M4A3 Sherman Late intro model

Post by **Nev** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 11:14 pm

Annnd we're Off!

Not touched anything of this scale before. I have only done those funny 40K things before but it looks like the same principle. Take off all the mold lines and flash, stick together fill and sand till it looks like something

I thought the Tamiya kits would be a good intro for someone like myself. I had heard from others that they were not as complex as the Dragon kits so here I am...

Made a start on the running gear, didn't prove too tricky apart from the sanding. Just need to fill the joins on the suspension middle and springs and a final sand down, then on to the Hull.

Onward and upwards...

Post by **Noobmodeler521** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 11:31 pm

Hey good start their

Tamiya is a great starter I started with Tamiya myself

anyway hope you enjoy the build

Chris S.

P.S. your right about dragon the instructions

but good models

Post by **Coen** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 3:48 am

That's a wise choice Nev.
Well done.
Tamiyas Shermans are great for starters if you get them for a good price and they're not too old.
I tend to stick to dragon and Tasca for my Shermans, but the tamiyas are where I figure them out.

Post by **MikeyKb** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 4:07 am

Welcome aboard!
I'm just starting to paint 40K figures! We're trading

Hope you enjoy armour as much as I do.

Post by **PaulAyrey** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:09 am

Tamiya are pretty much the best for starting out on. Looking forward to your progress!

Post by **Nige99** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:52 pm

Welcome to armour Nev hope you enjoy it. I love building Sherman's and the Tamiyas are a good kit to start on.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:59 pm

Nice Nev.
I want to have a bash at a few Shermans.
Nice write up in Military Modelling this month on Canadian Shermans.
Gonna watch this build with interest.

John

Post by **Nev** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:56 am

Thanks for the encouragements guys! I am confused about what tracks to go for, did not realise the Sherman had so many types!!

I bought some Bronco T62 link sets but after reading seems this is really for commonwealth tanks? So I may do this as a Canadian Forces Sherman after reading a nice article in Military modelling. Do you think this track set would be ok for this?

Also the Tamiya kit looks incorrect in parts. It states late model but has a pistol port part. I think I will need to fill this in as I was going for late European Operations.

What do you guys think is the best aftermarket track sets? I was looking at Fruil model metal sets, but maybe for my next build?

Sorry for questions but didn't realise Shermans came in so many flavours!!

Nev

Post by **Coen** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 10:41 am

We tended to use the Sherman III and V (A2 and A4) more than anything else along with the firefly Nev. They were the export versions of the Sherman. We also made two variants of the Sherman here in Canada, but they didn't see combat.
The A3 was the US work horse tank and it had a different fuel supply than the others that the Americans liked and they kept it mostly to themselves.

It would have been rare and odd for a Canadian unit to be using an A3 as a standard unit unless it was on loan because of a shortage or something.
However... if you wanted to model yours as a "what if" lend lease A3 it would have the older turret with a pistol port and most likely the tracks would have been changed out for the commonwealth tracks like the T62 type.
Panda plastics makes some reasonably priced ones http://www.shermantracks.com/catalog/t62.html as well as AFV club. Be careful to get the right length of tracks as the A3 had a short hull and a long hull depending on the period. If you aren't sure you can just get a long set of tracks and cut them to the proper length.
If you were to model it as a tank that was on loan as a temporary replacement then the standard chevron tracks are fine, and the turret is as well, unless you're modelling a specific vehicle that had a later turret.
If you wanted to modify the turret that you have you would have quite the job ahead of you as there were more differences than just the deletion of the pistol port. It would be simpler to replace the turret with a resin one. There are tonnes of those out there on the market.

I'm not a sherman expert at all, but I've built almost as many shermans as I have tigers, so I've done a bit of reading, especially the Canadian and British units.
So there may be others that have more specific info on actual units that had a couple of A3s in service.
That would be really useful info.

Post by **Nev** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:44 am

Cheers Coen thanks for that!

