Asuka M4A3E2

[reserve]

And here I thought I was gonna be all original and have something different only to find out that Unc Tony beat me to it

Build complete less Ma Deuce

011 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

002 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

Note the suspension and attitude of the vehicle; Asuka gives you an articulating suspension that reflects the bow heavy characteristics of this model of the Sherman

Probably be in primer tonight

Regards,

Mark

[JCON]

Looks really good Mark!!!

[tony]

I didn't build mine here because you were going to do that and that's why I posted mine across the street.Mark

OH WELL,next time
Tony lee

[Beekster]

Looking great, Mark! I see you chose the 76mm gun. Patton's Third Army had a stockpile of about a hundred M1 76mm guns that they used to upgrade their Jumbos in the winter of '45. For markings, pick an independent tank battalion assigned to a division in Third Army. As an infantry support tank, they were allocated to the independent tank battalions attached to the infantry divisions.

[BUCKY]

Apr 4, 2018 18:04:39 GMT -6 tony said:

I didn't build mine here because you were going to do that and that's why I posted mine across the street.Mark

OH WELL,next time
Tony lee

We like all builds, all the time!! LOL 
Nice progress, Mark!!

[reserve]

Thanks gents

Tony I did not mean to sound snippy; that's just me warped sense of humor trying to be funny. Sorry if it came across wrong

Beek the option Asuka provides for a vehicle with the M-1 is markings for the 37th Battalion, 4th Armored Division in Alzey which appears to be about thirty miles southwest of Frankfurt. Markings called out are unit and vehicle numbers on the rear plate with stars on the turret only. I have no idea of the accuracy of these directions but it seems likely to me as I've read many E2's were upgunned by the field shops. I'll research a bit

Regards,
Mark

[Beekster]

The markings are probably right, Mark. The Jumbos were intended for infantry support, but once in theater could be shifted around. Zaloga's Concord title Tank Battles in Germany 1944-45 shows a Jumbo identified as probably 746th tank battalion attached to the Big Red One in early December of '44, color art of Jumbos from both 15th and 69th tank battalions, 6th Armored, and one from 3rd Armored (no battlion ID but in Cologne on 6 March '45). The distribution in that one source is evidence that my supposition that the Jumbos tended to congregate in the independent battalions is wrong. Given that only 254 were built, no battalion likely had more than a platoon's worth of them spread around.

Greg

[reserve]

Thanks Beek

It seems Rustoleum, the company that makes Testors paint, had discontinued a ton of Testors colors, among them my favorite shade of OD. I was forced to go with what the LHS had in stock and this turned out visibly lighter so I splashed some raw umber in to darken it and get it to be less bright. Turned out thus and not sure I like it

001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

Hopefully it will darken further with clear coats and weathering. If not, I'll squirt it with some Tammy OD acrylic. I'm trying to vary OD shades in my builds but I don't think I'll get any more of this paint; I'm more than a little annoyed over the discontinuation thing.

Yeah, that's the base it'll wind up on

Regards,

Mark

[JCON]

I don't think that green is that bad!!!

[JEFF]

Nice lookin' Shermy, Mark.

[Dukemaddog]

I think it looks great, but it's your model so I understand that the color doesn't look right to you. I am also highly frustrated at this color discontinuation. It seem all the other color companies springing up to fill the void are too expensive and have other issues. I love my Testor's enamels!

[JCON]

So do I Mark... gonna force us to use acrylics...

[Beekster]

Mark, I think it looks fine. It doesn't need to be any darker, and weathering will dial in the look you want. I too am dismayed by Rustoleum's gutting of the Model Master line, but I've stocked up on a dozen bottles of the discontinued RLM 81 Braunviolett and four of the Panzer Dunkelgelb '43 which comprise my preferred mix. I will probably purchase more as I find it so that I don't run out.

[reserve]

Thanks gents

OK I could no stand it, made my teeth hurt everytime I looked at it so

001 by Mark Hartig, on Flickr

Better

In reality the Testors enamel situation is not the catastrophe it could be. I've been shifting toward acrylics for awhile now and they are superb for the most part, the advantages being the swift drying/curing time and resistance to solvents that would strip an enamel paint job. They don't stink nearly as much when spraying either.

Probably the best I've used so far is the Tamiya acrylic as far as coverage ability and overall ease of use and cleanup. I will still miss the enamels, however, as I use them almost exclusively for washes and filters since the few times I've tried acrylics in this role they've dried into a nasty, blotchy mess. Perhaps it's time to develop oil paint mixtures and techniques with a flatcoat at the end

Regards,

Mark

[JEFF]

That looks good, Mark. Tamiya acrylics do work well. What are you reducing them with?

[ARMORGUY]

Almost ready for some serious weathering ?

[JCON]

Looking mighty fine!!!

[Beekster]

Looks slightly darker but also a bit greener; was that change in hue what you intended? A dark brown filter will tone down the green, which to my eyes is a wee bit too prominent...all that with the caveats that my monitor isn't perfect and neither are my eyes, nor do I know what your lighting conditions were. It will look fine in the end.

I use Glosscote & Dullcote lacquers for my clearcoats, and enamel filters or washes don't strip the lacquers as long as the thinner is mild. No problems with blotching or streaking using oils and a brush dampened with thinner, either. I've taken to using artist's watercolors mixed with a little Elmer's to add layers of dirt, dust, and grime, applied over the flat lacquer. Easy to work with, and can be removed with soap and water if you really don't like the look you are getting. Images on this site of my Skink and M3A1 CDL show how that technique looks.

[reserve]

Thanks gents

Jeff right now I'm using the Tammy thinner but it's likely isopropyl alcohol would work as well

AG yessir it's on the verge of it

Beek the green is indeed what I was after as the other had too much of an olive tone. I've never seen that particular shade on a US vehicle especially a late war example. On early stuff I'll sometimes add a shot of red to the OD to give it a browner hue that one would sometimes see on pre-invasion armor but few things looked that way in Europe. I always use acrylic clearcoats between layers due to their invulnerability to most anything being slopped on to them.

Most of the way thru pinwash, tracks painted 90%, decals on and a filter or two laid down progress pics soon

Regards,
Mark

[JEFF]

"...Jeff right now I'm using the Tammy thinner but it's likely isopropyl alcohol would work as well..."

Yes it will. May I suggest you pick up and try some Mr.Color Leveling Thinner. It is amazing stuff.