Looking for some opinions please on the Isherman below.

I've reached a point on this one where I don't want to go any farther before I get some advice.

The Isherman is base painted in Model Master Israeli Armor Sand Gray. Layering was done with the base paint lightened some with white. It is weathered with powders, (dirt color, black, and a bit of rust). Also Rustall's india ink has been applied, and dry brushing with buff and some rust here and there.

The problem seems to be the vehicle has a bit of greenish tinge to it as it stands now and not the more tan/sand look I was expecting. I've checked a number of sites for actual pics -- and seen vehicles in a more tan/sand paint, some in OD, but what I've got here seems to be -- well I don't know what it is.

Any IDF expert advice would be appreciated. There are several hours of paint/weathering in this one, but if it needs to be dipped and started over -- it will get dipped and started over. If it is passable, I would like to hear this also please.

Basically, does this one look correct?

Thanks, I appreciate the time.

Steve
ps: The pic quality is not all that sharp -- but the last pic especially portrays what the model's coloring looks like.

Color depends on what era you want to depict. The unmodified Shermans seen in 1956 for instance, were mostly in French olive, originally. The upgraded Sherman tanks used in the 1967 Six-Day War were in a yellowish desert tan color. Shortly before the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the color was changed yet again to a dingy, gray-green color, variations of which continue in use today (the color has gotten darker in more recent years). Model Master offers this as "Sand Gray", or a home-brew version can be made by mixing US Olive Drab and Armor Sand in equal amounts (courtesy of an IDF vet I know).
Other things will affect the apparent color. Israeli unit commanders have been known to modify the issue paint to better match the terrain they are assigned to, so tanks on the Golan were not always the same color as tanks in the Sinai.
Also, tanks in the desert are never clean, and the fine dust gets everywhere, so even the green-gray finish can still end up looking pale tan.
Regarding your build, you are using the traditional approach of dark, dirty washes around raised details and inside crevices to pop out the details. But look at photos of desert vehicles and you'll find the opposite is often true. The paint is relatively dark and the dust is very light, so the nooks and crannies are actually lighter than the exposed surfaces. Light-colored pastel chalks or pale, sandy washes can achieve this. And for a really dusty finish, an overall spray of a sand-colored glaze (clear flat plus a small amount of paint) can look good, but apply pastels after this step, not before, or they will float off the surface into the glaze and darken or disappear entirely.

Nice lookin' rig Steve!
Gerald has a point here, so maybe try it out and then judge on the finish...?

the main thing we need to know is what time frame it is.
As Gerald said with the dates

Gentlemen

Thanks for the responses. You've given me what I need to know. My apprecation for you taking the time to post.

Steve

Steve,

Regardless of the "correct" color, it is a great looking build and a welcome change from the usual PzwkpfzwkstwkzIVIMCIILN (not that there is anything wrong with that!).

-Derek

Hi Steve.

First of all. Great build!!! It looks great.

I had the same issues as you when I built mine. Depending on who you speak to, the colors vary considerably. I chose a more dirty sandy/desert color. To me, that looked correct (compared to my references - in this case Verlindens IDF ref book).

The other interesting thing about the IDF Isherman was that the headlight protectors and tow points (sorry, not sure of there proper names) were sometimes painted red. This was for easy location during adverse weather conditions. This provides a nice contrast and looks very effective.

Just my 2 cents worth.

- Jurgen