Hello everyone,

This is the first Sherman I have completed in about 3 years.
Its the Dragon Tarawa Sherman straight out of the box .I used a Karaya cable and modified a figure in the hatch .
The figure was based on a Azimut torso,Warrior head and Coree, Verlinden hands .
The tank was airbrushed in Tamiya olive drab with highlighting done by oil paints and finished using mig pigments and pastel chalks

I was inspired by a couple of articles done here recently at Armourama
I had to build one of the latest Dragon slide technology kits so I chose the Sherman to be my first kit.
I did'nt go all out because its going on a diorama.










Cheers
Michael

You say you didn't go all out? Can't say I would do anything different. It looks great. I can't wait to see it in it's diorama.

Excellent job, on this famous USMC tank. Will the Dio be of Tarawa, by any chance?

Thanks Matt,

I appreciate your comments.

I started off doing modern vehicles at the start of the year and ended up finishing the Tarawa sherman.

The only downside to this kit is the rear idler wheels .If you ever take this kit on or you have it in your stash make sure you use a strengthining rod for the rear idler wheels if you are using the kit track.

Everything goes together fine except for the rear idler wheels .
They had been a b***ch to get together .
Once the track is covered in enamels it can take a lot of punishment with thinned down washes.
This is a fine kit to go together and I will find it very hard to start a Tamiya kit after finishing this.

thanks
Michael

Ray ,

Its a definite tarawa dio.
There is a fair bit of work to do on the board but
I should have the dio completed in the next few months .

This is the general layout of the way the dio is to look at the moment.
I have a bucketload of work to do on th board.

I've done the Dragon Tarawa and Iwo jima figures for the dio with head conversions .
I find it hard because I keep switching inbetween other projects .
Is anyone else finding this problem.






Thanks few the feedback

Michael

Hi Michael,

Neat looking job on the Sherman, great work.

Al

Great work --Looks great!

Hi Michael. Excellent build and weathering. Your sherman looks great. You got the tracks to sit down perfectly after the drive sprocket ... I had some problems in this area as they were a little springy.
Looking forward to the diorama ... 8 figures will make it quite busy. Any plans for obstacles, logs or groundwork features?

Really great weathering and overall build for OOB. You added a couple of nice items, why not the rest?
Really nice on the final dusting.
Will make an excellent diorama, knocking out a bunker, will look great.
Congrats on a great build,
Bob

Thanks guys for the feedback .

The weathering stage takes a little time .
I like doing weathering on the tank and it can take me upto a couple of days to try and get the right look .

Frank,
With reference to the top of the track not sitting right on the return rollers it is not an easy thing to fix .
I used small amounts of superglue on fine rod or wire .
Small amounts of superglue had been placed around the drive sprocket, rear idler wheel and on top of the return rollers on the inside of the track connectors .I then moved the track connector next to the return roller guide so it was just touching and it bonds at the right height.
That is the way I did mine .This is a very tedious process but in the overall outcome you get the right look.
I also placed very small amounts of superglue under various roadwheels to keep the track in place .

I have also dropped 1 figure off the dio because the pose does not look right.
I 'm using around 7 figures on the ground to give the impression that there is a push going on inbetween taking out bunkers.
I will be doing some palm trees taken out by shell bursts and possibly part of a bunker in the background with a little debris on the ground.
I'm sought of trying to create some atmosphere with the tank in support of the troops .
I want to get in and try finish at least 1 dio for the year .

Michael