I started this about a week ago. Only going to add an MV lens for the turret spot light. I added some dings and gouges here and there, but for the most part it is OOB. Nice fitting kit with a fair amount of extras already included. Figures, stowage etc. I'm putting the driver and TC on board as I haven't done this in such a long time, I fear I forgot how to paint figures.. So far I've got it painted, gloss coated, decaled and a wash. Tools were primered and then painted with Vallejo acrylics and oils. I'll add some more detail painting a little later. More pics to follow as I progress. Thanks, "Q"

Looks cool so far.

There are some pretty heavy "scratches" in the armour. Is that supposed to be shots that bounched of? Or has it been driven through a house or some field fortifications?

Good job so far. Looking forward to see more.

Thanks for sharing

Interesting to see as i'm doing the 75mm gun version of this tank at the mo. I think the wash in the final pic looks good, and while the scratches might be a little large for the scale I like them and think I may do something similar with mine. However, as the paint would be missing in these damaged areas, what colour do you plan on doing them? Would you go for bare/dirty metal or a rust colour? This begs the question what colour would small chips etc. be on US armour?

James

Nice tidy model, be interesting to see how you you finish it off.

Received wisdom (mostly Mr S.Zaloga) would tend to suggest that owing to the baking/drying process involved, paint on an M4 was virtually indestructible. So I suppose that you could suggest that the model had been bashed around a bit without exposing primer/bare metal.

It also raises the question as to why they didn't do away with armour plate and just make the M4 series out of baked paint? Maybe an inch and a half of that really would have been impervious to an '88.

Thanks for the comments guys. The scrathces and dings will be picked out in various forms. Some rusty other more fresh. The larger one on the front left will be a glancing shot that failed to penetrate and I'll pick that out in more fresh looking metal etc. I still have epoxy tarps to make which will cover a few of the marks. Didn't take that into account when I was laying in the damaged areas. I think for the chipped areas,which there won't be a whole lot of, I'll go with a dark gray. Once the overlying colors are applied they'll still look the part, but not so as to be too stark. Hard to describe, but I think you'll see what I mean once I get them on. Thanks again for the comments. "Q"

Gday Matthew. Coming along nicely... The timber for the tool handles looks very effective! Nice patience...
I know you said that you are only adding the MV searchlight, but do you have some small chain lying around? Would look good to have a little from the searchlight to the cap next to it... And also for the locking pins on the fuel filler caps?The TCs sight could be drilled out with an eensy drillbit too...


hehe nice point... And on the flipside, it highlights the main infallibility of German armour too, being the paintwork... :-)
Cheers
Brad

I do have some small chain. In fact I have tons of it. I have several PE sets from Royal that each have oodles and oodles on them. I might just add those now that you have mentioned it. Thanks for the kudos on the tool handles. TIme to make some epoxy tarps for it.. Thanks again, "Q"

-kit decals? If so you really did a great job with them - I have had nothing but grief & one trashed model after the other w/Tamiya decals - they always look more like a sticker than a decal.

Yeppers. Just made sure to have a good gloss coat laid down, used Micro Set/Sol and let 'em set overnight. Thanks. "Q"