What would the steps be to paint the writing on this Sherman?

Tim;

WOW! Now THAT'S a tough one! (But way cool! The slogan is about sending this great treasure back to the weapons-testing folks courtesy of Panzer Regiment 5 - the captors.)

I guess I would see if I could find a better photo that more clearly shows the script, and then maybe try to create a custom decal, or a custom stencil that you could use to paint this on. About the only other ready alternative I can see is to sit down with your Beute, roll up the sleeves, take some Valium or rum or something to counter the stress and coffee buzz, set up some good light at the bench, thin some fine enamel white (I'll guess the slogan is done in whitewash), grab the 005 brush, and go to tedious work! Oh, and lock the dog, kids, etc out, and maybe roll some good, mellow tunes! In other words, you may have to try painting it on. That's actually the route I would favor, knowing little about making custom decals.

I have not seen this one before and actually have little idea as to what custom "slogan" decals or transfers may already be out there. Who knows? maybe someone has done this set? There MAY be someone who does custom decals or dry-transfers on order, and if so, that could be a route.

Seriously, painting it on may not be as hard as it may at first appear, given as the letters are large and rounded and NOT "machine-regular" - so hitting consistent squared corners, even sizing and the like at least is less of a problem in this case.

As to "steps": The Shermie appears to be in it's original olive pant job, with the US markings painted over you can see some bits, and the star up on the turret)- so, from this, I would base-paint Shermie in olive-D, weather it a bit, apply some star decals or stenciled-markings, and maybe some other typical theatre markings (including bumper or hull unit numbers/codes representing the "donor unit"), and then variably paint these over with either some "captured olive" or maybe a German Olivgrun or even perhaps some dunkelgelb. This will create the "Beute". The slogan clearly goes on last, after all the weathering and detailing and dirt is applied, as it looks pretty pristine in the photo.

Sorry I can't offer more! Good luck! I look forward to seeing a post of how it turns out!

Bob

Here are 2 more pictures.

Tim:

Thanks for posting these additionals!

Looks like these were taken later - notably, the slogan is looking slightly faded and dirty, and there is now a prominent "Balkankreuze" (done in the "over-stated" bold style often seen on "Beute-Panzer", where such larger markings reduced losses from "friendly" (as if there ever is such a thing!) fire) pretty much covering over where that painted-over star was. And of course the 0.50 MG is gone from its pintle.

Also, dig what appears to be a gas-can tray or shallow bin (with several cans) added onto the rear deck! This looks somewhat similar to what many Pz. 38 (t) tanks sported while in Russia - a shallow tray to rack up 3 or 4 cans.

Alas for your marking quest...

Between the B'kreuze and the cans it looks to have become more a frontline quick-conversion into German service- and not a trophy going back to the WaPruf folks. Looking more at the slogan, it also looks to be saying something closer to "This was not captured only to send it back to the Army High Command and WaPruf guys - captured by 5th Panzer Regt." (I'm paraphrasing here - and "Entschuldigen Sie, bitte, aber meinem Deutsche ist sehr rostlich"... so I may be far off in my translation!)... so maybe something of a "protest" declaration by the local captors!

This one remains a toughie! While there MAY be some AM decal / transfer-maker out there who has either done this, or could do it as a special order, I know nada of. And that slogan, with what looks like a few add-on bits, looks to be more involved than I originally thought. As seen in those later pics, it would be rather more difficult to actually paint on!

Also, having seen these later pics, it may well be that Shermie has received a quick new paint-job of all dunkelgelb (prior to the slogan and the B'Kreuze, of course). Which would maybe change your painting plan.

@:) Another thought has popped out of my mental closet: MAYBE there is another way you could get your slogan... Ever use a "white-out" correction pen or a white paint-pen? MAYBE these could work here! I would suggest practicing first on some cardboard or other non-flat surface to capture scale and style... but this could be your route!

You may also want to consider painting Shermie Dunkelgelb and doing those B'kreuze by hand or a stencil, so as to capture their crude appearance (a decal would look sharp and regular...)

I can identify with the frustration here! Just some ideas!

Bob

Thank you.
I will see what I am going to do when get the Dragon m4a1