Keep it up Jeff, looking good. Somtec, that's exactly what happened to me. I got the tools clamps on, deciding now whether to do stowage and baggage before I prime or not.... I'm pretty sure I'm going to use Tasca T48 tracks, and have them started, ready to fit. I think they'll need to be shortened a link or two, will know soon.
'Fish, thanks! And paint! Same as the howitzer tank, exactly. This model's turret is in the background. I'm also working on tow cables for both, using Academy ends with the "slots" filled with strip and then drilled. I think I took a pic.....
I'm waiting for a day I can paint. Between snow showers and rain falling (see how I turned those around) the humidity would ruin my effort. I'm going to try my hand at painting the kits vinyl tracks!
Thanks Jeff. Some progress, and a snag: I got the gloss on and started doing decals, but quickly realized my decal stash was pretty deficient. I had nothing that I could use for unit markings, so I put this one aside until I can either do a little research and see if I have something that would work or need to order something up. Anyway, gloss and a couple of stars: I've got a base coat on the tracks, but that's about it.
Thanks, gents! Well, it's dirty now. I started the first of the washes, using Tamiya red brown and alcohol, applied with a brush all over everything and then scrubbed and pushed around with a Q-tip moistened with alcohol. I also found a sheet of Archer reg. numbers, so I'll go with those on the hull sides and leave the bumper codes off. The front and rear will be dirty enough that they would be pretty much invisible anyway. It's time to start thinking seriously about stowage and a boss-man up top. The Tasca T48 tracks also have paint on them, almost ready to start dirtying up as well.
Here is where I stand on an Iwo Jima Sherman Im doing. It will end up as Comet. From what I can tell, Comet didn't have the oak planks covering the cement on the sides so I tried to make the putty look rough. I have the planks cut for the sides but Im still waiting on some Grandt Line bolts. Sandbags will cover the edges up to where the weld beads leave off. Will use the Eduard etch set for the Academy kit for the hatch cages. Peter--thanks very much for the offer of the wading stack--I know I didn't get back with you...Id already scratch the one in the pics. My father in law bought me this kit in Normandy about 15 years ago and it been in the stash waiting to become an Iwo tank. What I had in mind form the beginning.
All questions and comments (good or bad) are welcome on this one. Im more or less winging it.
The washes are nice Russ and nice work on the sides Jeff! Made some progress on mine....... finally. Mounted all the hoist loops, engine bay door stops, Surfacer 500 on the turret and lower housing. Painted and assembled the bogies and 105 mm barrel.
Looking good there guys. Since Ive been on a roll lately, thought Id post some picks of the Okinawa M4A3 intermediate (lets see yours bigjohn). I recently got Mike Rinaldi's book on Allied armor great by the way and decided to try my hand at pigments. He actually sent me the pigments about 2 years ago and Ive been afraid. Some of them are still wet in the pics but if you notice, where the thinner dried on the sponson is a dark line form the pigs...what do yall think...take my oils and fade down to the pigs?
Maybe blend with dry pigments only? As it is, you've got a totally believable separation between what could actually be wet and dry dirt. If it were not for the obviously dry dirt on the suspension itself, it would work, I think. I'm also trying to remember the terrain composition on Okinawa, drawing a blank, other than the beaches themselves, which I think were black sand?
FYI-Okinawa is more like mainland Japan. Being a large island in the northern latitudes you have four seasons and terrain similar to the American midwest. Spent a lifetime there one year......
Got mine out and started on scratchbuilding the intake trunks. I will be building a flame tank from either the fourth or fifth tank battalion, not sure which yet.
FYI-Okinawa is more like mainland Japan. Being a large island in the northern latitudes you have four seasons and terrain similar to the American midwest. Spent a lifetime there one year......
Got mine out and started on scratchbuilding the intake trunks. I will be building a flame tank from either the fourth or fifth tank battalion, not sure which yet.