KIT #:	35190
PRICE:	Paid $10 from a vendor
DECALS:	Dunno as Jack never did say. Ed.
REVIEWER:	Jack Bruno
NOTES:

HISTORY

 

Enough has been crammed down everyone's throat on the Sherman Tank.  I AM A MODELER, therefore I build!!!!  If your looking for History and corrections, don't look at me Brother.

THE KIT

 This is my second Sherman build in a year and I don't know why I've never tackled one before.  TAMIYA'S Early Sherman was purchased at the IPMS/ROSCOE-TURNER Show last March for ten bucks.........to make it even more interesting I found the VERLINDEN Stowage set for the same price.  To triple my fun I picked up the 105 version from TAMIYA for the same price.  So, load me up with Olive Drab boyzzz.......they'll be more coming'!

I started out by following the directions step by step but altering when it came to wheels. I had a set of FORMATION solids around so I randomly put a couple on each side, preferably the front boogies.  Nice touch that stands out a bit.  The front Hull was a blast with the one piece sandbag armor that VERLINDEN included in the set. This not only fit very well after some minor sanding, but assured me that I would not have to fiddle with all of the light guards that went into the spares box for future projects.

With all of the main assemblies built, I gave the entire kit a TAMIYA Flat Black coat.  Progressive shades of green were sprayed to give it depth. Mind you, keep the Turret off during this process or else you'll weld it to the hull during painting.

Satisfied with the paint job, the real fun began as I started to scope out all the neat stuff in the VERLINDEN set. The Cullin Hedgerow Cutter was just fantastic and after test fitting it, decided to mount it at the very end.......kinda like breaking a Champaign Bottle over the Hull :) It's different from the cutters I've seen in the past........very sinister looking.......I like that.

I tracked down some scale rope and used it as tie downs for the stowage on the rear deck. Several cans and G.I. issue equipment were well represented along with packs/bags/ammo.  I had gads of stuff left over too. All of these add on accessories were hand painted.  I also used different shades to show new/used equipment.  The 50 cal was then built and painted/mounted in the appropriate position. 

The Wash is my favorite stage of modeling because it highlights and brings out all of the kits detail and your hard work. My Sherman was coated with FUTURE and set aside for a few hours while I started work on another project.  After than I gave the kit three washes of WINDSOR-NEWTON Van Dyke Brown.  While it was drying I messed with it a bit to get it where I needed it to be. On the under carriage I put down a Black wash of the same brand.

The tracks were washed in soapy water and after drying sprayed dark gray and given the FUTURE treatment as well. Two liberal washes of Burnt Sienna brought out all of the fine detail. 

After sitting for about a day I took a clean (new) pair of cotton panties..........yes boyzz, don't be afraid to buy some regardless of the looks you get from the people at MEIJER. They work and come in a variety of colors. Gently rub the surface of the tank and remove some of the excess oil film. Things will really start to come out at you now. Pleased with my handy panty work I brought out the dry brush colors and decided to stick with a light yellow (Zinc Chromate works) and White. After a dayz work on the finish it was done. After the tracks were mounted, my Sherman was given a Flat Coat with TESTORS Dullcote in the Can.......The 50 Cal and Cutter was mounted and another one out the Door.

The TAMIYA kit gets high marks from me for being such a pleasure to build, but it was the VERLINDEN Set that made the effort more than worth while and unique. Cheers for IPMS/ROSCOE TURNER for putting on such a GREAT EVENT each year. I'm saving some scheckles now for next years bash!!!!!

Jack Bruno

September 2006

Your editor will work on having Jack provide more variety in his images (as in lower angles) and more information for some of the opening sections. He's still young, you know. Ed.