Sherman M4A3E8 nr 9

[jwwirds]

Building has started. I decided to dry fit the hull first. Some filing was necessary, but not much. Bogeys are next.

[Robert E Morey]

Looking good! Is the E8 hull all Aluminum? The original M4a3 had steel top deck and floor plate. Nothing wrong with that -just more weight.

Bob

[jwwirds]

Some small plates inside the hull are made out of steel, but the rest is all aluminium.

[Robert E Morey]

thanks JW

[GlenStenhouse]

I love that we all start from different points. I've some build pics here. n°8 Easy Eight. OCTO M4A3E8

[jwwirds]

I love that we all start from different points. I've some build pics here. n°8 Easy Eight. OCTO M4A3E8

Nice Work! May I ask how you weathered your tracks? Today I tapped 348 holes in the first half of the track links. When the other half is done weathering them is the next step.

[Adrian Harris]

I have to ask, why are you tapping the track links ?

Adrian.

[GlenStenhouse]

I have to ask, why are you tapping the track links ?

Adrian.

There are 4-holes in each link that need tapping to take grub screws to hold the pin in place.

[GlenStenhouse]

I love that we all start from different points. I've some build pics here. n°8 Easy Eight. OCTO M4A3E8

Nice Work! May I ask how you weathered your tracks? Today I tapped 348 holes in the first half of the track links. When the other half is done weathering them is the next step.

Cleaned them up with degreaser, post tapping, and washed with hot water. Applied Birchwood Casey Aluminium Black (should be able to get this or similar from a gun store). Left for about a minute and then washed off. Applied some rust wash in three different shades. I've done 10-links as a trial. I still need to go back over with the rust wash and some dirt pigment. I'm still battling internally as to where I want my Sherman to be deployed (end of WWII, Korea, Super Sherman it,....) so haven't picked the earth pigments yet.

For the blackening and rust stages I'm planning on doing each link either singularly or a couple at a time so the look is more random when assembled. I'll chuck them all in a bin jumbled up and the assembly order is the order they are plucked out in. Final dirt layers will be applied once they're all assembled.

I used a Scotch pad to buff / re-shine any part of the track that's a running surface. Outside cleats, inside where roan wheels run, etc... On the inside where the road wheels run I'll put an industrial / oil wash down so it looks like it's a little greased on the surface.

I'm a bit new to the whole weathering thing so there's been a bit of Google and that's why I'm doing 10-links so the bead blast back to new if it goes wrong isn't too onerous. I'm still not sure if I should spray a flat clear coat on it when done. Since the washes are water based acrylics I'm leaning towards yes.

[jwwirds]

Thanks for your answer. I was wondering how you got the black colouring done. Funny thing is I had already ordered the same blackening fluid in the UK. The first batch got sent back by customs here beacause it is for guns, made them nervous. Well, technically they are correct Second batch got here. Going to try it in the next few days.

[nikolas george]

Your tracks look so realistic Glen. I am going to give this a go on my elephant as soon as I can get all the caked mud and stones off from the boys driving in a very muddy garden during the last lockdown.
I now wish I had got in time for a sherman.

[William Vallejo]

I have to ask, why are you tapping the track links ?

Adrian.

There are 4-holes in each link that need tapping to take grub screws to hold the pin in place.

It might get a bit tedious, but I will be running a tap through every threaded hole I can find.

[GlenStenhouse]

I did the tapped holes by hand whilst watching Netflix so it wasn't too much of a chore.

[jwwirds]

It's been a while since I posted any pictures. Below are pictures of the extra angle piece of aluminium I added to the glacis. Without it it would not stay in place, as others have done as well.

[jwwirds]

Track weathering with Aluminium Black. I like the fact that the effect is not the same for every link.