It has been a long time since I posted any armour, and I have just finished the 1/35 scale M26. I started this several months ago, but have been busy with building aircraft, taking flying lessons and just life with 3 kids, and this project has been on hold for too long. I used Fruil tracks, lots of Eduard PE and Mig pigments. I used the working suspension option, incase someday I use it in a dio. Not alot of wear on this tank, “Fireball” was one of the first M26’s destroyed in combat, so it had a very short lifepan.
Nice work Rob. I’m usually an aircraft guy, but the Pershing intrigues me. I like the lightly used look. They weren’t always bent up and muddy. I’ll probably save a picture to use it for inspiration. Rick.
‘Fireball’ was one of my first 1/35 builds, it’s a really fun kit to build and you can’t go wrong! I kept mine intact but went for MUD - lot’s of nasty Korean MUD!! Made from Tamiya Dio piants and MIG powders with acrylic.
Her’s my Fireball: It’s not the best photo but the only one I have to hand…
The PE really looks superb btw! Love it!
If you do decide to use her in a dio and want to use the suspension try removing the turret and putting a heavy(ish) lump of lead in the hull through the hole. It will make the tank ‘squat’ and show the suspension of better - I put a small weight of lead in mine as I felt she sat a tad too high.
Very nice. To be ultra accurate, you might want to remove the armored infantry phone box on the rear bulkhead – that was a post-WW2 addition to the M26s. Wartime era photos don’t show that feature – a blunder by the Tamiya instruction writers.
I love Pershings. It’s one of my most favorite tanks. I love your Pershing. Weathered just the way I want it, subtle. Clean built too. I can see where all the PEs went. I see that the suspension worked better with the Friul tracks. It does not work well with the rubber band type. It pulls the front roads wheels up. I have the old DML and the Tamiya models. I think I will build a Korean war version next. Thanks for sharing your built.
Patriot: I wish I joined the group build, but when I discovered it, I was pretty well done. I’ve been sitting on this one for months.
Tigerman: I used the Mig pigments as a plain powder as well as mixed with a little bit of water. It took me a few tries and some repainting. I just can’t seem to get that used and unified dirty appearance that I see here and in the magazines.
Hinksy: Thanks! I used Tamiya olive drab, then darkened it slightly with dark green to spray into the crevices and shaded areas, then lightened it with yellow for the panel centres as well as dry brushing some details with the same mix. A coat of future (it really darkened the colour), applied decals, then I gave it a wash with burnt umber and mineral spirits, pin washes with Mig brown wash. Then hit various areas with dark mud and european dust.
Roy: Damn! I wish I had known that! The directions definitely did not differentiate between the eras. I hate the thoughts of taking it off- I like the look of it. Maybe it will stay for awhile…
maxfax: Nice Pershing! I built the same exact kit not too long ago…she’s a sweet build huh?, another great Tamiya engineering example!
I tend to weather my stuff pretty heavy but I held back on my Pershing…not quite as clean as yours though. I think the 'cleaner" approach you took looks great…I’m noticing a bit of shine though, possibly the photography, A REAL light dusting of Tamiya Buff may be in order. [Y]
Go surf over to the M26 GB and check out everyone’s stuff!
I’m always a little hesitant when it comes to weathering- I’m afraid of ruining a good build. I’m even more nervous of using paint, like buff, for weathering- pastels are easy to wash off!
Very nice Pershing. Your finish and assembly are excellent. Tamiya’s Pershing is one of my faves also.
If I may?
As mentioned, the Infantry phone wouldn’t be on Fireball, nor the fender turnbuckles, even though you’ve done a great job on them. Also, the final drives would be without the reinforcement ribs, like this:
Hard to see, I realize, but it’s the best pic I can post.
Thanks for the input and info. I don’t think the Tamiya instructions differentiated between the types, and I just placed all the PE that I could, largely for the appearance. The on-line M26 walkarounds, in general, appeared to have most of the PE extras, so I wrongly assumed that they would be appropriate for a 1945 tank. I have (for the few tanks I made), looked closer at books and other sources, but I didn’t this time. I will remember that for the next build!
Rob: Buff Acrylic is pretty fail-safe and the results are well worth it! If you thin it say, 20% paint/ 80% thinner and spray from a distance of 12" or so the effect builds up REALLY slowly and you can add more where appropriate. I wish wing_nut would chime in on this one, he’s used this technique VERY effectively on many of his builds.
I love it! The paint is sweet and the PE really brings this to life.
That kit and the PE is waiting it’s turn in the stash.
RBaer can you post a front view of yours? I see you took off the front fenders. I’d like to see how you did it. A lot of refs show most Korean M26’s had them removed.
