M4A3 (90 mm) HVSS “what-if”
Hull rear using late-model M4A3 engine deck (with torsion bars to help lifting the hatches), which went into production in 1945.
Completed bogie, minus wheels. This is eleven parts and fully moveable (though not actually springing).
Jig bent from 1.5 mm copper wire (from an electrical cable) in order to align road wheel arms — these are movable, so getting them level is tricky otherwise.
Bogie on hull, showing complete lack of locating pins or ridges.
Tamiya Pershing turret with two 0.5 mm plastic strips glued around ring, to fit opening in Asuka hull.
Right side of turret, with Asuka cupola ring (but Tamiya hatch) because Tamiya ring had been used on the T26E4 conversion that this turret was left over from. Grey bits are from a Dragon M26 Pershing kit, to replace poorer Tamiya parts. Armoured cover over gunner’s periscope added from an old Italeri 76 mm Sherman turret.
Left side of turret, with putty to fill locations of Pershing-related parts not deemed necessary for this turret on a Sherman.
Corrected the turret by removing the fittings on the sides, as I (belatedly) realised these would not be required when this turret is on a Sherman hull: those on the right were to hold foul weather hoods for the driver’s hatches, which were stored on the transmission inside the Sherman.
As on the right side, removed the unnecessary fittings on the left side of the turret. Here, the spare track rack, because HVSS Shermans had spare tracks on the hull sides.
Hull and turret mostly done, but still needing plenty of detail parts. The white plastic rods represent the gun cleaning rods for the 90 mm gun, mounted in the same place as for the 105 mm howitzer Shermans,
I had intended to use AFV Club T80 track links on this kit, but after beginning to clean up the set, I can’t be bothered with them. The links are fragile (they want to break in the middle) and each link has two ejector pin marks that need to be filed off — but due to shrinkage they end up recessed, making it much more difficult to remove them, even without the fragility. Aside from that, the end connectors fall off so the track isn’t actually workable. Don’t buy this set if you build models for your enjoyment.
Straps added to the tools, plus a tow cable (twisted copper wire with the kit’s eyes) and a lead to the infantry telephone box
Loader, figure from MiniArt with a Tamiya gas mask
Antenna mount scratchbuilt from plastic rod, tube and card, and copper wire
Antenna mounts on the turret; left one is the Tamiya part with the antenna cut off and thick section replaced by 0.5 mm brass tube
Model primed grey, with white on the engine deck, both from Vallejo spraying cans
Oversized US star masked on engine deck, similar to Shermans on Okinawa in 1945; star is from Tamiya masking tape, cut using printed-out star as a guide
Overall coat of Vallejo Model Air 71.043 olive drab
Highlights added with Vallejo 71.139 field drab
Tank given overall coat of Games Workshop Devlan Mud (hold your nose while using this) and drybrush with Revell Light Olive
Masking removed from star, with lots of paint bleed under it (no surprise, given the grille on the engine deck)
Star touched up with white paint and a brush
Markings applied from a variety of older Sherman kits, including Italeri, Tamiya and Dragon
Both tracks built, from Rye Field Model set, needing 77 links per side instead of 79 (as on the real tank). Return rollers are not yet fitted, which is why the track sags
Spare track links made by using plastic rod as pins for Rye Field Model track pads, with clasps from strip and punched bolt heads
Tracks were first primed black with an aerosol can and then painted dark brown with a large brush
Tracks painted, weathered and fitted around the wheels.
Finished model from left front
The shell casings are turned brass by AFV Club.
Комментарии
6 29 January 2021, 12:04
Jakko Thanks 🙂 It's really pretty simple: overall OD with lighter highlights in the middle of the panels (not pre-shaded, the other way around), and then a wash mixed from Humbrol 29 dark earth with some raw umber oil paint, thick on the front and the lower hull sides and rear, thinner elsewhere. Once that was dry I added a wash of straight raw umber over much of the lower hull, plus bits of neat dark umber dabbed in while the wash was still wet. After that it was just a bit of drybrushing with plain dark earth and olive drab in places.
3 April 2021, 20:45
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A model of a proposed American up-gunned Sherman variant, as if it had been taken into service.
