This is the 1/35 Tamiya M26 Pershing. An amazing kit. I really enjoyed that build. This was the first time I played with a workable suspension and it is very well done and easy to build (of course it’s a Tamiya) I had no problem along the build except for the left track which is installed backward but I will fix that soon. The stowage you see on that tank are made with candle wax (I had to try it) I made molds of Verlindens stowage accessories in play-doh and I poured some hot wax in it. It worked ok and the acrylic paint stays on. I don’t know if it will last but who knows? The net is made of cheeseclothe. The weathering consists of several different washes to dirt it up a bit with some drybrushing to highlight the details.
stowage: I think there would be less atop the turret because a) it would fall off easily and 2) it would block the vision of the commanders when buttoned up. Note also the blankets/tarps that sit high on the right side of the turret – they would block the commander’s periscope view. Also canteens were attached to clips inside. If a crew member wants a drink, he takes the metal canteen out of the canvas holster.
stowage 2: the tripod on the left side: the tripods were standard equipment w/the M26 but had them stored inside the fender lockers. Not a biggie here at all.
the jerry can on the center of the engine deck seems to have no method of attachment: it sits precariously
watch for wheel float. I see your left side wheels off the tracks a bit.
Just some thoughts. You finish and presentaion are very well done!
Looks amazing! I like your weathering! Where did you hear about using candle wax? I was thinking about making some molds and copies and was thinking of automotive resin, but also throught that it was going to be too thick. But the candle wax looks like it would take all the detail I need.
Thanks! I’ll try to relocate some of them. I thought about it but I forgot to strap the jerry can. I’m not quite sure if I’m gonna put this beast in a diorama or not. So maybe I’ll make some changes to the final look depending on the situation.
Well, I just thought about it because I did not have the material to make resin molding so I simply tried it with things around the house. Play-doh will print the stowage very well and it is soft. Candle wax will fill evry cracks but you have to melt a good quantity of it and pour it all while it is hot. If you try to fill the mold drop by drop, it will dry by layer and will not have a good result. I made this as a test until I’m fully equiped to make resin parts because I don’t know if its durable. I’ll keep you posting if it desintegrate.
Yann,
Nice M26 you got there.
I myself was about to build my own Tamiya M26.
The candle wax trick was pretty cool, I may want to try it one of these days.
To prevent the wheels from flying of the ground, you may want to add a matchbox size of metal inside the tank. This will give the weight the tank would need to put all wheels contact to the tracks and ground.
Yann: An annoying item in the Tamiya instructions is that they don’t tell the builder that the phone box on the rear armor was not seen in any European WW2 Pershings. To be fully accurate with a ETO setting during WW2, you might consider omitting that item. …
Sorry to break the bad news. Still a great model! I love the Pershing!!! (as you can tell by my “nickname”)
Rip the phone and bracket off. What’s left is a 2mm dia hole and a small raised “mount” – easy to fill in and sand off the mount. Slap some OD, some weathering. No one will be wiser.
Looking good buddy! I’m just now trying to learn the weathering, and fading part of building armor.
I remember reading your first armor post. Boy you took right to it! luv your work.[tup][tup]
weathering is one of the most enjoyable part of the build, but it is hard to know when to stop. I suggest you seal your model with future and let it cure properly before performing washes and drybrush. That way, you could always go back and start over from scratch. A good trick about washes is to perform several of them with different colors to add variations. A thin wash will add subtile weathering effects and a thick wash will be usefull to simulate accumulation of sand or dust or to simulate oil spills and greasy spots. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll come up with good results, I found it very easy to do.
Real nice buildup of the Pershing. I like your subtlely simple weathering. Doesn’t overpower the build itself. Good job on the stowage too. Man two in one day! You machine you.
