This Sherman is nearing completion. I have tried to depict it as serving with 15 Tank Battalion, 6th Armd Div 1945. It still needs a couple more crew figures and stowage and hopefully will find itself on a small scene with a Jeep.

It is the first model that I have completed for a few years and i would appreciate some feedback from you professioals out there.

I look at some of the models on here and I am blown away by the amazing standards and finishes but I want this kit to look like a real tank, not just a well finished model. I hope I am on the right road.

Thank you for looking.


Needs final crew members and stowage.


Track


Accidental “action” shot


My driver. First time I’ve used acrylics, enamels and oils.


Looking beefy!!

Looks good to me! Would like to see some more angles, maybe the rear, etc. But so far so good.

What kit is that, the newer DML (Thunderbolt VII)? Just wondering. Nice suspension articulation you've done there.

Rob

So far so good.
I'd say some more colour photos of a few more angles would help though. As mentioned, good job on articulating the suspension and the tracks, driver and weathering all look pretty realistic so far!

James

Looks good. I thought the B&W photo of the track was the real thing!

looks very realistic. cant wait to see the dio and nice job on the driver.

Two things I notice: the angle of the drivers' hatches seems a bit off. Can you compare to some pictures and adjust? From memory, I can't tell you what direction to adjust them towards but they just look kinda funny to me.

Also, while the PE fenders are nice, they leave an awkward seam where the front fenders curve downward and the vertical piece join each other. Frankly, I think anyone using the PE fenders needs to solder them to avoid that gap...

HTH

Roy

I agree!! The B&W photos are so real looking and the 'working' suspension is a great touch!

Nice work!


Jeff

On the last b/w pic it looks a little Panther, which means it looks great! :-)

Some different angles would be good, but it looks real nice.

Doug

Looks very good. Nice job going there. I'm curious as to which kit you used, also.

Thank you all for the comments, very encouraging for an amateur like me.

The kit is a Dragon E8, Thunderbolt. I didn't want to do the 4th Armd Div. No disrespect meant but there seems to be quite alot out there already. So the Archer transfers came out and the extra armour had already been attached so it had to be a 3rd Army tank. I have a couple of good pics of a 6th Armd E8 so thats what Im hoping to achieve.

As I progress with the tank and gain some confidence I will get some more photos on here in colour and black and white. I think the B&W add that extra 'realness' to the image as a whole.

Thank you all again for the kind comments.

Des

There are some track issues that need resolving. Looking at the first photo the track running across the top should not have any kinks. it should be straight and even. I don't know if you plan to mount the tank on a base that has the tank driving over some object. If not, then the excess track on the bottom run needs to be removed. The Sherman had live track and it was not designed to have excess slop in the track. I like the figure, better than mine. Nice job on the tank itself. Thumbs up. Greg.

Looks great!!

Thanks for the pointers Greg. It was my first attempt at the individual links and the kinks you mention will be rectified. The uneven track at the bottom is going to be the vehicle running over slight obstacles exiting a field on a small scene I am hoping to get underway sometime soon.

Thank you all again for the kind comments.

Des

Made an attempt at adding some stowage to the tank and some hand made rails for the turrets sides to hang baggage from. The straps were added to the bags because they would look ridiculous hanging in mid air.



Some stowage at long last





New crew member



Stowage



New crew member plus the hand made rail on the turret side, (both sides) Hand made straps on the bag too so it doesn’t float in mid air.

Thank you for looking.

Des

Nice job so far. The stowage looks good. Where did you get the figures from?

Thank you.

The figures are Verlinden. They are both from the US tk crew cold/wet 1944-45 set. I think thats the set anyway. The guy in the loaders hatch was actually going to be the bow gunner/radio op but he wouldn't fit properly. I have on order a set of VLS crew to make up the commander and the radio op then its virtually completed.

The only thing I may have to do is re-do the weathering because Ive recently learned that the 6th Armd Div had high speed numbers on the hull sides that I need to add to make it more accurate.

Des

Hi Desmond,

For the first kit you've completed in a while, you sure picked a winner. I think you've done a good job. The suspension is going to look great with groundwork under it. Your weathering looks good to my eye as well.

One thing that MAY get you gigged is the add on armor with the later oval hatch turret. But there may be examples of that combo. Anyone?

You got me thinking...I believe this will be the first Dragon kit I've ever completed. Better not jinx it though. Got to go count my roadwheel tires.

Regards, John

Looking good Desmond

[ quote]One thing that MAY get you gigged is the add on armor with the later oval hatch turret. But there may be examples of that combo. Anyone[/quote]

The oval turret with add on armour is ok, this is a pic of a 6th Armored E8 with that configuration

Nice model you have there. A good result on your first kit in years. The suspension will look good as soon as it is on a base that fits it.

Thanks for sharing

Thank you John.

If you need any spare road wheel tyres give me a shout. Ive got a bag full courtesy of Dragon Care, who I must add, I cannot praise enough.

Des

Thank you for the kind comments Pat, John and everyone else for that matter.

Pat, that is the exact same photo Ive been looking at as a reference.

great minds think alike eh

Des

Hi Pat,

Another correction for your instruction sheet scan - Part numbers for Q13 and Q14 are reversed. This puts the boltheads on the wrong side of the pin. I see you got yours on right though. I slavishly followed the instructions. I will add the boltheads to the correct location rather than cut the pins off. That joint is under enough stress already.

Desmond,

Thanks for the offer but if I count correctly in the bag, I have 25. So now you know why you were short.

Regards, John

Des,
Nice model you have going there. Can't say I like all the B&W photos. I prefer a bit of color, but that's just a personal preference! I'll echo what Roy said earlier about the seam between the curved and vertical surfaces of the fenders. Next time perhaps seal that join with some superglue using baking soda as a kicker. That will leave you a solid sandable join line. Also, the four recesses found on the back plate should be filled, or at least covered in mud to hide, I think. They were designed by Dragon to locate the spare link boxes I believe, and would not be applicable to T66 track. In their place should be threaded steel squares.
Otherwise, super job!

Mike

Des,

Other than the issue with the tracks, you have a great looking kit there!