I think I'll keep it US this time round then and buy a Tasca Commonwealth variant for that build at a later date.

So Tracks AFV do some then, I hear they are pretty good? Do you know off hand what the code for the Chevron type is and I'll see if I can get a set of those?

Looking at Sherman book it states the pistol ports were welded up after 1943 so I could try and model that with putty or just go over the space and make it a cast hull without one.

Really appreciate the help, I'm doing the research but boy is it confusing. I think some of the people writing this stuff forget the newbies perspective

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:20 pm

Good luck and Forward mate !

Post by **Coen** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:56 pm

That the do Nev... that's not a joke. I've rarely encountered an easily understood book on any of these subjects. There were so many changes being made to the sherman in the different factories that there were many types with a crisscross of modifications on the field. It can be very confusing.

You couldn't find a better kit of a sherman than a Tasca. They make the best shermans on the market... some of the most expensive too unfortunately. They're beauties of engineering though. I've build 5 Tasca's and I love them to death. Dragon makes the next best if you're left to choose.

Afv makes a whole slew of sherman tracks and the chevrons came in several varieties. I'd need to know which type you were trying to replace to find a set. They aren't hard to find yourself though once you know what type they are. Just google afv club and then the track type number.
You have to be careful though. The A3 had two different hull lengths and thus a short run of tracks and a long run. Just make sure you order the right length.

Post by **Nev** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:17 am

Working on the hull while the suspension filler dries. I can't believe Tamiya leave the bottom of the chassis as a open hole! So I had to fill it with plasticard.

I've started to add some casting detail to the front chassis with Mr Surfacer 1000.

In the background is the obligatory Friday night glass of vino!

Did I mention that I am a slow builder...

Onwards & Upwards.

Post by **Paul** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:26 am

Looking good Nev

Any chance of seeing the kits box art, i didn't see it anywhere else on the thread

Post by **Nev** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:39 am

Sure thing. I think it's an older Kit repackaged:

Post by **Paul** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:41 am

Cheers

Post by **Hillbilly** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 5:39 am

Nice job so far

And as for being a slow builder,remember the old saying.."slow and steady wins the race"

Post by **Nev** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 11:01 pm

Thanks for the positive waves guys!

I filled the holes with plasticard underneath. I know you probably don't see it, once the tank is on a base... But I knew they were there and the OCD part of me was twitching!

Then filled with Mr Surfacer and Putty into any gaps trying to get the look of worn metal with a few weld lines on the bottom rear hull.

Post by **Yevgeny** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 11:14 pm

Looking good. You doing neat job.

I must get some plascicard too(I was wondering what it called). My Tamiya model have a great selections of holes at the bottom of the hull. Filled it with putty but it fell in when I was sanding it... Wish now I had some of this plascicard and glued it on the inside before using putty. Next time.

Post by **Nev** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:16 am

Thanks mate.

I picked mine up at a show. but ebay does it and hobbycraft. just look for Styrene sheet or Plasticard.

I found a seller on Ebay doing this not saying use him but gives you an idea:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10Pk-Thin-Whi ... 1261210204

Post by **Nige99** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 10:01 am

Great work so far Nev and I like your attention to detail. The Tamiyas do have there faults but I still do like building them! Must be from when I was a kid. You just have to put that extra work in to make them look great.
Are you doing a Dio for the M4?

Post by **Nev** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:00 pm

Coen: Thanks matey I managed to track them down as T48s I have got Tim to send me a set of AFV's let's hope they fit

Nige: Cheers Nige I've got a sweet little cobbled road made from Resin so was going to mount it on that and have it advancing down the line, with some stowage on the back. That's the plan anyway may look like crap

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 2:03 pm

Good luck mate !

Post by **Nev** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:56 pm

Ok managed to crack on a bit over the weekend. I did some work on the turret and front glacis of the tank.

