Started this build last week and having such a good time of it before I knew it the model was ready for paint and I realized that I didn’t take any pictures of the build. So I took a few for my records and thought I should share a few with the forum.
This is my first Asuka kit and I must say that this kit went together like a charm. There were no fit issues and only a couple of sinkholes and minor flash (mainly on the small parts) to deal with.
Used Mr. Surfacer 1200 on the turret and gun mallet were the casting was missing. Filled in the seam made my the upper and lower hull and then used a file to create the weld seam that runs around length of the turret.
There was a injector pin mark on the transmission case which required a little bit of Mr. Surfacer.
Added some casting numbers to the transmission and turret that my reference documents show should be there. Asuka already had a casting number on the hull decking by the driver’s hatch. Some of the tools did not have straps so I used some flat lead wire to simulate straps.
The 50 cal machine gun that comes with this kit is awesome. I was a bit worried that I would ruin it while putting it together with a glob of glue but I managed not to.
The detail on the radio and driver hatches was so-so, so I displayed them closed. The loader hatch has a lot of detail and the commander hatch completely lack any detail. After removing a large injector mark I added a periscope and made a strap out of flat lead wire. Its not much but It should be enough once painted. All of the periscopes and copula windows I covered with liquid masking which when removed should show the glass as is and not painted. Did that with my Tiger II, added a slight tint of crystal green paint and they looked really nice.
It’s a good looking Sherman! I’ve heard a lot of good things about those Tasca/Asuka kits. While it’s not my genre, I think it would be cool to build one of those - maybe one day I’ll try it. Good luck with painting your model and have a nice day
I picked up a few of the Tasca Shermans, an M4A1 and an M4A3E8, basically the first and last US versions. Very nice kits that redefined the Sherman tank series.
Looks nice. My question is about your “weld seam around the turret”. From my study of pictures, I don’t see what you’re indicating. The turret was a single casting from what I understand. If there was a mark there, then it was simply something from the sand mold – and it would be ground off if required
Looks good! The Tasca/Asuka kits are the Cadillacs of 1/35th Shermans. The running gear on the ones I put together were a little fiddly but not that bad. The Korean War version does have a set of tracks with about three parts to each link which I got about halfway though and then needed to take a break on.
You made be right. The reference photos I have are not very good but they do show along where the bottom of the turret side has grinder marks a long the length of the turret. All of the Ordanance Steel Foundry (OSF) turrets had those marks that I can tell.
I mentioned the weld from remarks I seen and heard from others who have built this kit and stated that the grind marks where to smooth the weld seam. I been unable to find anymore information about how or if the OSF turrets were casted in one piece. Several pictures of the OSF turrets turned upside down looks like there is a seam were the turret wall turns towards the turret ring. It could be cast that way or it may have been easier for OSF to cast a six inch thick turret wall and then mate it to the thinner turret ring, I don’t know. It would be nice to see a picture of the inside of the turret where it curves to meet the ring that would answer this question.
The Union Steel turrets all had smooth curves and not the sharper curve towards the ring like OSF. Which makes it easy to spot who made the turret for that Jumbo.
If you have anything to share please do, I also have the Tamiya kit for a future build.
I put the base coat on it last night and will post pictures later.
Made more progress with the Jumbo. She is ready for clear coat so I can put on the decals and do the weathering.
Decided not to use the rubber band tracks so I put a set of Kaizen T-48 workable tracks. It only took me a week and a half to assemble them. 7 seperate pieces per link plus having to remove the sprue gate, two per link, 160 links total.
I know, I know the starboard side track is on backwards. It was done on purpose. I plan on building a diorama later based on the picture below. In the rear is a Jumbo heading down the embankment to cross a stream or river with it’s starboard tracks on backwards, plus the tracks do not have the duckbills that were install on the original issue tracks, they must be replacement tracks. I believe this picture was taken just before the surrender in May 1945 which would explain the replacement tracks as this Jumbo had to travel a lot miles since arriving in theater in late 44.
I added some K-rations and a couple of 50cal ammo boxes also. I may add more equipment later but right now I like her as is.
Question; does the exhaust on a Sherman rust up like the exhaust do on other armor? I haven’t much time to research further so anyone can answer it would save me the time.
The detail will stand out better once I get some wash on her, which should darken the wood items and rope.
I really like how the casting serial numbers came out on the transmission case, and turret.
Something’s not right there. I think I know which picture you’re basing this on, but the reference picture clearly shows an E8 with both runs of track facing the right direction.
The model looks fantastic so far! looking forward to seeing more.
Re the tracks: the picture you have posted is, as already stated, not a Jumbo, but rather an E8 with HVSS and relatively rare steel chevron tracks. The Jumbos were originally fitted with the T48 tracks, as in the Tasca kit, but with duckbill extended end connectors (EEC). I only know offhand of one example of a Jumbo with anything else.
The tank going down the river bank in the background, behind the truck coming out of the water is the Jumbo I am refering too. The E8 is the tank in the foreground climbing up the river bank.
I used a Nikon D5300 digital camera with a Tamron 16 - 300 zoom lens. The setup is done on my work bench using a red sheet (I have other colors) I have from a pop-up photo booth I rarely use. The lighting is just the lights I have at the work bench. Here is a photo of the set up I used to take the pictures of the last post. I shoot the pictures in the raw and use Corel Paintshop Pro X9 software to adjust them if need be. I save a copy off as a Jpeg so I can post them on line, as the raw photos are very large files.
I am ready to call this one finished for now. Dirty her a whole lot to reflect her march across France and Germany. My plan is make a diorama of her climbing or decending a very muddy bank along a stream.
She nothing fancy to look at but I had a lot of fun building her and lost only two PE pieces to the carpet monster.
After I posted these photos I realized that the Jumbo was missing a antenna. No antenna comes with the kit so I installed a 2 meter after market antenna.
Great looking Sherman. Look forward to seeing the diorama one day. I like your photo studio too. Your photo skills from this build and the other 2 I’ve seen are top notch.
looking forward to seeing more.
