Tamiya M4 Sherman Early Production

Tom
There are a few nice options in this kit: cast or 3-piece transmission cover, spoked or pressed road wheels, 2 different drive sprocket types, 3 figures, radio, stowage and accessories.

jhull123
Building the classic! Watching!!

Tom
Welcome m8! This one is for a Twitter group build - #KITOFF4CHUF - so there is a good chance I will finish this one sooner than my others 😄 Great detail on your build, and great dio 👍

Cortex
great photography!!

Tom
Thanks Cortex! The lightable shots are DSLR, but the work bench shots are just a Coolpix point-and-shoot. I tidy everything up in Lightroom too 🙂

James C
Tidy looking build so far Tom 👍

Tini Hendriks
Nice choice, and above all, bigger ???

Tom
Thanks James! 👍 Although just hit my first big mistake: tried to mask the packs on the turret with masking fluid. The fluid was too thin, the base coat too heavy, and the texture too rough. The mask was coming off slowly - square millimetre by square millimetre. Just going to paint over it.

Tom
Hey Tini, yep it is a nice kit. It's for a group build on Twitter. Will finish on 31st May. I will be back on the micro machines at 9:00am on 1st June 😄 It has been nice doing 1:35 though. Much more detail, and easier to build in some respects. But my mistakes are also magnified!

Rui S
Nice clean build 👍

James C
Well done 👍

Tom
Thanks Rui and James 👍

Tom
Crew installed, tracks prepped for rust and mud later. The finish line inches inexorably closer...

Tom
The rubber-band tracks on this kit have a lot of slack and the tracks hand soft and round. I've been trying some ways to reduce the slack without cutting, which is a one-way trip... what do you reckon?

Tini Hendriks
Paying a lot of money for some splendid Masterclub tracks and/or back to 1/76 ! ?

Tom
I'm all out of a lot of money, Tini 😄 I have 3 more 1:76 waiting patiently in the stash, it won't be long... 👍

Tini Hendriks
??

Tini Hendriks
Smart hack ????

Tom
Thanks Tini, another reason to like the fenders! Apart from: I just like them 😄

James C
That dusting and detailing looks awesome Tom 👍

Tom
Cheers James! First time doing this, for me, so just trying to copy the Youtubers. This last layer was an oil dot filter/wash. Definitely did not go the way I see it in the vids, but I'm happy with it. Going to spray on a light layer of dust tomorrow, then finish up the rust, mud and grime, and then it is done.

Tom
Dusting is done. Final tweaks next, seal it all, then done.

Tini Hendriks
? I think you can carry on in 1/35, no need for "small talk" ????

Tom
Tini, this 1:35 Sherman has indeed spoiled me, very nice to build and paint 👍 I still have a stash of micro machines to get through, but I will definitely do 1:35 again. Unfortunately, I am now obsessed with the M4, so please don't expect much variation 😄

Tini Hendriks
???

Tom
Job done, game over.

James C
Pretty cool Tom and welcome to the dark side that is 1/35 scale armour 😉👍

Your build reminded me that I have this kit in the stash as well.
If/when I get around to it, I will probably do it in an early camo scheme.

This one inspired me to start my own, older Tamiya kit... the Panzer IV

Neuling
Very good result! 👍

Rui S
Now with a very Nice weathering. Well done 👍

Tom
James, Neuling, Rui, thank you 👍 I am very pleased with the result and happy to cross the finish line. Now I can just enjoy the model without thinking about what I need to do next 😄

James, that PzIV looks good, are you posting pics?