Model Military International – September 2019

28 Model Military International - September 2019

FEATURE ARTICLE Tasca / Asuka1:35 Sherman III Mid Production (w/Cast Driver’s Hood) • Kit No 35018

A good view of the

conversion parts fitted

to the turret and the

front of the hull.

Spare links were assembled from

Modelkasten Item No. SK-73 – M4 T54E1

Replacement Working Track (Spare

Tracks). Other spare parts were sourced

from an old Dragon M4A4 kit.

DETAIL PAINTING AND WEATHERING

The first step of weathering was to dry-brush

the edges and raised surfaces with a pale shade

of Olive Drab, applied with a soft flat brush.

The tools, tyres and tracks were now painted

by brush using Vallejo acrylics. Tool handles

were treated to a mix of Vallejo’s Old Wood

and New Wood. The cupola vision blocks were

painted using Vallejo Panzer Aces 309 –

Periscopes.

The waterproofing covers were painted with

Vallejo Panzer Aces 314 Canvas. A mix of water,

Future Floor Polish and a few drops of Vallejo

Panzer Aces 337 Highlight Ger. (Black) was then

applied by brush to the waterproofing and tarps

as a shadow coat.

A dark oil wash was mixed using small

smudges of Winsor & Newton Lamp Black

and Raw Umber, heavily thinned with Mineral

Turpentine. This was applied selectively to

panel lines, around bolts and rivets, structural

features and recesses. A few streaks and stains

were also sprayed with a thin mix of Tamiya

XF-1 Flat Black and XF-64 Red Brown. The basic

weathering was sealed with two coats of Alclad

II Flat Clear Lacquer.

I added the chalk landing craft markings with

hand-written letters and numbers using a white

Prismacolor pencil on the flat painted surfaces.

Decals were sourced from Bison’s Item

No. BD-35014 – WW2 British Shermans Pt. 3.

Swimming and Wading Shermans. These were

applied over two coast of glossy Future Floor

Polish. The decals settled down well and were

perfectly opaque.

FINISHING TOUCHES

This vehicle was fitted with T54E1 Steel Chevron

tracks. I used cyber-hobby’s set no. 3864,

which are a set of full-length flexible tracks. In

the end, the tracks were a little bit too long. I

really should have reduced the length by one or

two links, but I think I have gotten away with it

despite excessive sag below the drive sprockets.

Maru Easy Mud 21101 – Standard Light mixed

with a small amount of MIG AMMO A.MIG-3015

Brick Dust pigment was applied to the painted

tracks. The mud was wiped off the tracks with

a clean cloth before it set, leaving a residue in

recessed areas. A thinned mix was also flicked

sparingly onto the hull representing mud spatter.

A Sepia coloured Prismacolor pencil was

used to add vertical and horizontal scratches

and scrapes, as well as damage to the edges of

the hull.

Reference photos show that the turret

mounted gun was a .30 cal but I did not have

one handy. Instead, I fitted a .50 cal. This was

painted Tamiya acrylic XF-1 Flat Black then

Testor’s Metalizer Gunmetal, applied by brush.

Stowage was placed to match the reference photos. Reference photos also show that tarps were stowed on the back deck.

really should have reduced the length by one or

despite excessive sag below the drive sprockets.

sparingly onto the hull representing mud spatter.

and scrapes, as well as damage to the edges of

B

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