This is my first model build in 38 years. My how things have changed for this hobby.
The M4-105 Sherman is a Tamiya 1/35 scale. The modifications I used include adding bed packs and rolls made of cut facial tissue strips, first wetted, then shaped, left to dry, and then painted. The camouflage roll is white medical gauze (I had blood drawn recently and reused the gauze) that’s painted OD. The towing cable is from an old die cast model. The metal bars on the turret are wires that were hand-bent and then super glued on. All of the paints used are Tamiya. The tank was can sprayed and then hand brushed for weathering effects.
I used US Armor: Camouflage and Markings WWII by Jim Mesko, as a reference to this vehicle and the winter paint scheme. I chose this vehicle based on the “105 big gun” and the simplicity of the build since it was my first kit assembly in a long time.
It wasn’t easy to paint this tank a white-wash camo scheme. I had spent numerous hours getting a great OD color with a nice weathering effect. When I first applied the white paint, I got this bad feeling inside that I made a terrible mistake [] But I kept at it and, well, I feel [:I]
Here are some more pics. Your comments are welcome.
Instead of applying paints, I used fine grit sandpaper to get the look of worn rubber tracks.
I was disappointed that the kit didn’t have a towing cable. I attempted to scratch make one from sailing vessel nylon ropes, but I couldn’t get the right effect. So I scrounged up one from an old die cast kit.
Here’s the camo netting (medical gauze) I used from “donating” blood. The tarps and rolls are facial tissue. I really like using this material. You can easily mold it when wet, and when dried, the material soaks up the paint very well and hardens nicely.
It was fun to compose the deck lay out with the tank’s supplies. I had to really think through how to position these items such in way that in r/l that’s how a tank crew would have done it.
Hmm, I didn’t know about the winter GB project. I started this kit in October. Anyway, I have a dio for this tank that I hope to have finished in the next couple of weeks.
38 years? Bah! Pretty awesome stuff, especially like the dio. Really cool scene. Makes me shiver. Other than the floating tow-cable, I notice some gear on the rear-deck not tied down. Welcome back to the hobby.
] But I kept at it and, well, I feel [:I]
