Global Scale Modeller

Sorry everyone for not doing a proper build pictorial. I have , but one excuse. That I started this as a quick build fill in project and it has taken some time because of just putting it down and not following through.

Asuka M4A1






This is the only bit of real filler I've had to use. Some sprue goo and a sand the next day.
















I added a few brass hand holds and so far it's been a rather quick build in the scheme of things. I had gotten the hull and wheels done whilst on holiday in about 3hrs leaving the tools still to do and of course the tracks as I don't plan to use the kit supplied vinyl. Don't get me wrong the vinyl ones look good, I just hate painting them and of course they can shrink over time. Oh and of course they tend to either bulge or bow in the drive sprockets.



It took me 10 min to achieve this, talk about fiddly


However after a mental readjustment and reassessing the problem I got all the succeeding links together and the time down to 2-3min per link and while still fiddly much more manageable.


I might have run into a problem though....joining the 2 ends of the links together to form a complete track length was extremely fiddley

I'm trying some pre shading



But if you put the base coat on too heavy it disappears to a large extent.




I've run out of time tonight and this is taking longer than I thought.
I shall be back to combine the 2 threads....give me a day or 2

Ok I think I've melded the 2 threads together to make sense or almost

More to follow in the next day or so.

A really lovely paint job chap.
I love the Asuka Shermans. My normal shop site www.scalemodelshop.co.uk are all out of any Asuka types.
Popcorn ready.
DW

As DW said, a beautiful paint job. Looking forward to seeing the remainder of the build

Donkeywalloper wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2026 6:34 pm A really lovely paint job chap.
I love the Asuka Shermans. My normal shop site www.scalemodelshop.co.uk are all out of any Asuka types.
Popcorn ready.
DW

Stokesy44 wrote: Wed Jun 10, 2026 3:15 am As DW said, a beautiful paint job. Looking forward to seeing the remainder of the build

I'm fully chuffed to get such kind words from a couple of icons from this forum...thanks fella's

I do like a Sherman, lovely paintwork

Very nice Digger - that's looking excellent!

I hear good things about these Asuka Shermans - I might have to pick up their Firefly at some point.

Gary30 wrote: Wed Jun 10, 2026 2:41 pm I do like a Sherman, lovely paintwork

Thank you

Portman wrote: Thu Jun 11, 2026 11:19 am Very nice Digger - that's looking excellent!

I hear good things about these Asuka Sherman’s - I might have to pick up their Firefly at some point.

Thank you.
They go together real well and it doesn't take long to get her built up. The vinyl tracks to me are the only thing I don't like and don't get me wrong the vinyl ones are well detailed. I just don't like the look of them or painting them.

Having blurred the darker recesses in this build I redid them with as a light a touch as I could muster. Which wasn't always that light or deft.




One finger into a not quite dry area pulled the paint off. So reluctantly it was sand it back with 2000 grit sanding stick which I when repainted.



Of course another thing went wrong and I sprayed goobers down the side which nessitated sanding it back again.
This is why I was spraying goobers, not exactly what you would call tip dry.
A tiny bit of paint caught inside the noozle , not allowing the needle to seat correctly. I should clean my brush better

I think my airbrush may also have been suffering from a lack of cleaning. I also think the pressure was too low for the primer. We live and learn

Stokesy44 wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2026 5:37 pm I think my airbrush may also have been suffering from a lack of cleaning. I also think the pressure was too low for the primer. We live and learn

This isn't my first rodeo and yet I still get caught out.

Ah that's a bummer - oh the joy's of airbrushing. Still, I'm sure you'll get it sorted.

Portman wrote: Wed Jun 17, 2026 2:27 pm Ah that's a bummer - oh the joy's of airbrushing. Still, I'm sure you'll get it sorted.

Yes sorted now.


Not a big update and not completed, but some things take more time than you think.

Nice looking tracks - glad you got the painting sorted!

I can relate to the paint of track links with detail. Nice job so far. I think your color modulation on the hull and turret will balance out nicely once everything is together, washed, and weathered or battle hardened.

