Hi gang,

Here are some pics of my latest project, DML's M4A3 76mm Sherman. It was a very nice kit to build, and I used some techniques which were quite new to me, like filters, chipping and so on.
Mud is not yet on the model, because I want to blend it in in a dio....

Let me know what you think, thanx for looking.

John.

Hey John! Good to see some work!
This has come out a treat...
Like the effects of the weld lines on the turret sides , casting numbers and subtle rusted scratches, offset split-hatch etc etc...
Your detail on the small things like the crew equipment and stowage are spot on, like the stains from overspills on the fuell filler caps and the stowed jerrycans. The wood tone looks good I'll have to pick your brains on that later...Also how you found filtering?
I'm not going to be the one to pick you up on the colours of the taillights... :-) And now I think of it, I'm kinda sorta sure the casting number would be matched on the opposite side?
What's going on with that white bucket? Get some dings in it!! :-)
Cheers
Brad

Loving the pail for some reason. Something different that i dont often see. Great job!

I might either coat the rope with some flat varnish of some sort to stop the loose ends from coming up. Other than that, its a great build!

Thanks for the comments Guyz...


@ Brad: I'll try to correct the mistakes I made, like the tail-light colors. BTW I made some pics of the real thing, and there was only at one side of the turret a casting number present...

Maybe my next project will be the Shermans mighty counterpart in the Battle of the Bulge: DML's King Tiger battle of the Bulge version with a hard edge ambush camo.

Cheers, John.

Ola John "Drakenwagen" van Hooijdonk

It definately looks like you found your way around the use of filters on this vehicle. Looks very good. Very nice and subtle colourvariations.
Also your paintchipping is perfect. Not overdone... just enough. Only thing I would advice you is rework the chippings with a pencil and run that pencil also along the edges of the vehicle. This will provide you with a very realistic looking Metal appearance.

Great job looking forward to the endresult.

Hi John,
Very nice overall results with your M4A3(76). However, for future reference, there shouldn't be a weld seam going around the turret as it was a one piece casting. See M4A3(76)HVSS for sample pics.

I really like the way your markings turned out. Did you spray the stars on?

As I said, very nice job. Keep up the good work.

Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures

Hi John ...nice work on your Sherman ...I like the OD color you've used on this one .. Chipping is nice ..maybe a bit much for allied vehicle but Iooks good... A few other things that you might watch out for if you build another M4A3 ..As mentioned by Toadman the marks are not welds on the turret side but scars left from the casting ..His pictures show this off well.The welds should be level or even a bit raised between the hull aromor plates...Dragon made a mistake and has the gouser caps from the M4A2 kits still molded on their M4A3 ..those are the 2 oval covers near the back of the hull...These should be removed ....and the rear lights should only have red on the top section of the left hand side light ..the rest are better represented with black paint ... and last little nit picking thing would be that the bags and the canteens should have their straps around the grab handle ..this can easily be done with tiny pieces of tape and it will make a big difference .. This tank will look great in you dio ...congrats on a job well done .

Rick

Of course they are!! Silly Bradley... Any reason why they seem to be roughly a similar level of elevation from the examples I've seen?

Ola John,

You didn't lie when you said that your Sherman was ok. Even better. It's more than ok. It's fantastic!!!!!!
I like the color variation, the scratches are indeed very good and not overdone. Filters are also well done and the rain marks look spot on.The only thing I would change is the driver's hatch. Wouldn't it be better if this lays down because now the driver can't see to the left.
Oh yeah, I definitely want to see some groundwork on this one.
Blueshirts rule.

C ya mate

Dirk

Thanks for the kind words Dirk,

However, this is the only way to position the hatch on a Sherman, instead of those from a M36, for example...
So, in my opinion, the position of the hatch is how it should be.

Talk to you later,

John.

Oops, didn't know that.
So I have learned yet another thing today.

btw the figure looks sharp.

Dirk

Hi John. Great kit you have built there. I built a Sherman a few years ago also in an Ardennes setting. I found that the Verlinden tarpaulin and rolls set was just what was needed to ste of the kit. It was the Tamiya M4A3 kit, not the newest one but the one with the duckbill tracks. I have recently bought another as the finished one is on display at a model club where I used to live.

I alos did a couple of Panther G's in Ardennes colours and they came out fantastic.

Have you ever seen moss growing on fallen trees that looks like minature fern leaves/branches? That is what I used as foliage on the Panthers and it worked a tree when it was allowed to dry. Try it out if you can find some.

Uitstekend John,

Very nice Sherman, set off with an outstanding paintjob. If I may make a suggestion, you should invest in a PE set. The inclusion of PE tool brackets and light guards etc really is the icing on the cake for a masterpiece such as yours.

Groeten
Henk

I can only echo all the other positivie comments mentioned here. I think it's a great build also.

I have only one, very small, nit pick. I don't think I've ever seen a Sherman, or anything else, with canteens mounted like you have them on the side of the hull. This is just my two cents worth but I would think the crew would want to keep those close to hand, to have if they get thirsty. A jerry can of water, or one of those canvas water bags, like they use in the desert, my be more appropriate in that location.

Other than that very well done.