I picked up a Verlinden Sherman update kit, that was going really cheap! I used this for the loader cupola (red arrow) and then used a commanders cupola from a Tasca kit (Blue arrow)

The Tasca I want to show opened up, so will use the better detailed resin one for that build.

The gun is also a resin replacement set that I picked up as a bargin. I need to add some details to the driver and gunners hatches then will be happy to move on.

Post by **gustavlekstal** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 8:53 pm

Good work and its gonna be fun seeing this one grow up

Good luck

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 8:57 pm

Shermans do seem to be the flavour of the month.
Nice work.
John

Post by **Coen** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:04 am

Nice work!!!!! My favourite kind of build... hack and slash

Post by **Russ72** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:39 am

Nice stuff Nev.

Post by **Nev** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:21 pm

Thanks for the kind words lads

Post by **Nige99** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:25 pm

It's nice to see more allied armour builds on here! I know there is so much more German armour builds. But being a self confessed Sherman nut, I'm very happy.

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:30 am

Good work mate - keep it up

Post by **Nev** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 11:32 pm

Managed to do a little more to the front end. Added some resin upgrades and made some wire handles for the driver's hoods and hatches. I also popped my Photo etch cherry which was a bit of an ordeal!! I had to have a whiskey afterwards my nerves were shot!

I am definitely writing a letter to Santa this Christmas asking for one of those Photo etch bending tools!

I'll probably knock down some of the texture here and there and then work on the back end.

Nev

Post by **Yevgeny** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 12:09 am

Looking good

Post by **wappynutter** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 12:15 am

Awesome Nev, well done buddy...

Keep up the good work my friend, continued success..

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 12:32 am

Great job mate.
I too want a PE "Bendy" Machine.
Not sure £50 is a price I can pay, but the £20's may do.
Looking ace.
John

Post by **Nev** » Sun Oct 26, 2014 11:21 pm

Thanks for the kind words Guys!

Managed to crack on with the rear end... I hated the way Tamiya had detailed the hatch handles. So I scratch built some out of copper wire.

Took me a while to get the hang of it and make them all the same size! Could do better but it's a steep learning curve.

Just got to add the Stowage and Jerry Cans and can start putting it all together!

Cheers for looking.

Nev

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 2:37 am

Superb work Nev.
The handles look brilliant and if this is a first, well hats off mate.
I want a Sherman so much.
After my visit to Fury this Thursday, I think Shermans will be first buy with Pay.
Great job.
John

Post by **Nev** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:54 am

Thanks John, means a lot!

I know what you mean! I can't wait to see the film. Perhaps afterwards I might get an Easy 8 Kit for the stash

Post by **Nige99** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 12:13 pm

Good work there Nev, nice work on the PE mate its tricky stuff to work with. I was so stressed with it I got myself the PE tools to make it easier. However not used it yet.

Post by **Nev** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:50 pm

Remember this!? No me neither until I looked up at my shelf of doom and it called down to me... "Why Mike why you no paint me!!!"

So I got out the airbrush and had a go at oil filters for Olive Green... Sheesh 2014!!!

So next up weathering and tracks on. And try to finish it before another 2 years go by!

Post by **chalkyw** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 10:55 pm

Lol, and I thought 2 months was a long build!!........will sit back and watch the finish

Post by **privatepete** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 11:19 pm

Hi Mike and

glad to see your not rushing into his build, it's looking good .
Pete

Post by **digger303** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 12:42 am

wrong thread

Post by **arkbuilder2012** » Mon Oct 17, 2016 9:19 pm

Just goes to show that with a little TLC these older kits stand up well to the newer releases. Nice work. Always enjoy seeing Sherman tanks.

Post by **AridTalons** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:54 am

Looking good! Hopefully you'll keep up the good work.

Post by **Nev** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 5:04 pm

Thanks for the kind words fellas!

Currently working on the suspension and tracks. Will get photos up as soon as I can

Post by **Davethepitch** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 5:25 pm

Looking really good.