing as this.
The flame does steal the initial reaction, but looking again, the sherman is excellent in its own right! Love the side armor .. those bolts look so cool. Great camo as well. An all round top model ... Nice one!!

Karl,
I want to do the same thing. I was going to wait for December 7th to start building it, I didn't want to get a jump on the campaign. However, I can do some more experimenting with this technique and take pictures this time. I have a few other things on my plate right now, but I will do it and soon.
Don

Don, you're a star! I'll await with anticipation. I'm just in the process of doing my research so I may have a dabble at experimenting with fire...LOL

Don,
Gonna sound like a broken record but......really nice! Flames are awesome and the Shermie is outstanding!

That is amazing...the flames look so great.