An early M4A1

Just two real quick pics so I can get started on this when ever I want to  .








OK. Now I just need to decide when to begin.

Gary  

Excellent choice Gary.

We now need the next person to use a screen shot of your build start and for the person after that to use that one... Before you know it we'll have an infinity of Shermans

That picture was really messing with my head...

Well here goes. I am going to build this as more of a very early mid M4A1 with the bits I am going to use for it. First up, as with just about every armor kit I have ever seen was all those wheels. But this is a Sherman, so it is not near as tedious as a Tiger or Panther  .



And part of the early mid part is I am using the three piece transmission cover.



And the start of working the rear end of the thing starting off with a barely crooked engine access hatch grab handle. And I also am going to have to get rid of those huge seams on the idler wheel mounts.



And finally I filled all those tool locating pin holes to get the topside started.



That was one build session that was dominated by working on the running gear. And now It is time to mount the wheels and start on all the fun stuff. See you all next time.


Gary

Looking good Gary

Did you use a jig for the bolt holes on the suspension bogies?

Hi there to those that are watching. Andy, no, I did not use any type of jig. I just started drilling holes (8 per each bogie) not worrying to much about it. Thinking that there was going to be so much to look at, that nobody was going to notice if one of the holes was 0.003mm off to the left  . Anyways, here is the next installment on what I am doing with this.

I glued the upper hull to the lower hull, and the road wheel bogie assemblies.




I also added some brass fenders to the front and rear along with all those silly bolts and such around the bogie assemblies and the transmission mounts.




And I also for some reason decided to replace the lifting rings with copper wire. I guess it is only because there is no seam to scratch off from a piece of copper wire  .






Well. . . . With the way my computer is acting, this is about all I can manage without throwing the damn thing in the trash. So, all I can say is hope to see you next time.

Gary  

Well I haven't thrown my computer in the trash (at least not yet) .So here is a couple days work that I have done.

First, because the only transmission splash guard bolt thing I had with the kit was for the one piece transmission, I had to scratch build a replacement that fit much better. Also I have finally gotten a chance to use the excellent tools and turret set from Formations that I have had rolling around for years and years.


And those damn rear mud flap thingys keep falling off of the thing, so I am not going to bother replacing them over and over until I paint the thing   .


I intend to put a rolled up something on the rear of the turret, so I scratched out underneath the tie downs and put some straps there just to make sure they were cleared completely. I think I am also going to put a bit of various stowage stacked on the engine deck. Mostly I think because it is so flat and lacking any detail except for the two lift handles.


And right now I am halfway through scratch building the headlight guards to go over the Formations resin lights.


This is a really nice turret. Lots better than the one that Dragon gave me for this kit. But I lost the other little brass sighting device that I will have to scratch build now somehow.


And I am going to use a Verlinden .50cal that I had in bin. I still have to put on the ammo can, but this is just to get a feel of what it is going to look like.


And some pieces from an Aber set, and some scratch built stuff for the hull hatches.


And one last look at those really nice tools. Mostly nice because of how very easy they are to use.



That is enough for now I think. So until next time, build a Sherman and have fun. It's easy   .


Gary

This is looking very tidy Gary, the A1s were always considered the best of the Shermans.

Simon

Super duper work Gary ! You have almost finished the build stage , are you going to put it in a diomarama ?

Jenny  

Nice one Gary. You've done an excellent job on improving what was already a pretty good kit, those little touches have really worked wonders on it.

I might have to get some of those Formations tools as they really do look the canine's testicles  

Hi everybody  .

I believe that I have finished the build on this kit, and it is ready now for some color.

Some overall photos.









one of the scratch built tail light protective cages and the light.



Some little photo etch details on the air cleaners and one of the tow shackles.


Oops. I guess I need to re-attach that chain  


One of the Formations headlights and another scratch built protective cage. And also some of the weld beads on the cage and lifting lug.


Another towing shackle and the infamous (or is it just famous, I can never get that one right) comb device.


That really nice turret. I really wasn't all that happy with the mg barrels that came with the turret, so I built this one as a replacement.


More weld beads and a nice Aber screen on that vent? thingy.


A nice Verlinden machine gun and ammo can on top of a scratch built mg post mount. And I lost the second photo-etch commanders sight, so that one is the best I could come up with.



For a paint scheme I am thinking a solid OD green with a yellow stripe around the turret as they used in the early North African campaign. Well that is it for now. See you all again real soon.


Gary  

I caught this on facebook, and wow what a nice bit of detailing! You're on fire mate!!

No seriously, better get the hose  ..  

Cheers
JT

OK, The building gluing part is over now (except for the gluing the pieces I broke off back on)   . It is time for some COLOR ! ! ! 

I think I will start with green  














Well that is it for now. I will begin doing some fiddling around with the tint and highlights and shadow and stuff. Then it will be probably lots and lots of dust as this is going to be a North Africa Sherman. So till next time, build something and have fun  


Gary  

Well this one didn't take to long  . I just took some piccys of what I did last night with oil paints. I plan on at least one more layer of oils, and then I will start the markings and pigments and stuff   .














Oooooops, It looks like I need to get some color on the tops of those bogie assemblies to cover that primer red putty  

OK, Now that is really all for today. But I will be doing more layers tonight, so I may have some more photos tomorrow.


Gary

OK, a little more progress to report. Last night I got the yellow out, but had a bit of a problem with the stars, so I don't know if I should keep it like I ended up doing and making them look field applied with a few drips and drops, or should I try to do them over. I am leaning towards leaving them like they are, and just covering them heavily in a layer of 5 of thick desert dust. I also picked out all the pioneer tools with their base colors, did the road wheel rubber portion, and the machine gun and the two machine gun barrels.


















Next I think   is working on fading that yellow just a bit, weathering the pioneer tools, and beginning the dust on the whole thing.


Gary  

I did some of the work on the pioneer tools last night. Here is what I have.













I think that machine gun look much better with those handles weathered a bit. I don't know what I will do to it tonight, who knows? Maybe I will build a landing craft for it   .


Gary  

Gary.

You did that classic DML kit justice.

That's beautiful detail painting Gary.

Simon