DRUMS01 wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 1:49 am I can relate to the paint of track links with detail. Nice job so far. I think your colour modulation on the hull and turret will balance out nicely once everything is together, washed, and weathered or battle hardened.

Portman wrote: Wed Jun 17, 2026 4:53 pm Nice looking tracks - glad you got the painting sorted!

I'm hoping it does.

Portman wrote: Wed Jun 17, 2026 4:53 pm Nice looking tracks - glad you got the painting sorted!

Thanks

one more step with the colour modulation and one to go.
So far so good I think.

Modulation looks subtle and therefore really good
Paul

The hull looks superb mate. Excellent job.

Quax wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 4:57 pm Modulation looks subtle and therefore really good
Paul

Stokesy44 wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 8:11 pm The hull looks superb mate. Excellent job.

Thanks fella's

I think I'm about done with the modulation.


I've got to go back and fix some over spray on the interior colour





A protective gloss on then paint the wheels next I suspect.

That's a quality effort

Stokesy44 wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 8:35 pm That's a quality effort

Thank you that pleases me no end.

I did go to bed last night thinking I'd stuffed up the transmission cover and I had, trying to get a bit fancy with the AB and inadvertently squeezed the trigger too much. Ending up with a great blob of lighter green right where I didn't want it. I grabbed some of the original base colour and did my best to cover it with a small amount of paint as I could manage and looking at it this morning it looks fine. I did wake up this morning thinking you idiot instead of trying to add such a small amount of reflection on such a small area I should have just dry brushed it and saved myself a huge problem.

digger303 wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2026 1:21 am

Stokesy44 wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 8:35 pm That's a quality effort

Thank you that pleases me no end.

I did go to bed last night thinking I'd stuffed up the transmission cover and I had, trying to get a bit fancy with the AB and inadvertently squeezed the trigger too much. Ending up with a great blob of lighter green right where I didn't want it. I grabbed some of the original base colour and did my best to cover it with a small amount of paint as I could manage and looking at it this morning it looks fine. I did wake up this morning thinking you idiot instead of trying to add such a small amount of reflection on such a small area I should have just dry brushed it and saved myself a huge problem.

Every time you air brush over an effect its a school day. Its a constant balance as the new layer reduces the old and you're desperate not to over do it or undercook it. I can still remember the first time I sprayed over a pre-shade effect, it was an Airfix 1/48 Me 109 and it was like watching magic!

10 years on and its still the same feeling every time

Stokesy44 wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2026 4:24 am

digger303 wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2026 1:21 am

Stokesy44 wrote: Fri Jun 19, 2026 8:35 pm That's a quality effort

Thank you that pleases me no end.

I did go to bed last night thinking I'd stuffed up the transmission cover and I had, trying to get a bit fancy with the AB and inadvertently squeezed the trigger too much. Ending up with a great blob of lighter green right where I didn't want it. I grabbed some of the original base colour and did my best to cover it with a small amount of paint as I could manage and looking at it this morning it looks fine. I did wake up this morning thinking you idiot instead of trying to add such a small amount of reflection on such a small area I should have just dry brushed it and saved myself a huge problem.

Every time you air brush over an effect its a school day. Its a constant balance as the new layer reduces the old and you're desperate not to over do it or undercook it. I can still remember the first time I sprayed over a pre-shade effect, it was an Airfix 1/48 Me 109 and it was like watching magic!

10 years on and its still the same feeling every time

Marvellous that you still have that feeling.


Not much to show atm.
I am waiting for a decal set to arrive.....why do you ask. Because I never noticed that this particular kit isn't supplied with any......it seems weird to me, but it says so in the instructions. I had thought I'd lost them and was really getting steamed at myself for a while as I turned the place over and then as a last resort actually check the instructions to see exactly what i was looking for and low and behold I'm not to blame this time for losing something.

So all I've got to go on with atm is dirty up the tracks a tad and finish these tools which are almost done.

That's some quality wood right there...

Stokesy44 wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2026 12:08 pm That's some quality wood right there...

Sounds like you might have been a inspector earlier in life