M4A3E8 Thunderbolt

Post by **Nige99** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:51 pm

Well it's time to start another kit so I opted for this one! It's got extra bolted on armour which was from cannibalised Knocked out shermans and Panthers. I'm very tempted to leave some of the extra armour in panther colours.

I encountered problems from step one of this Dragon kit.

From this pic I'm missing one of the wheels on one type and an extra of another. This kit was bought brand new unopened.

Also the brass cylinder had a inner rim on one of them!

Let's hope I don't have anymore problems

Post by **hansolo** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 4:04 pm

Yes. Go for those Panther colors. That'll look great.

It'll give it that field conversion feel.

cheers

Post by **EasyEight96** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 4:13 pm

Got the exact same kit can't wait to start it after gaining more experience

Post by **Nige1940** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 5:01 pm

Yeah I second the panther colours, it'll look really interesting .

Post by **Coen** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 6:27 pm

I used this kit to build creighton Abrams tank a few years ago. Loved the build.
Great choice Nige.
Totally do the panther colours buddy!!

Post by **Nige99** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 7:58 pm

Cheers guys that settles it then

Post by **jgaudon34** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 3:34 pm

The front glacis plate would have been cut from a knocked out Sherman and overlayed, so that usually stayed OD Green, or not

up to you mate....

Good luck with the build...

Post by **DoubleDigit12** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 5:35 pm

Nice looking kit, may I ask where it was bought... or acquired

Panther colours sounds good and you could even add some damaged overlaying armour showing through to the next layer.
Cheers James.

Post by **Nige99** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 10:43 pm

I bought this kit from model zone in Chester a few years ago.

Post by **DoubleDigit12** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:59 pm

Cheers mate for the info!

Post by **Nige99** » Sun Jul 19, 2015 1:36 pm

Well with the first initial headache over with this build is going together really well.

Lovely texture

Really enjoying this one!

Post by **DoubleDigit12** » Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:24 pm

Great looking build so far... loving the cast texture.

Post by **Stokesy44** » Mon Jul 20, 2015 8:05 am

Looks cool, cant wait to see more updates.

Post by **Nige99** » Mon Jul 20, 2015 4:55 pm

Got some good progress on this today!

Loving this bolted on armour. This got to be my favourite Dragon Sherman to day!!

Post by **Nige99** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:46 pm

Well that's the building section finished now. I'm leaving the wheels and tracks off until the weathering is completed. The crew for this are from Tasca/Tamiya with Hornet heads.

I have to say it, this as got to be the nicest Sherman kit I've built to date!

Post by **Paul** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 5:35 pm

Great work Nige, liking the crew too

Post by **Nige99** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:42 pm

Cheers for looking guys

I'm hoping I'll get time tonight to prime it.

Post by **Coen** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 5:06 am

Sweet work Nige!!
I loved this kit and I love what your doing with it.
Those figs are excellent.

Post by **Nige99** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:45 pm

Cheers Mike, it's a lovely kit for sure!! So much so I'm going look for another one to build.

Post by **gustavlekstal** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:51 pm

Looks great! Hornet heads are a real treat. And it's outstanding from dragon to include pe fenders.

Post by **Nige99** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 7:51 am

Got some paint on this!! I used the Mig Olive drab modulation set.

I used the Dark base on the running gear, olive drab base for the rest of the model.

Then the highlight. You can see in this pic.

There is one more paint in this range! Olive drab shine. But I don't think I'll use it.

Post by **Coen** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:34 am

Looks cool the way it is Nige. I'm not a fan of modulation myself. Three colours, one for the lower areas, one for the over all and one for fading is all that I've ever done.
Unless your model is going to be in a museum and never be moved to a place with different lighting, modulation doesn't serve much purpose.

Post by **Nige99** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 6:40 pm

That's a very good point Mike

I'll stick with what I've done then. Thanks mate.

Post by **Oper8or** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 3:51 am

Awesome dude! That looks incredible. I cant wait to see this finished. Makes me want to build this one! I just don't think my skill level is where it needs to be for a Dragon or like model yet but its fun to watch you guys build them like this. The detail is great!!

Post by **Nige99** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 6:51 pm

Update on the Thunderbolt. I originally was going to paint the bolted on armour in Panther colours but do to my father passing away I wanted to dedicate this build to my father.
Has a young lad growing up I used to love watching war films with my father. One of his favourites was Kelly's Heroes. I think this is why I love Shermans so much. So I've painted my dads names on each side of the turret as if it's the commander and gunners name.

