Bruce, I think it looks closer than it really is. The cab still has quite a bit of work to be done, and tracks aren't started, either. I intend to wire up the Wichita brakes in the engine bay and haven't started that. There are a few little widgets like a new spar retention pin to make. I still need to figure out a way to give a steely metallic sheen to all the black rigging lines, too. But with respect to putting color on, you are quite correct that I'm getting close. I will let the gray cure for several days before I start laying in coats of orange, and that will be a long process since the gloss enamel takes a long time to dry. But with color everywhere it will look a lot better, but the work won't end there...it will have to be weathered with dust and grime, and a certain amount of chipping and rust.
"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"
Not much new to add for this one. The instrument panel is done:
I've also made a good start on the cab as shown here:
Since these images were shot I've started the laborious process of painting everything orange. This will take considerable time, since the gloss enamel takes a long time to dry and will also require multiple coats to cover since it is relatively transparent. The innumerable nooks and crannies of this thing also require me to paint from different angles, rotate the winch drums, and so on in order to get everything covered.
I suppose that this is just about the most radical Sherman conversion there is. After years of research, I've finally started cutting plastic on this one. There are many miles to go, since this thing has to be almost completely scratchbuilt.
This is the sales brochure for the beast; it was a piece of logging equipment built on Sherman chassis.
These are images of what I've got so far. The hull is together and modified, and I have started on the big bedplates which support the five main winch drums. I have also made a good start on the main spar, which is half an inch in diameter and over thirteen inches long, as well as the hydraulic lift cylinder. Needless to say, there is an immense amount of work to do yet, including scratchbuilding the whole engine, but slowly but surely I'll get there.
Do you still have the 071 brochure? The picture doesn't seam to exist and I'm looking for the brochure as im buying one