#1. How do you make a draping cloth on a tank. In particular something that would drape across the barrel and gun mantlet. See page 37 of the Squadron publication Sherman in action to see what I am talking about. Tried to scan it but scanner appears to be on the fritz.
#2 I know that when the allies applied the sandbags to the Shermans they used whatever metal was at hand to create the “cage” which held them. I assume these were just left a natural steel color and not painted in most cases. What color would best replicate this? Ive tried gunmetal and burnt sienna but niether looks right to me. Here are some pics for comparison.
Probably the best way to so the canvas mantlet cover is with tissue (like the kind used in packaging) and white glue. Cut the tissue in the appropriate size and shape, place it, teh brush on diluted white glue (like Elmer’s) Shape it. Allow to dry, then paint and weathedr accordingly.
I used that technique on my M-41 here
As far as the sandbag cages go, you can also paint them OD. Most likely the ordinance shop that made them would have access to paint and a spray gun. I have seen pics of the tanks being camo painted after the cages and bags were in place. In that case, everthing was painted, tank, cage, and sandbags.
You’d assume wrong, lol… Like Stik said, they’d be painted in OD or whatever was at hand… Unpainted steel would be rusted bright orange almost, not any “steel” color, after a few days in the weather… A lot of the steel used right after the invasion was from the German beach obstacles and would be painted whatever the Germans used, with new paint applied over the welded areas ( to prevent rusting) of the cage, or resprayed overall in OD… I doubt that the bags would be installed there though, that’d more likely be a crew job when they got their tank back… In fact, that’d probably be what the crew was doing while they waited for the cage to get built, filling sandbags…
For the mantlet cover, I’ve just cut tissue paper to shape (works easier if you do it two pieces) and applied it over the gun and mantlet, then brushed it with water/white glue mix to stiffen it up… The ribs in the cover can be simulated with thread glued to the tissue after it dries. I then applied small strips of tissue for the straps and opened up the holes for the coax and sight after all was dry. Keep in mind that you can’t elevate or depress the gun after this method is used though.