FGH Sherman Mk V at Vaucelles, Normandy

[DuckyShot]

Welp, off I go on this build. I'm using Tasca's Sherman V. I don't have piles of AM to do on this beast. The kit includes pretty much everything I need in the kit, houseboat fittings, applique armor, variation of different shields being able to be left off, so it's pretty smooth sailing. Only thing I've done is add a metal barrel and mantlet from Panzer Art and a resin blanket box from Ultracast.

[JCON]

I'll follow along... cool!!!

[Beekster]

The Tasca/Asuka Sherman kits are real gems. As with any kit there are a few detail quibbles, but nothing major. I would recommend adding a set of T-62 link tracks from Panda Plastics (www.Shermantracks.com). All of the VVSS tracks are tedious to build but look much better than any of the band tracks.

[Dukemaddog]

Beautiful work so far! Keep it coming!

[DuckyShot]

Still working on road wheels but got initial paint and decaling done. Pieced the registration individually and the squadron marking is 4 separate decals pieced together.

[JED]

Looking good ,I'm in

[DuckyShot]

Ok, markings are faded, smoke launcher is installed and the bogies are completed and installed.

[JCON]

Nice work!!!

[DuckyShot]

Got wash and drybrush done. Started work on the base while working on the tracks. I'm also in the midst of figuring out my best options for grass, such a hard thing to replicate in scale, I'm messing with model railroad grass.

[JCON]

Looking good!!!

[RLFoster]

Wow! I missed this when you kicked it off and you've made progress at super-speed. Looking fantastic!

[DuckyShot]

Thanks guys!!

I've been agonizing over what to do for the grass/straw on the tank. I tried messing around with woodland scenics and absolutely hated it, so much so, I didn't even try to take a picture. So I started digging into my options. I needed a natural fibre of some kind and came across guys using Jute twine for dioramas. I absolutely love it. Just unravel some and its got a great natural look to it. I had to hit it with some straw color to really make it pop, but I am super happy with it.

Getting on the home stretch now, should be mostly done over the weekend. Hopefully I'll get the tools done tomorrow and once they are done, I can do the camo netting and straw on the back deck and then finish the track and then we can mount and weather it.

[JCON]

Interesting idea!!!

[DuckyShot]

We're getting close here. Tracks are on, wash on them. Tools are on and camo netting and last bits of straw are on the back deck. There is a lot more in the pictures, but they seemed to have just piled a bunch in different places and as the picture series goes on, there is less and less and If I just started dumping it in places it would look awkward.

[JCON]

Looking good!!!

[Dukemaddog]

Most impressive! Brilliant work on that camo net!

[DuckyShot]

Well, we are done now. Off to the completed builds: onlinescalemodelers.proboards.com/thread/4545/fort-garry-horse-sherman-normandy

[JCON]

Nice!!!

[JED]

This has turned out really good, the grass worked out well