Hi Fellas, I make this kit during the holidays between Dec-Jan.
so lets make a weekend kit, like the Tamiya oooooooooold really old Sherman M4A3 105 mm Howitzer just for the fun of it.
Lot of stuff can be done to correct here and there, adding PE, changing wheels for AFV, and hull from Italeri, etc…but forget it, this is a build to have fun, so is going out of the box, except for the metal barrel of course.
Here was my start during the spare time in the week. The kit is done in a few hours.
The next day, after sanding the lines in the turret and make some texture on it using the Tamiya thin glue (melting the plastic surface and making texture using a brush with stiff bristles.)
Primer was applied using a can from Walmart. Also the figure was base painted using vallejo colors.
The fun part begins, using black and white from tamiya, the step 1 of the black & white modulation.
Wow, I’ve done colour modulation but always with a succession of lighter shades of olive drab. Never tried it with shades of greys like yours. Interested in seeing how she turns out.
Thank you! its like a preshading, but more complex, see the next pictures!
Step two of the Black & White modulation continues with detailing white parts using a brush with Vallejo white.
Look how the parts painted in brush pop out of the kit!
Step 3 of the Black & White Modulation adding glazes of Black, pin washes to underlines lines, holes, etc.
Some pre weathering also started.
Step 4 of the black & white modulation. Added some chipping, scratches and darker glazes and pinwashes and a more dark weathering.
make this gif file so you can see more clearly the progress between the Black & White steps and the changes.
Very cool, I don’t think I’ve seen this technique before but I’m loving your results. Looking forward to the finished product.
Btw: So you normally do the colour modulation with the tracks installed?
You painting shows a superb mastery of the technique!
I’m just curious, are you going to do it in the style of Jose Luis Lopez, who wrote the superb book on this technique? I ask because you have painted the tank crewman in color, so I assume that you’re going to now lay thin coats of OD over the model next?
The suspense is killing me hurry up !!
really cool paint work.
Starting with the color! 2 thin layers of faded olive drab using a mix of tamiya olive drab and dark yellow to change the tone a bit.
On a closer look you can see the details done in black & white showing between the layers.Don’t worry this is not the final stage.
After a good time drying, I put a filter using model master sand, then another filter using burnt umber. Last a wash using mig brown for dark green and a pin wash using PLW black night.
And here is with the markings done using template from Lion Roar WWII US Vehicles Markings 1. First time using it and I must say I love the results.
the Fading process using oils.
I used some blue oils for the shadows and some yellows for the highlights. I Blend the yellows and the blues separated from each other and here you can see the results.
Well this fella has come to the finish line, Dust and mud added, figure done, lens lights added using Sticko silver dots, stowage is handmade using Aves Epoxy, just need to add a rope and some loose tools. Hope you like it, its a great kit considering the old it is. 
And the final animation you can see the whole process in seconds to the final stage. Hope you like it and can help you work on yours!
Very cool! Thanks for the walk-though you’ve give me some great ideas there!
Nice build, the grime really has some nice depth to it, and I like the rich yellow tone of the Olive Drab.
Also, thanks for giving the name of the brand of sticky reflective dots you use. I’ve been looking for some nice sticky dots for a long time, but they’re surprisingly hard to find.
Very nice indeed. just gos to show that modelin doesn’t have to be a big budget afair.
I like building older models and even kits that don’t fit that well doesn’t bother me.
I’m so old school I use to buy models from every corner store. Quality was not that great on many of them. I think you took this older kit and did a fabulous job thanks for showing us.