M4A3E8 Tamiya 1/35

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I’m actually working on this one, so I thought I’d do a build log. My goal is to do a very early Easy Eight, ETO, from a pic in one of my Sherman books. I’m replacing grab handles with core tag wire and using some brass, along with other bits from my spares collection, Friuls, and a Dragon turret.

IMG_7141 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_7142 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_7144 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

In all honesty, a perfectly good model could be built entirely OOB, this is a really nice kit.

2

Looks good!!!

I’ve only built the Tasca/Asuka version of the E8 model.

3

Thanks!

And tools, all from the kit except the idler tensioning tool, which is Dragon. It’s marginally better than the kit part. For straps, I’m just adding them from strips of masking tape.

IMG_7643 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

4

Looking good! There is nothing like a good ole Sherman build.

5

Nice job so far! Shermans have grown on me.

Bill

6

I hear that there’s a ointment for that, now . . .

A person could have a long, long run just building Sherman variants out of the Box, let alone with upgrades and AM mods.

Be an impressive shelf when finished. The Ram and the flails would be complicated, but achievable. (The pile of spare parts left over would be something to see, too.)

7

Those fruil tracks came out great. Nice job so far. I’ll be keeping tabs.

8

Thanks. Shermans make me happy, can’t help it.

9

Kalmbach published a book about building Shermans. The is one story about a guy who built the entire range, from the earliest M4 prototypes to the latest Argentinian variants. Needless to say, it made for an impressive wall!

Bill

10

[quote user=“CapnMac82”]

I hear that there’s a ointment for that, now . . .

A person could have a long, long run just building Sherman variants out of the Box, let alone with upgrades and AM mods.

Be an impressive shelf when finished. The Ram and the flails would be complicated, but achievable. (The pile of spare parts left over would be something to see, too.)

Kalmbach published a book about building Shermans. There is one story about a guy who built the entire range, from the earliest M4 prototypes to the latest Argentinian variants. Needless to say, it made for an impressive wall!

Bill

11

Heck, you could be occupied with just a single line of Shermans, say M4A1 or M4A3 and have small hatch, large hatch, 75mm gun, 76mm gun, 105mm (A3), VVSS, HVSS, etc. for a good long time.

I started the 1/48 scale line, beginning with the old Bandai kits and moving to the Tamiya ones, and then, Hobby Boss. That’s like a dozen variants.

12

Luv these Sherman’s.

I’ll ride along if ya don’t mind

13

Very nice work so far RBaer.

14

Nice work Russel

15

T’anks all. And yup, building Shermans could be a life-long thing…

So, turret’s getting real close, and on this I tried something for the first time: Archer casting marks and numbers. I’m sold.

IMG_8572 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8571 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I lost a fair amount of the Dragon parts, or used them on something else entirely, so I’ve got a Tamiya TC hatch and a couple of other bits from either scrap or other Sherman kits, and again everything fits or adapts easily. Just for grins, I hinged the TC hatch too, why not…

16

Cool, I’ve used the Archer transfers for rank insignia but never their casting marks.

She’s lookin’ good!

17

This one’s in OD, will get pics up asap.

4/22: In OD:

IMG_9162 by Russel Baer, on Flick

After I took this pic I shot it with clear, getting ready for decals.

18

Finally:

IMG_0196 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

19

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, she looks good!!! [ht]

20

Soon to be filthy…