I've added some stowage which still needs to be painted.

Post by **Oper8or** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 2:54 am

Really nice! Its coming together very well. What colors do you plan on using for the stowage?

Post by **alextheblue** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:29 am

Condolences on the passing of your father Nige.

The tank looks fantastic and I love the touch of putting your fathers names on the side, I'm sure he would be very proud.

Post by **Nige99** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:55 pm

Cheers Alex that's nice of you to say so.

Post by **EasyEight96** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 2:55 am

Wow!! It's so beautiful do you have any issues assembling the suspension??? I just can't seem to build mine properly

Post by **Stokesy44** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:27 am

Looks great, loving the detail. Its worth it for the .50 Cal on its own. Terrific job.

Post by **Nige99** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:04 pm

EasyEight96 wrote:Wow!! It's so beautiful do you have any issues assembling the suspension??? I just can't seem to build mine properly

No, it was easy to do, to be honest.

Post by **Nige99** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:13 pm

Well I've done the chipping now! Then the next step was the use Alclad gloss varnish. I have to say that using Vallejo gloss for so long it's no way as good as this. I wouldn't go back now.

Then came the gloss and the new and improved Ultimate dark mud.

Post by **EasyEight96** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:48 am

Sweet job there maybe I have to see the instructions again and see what went wrong

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 8:35 am

Looking good. Loving the weathering. Can I ask a rookie question please? How did you do the chipping? I'm looking for new techniques beyond washing and dry-brushing and your chipping just looks so good.

Post by **Nige99** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 12:20 pm

Yes sure. I use Vallejo German cam black/brown for the paint chipping. Less is more with chipping, I used a fine brush 00 and a small piece of sponge with about 95% of the paint taken off it before applying to the armour in areas where the crew would be scrambling over the tank.

Post by **Stokesy44** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:15 pm

Nige99 wrote:Yes sure. I use Vallejo German cam black/brown for the paint chipping. Less is more with chipping, I used a fine brush 00 and a small piece of sponge with about 95% of the paint taken off it before applying to the armour in areas where the crew would be scrambling over the tank.

Thanks mate, much appreciated. Will try it on my Tiger II

Post by **Coen** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:51 pm

That's superb work Nige, that chipping is freaking wonderful bud, an HB pencil rubbed along the leading edge of some of that would look amazing!!
Wow dude!

Post by **Nige99** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:25 pm

Was considering that Mike, I've done that on a previous Easyeight. But wasn't sure to do it on this one for some reason. But you've convinced me to go with my gut feeling and do it. I have since that last picture done another dark wash.
Next up rust.

Post by **Nige99** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 7:35 pm

Well that's all the major work done on this.
Just got the tracks and crew to do!! I may even put some infantry tank riders.

Since the last update I've done the rusting effect and green streaking. Also put the running gear on and weathered around them.

Post by **Coen** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:57 pm

Looks awesome Nige!!
You've nailed this one.

Post by **Nige99** » Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:38 pm

Thanks Mike

means a lot coming from you.

Post by **Nige99** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 9:48 am

Well This is built and painted to what I think is an acceptable standard for me. Just the crew and tank riders to go!! It's been a slow hog and with a dodgy thumb to contend with the tracks and running gear was a painful process.

Post by **Coen** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 10:25 am

Excellent work Nige!! A fine piece for a fine tribute.
I never would have thought to stow the fuel cans like that. That was cool. They even fit.
That stowage is awesome.
Great stuff bud.

Post by **Paul** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 10:40 am

Excellent work mate. need to build another sherman myself

Post by **Nige99** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 12:21 pm

Cheers guys

I want to build another thunderbolt to had to this one. My game plan is to add two or maybe three Willys jeeps plus the M20 to a dio.

Post by **AgentG** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:27 am

Oh my, that turned out spectacular!
G

Post by **OliveDrab** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:31 am

WOW, that's one nice Sherman, the dirty war weary look is just awesome

Post by **Oper8or** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:32 am

Fantastic work sir! How do you get the fine detail on the tools like that? I need to do some more research after seeing this. I love the weld highlights. Really shows the craft.

Post by **Nige99** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 12:37 pm

Well that's the Dragon tank riders built. The Gen 2 figures are good but did require a fair bit of filling in places. I done away with the kit heads and fitted good old hornet heads.

Post by **Coen** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 1:11 pm

Ya, those heads are awesome!
Good choice Nige.