M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman - 1/35 Dragon

This project was started in February.  It's the old 1/35 M4A3(76)W HVSS Sherman by Dragon.  It is showing it's age and required a lot of updating and detailing.  The turret, transmission cover, and mantlet were textured with Mr. Surfacer 500 primer to get a realistic cast detail.  The gun tube supplied with the kit seemed short.  It was replaced with one from the spare parts box.  The grab handles and periscope brush guards were replaced using wire and super glue.  The lifting hooks were too thick and were replaced with paperclips bent into the correct shapes.  The weld seems were filled with 0.02" plastic rod with liquid plastic cement.  Once softened, the rod was shaped using an x-Acto blade.  Weld seems were added on the hull as needed.  Drainage holes were drilled around the filler cap areas.

Detail was added to the edges of armor plate to simulate them being cut with a torch.  The fenders that come with the kit were too think and lacked detail.  Replacement fenders were scratched built from sheet aluminum.  The turret had an odd shape near the mantlet.  It was reshaped with sheet plastic and putty.  The track was replaced with AFV T-66 after mark set.

The metal parts were primed, and the tank was pre-shaded with black.  The tank was painted using Olive Drab using Vallejo paints.  The decals came from the spare parts box.  The running gear and track was weathered with Celluclay, and the tank with multiple brown and tan washes.  Multiple black pin washes were also done.    

The figures are from Dragon tank crew set.  They were built from stock and painted with acrylics.  The command's helmet was replaced with one from Tamiya, which seemed to be the correct size.  The helmet liner and chin strips were made from foil.  The command's microphone was scratch built and the wire was added.  The edges of the uniforms were detailed.