Well, while I'm waiting for my Aber PE to get here I figured I'd start doing a little figure painting. May as well have them ready to go when it's time!



Here's the commander. Not perfect, but I think he's passable. I'm trying to use acrylics exclusively, but really need Vallejo stuff for the flesh, as Tamiya just dries too fast and leaves too grainy of a surface when you drybrush. You can really see it in this first picture. Luckily you don't see it so much with the naked eye.



I added a Hornet head that I had from years ago, and detailed the helmet with lead foil straps. I also borrowed the texturizing trick with Testors Liquid Cement to make the helmet look a little more accurate. Next comes the binoculars, and I've noticed that his right eye needs a little tidying up!

Does the pose bother y'all? I thought that maybe he could be looking at something a little closer to him right after having looked through the binoculars, and so he has yet to lower them. Maybe I'll stick a guy on the tank deck talking to him or something...

Anyway, love the stuff I'm seeing lately! Keep it comin'!

Hi Tom,

the gun mantlet and barrel are from Jordi Robio, and are really nice although the mantlet from the kit is also great.

Martin did you order direct from Jordi Rubio or another source? I have a similar kit and wanted to make it unique to the Corps.

Justin that TC fig looks great.

G

Well, hard to keep up with this campaign... Great work everyone!

Justin, great work on the chains, I will have to try it myself. My last try landed in the trashbin though...

Myself, I have finished the lower hull and moved on to the upper hull and turret. Still pondering on the marking options: either a 1st AD in North Africa or one in Alsace. That would probably look cool, as it would have some late features and white wash. I'll post some pics later this week.

Cheers!
Stefan

Tasca are about to release a new kit :

Linky here:

1/35 U.S. Medium Tank M4A3E8 Sherman "Easy Eight"
w/ T66 TRACKS


Another nice kit

Cheers

Paul

Justin,

That figure is brilliant! (Wish my painting was anywhere near as good...) The pose is very expressive and looks thoughtful, especially compared to the static & "action" poses in stock figures. He works well for a static display, but at the same time there's a sense of foreboding, like it's all just about to kick off...

Tom

Couldn't agree more mate! A great job on the figure Justin. He is even passable to scrutiny in the super close up, so in the flesh he will look just peachy. I do like the pose with his nestled down on the turret; very believable.
Good stuff from everyone else too! The variety on this pageof the thread alone is temendous

Brad

Lovely work everyone !

@ Justin - yes the figure looks super - as Brad says if it looks like that super close it'll look great int he hand !

@ Martin - wow, that's an extraordinary machine, great to see a flamethrower here, and the AM stuff looks VERY tempting !

@ Wayne - yours is really coming along. Having time to ' yourself' really helps doesn't it ?

Keep posting guys !

Paul

...and now for something completely different!

Here is the start of my Sherman Mk IIAT (for "agricultural tractor"!) conversion. I've used the Academy M36 as a donor for the hull & driving gear, but there's a lot of plastic surgery to come. Before I can do more of the interior I need to scratch-build the GM twin diesels. (I know Academy offered the engine in their Duckbill kit, but I don't have one. Still, it's all part of the fun!)







(and a reminder of the goal:)


More to come!

Tom

PS: I'll start a real gun tank soon...

Wow some really great stuff going on here ..Great start Tom ..
.G good eye for the details ..
Martin Looks good ..I love those 105's
Justin ..I wish I could paint figures that well ...I got a secret weapon (a figure painter does my figures for me )
Eric ..I'm sure that'll look awesome under a coat of paint.. I like it!
Paul ..that'll be a really cool build ...woof!

Lots Of Great Stuff Going On Here!!

@Justin; As for the mud…I think your on the right path. I would suggest adding some plaster of pairs or Celluclay, which I use as groundwork for displays. The plaster or celluclay will give texture as well as the cut up grass; keep in mind that a little will go along way. (I may have over done it on mine) You could also add acrylic paints to it for coloring too. The figure just looks great!

