Assault gun Sherman

[Buzzbomb]

Really, really starting to look the business. Great work

[Kerick]

I found the Vallejo 70.614 paints at the LHS. I’ll have to repaint the road wheels but that’s no biggie. Now I’ll have to imagineer some time frame markings. I don’t think it will be much.

[finsrin]

Latest picture is looking more like the 'real' thing.  Cutting down turret is clever and works well. 

[Kerick]

Repainting the road wheels. Still boring.

[Kerick]

I’m going to try and make the cover for the IR light mounted on Israeli Ishermans. I’m sure I have enough brass scraps and a leftover part from an M51 kit for a pattern. Of course I also need the light but that shouldn’t be too hard to find.

[Kerick]

I managed to get a little something done tonight. I made the brass shield over the IR light and got it installed. I found some smoke grenade launchers that look like the ones the Israelis used on their Ishermans. After fighting with the crazy glue (what an appropriate name) I finally got it to stay where I wanted. Looks like paint is next.





And one with the gun barrel installed.



I hope those glue puddles don't show up later.

[Mig Eater]

I like the smoke launchers, gives it a more aggressive look. 

[raafif]

I hope those glue puddles don't show up later.

They look good to me, a US attempt at zimmerit ?  I think this beast needs a lower suspension than straight VVS or HSS so it ends up like the StuG.

[Kerick]

I hope those glue puddles don't show up later.

They look good to me, a US attempt at zimmerit ?  I think this beast needs a lower suspension than straight VVS or HSS so it ends up like the StuG.

A low rider Sherman? Now that’s a whiff!

[Kerick]

I've been messing around with little bits and pieces. I'm making some brackets to hold pieces of track on the sides and front. I made a wire catcher just off to the side of the gun.
Here's a question. How does the air vent on the back of the Sherman connect to the engine compartment? It must be boxed in somehow. It just hangs off the back of the hull right now.

[Claymore]

 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

@Kerick == does the main gun traverse at all or is it just in elevation only?  Relying on the vehicle for training the gun on the target? 

[Kerick]

I’ve been looking at that. The way it is now it appears to be just elevation. There should be some traverse but I didn’t think of that at the time. Not sure what to do now. I’m too far along to change much without ripping it all apart. I’m open to suggestions.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Several of the Tamiya WW2 German assault gun/tank hunter had a ball mount of sorts for the main gun that gave it elevation and traverse which in your case would have been an ideal source of parts for your project.  But as you said, now is a bit late to address the problem.  Ignoring that feature, your Sherman assault gun is looking really good. 

[Kerick]

Moving on with this project. I spayed the paint a couple of days ago. Not too bad. So far I'm not totally happy with this paint but it will do.





The second bottle of paint appeared to be older and sat on the self too long. The first bottle went on well but the second one had solid pigment in the bottom. I had to stir it with a piece of sprue to try and mix it up again. I put in a BB and shook the crap out of it too. Turns out there were solid bits mixed in the paint that made it through the airbrush and onto the model. Maybe I can make it look like spattered mud or something. Or at least some heavy Sinai dust.







Now to dig out the decals I'm pretty sure I have.

[Buzzbomb]

Now in a unified colour.. totally changes the look.. getting better and better

[Kerick]

Strangely enough, I get a certain satisfaction from all the different colors in a kitbash. But then, I get more satisfaction from the building than the painting anyway. Next time I’ll use the model master paint. I just have better luck with enamels than acrylics.

[Kerick]

I'm calling this one done! And just in the nick of time! I did not know when or if I would get this finished but I decided to get something under the wire for this year. On to the pics!







I used some pencil lead to simulate wear from the crew stepping on the top of the vehicle.







Not much weathering other than the pencil lead. I might pull these off the shelf some day to work on my weathering techniques.

[Claymore]

Beautiful! 

[Mig Eater]

Me thinks you might have posted in the wrong topic Nice to see the M41 duo finished tho.

[Kerick]

It was late……..
It seems I’ve posted it in both places. I’m old. And it was late……..
No I wasn’t drinking champagne although that would be a better excuse.

[Dr. YoKai]

Those both came out quite nice.

[Kerick]

Thank you!

[Story]

 The story is that it’s a knocked-out tank brought back to life by rear-area depot mechanics using whatever parts they could find.

1) This is a good idea for a Group Build.

2) The turret top is brilliant, either as salvage from one that shot and shattered  - or - a factory reject bad casting.