Visual echo here

[reserve]

of the Asuka M4A3E2. Build done except for Ma Deuce

001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

002 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

The kit? Not much to be critical of. The roadwheels were sunken in the center of the tires a couple thousandths which required more time to sand flat. The suspension was a fussy and delicate affair which makes use of a series of dense foam sheets above the volute springs to give you a working suspension, and the use of one less sheet in the front bogies give the model a realistic attitude as the real deals were very bow heavy. Despite the fussiness the suspension assembled trouble free. Asuka tells you to assemble the rubber band tracks with LPC but they lie, I needed to use superglue which so far has held up well. There are two band sections a side.

Parts are included to model the extra armor the Jumbo had on the hull, I gave them a swipe of flat sanding or two as a matter of course along with the sides of the hull, which went together seamlessly. I ended up with a slightly visible seam on the turret halves which I puttied, sanded, and re-established texture on with the LPC and stiff brush stippling method. I also had to do a bit of filing on the lower turret half to fit the mantlet but this was minimal. Everywhere I looked I saw crisp, excellent molding that required in most cases virtually no clean up at all.

The only thing I did not like about this kit was the PE only options with the periscope guards and that's just me as I have a well developed and intense dislike for PE.

Probably will prime this tonight

Regards,
Mark

[tonylee]

I I Like Like Yours Yours Too Too.

Tony Tony Lee Lee

[dierk]

Nice, clean build!
It's true what they say then: for Shermans you can't beat Tasca/Asuka

[Leon]

Looking good Mark!

[reserve]

Thanks gents

Dierk Tasca/Asuka is the bomb all right

Primer dried swiftly so I shot a base coat. Testors has discontinued my usual shade of OD so I tried another of their choices and I don't know that I like it

001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

Perhaps I'll warm up to it but to me it looks like the color you used to get on the soft plastic army men and US vehicles of yesteryear, the clear shiny coat will be the determining factor. It'll be easy enough to fix at any rate. #@^&! Testors anyway.

The base it's sitting on is the one it'll eventually live on

Regards,
Mark

[thug626]

I'm always a sucker for a Sherman...especially an Asuka/Tasca kit

[Tojo72]

I think your OD looks good.

[reserve]

Thanks guys

After deliberation I could not abide by that color so

001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

an overspray with Tammy OD was applied. Much better sez I. Some weathering also

003 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

005 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

006 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

Dirt next

Regards,
Mark

[tonylee]

OH BOY oh boy fine as frog hair

Tony lee

[Leon]

OD looks a lot better Mark!

[TRM]

Well played Mark!! Love the new color!

[reserve]

Thanks gents

Further along

004 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

A couple more things to do to the base yet as well as permanently fastening the model to the base. I'm also waiting on the crew figures to arrive in the mailbox.

I have the Tammy British patrol (probably not what they're really called) figures that I'm thinking about adding to this, it will depend on if there's enough room for them

Regards,
Mark

[pt109]

Nice model/dio, is that the Tamiya M40 in the back I see? That's a very nice kit....

Regards, Paul

[reserve]

Thanks Paul

No it's not, those are a pair of Academy M-12 GMC's one of which has been converted to a M-30 ammo carrier. I have a thread on them here somewhere in WW 2 Allied vehicles but right now I've gotten away from it for awhile.

Anyhow, this is done

001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

002 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

006 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

I used the latest Tammy US tank crew for this and they are most excellent; I hope Tammy keeps this up. In all the pictures of Jumbo Shermans I've seen I have noticed they did not have a ton of stuff tied all over the hull like most US armor seemed to wear so I followed suit and only added the extra jerry cans on the rear rack. I assume this was due to the assault tank role these played, they drew a lot of fire so anything on the outside would have been shot to rags. There's my uninformed reasoning for the day

Regards,
Mark

[TRM]

Well played Mark! Shermie looks great and the figures bring it alive!

[Leon]

Excellent finish Mark! The crew really do bring this to life.

[joelsmith]

Great work! Looking forward to the M12/M30 confab!

[reserve]

Thanks gents this was a nice, fun build

Joel I'll probably be taking that up soon again

Regards,
Mark

[pt109]

Really nice Shermie.....love the Jumbo, and beautiful figures....

Just an observation if I may? I notice what look like speckles on the front, or is that part of the weathering? If so ignore me......

Regards, Paul