First let me say that this is an incredible site. The information here is second to none on the internet or anywhere for that matter and believe me I've looked. I'm glad to be a part of it. Now, I'm brand new to this at 35 years old save for a few very bad models from my pre-teen days. I'm going to try to add images of my first try at military models for some critique. Please speak freely if you choose to comment you cannot hurt my feelings and I consider all comments beneficial to making me better. I intend to give back in a "newbie..lessons learned" post. And lastly, let me say that any successes I had with this model were due to the fantastic resources provided on this site. Thank you all!
Mike



Well, I can't get the pics posted in the message but they can be viewed here:

Mike189's Sherman
drat! this link doesn't work well at all...I'm working on something new
talk to ya'll soon..
nevermind that link...(sorry) try this one.........

http://photos.yahoo.com/mike01892003

EDIT: Mike, the link works if you sign up to the site. Unfortunately, some are reluctant to sign up to sites like these for fear of the spam attacks. I created a bogus email awhile ago that I use for such purposes. KF

Hey, good job. I'm a newbie as well, so this may not be the best help. You need to weather it a bit, depending on where it (Sherman) is. If you need any help, just consult the people here (Lord knows I am) or just go to the "Features" icon. Both are great sources, I can tell you that much.From one newbie to another, welcome to the site.

Welcome aboard Mike189! We're glad you signed in! I especially am glad you chose some U.S. armor! A Sherman no less! Good choice.

While I was only able to see the pic for a short time (the site where it's hosted timed it out), I think you did a great job. If I were to recommend anything, a little more weathering in the way of "washing" and more "dry-brushing" would bring out more details and help to liven up the monotoneness of the olive drab color.

EDIT:Ok, I broke down and joined to check out your pics. You have a nice overall painting job, however, as I mentioned above, it looks too clean. The road wheels and track look good - the lower hull should match the dirt on the wheels and track. It looks too clean under the sponsons.
The upper hull area and turret would definetly benefit from a wash and some dry-brushing. The panel lines and weld seams are too close in color to the rest of the model to really stand out. Washes of a dark color will add depth to the panel lines and welds, while some dry-brushing of a lighter "worn" olive drab will add the same to the corners and around hatches and other raised details.
Very good job though for a first one since teenagerdom.

Mike:
Welcome to the site, glad to see some non-german armor there.
Looks pretty and welcome to the hobby!!! You will be consumed by it (if you do it right... or wrong)
Kencelot is right, it could use a little more color varion, washes etc. but none of us knew how to do that stuff when we started either. In due time all those techniques will come to you, it's just a matter of practice and you're off to a great start.
The best things to do are A) ask question B) Look at the work of others C) Practice and D) have fun.
Looks like you're off to a good start on the figure too.

Again welcome to the site, what's the next kit we can expect to see from you?

Welcome to the site, and nice job on the tank. Yep, it could use more weathering, but I always like to take pics pre-weather before I "mess" it up, so to say Weathering is one of the fun perks of building military models. If you screw something up, or splash paint on it, the more realistic it'll look. You really can't do that with model cars and get away with it. Keep up the good work, looks like you're already out to a good start. BTW, I’m 20 and just started military models when I was around 18. It’s never too late to start

Welcome Mike189!

The brief look I had of your Sherman looks good.

This is a GREAT hobby! It requires patience, it encourages research, develops skills and provides an outlet for a creative talent that might otherwise remain hidden!

I'm getting back after 20+ years of real life! Hell, I even owned a Military Modeling Hobby Shop in the mid 70s! My first COMPLETED kit in 20-25 years is complete now!

The people on this site are GREAT!! A ready, willing and able group that can answer most any question.

Anyhow- WELCOME ABOARD!!

Jim/ Jaster

Welcome aboard the best site around Mike 189. Your hosting provider reqires to sign in and what I can see is only the "welcome" pic that doesn't look bad at all.
Ciao from Italy

Welcome aboard Mike. Only been here a short time myself but everybody seems willing to help!

Vinnie

Hey thanks everyone for the responses! Ah, the elusive weathering... I'll admit I was a bit nervous about over doing it so I guess I under did it. I reckon I'll take the "plunge" on the next kit. More USA armor. I've noticed this hobby is very German oriented. At least it seems there are many more German armor, figures, vehicle kits than USA kits. Maybe its just me. I'd like to try a litte diorama base for this one just to display it so that's probably next. Oh, and I may very well be in the airbrush market soon as well. Sure enough...I'm hooked on this hobby and this site. Talk to ya'll soon...
Mike

First, welcome to the site, as a relative newbie myself, I have learned a great deal by visiting this site and asking questions.
I was only able to see a bit of your model, primarily the figure, and I am quite impressed by the detail in that first effort. It may be the photo, but the uniform looks a bit glossy to me. Have you thought about posting your photos to the Armorama MSN site? I am not a computer/internet expert and had no problems posting my pictures there and then inserting them into a post.

mike189,
Welcome to Armorama! Have fun and enjoy the adventure...glad to have you aboard

Welcome Mike, to the very BEST modeling site on the net. Glad to see another person making the "Good Guys." Keep it up. From what little I could see of your Sherman without signing up for the site it looks fine. MIght want to give it a dull coat to cut down on the shine but that's it. You might also want to sign up for Armorama's MSN group page to host your pics.

Welcome aboard.

Welcome Mike and the tank looks good. The more you build the better you become.

Hey what about the Brits!, I love their tanks!, Welcome Mike189

Hi Mike welcome aboard,nice Sherman you have there.have fun. propboy you are a man of good taste.

wow nice job.
a few years ago i was building a lot of tanks
i was kinda of scared to do weathering also lol
a lot of guys dont like to use weathering on there models

Hi and welcome to the best and most user friendly modeling site I've yet to find.
Very good job on your model. Like others here have told you, it does need some weathering, which is something that one only learns with time, patience, and experience, which you will gain as you go along. Luckily the darker colored vehicles. like the American, British, Russian, and early German stuff is easier to weather than the lighter-colored vehicles of the desert enviornment or later-war German machinery. And there is literally 'ton's' of help on this site simply for the asking.

I've found the painting part of this hobby, esp. the weathering process, to be by far the hardest part of it, and I there is literally no end to the learning process as we go along.

And even though I give pride-or-place to German equipment a nice Sherman is always a pleasure to see.

And great job on the figures too. I have yet to get into that area, so you're way ahead of me.

Take care and good luck, sgirty.