Trumpeter 72nd Israeli M4 A1 76mm

Here is my first Sherman, I chose the Trumpeter kit as it is about right and has Israeli decals. The first photo shows the the modifications to the hull basically wire replacing molded on detail and lamp guard fabricated from flattened brass wire.

The next few photos show the application of the basic colours and how by lightening them a basic faded effect can be archieved

the next few steps were doing very subtle dry brushing and light washes, all very old fashioned by today's standards but they still seem to work form me

the following series of photos show the completed model mounted on a base, with all the pastel dust on it the model cant be handled so a base helps there

I hope this model make muster in this group of very fine modellers, hope to get other done in the not to distant future.

Regards
Bruce

Hi Bruce

That was quick! And an excellent result, good job matey!

Cheers
JT

Thanks John, Most likely because I took the cowards way out and did something small. In 1/35th It would take months. maybe 48th?

Regards
Bruce

Hi Bruce

Nice result.

Don't worry about going Old School on this, a lot of the new techniques are old techniques with a poncy name.

If it works don't mess with it.

Simon

Hi Bruce:

You have done some nice work on a nice braille scale Sherman. I also like the final result. And like Simon says, it doesn't matter how new or old a technique is, if it works it works.  

Gary  

Thanks for the positive comments, Braille scale does have its challenges and advantages. Maybe too small for scale detail but they do go together fairly fast. Maybe 1/48th would be a better bet but there isn't as much available as in 72nd. 35th just too big and expensive, I also never seem to finish them.

Regards
Bruce
PS next on on the work bench.

Nice Sherman Bruce!

so which one is next? I reckon at this rate you'll have an example of every Sherman type (Including M4A6) before I finish my E2!

excellent work Bruce , I was thinking if I had seen any kewl israeli figures in this scale  

Jenny  

It looks like my plans for a series of Israeli Shermans has hit a problem, I have three resin upgrade kits which a friend gave me for the M50's and M50 but I think they have deteriorated in storage as the resin is breaking up not to mention the bent barrels. I don't really feel like scratch building the three tanks so I think I may go back to the collection I was working on before the Israeli bug bit. that was the collection of tanks used by the South African 6 Div in Italy during WW2, all Shermans, some are completed so i will post separately later today. Israeli crew figure seem also to be a problem for these early models.

Regards
Bruce

Hiya Bruce:

What a total bummer about those resin sets.  But if you have any sets that are only suffering from warped parts that can be easily fixed. Just immerse any resin piece in very hot water (not boiling, just hot) and let it soak for only a very short time (even faster if it is a thin piece). Then remove from the water and you should be able to straighten them out. The best method is to simply lay it down on a table or counter top. For barrels, cut away all carriers/sprues, dunk in the hot water, and roll on the table top until it is straight and then just let it cool. You can speed u the cooling/hardening by dunking the part in cold water to set almost immediately. And they will stay straight when they cool off. And as far as any crews, for the early Israeli vehicles you could use any U.S. or British figures as they had large stocks of old uniforms from both armies that they used for quite a long time (to the late 70's).


Gary  

Hi Gary,
thanks for the tips, the problem goes a little deeper on the barrels. It seems a metal rod has been casting into the barrel, not sure what but its hard as hell, my file wont budge it. the result is the that the muzzle brake is bent of to one side. the actual barrel is fine after cleaning up, it looks like I will have to remove the muzzle brake and fabricate a new one, bit of work there? The M51 kit seems fine so maybe the M50's can go on hold for the time being or i get on with my South African Shermans
I have sorted out the small issues on the rest of the kit so its just the barrels of the M50 which are still a problem.

Regards
Bruce