Thanks for the links and pics. The coconut idea is very interesting also. Maybe put the tank under some palm trees. What is best to simulate sand?

Here's an example of a model with the wooden applique armor unpainted:



One thought you could do is paint the wood weathered, ie. the OD chipping or fading off it.

I too have little on Pacific Shermans, but the Osprey modeling manual on the type (decent Brit reference) has an article with three different USMC Shermans. All have various field armor and really pretty camouflage jobs. In all cases, the wooden planks were painted with the rest of the vehicle--at least with these models. The photos I have in Hunnicutt's book and a few others seem to suppor t the contention that the planks were painted, not left in their natural state.
Greg

DJ, sounds like we're talking the same book here. If you can get the images scanned for everybody, that would be great. I don't have the equipment and am too stupid to get it right besides.
Bombshell, the colors were all over the map: OD of course, but some repainted entirely in a sand/earth brown wavy pattern. Some included a reddish clay color, too. It appears that within each Marine Tank Brigade there WAS some uniformity of color and to a lesser extent pattern. But each brigade was different from each other, in colors and in materials selected for additional armor protection. One of them even welded six-inch nails around the hatches, pointy side up, to discourage Japanese form getting on top and opening the hatch to drop grenades! HTH,
Greg

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Here's an example of a model with the wooden applique armor unpainted:



One thought you could do is paint the wood weathered, ie. the OD chipping or fading off it.

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19K---Lord that is a nicely done kit. The contrast between the paint of the tank and the wood is amazing. Nice job!
DJ