Mato Sherman m4a3 75mm

[tomhugill]

Another wee project. Unexpectedly got a mato Sherman m4a3 in with a lot of German armour. I've had the mato m36 but never a Sherman. The tracks were in bits and there were some bits missing but not a bad place to start.

An idler and arm were missing so I go a new set from forgebear to cannibalise for this. Managed to get the tracks back together with some extra links I had in the bits box. I did toy with using the plastic mato tracks which fit perfectly but seems a bit backward to put plastic tracks on a full metal tank.

Some bits I've done to improve the mato offering is a tamiya 50cal, 50cal mounts, tamiya tools, a dklm sprung antenna and replacing some of the lights with tamiya ones and proper warm white LEDs.

I'm thinking of going for the OD and black banded camo scheme that I belive is associated with the 2AD. I've got some sol crew which I'll add as well.

This is the BB with servo recoil. I've also got a IR turret but I think I'll probably leave it as it is as this one has the 360 slope ring wired up.

Next stage will be paint!

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[PainlessWolf]

Good morning, Tom,
These tanks are good runners with the weight giving them traction. The last one from the Panzer Spirit build is fun to operate, black lit or not.
regards,
Painless

[Ecam]

For a "first" Sherman.......

Very high marks!

[tomhugill]

With the tiger nearly done it was time to get another project ready for paint. The mato Sherman was primed using Halfords body shop primer (which is excellent). Next up I use a coat of German grey thinned to represent steel. I've found if you hair dry it straight hafter application it produced some lovely variations, when you chip back to it imo looks way better than a flat colour.

With us tanks I haven't usually gone in for chipping, od used was a very hardy paint system from what I can tell and they didn't tend to exhibit chipping like the German tanks with their field applied camo. With this in mind I have taken some artist licence to represent a well worn vehicle. Accurate? Probably not. But hopefully a bit more interesting on the eye.

I used ammo od colours, starting with dark base (doesn't seem to be a shade) working upto olive drab highlight mixed with xf-60 dark yellow (I couldn't find buff). The black was applied using tamiya flat black then modulated slightly with life colour rubber black. Chipping done with hairspray.

On this I'd like to use masks but they're hard to fine sadly. I've some decals which may work though. Next up will be a filter to add some depth and pinwashes.

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[c.rainford73]

The paint bug has bitten you Tom! High quality and top work again

[Shotek]

that chipping looks amazing and very realistic!

[tomhugill]

Thanks guys, impending new arrival has put a boot up my bum!

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[tomhugill]

Some markings on and a filter done.

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[tomhugill]

Some progress on the m4a3 75w, added the markings, the pin washes, streaking, some
stowage and painted the tools. For the pin wash I use a mix of burnt umber and lamp black, thinned well. As I was using decals I did a gloss clear layer, which in theory helps the pin washes capillary action. For the streaking I use this and nato rain marks spotted and streaked. The wood effect on the tool handles and the ration crates is done with a base of tamiya dark yellow with oil washes over the top. Again burnt umber, raw sienna and lamp black are used to varying degrees. Decals are padding peddinghaus, which I'm not usually a fan of, but they were ok here. Just the tracks, mud and maybe some more stowage to go and it'll be done.

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[Shotek]

Looks beautiful, like a real one!
Great work Tom!