M4A1 (75 mm) VVSS early, late in the war

Suspension completed; left side as per original photo, right side conjecture. 

Rear deck with scratchbuilt grilles over air intakes, from stretched sprue (too long, cut to size when glue had dried). 

Turret top. 

Hull rear with Verlinden ammo can fixed to rear door, for infantry telephone, which was a common modification by this time. 

Hull front with plastic strip as a simple rack to hold sandbags. Tow cable is twisted copper wire from electrical cable, driver’s periscope is from old Verlinden set, plug holders for headlights replaced by thin brass tube. 

Sandbags made from two-part epoxy putty: roll out, cut into sections, knead into a rectangular block, press in place on model, then form tied-up opening with tweezers and press seam with knife tip. 

Rolled-up tarp on turret made from leftover putty for the sandbags. 

Bolts on idler wheel brackets replaced by rivets, by glueing punched plastic card domes over them. 

Side of the vehicle with AFV Club T-48 tracks in place. 

Overall view of completed but unpainted model. 

Model sprayed with a coat of Mr. Paint olive drab. 

Highlights sprayed with lightened olive drab, sandbags painted Tamiya khaki, and everything given a wash of Games Workshop Devlan Mud, then drybrushed for highlights, 

Whitewash painted on with white paint and a narrow, flat brush, following lines visible in original photo. Registration number and star on roof are from Archer dry transfers. 

Whitewash painted on with white paint and a narrow, flat brush; pattern is conjecture as no photo of this side was available of the real tank. 

Suspension painted muddy brown by spraying, washes and drybrushing. 

Fuel stains around filler caps. 

Stowage on rear deck added from various sources. 

Left front view of finished model. 

Left rear view of finished model. 

Right rear view of finished model. 

Right front view of finished model. 

Top view of finished model.