@Wayne; Nice work on the railings. The whole project looks like a real winner, I love them USMC Shermans.

@ Paul; Looking forward to both Shermans. I’ve toyed with the idea of picking up the formations “Oddball”. I’ll be watching both eagerly.

@Martin; Kool choice on the flame Shermie. Don’t see to many of them built up and the progress so far looks excellent!

@Tom; I just think the subject is vary original. Your early stages are coming along great. Post lots of pictures of the build, for many of us it will give us clues on how to handle interiors and engine bays.

Lastely…ARE YOU SERIOUS….E8 w/T66 tracks?!!?….Tasca, YOUR KILLING ME!!!

Thanks for the news Paul!

Everyone keep up the OUTSTANDING work

Hi Guys !

@ Tom - that conversion is a beauty ! Wow !!! I love it !! And you're off to a great start !

I've had a crack at the weld beads on my M4A3 (Oddballs ride).

I glued the 0.2 stryene rod in place. I'll let it dry properly and flatten it (remove the excess) and then texture the beads tomorrow.

I'll then add the drain holes, as well add the brass handles,

Here's the status. I'd like to have the upper hull on the lower before next week.



Cheers

Paul

Well guys here is my effort at a Sherman. It has got the juices flowing again after a layoff of about 4 years. Please be brutal on any criticism I can take it lol

The pic is a bit small Ian.

Can you post a bigger one please ?


Cheers

Paul

Is that better

Thanks better Ian

Nice work mate.... do you have any more pics ?

Will you build another for this Campaign ?

I think you should 'have a go' seeing the 'juices are flowing now !

Is that the Dragon kit, or the formations conversion ?

Cheers

Paul

I've just cleaned up the Formations wheels set I have for my M4A3, and I also have the Formations Track skid set which I'll use.

Any tips on other areas I need to address with the Tamiya Bogies ?

Cheers

Paul

Thanks Paul it is the Cyber-hobby kit I have few more photos but will have to covert them from RAW first. I will need to have a serious look at what is going to be the next project

It'll be great to see more pics Ian

Make sure you join in on the fun and document your next build here with all of the team. You are most welcome

Cheers

Paul

This will be my first campaign on Armorama and have selected my kit.
At this point it will probably be a OOB build with a few additional goodies. Here is a image of the open kit.

Tom, This is such a cool idea. Looking forward to watching your progress.

Chris

I'm sorry you guys I redraw my M4A3 POA CWS H5 form this campagne and put it into the Korean war campagne.

In exchange I'll enter my M4A3E2 (in hope tasca will release its soon )

there is a lot of work in this kit.

lowerhull, Tamiya
suspention, Tasca
tracks, Dragon DS
conversion, ..... Verlinden Products
extras form, dragon, formation tasca and tamiya
( Yes my scrapbox is more empty right now)

I hope you like this one aswell









Martin

Looks neat Martin

Tom, now that is a great choice of subject, I'm looking forward to that and another one of your scratch interiors! (BTW: What happened to the M36B1? )

Ian, great build, nice weathering. One comment if you will: Sherman tracks don't sag, except on wrecks...

Martin, great Jumbo! I hope you're right about Tasca releasing one (or anyone as long as it's in plastic...)

So, I made some pics of my build so far. First my reference picture, for discussion only, I took it from Concord's M4 Sherman at war by S. Zaloga:

You can see some smooth type drive sprockets and a few late wheels. I might leave off the sandbags so one can see the DV parts. Not definitive on that yet.

Overall:


Front portion: I took the liberty of assuing the right side still had the earlier fancy drive sprocket.


Back with started hole drilled out and some handles added:


Close up of the bogie with the later wheels:


Next I'll probably start on the track (I hate single link tracks!) and continue with the details... Any comments welcome.

Cheers and keep 'em coming!
Stefan