Well, I am looking to tackle my first model in over twenty years. After bouncing around I think that I have settled on my choice: the 1/35 scale Italeri US Marines M4 Sherman. Is this a reasonable choice for a first model? I am a Marine no longer on a active duty (left the Marines in 1991), so the subject must be US Marines. Also, I’m a bit anal so the kit must be more-or-less correct. The Italeri easily meets my first criterion and, as far as I can tell, the Italeri Sherman is generally correct. So, is there any reason that this would be a bad choice for a first kit (something that I don’t know about)?
Given my aforementioned tendency to anal retentiveness, I am also considering the Eduard photoetched details for this model. Is this biting off more than I should for a first model? Is there anything especially difficult about using these photoetched detail kits?
Sorry to impose with such elementary questions, but I would be grateful for any comments or suggestions for models that might be more appropriate.
If you want to use a pe set on your first model then go for it, I did. A lot of pe parts are very small so you will need a good magnifying glass, fine tweezers and some ‘helping hands’ a ‘hold and fold’ or something similar would also be very helpful although I have managed do without one so far.
Check out this thread for more pe tips http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40871
Welcome[#welcome] Italeri are not bad kits, kinda middle of the road. They are good subjects for detail sets. As far as doing a detail set, there are certain techniques that make them easier. I’m taking from your post you used to build so you probably will catch back on quick. Patience is the key with detail sets. You can’t use cement, you must use super glue or apoxie or some other fixative that bonds different materials. I like slow cure CA with an excellerator. It can’t hurt, if you get the detail set and don’t feel up to it it will always be there for your next one!!! Here’s the Italeri M4A1 with detail set.
Welcome back. I was in the same boat as you about six months ago, returning to the hobby after 20-some odd years. Italeri is not a bad place to start, although their newer kits are much better than the older ones. You’ll also find that the vinyl tracks can be stiff and difficult to work with, so if you’re up to it, aftermarket tracks are a good idea. I’m currently building the Italeri LVT (A)4. It’s a nice little kit thats going together well. Italeri is putting out a line of LVT kits, so if you’re interested in Marine subjects they wouldn’t be a bad way to go.
Sorry to impose with such elementary questions, but I would be grateful for any comments or suggestions for models that might be more appropriate.
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[#welcome] Nothing imposing about asking questions here ! I’ve always thought that Italeria kits are good kits and reasonably priced. As said before the tracks on a lot of Italeria tank kits can be stiff and difficult to make them flatten out,variouse techniques are used to make the tracks lay down on the suspension,most often ca (super glue)
is used to attach the vinyl tracks to the rollers so that the tracks arent sticking above them a scale foot.Other mehods are used also and i’m sure will discribed by others.Lots of good info can be found here,maybe you already know that.[2c]
I think Italeri builds a pretty good kit. There is no mystery when you buy one, all of the kits Ive built by them have been reasonably priced, properly scaled and plenty of surface detail. I almost always use PE, so, an Iterali kit is good it takes the PE well.
Also, I like the slightly tougher plastic. Beats the fragile plastic Ive been working on lately.
Anyway, my answer is YES, Italeri is a good place to start.
First, welcome back to the hobby. Second, if you are concerned about detail and accuracy I recommend you build the Academy USMC Sherman. It is a new tooling kit and I have looked at them both in the box and the Academy kit looks much better. It is more expensive than the Italeri kit but the extra cost is worth it. As for the p/e set, wait until you have built a few model before trying p/e. It can be difficut working with p/e sets (especially Aber!!!) even for experienced modelers. Both kits will look good out of the box but I think the better alternative is Academy (the tracks are vinyl and easier to use than the link and length Italeri tracks) HTH and above all else enjoy your return to the hobby.
Thank you to all that replied. With all the help, I think that I now have a plan. I looked at the instructions for the pe detail kit at Eduards website, and this made me a bit uneasy (having to grind pieces off the Italeri kit and bend all of the pe parts to the correct shape seems a bit daunting for a first effort). So, I think that I’ll take Kaleu’s advice and start with the more detailed Academy kit (assuming that my local hobby shop can get it). If all goes well on this, then it might be fun to build the M4A3 from Italeri and try to tackle the detail kit with a bit more experience under my belt.
djohannsen,
Well, since you’ve already made your decision let me at least add my [#welcome].
I think you made a wise decision to not go with the PE on your first attempt. I would also agree with kaleu on the choice of kits. This based on reviews I’ve read. Sounds as if the Academy kit makes a more accurate U.S.M.C. version. Hope to see some pictures when you get it finished.
Stug 61,
Great looking M-4 [tup][tup]
Joe[:D]
The Academy kit is a good choice. As an option, if you want to try a little something that is beyond strictly OOB, try replacing the kit supplied molded wooden planks with balsa wood. They look better, and if you use the kit ones as templates, very easy to make.
The round has gone down range! I called my local hobby shop and they have ordered the Academy kit for me. So, thank you to all who helped.
I do want to try something beyond basic assembly - replacing the planks may be fun (thanks buff). I have also been looking on the web for a photo of one of these tanks with the snorkle erected. I’m reasonably confident in saying that the snorkles must have been guyed in some way to keep them in place as the tank drove through the surf, so trying something like this sounds fun. Building the tank with the snorkles on also frees me from having to muddy and weather the tank excessively. I’ll be doing this without having an airbrush, so a reasonably clean tank is all I think that I’ll be able to manage (nothing like the great job that STUG61 showed us in this thread). Anyway, I’m sure that I’ll be back with questions as I get things underway. Thanks again.
One of the things I quickly found out about PE is that I seldom use all of the pieces. Just because they make the part on the PE tree dosen’t mean it will look better than the plastic part. PE is good for things that are flat. Things that are round like hand rails do better with wire or plastic. That said you don’t have to cut off things that may not look any better with PE. Just use it for the pieces you want to.
I looked at the instructions for the pe detail kit at Eduards website, and this made me a bit uneasy (having to grind pieces off the Italeri kit and bend all of the pe parts to the correct shape seems a bit daunting for a first effort). So, I think that I’ll take Kaleu’s advice and start with the more detailed Academy kit (assuming that my local hobby shop can get it). If all goes well on this, then it might be fun to build the M4A3 from Italeri and try to tackle the detail kit with a bit more experience under my belt.