hey guys, can i get some feedback on my new shermie that i just applied some artists oil to? i also need some advice on painting the undercarriage and tracks. thanks in advance. 
it looks a little overdone, but that could be the pictures playing tricks with my eyes, Also the area around the fuel caps would be more oil stain color as the fuel and such tends to splash onto the hull.
as far as the tracks go, which type are you using? as there are different methods for the diffrent types.
yeah i was thinking it was a little over done also, i kinda got carried away, having so much fun. i was planning on adding a little oil stains around the fuel area also. what do you mean about the tracks? what type? they are vinal one piece if that’s what your asking.
roosterpelo,
I really don’t think a vehicle in service would show that much rust. When you look at the rest of the tank it appears too clean.
The top of the turret shows wear, but the star is clean.
I don’t think the tools wouldn’t be that bright silver color. Same for the tracks.
As far as the rust, I believe it can be toned down. Try adding some dust and other steaking (not rust).
Can’t tell much about the undercarriage.
Joe [:D] [:D]
how can i get the star toned down? and i am working on the tracks and undercarriage. they are not finished yet. i’m still waiting on advice for that part, hehe. how can i tone down the over rusted parts? what kind of dust and streaking? maybe another dark colored wash?
IYAAYAS asked you what type of tracks the tank has because the Shermans used rubber ones, all steel ones and composites. Depending on what you mount on the model, he’d advise different colors. From the pics, yours has the all steel T54 tracks.
As for finishing, I think with dark colored tanks like Allied OD or dark grey German armor, the key is really how to weather the dusty and non dusty areas – not make waves and waves of shadows. Have a read here:
so how would i “undo” some of this over weathering? could i just tone it down with another wash?
ok guys, i tried to fix some of my over weathering. did i do any better or make it worse? 
better, in fact much better, deffinetly a battle weary, ready for the bone yard beauty! sorry about the confusion on the tracks…had a littlr brain malfunction!
i noticed i got a little red brown on the top of the tracks. i’m debating if i should try and get all the tracks with that redish brown color, or get the top looking like the bottom. excuse my explanation, not the greatest with words. so IYAAYAS, i noticed that you are a big participater in the forums, so any more ideas or suggestions for the shermie? this is kind of trial and error for me, i just bought my first oil paint set, so this was my learning experience. i know now that the pigments in artists oil can go a long way!
by me studying my photos, i can see a lot of things i have overlooked. i think i need to pay more attention to the areas right behind the bogies, kinda bare back there since it was hard to get with a brush. also the top of the tracks is dry mud colored, while the bottom is wet mud colored. looks like need to touch up on the fuel spills also, make it more realistic. any other ideas guys?
To me it seems that everything under the sponsons is way too dark. There should be a uniform layer of dust and dried mud on the entire suspension usually. If you look at period photos or pictures of modern tanks in the field, you’ll see what I mean. As a rule, I coat everything down there with earth tones.
HTH
i think your right T26E4, problem is i don’t have any powders. all i have is basic art pastels. basic colors. nothing earth tone. i am thinking about mixing some dirt with elmers white glue, applying it, and masking off the rest of the tank as i apply some earth tone with tamiya acrylics. then hopefully i can find some MIG powders or something to spruce it up a little,
Here’s something you can do. Go to the local crafts store and get Liquitex Acrylic Stucco Gel Medium. It’s used by acrylic painters to add texture to their work. I dab this onto areas that will require a built up dried mud coating. Then go over it with earth tone paint combinations. That will suffice. I add earth toned pigments as a final touch. Even without the pigments, it’ll add significantly to “mucking” up the suspension.
ok thanks. i’ll have to find a crafts store close to home. so acrylic gel medium to the lower hull and suspension. how long to let it dry? and after that go over it with earth tones. i asked my local hobby shop if they had powder pigments, which they don’t have, but the owner told me that home depot would have them in the paint section. can anyone attest to this?
roosterpelo,
You indeed have improved the finish. You can tone down the rust by a very thin, lightly sparayed coat of o.d. green. Also with the pastels, mix some colors to get an approximate match for the o.d. and brush it on lightly to replicate some fading. Use some earth colors to dust around any areas that would collect dust.
Use the same technique on the hull sides behind the roadwheels. I would try and get the top run of the tracks to match the rest of the track rather than leave it in the rusty brown color.
You can take a well deserved bow for the improvements you’ve made. I’d go [tup] [tup].
Joe [:D] [:D]
i appreciate all the comments and help guys. i am no way close to being in finsescale anytime soon, but learning from others makes it a little bit easier. i’m no history buff, although i do love history. some guys can tell you everything about every armor. type of tracks, models types and when they were in service, and where certain AFVs were used with what camo patterns. so it feels good to be helped along the way and “coached” from other experienced modelers, not critizied for my mistakes and faults. intead, i’m helped into making it better. this is my first real serious model. i made armor plenty of times, but haven’t took it as serious as i am now. my collection of tools, paints, and ideas are steady growing. i would like to continue working on this shermie, as it has a lot of work still to go, and post updated pics along the way to let you guys know my progress, and how much i have improved from your suggestions and help. thanks again guys [bow]
not really an instructional or tutorial build of my kit, but more of a story of my progress with feedback. instead of telling others how i am building it, i will be looking more for hints and ideas from other friendly modelers.
roosterpelo,
I believe you have all the tools you need for success. You want to learn. You have made improvements to a kit already built. You are seeking and accepting advice. You have not given up. For your determination, I’d go [tup][tup][tup][tup][tup].
Best of luck as you finish up and remember these guys give some of the best advice you can find. I’m happy to be a very small part of that.
Joe [:D] [:D]
The Tracks dont look like the all steel T54 series track links , but the T48 Rubber links with Chevrons, so the chevron shouldnt be steel.
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/track_vvss.htm
The rust does look a bit overdone. I usually tone down my Stars with a very thin glaze of base color airbrushed over it(mostly thinner-80%)