For the current IDF Campaign, ready for primer, I think....
Tamiya M51 hull and suspension, Academy turret, Italeri engine deck, Tamiya M4 rear hull plate, bits from Dragon, Verlinden.





Time frame is Six Days War, Jordanian front. Anyone see anything I've missed before I shoot primer? Tow cable is in progress....

It looks nice. Although your stowage is good, I'd really recommend the M51 stowage set from Legend for it,

Thanks Robert.
I'd love to use some nice AM stowage some day, and I've seen pics of the set you're referring to, very nice stuff.
If by chance you happen to have a copy of Tom Gannon's IDF Sherman book, take a look at the tank in the background of the pic on the bottom of pg 40: it's very lightly loaded, and I'm going for that look with this build. I have a late M51 in the "want to build" list, and maybe I'll go for it then with the Legends set.

In primer:

Of course I found a few hickies, but glad I found them now, before I shot color.

Color, decals, and flat coat. Decals are from an old Bison sheet for M-50's, 6 Day War.

That's quite a kit bash for an excellent looking Sherman. Is it a trick of the light or are there seams on the road wheels?

Thanks, Matt. Next time I'll wait until I can snag a copy of Tamiya's M1 Sherman, would have saved me a couple of hours.
Shouldn't be any seams, but it may be a brush stroke... I used some old PollyScale grimy black to paint the tires, didn't cover as well as I'd liked. I'll peek tonight though....

I once had an Academy version . After I found out the modifications needed, I gave up trying to build it.

It's in line to become the lower hull of "Fury".....

Wash:


I've begun detail painting (tools and such) and still working on the two cable. Trying to decide whether or not to use a TC fig.

Dust:




I saw decal film on the turret numbers after getting the first layer of pastel chalk on, so I removed them, blended the area back in and applied some old Verlinden dry transfer numbers, then re-weathered. It looks like it's had old numbers over-painted and new applied, but I have to live with that. Now to find the antennae and one mount I had ready....

The kit looks really good. That is an excellent kit bash. I wish Tamiya had released this as a kit instead of the 56 sherman. Well done.

Tom

Very nice work with detailing and kitbashing this shermie! Thats why I love IDF Shermans: they are even more 'kitbashable' and therefore interesting than regular WWII Shermans. Also their extremely long career proved mechanical reliability and robustness, I think...

Cheers,
Greg

Thanks, guys.
I'm back in town after a nice little trip, hope to finish this one up soon.
I also wish Tamiya had kitted this version, but looking at it, it wouldn't be a stretch for them to so so.....

Figs started, antennae on and the last of the return rollers:





Both figs will be in the commander's hatch, for a little animation.

I tiny addition:

I managed to get a tow cable on....

Comin along real nice brother Russ!

Why thank you, Brother Gary! Soon to be finished, I hope.

Very nice!

Hang on! World War Two-style US Tanker's helmets were not brown leather, they were mainly olive drab pressed fibre. Only a few edge details were leather. Just Google "US Army Tanker Helmet World War Two" in an image search, and you'll get some great color photos to work from!

I can still fix that, thanks!
I'm this far, so getting to "Pointing Man's" helmet is still possible......


In retrospect, I should have had a loader fig to man the 50 that I have yet to put on, but we all know the value of hindsight.....

"Erl" cans:

As soon as the sun comes out, I can get good pics and call this one done.

Finished.

To see this build a couple of months ago to now is mind blowing, amazing job! Love the weathering and figures, I wish I could paint like you!

Many thanks!
My painting techniques are amazingly basic. It's the cheap kiddie pastel chalks that finish the job, IMHO.