Tamiya Sherman M4A3(75)w

[Kunjuro]

Hey folks,

I'd like to share my latest WIP - Tamiya's M4A3 (75) 1/35 Sherman kit Would appreciate any constructive criticism. Thanks for looking!

[TheNordus]

The paintjob looks really nice. I like how the dust looks on the tracks, but I would have probably tried to get smaller splatter on the running gear. Also, I wouldn't have added fuel splatter on the filler ports as heavily, it kinda looks like something burned on top of the filler port.

If you wanted to add detail, adding rope or wire tying down the stowage would be a good start, and you seem to have left some minor mold lines on the tools, getting rid of those will greatly add to the detail level of the model. Also, you don't often see stowage on the rear of the Sherman turret because that's the storage position for the .50 caliber machine gun. That's what the brackets are for, if I'm not mistaken.

But overall, this is a really good model, no silvering on the decals, the olive drab is nice and varied and not too dark, and the weathering is pretty good. Also mind you, I'm not telling you to start taking things off your model to fix them, just maybe consider these words next time you build a model.

[Kunjuro]

The paintjob looks really nice. I like how the dust looks on the tracks, but I would have probably tried to get smaller splatter on the running gear. Also, I wouldn't have added fuel splatter on the filler ports as heavily, it kinda looks like something burned on top of the filler port.

If you wanted to add detail, adding rope or wire tying down the stowage would be a good start, and you seem to have left some minor mold lines on the tools, getting rid of those will greatly add to the detail level of the model. Also, you don't often see stowage on the rear of the Sherman turret because that's the storage position for the .50 caliber machine gun. That's what the brackets are for, if I'm not mistaken.

But overall, this is a really good model, no silvering on the decals, the olive drab is nice and varied and not too dark, and the weathering is pretty good. Also mind you, I'm not telling you to start taking things off your model to fix them, just maybe consider these words next time you build a model.

Thanks for the honest feedback mte.

1) Running Gear: Copy this, I have a bad habbit of rushing or overdoing weathering of the running gear. Will try to do more refined splatters on everything next time.

2) I wish more kits would offer even string rope whenever they give stowage out to place. I tend to build OOB and just modify kit parts. The instructions called for stowage in those areas - I guess I need to do more research next time on their placement! I know that there ought to be less stowage in the vents on the engine deck as that will block off the flow of air.

3) Do you have any suggestions on how to do fuel/oil splatters? I just followed a photo I saw from Vallejo online but mixed up my own acrylic paint. I'm guessing there should be waaaay less of it and just a little sliver of gloss to denote freshly spilled gasoline?

[TheNordus]

3) Do you have any suggestions on how to do fuel/oil splatters? I just followed a photo I saw from Vallejo online but mixed up my own acrylic paint. I'm guessing there should be waaaay less of it and just a little sliver of gloss to denote freshly spilled gasoline?

I would have used a less black paint, as fuel and oil stains tend to be very transparent until dirt and grime gets mixed into them. I like the streaking effect you got, but the black splatters look more like soot and cinder to me. If you google "fuel stains" you get some really nice pictures. Personally, I'm lazy and use a lot of pre-mixed enamel and oil effects because they are easy to remove.