What kind of roof comes with this kit? Usually, when I use MiniArt buildings, I scratch-build my own roof.

This is the roof, it seems more fitted to Eastern Europe (as the full kit Country Diorama contains the Polish house)

Stone and half-timber construction is more representative of the Normandy area, however, I guess it's not impossible to find buildings like this. The French also used tiled roofs, either slate or clay, usually with rounded ends, but I've seen pics with pointy ends such as this. All in all, a more suitable choice would have been one of MiniArt's French or Normandy buildings. Maybe "Frenchy" has some suggestions or references.

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Ok so it's staying as a M4a1 76mm, just now to think of a dio idea..
Thanks
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There are some civilian figure models out there now, so this is a pretty cool scene. You can cover the sides of the tank with chalked graffiti.

I've started the base - which is Miniart 36032.

And it's loosely based on the breakout from Normandy beaches into France.

The pictures below are start of the groundwork, the cobbles and pavement at the moment is a neutral grey, just needs some weathering on it to make it look worn..

There will be a 76mm Sherman sat outside a little village dwelling - with some British Soldiers having a short break, whilst a few German POW's walk past..

My figure painting skills are really basic so I will be calling upon the help of my fellow modellers on this one..






As usual any comments criticism is always accepted..

Hmmm...I think you should have painted and weathered your cobblestones and roadway before adding grass, etc. Work from the bottom up.

Yeah I agree, the cobbles have a base coat of grey., need to paint a few a darker shade. Then weather, hopefully it'll be ok

I've started on the Sherman now, and I'm moving along quite nicely.

I'm reading Steve Zaloga's Sherman book whilst I'm building but have a question.

(Thanks to the image of JimMrr (Jim McIntosh) sherman)



What size are these little strips?

Looks to be a nice kit.

This is my model and image - whom did you credit it to?

And the strips are stiffeners.

Jim

My sincere apologies Jim, when I viewed the image through armorama there was a big advertisement that moved your name & callsign, and I misread the previous comments as being the person whose model it is..

Thanks Paul - no harm done!

Jim

Once again apologies.

Now I'm in your good books

Do you know what the sizes are for the stiffeners?

When I get home from work, I'll go back through my notes and post here.

I've finally managed to get some paint on the Sherman.



But I'm a little freaked at how dark it turned out

its quite dark, I'm concerned that its not gonna show the black part of the camo, any advice on how to make it look a little bit more sunbleached/worn in before weathering..

Ok so I stripped the dark olive drab from the tank
(lost a few parts!!)

But luckily found them again.





Just gotta now add the accessories and weather it.

more updates to follow...

No, a 75mm armed Sherman had a completely different turret such as are in the Tamiya kits. Use a turret with a split loaders hatch..as in round with two hatch covers for Normandy. No 76mm Sherman served in north Africa..Italy..yes..in 1944.

The weathering has begun

Its not finished yet, just test fitting on the base

managed to get a few more things on the sherman.





Replaced the helmet strap for the soldiers, it was just molded to the face,

Trying to add some less "drab" items of storage, I've made some c ration packs, but they seem to look a little big

I'm not sure if you're holding off but the spare track blocks were all rubber and the single roadwheel you have on the engine deck should also have its rubber tire painted appropriately. Hope this helps