i was just wondering how to get a decent looking damaged tank, i would like to make it look like a tank has been hit by an 88', or another tank... but i dont want a dodgey job

cheers

Hey Will
What tank are you going to use as the victim?
Generally there will be an entry point, usually a round or elliptical hole depending on the slope of the armour. Shermans could dramatically explode (as internal ammunition stowage became ignited from the initial rounds impact producing molten shrapnel) and a subsequent explosion often could split the whole superstructure or remove the turret easily... Others could generally burned fiercely, (The gasoline fumes could ignite) the result being a blackened hull area around the penetration.
Tell us more about what you had in mind mate.
Cheers
Brad

Hi Wil. Building a normal kit has its challenges, but making one damaged/blown up .... and making it convincing, is another ball game. It demands extra work, in both the build-skills and painting departments. Brad has already given some general effects, but it´ll all come down to the vehicle you choose and the amount of damage you want to portray.
Getting a good reference image of your subject is step number one. Why guess what´ll happen ..... plus it it´ll show you exactly whats needed in the interior. If you got the time, a lot of these details can be scratched, as they dont have to be 100% perfect ... if you got the money ... buy and interior ... but this will still need to be damaged ... alternatively aim for a self propelled gun, where alot of detail is already given(?).
The "panzerwrecks" books are ideal if considering building such (see reviews on here to choose which is the most relevant to your build). They often contain several images of the same panzer ... from different sides. Whatever you choose to do, a wreck will need more planning and thinking than a straight OOB build. Good luck!

What kind of vehicle do you wanna destroy. If a jeep gets hit by a 88 then it only exist in little pieces. But a big tank would have a big hole. You can make a hole on size and then with a heated screwdriver melt the sides of the hole a little bit. If you wanna have the cuppola off then you will need a omplete interior and you will hav eto destroy that and a lot of rust and (how do you call that black stuff in english?). And if you wanna have the armour that its bend and that stuff then you have to cut it and then bend it with a candle. But a just damaged vehicle wouldnt have much rust but when its killed for a little while it would have more.

Lars

sorry about the low information, i was planning on 'destroying' a Sherman, possibly by a flak 88" (if my hobby shop has one) or a panzershrek. and could you please recommend a good kit for these things;
Flak88, Panzershrek crew, and a Sherman.

cheers.

Different methods of destruction will leave different marks on the vehicle. Aside from obvious differences like mines or air dropped bombs, a armor piercing round will make different marks on the entry/exit areas than will a Panzerfaust/Shreck.

The AP round will just leave a nearly round hole (if near a 90d impact) or a oval shaped one, stretching out more as the angle increases. There may be a slight raised lip around the edge depending on circumstance.

A HEAT round like the PF/PS will leave a small hole, think of putting a hot needle into the side of the model, with molten "splash" marks around the hole.

Study some references and you will notice the differences immediately.

Wil,

You will need a very large display to have the Sherman and an 88 together, The 88 was a long range weapon, and a MG could take out the crew is it was suprised by a tank coming around a corner too close. A Panzerfaust hit would be different, a urban weapon, which you could pop out of a cellar window or a doorway. This could be a good one, the spent Panzerfaust tube and an unfired one on the dead German's bicycle leaing against the wall.

Look at reference pictures for the damage you are looking for. I have seen pictures of Shermans and not notice the hit until it was pointed out, could have been a thrown rod in the engine for the recovery. Other Shermans are a good illustration of a "Tommy cooker" or a Sherman scrap heap. Some of the 75/88mm hits are nice round holes ranging up to cracked chunks of armor plate missing. The plasma flame from the Panzerfaust should have started a fire, but not always. A hit in the engine compartment would have burned without a problem.

I have not seen the turret toss on a Sherman like a T-34 or T-55/64/72 when hit and the ammo goes off.

OK, thanks for the help guys, but i have thought it through and decided to make a panzerfaust/shrek crew in a window about to shoot the sherman.