Tamiya 1/35 M4A3E8 Easy eight Sherman

[Paul]

Bought this today from my local model shop Kit Stop. Hoping it’ll be my first completed piece of armour in 3 years

I have the decal scheme shown coming as i didnt want to do the box scheme. Also have a set of Friul metal tracks on the way too





After a couple of evenings work thats the 1/35 Tamiya M4A3 Easy Eight Sherman, built and primed.

Great new kit from Tamiya that went together with no issues.

As always the Ultimate Modelling products Black primer went down as smooth as silk. I will be putting down the base colour of (most probably) Tamiya XF62 later today



Primered

[alextheblue]

Nice!

Love seeing all your cars, always get an amazing finish, but it's great to see you back on the dark side. Very interested to see those decals, not seen those before.

[Paul]

Progress on the Tamiya korean War Easy Eight Sherman.

It was painted in Tamiya XF-62 Olive drab, i've then darkened some and sprayed all the lower areas that would naturally cast shadows and the lighted some and sprayed the highlights and also mottles some of the panels too. The wheel rubber was painted in Mr hobby H77 tyre black and then using a circle template i sprayed the centres the same as the tank.

Just the tools to detail paint then i'm waiting for the decals and Friul tracks arriving before i can continue.

[NormanD]

You're building this quicker than you do your cars, nice to see you enjoying the build

[Paul]

You're building this quicker than you do your cars, nice to see you enjoying the build

Cheers Norman. Thanks for the comment

[Paul]

The Star decals arrived today for the Tamiya 1/35 easy eight. i picked this scheme as it was different and i thought looked good.

The decals are crap, to get them to lay down i used, micro set and sol, solvaset, Tamiya mark fit and mark fit strong, Tamiya X20a thinner and finally the only thing that got them down was a quick brush over with some mr hobby levelling thinner lol.

My friul tracks arrived too and although ive built plenty before these look rather "involved"

[DoubleDigit12]

Despite the decals not laying down too good, they are still looking FIERCE!

[Black73Cat]

Got me itching to build mine!

Looks great.

[Gary30]

Who doesn't love a Sherman?!

Decals look good, will look great once coated / weathered etc

[Paul]

Cheers fellas

Tonights job will be the Friul tracks for my Easy eight Sherman.

They will first need a good clean with some Ultimate airbrush cleaner and a toothbrush (the key to good burnishing is clean tracks) then using the excellent Ultimate Burnishing fluid, each bag will be burnished separately as the tracks are handed and i want give the pads a long time to really blacken them to save hand painting.

5-6 mins in the fluid should do the job on the main tracks and then they will need drilling out and assembling.

The process sound along winded but it doesnt really take that long and the finished look is worth it

Heres my video showing assembly and burnishing in action


[youtube]ScuFVDdFgjk[/youtube]

[alextheblue]

Do like the look of that decal. You certainly managed to wrestle it into submission. Have you ever tried Mr Mark Softener? I use it for really thick decals and it seems to do the job - don't spill it indoors though, it will eat through the carpet and floorboards!

[Paul]

Do like the look of that decal. You certainly managed to wrestle it into submission. Have you ever tried Mr Mark Softener? I use it for really thick decals and it seems to do the job - don't spill it indoors though, it will eat through the carpet and floorboards!

Yes I got both of those and have never bee;all that impressed to be honest, thanks for commenting

[digger303]

I was thinking of getting some of those Star ( Bison ) decals. I didn't think they would be so problematic. Still nice to know, I may never get them now.

[darrengreenwood]

As I said on Facebook that is looking very nice.