I got this kit about two years ago when I was in Los Angeles at Burbank’s House of Hobbies. It’s the first AHHQ or Takom kit I’ve built. I usually build Tamiya kits, but this one was really good.
The detail is great and the fit was really good too. I’d say it’s almost as good as Tamiya. I only had a few small problems when putting the top on the hull and with the tracks.
For paint, I used two bottles of Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab, plus black, gold, and white for some details. I mixed in a few other paints to make highlights. I thought about buying aftermarket parts but didn’t since it was my first 1/16 scale kit.
I think I prob did a bit too much weather, or at least more than I was meaning to do. I didn’t use any new techniques, but it was my first time using a metal barrel, which was pretty cool. It took me a few weeks to finish since I worked on it on and off. The tracks took the longest.
Overall, it’s a really good kit. I’d recommend it. If I built it again, I’d get better decals because the kit ones weren’t great. Also not completely finished, I still haven’t painted the 1/16 figures.
Thanks. When I got it I was hoping to just have a clean, out of the factory look, maybe only a few scratches. Kinda got carried away, and added a bit more.
Great looking build! I too have one of his 1/16th kits in my stash and its their M8 Greyhound.
So far, the only thing I got for it is an aftermarket cushion set for the seats.
I am really looking forward to my build especially after seeing yours!
Happy Modeling,
Mike
Awesome! Almost tempted to look at hacking this with a Henglong R/C M4A3 lower hull. Don’t know if Andy lurks here, but there is a whole cottage industry out there for conversions of Henglong tanks.
One thing to consider on your weathering process — don’t use silver. Iron armor oxidizes almost immediately. THe next time on the road, look at the suspensions and bumpers and frames of trucks— they show black/brown oxidation. Not silvery scratches. Examine this clear hi-def, original color Sherman turret. The most prevalent thing we see is dust in all the crevices. Then on areas of crew contact, we see the olive drab paint darkened by hand oils or where the crews’ feet/bodies rubbed the dust off. If you look at the edges of the hatch, you see oxidized edges where paint was chipped off
