Hobby Boss M4A3

[Jim R]

Hi Peter
Looks like you are making good progress. Great satisfaction from 'taming' a not so good kit.
And think of the value for money - cheap, poor kit - takes longer to build = more hours of fun for less money :smiling5:
Jim

[Si Benson]

Coming together very nicely Peter. Can’t help with exact paint colours for your tracks, I tend to paint all my tracks with a mix of Tamiya flat earth and flat black.
Si

[papa 695]

Just seen this Tamk ( tank )Peter, nice work so far looking good.

[Fernando N]

Nice work on this Ta(m)nk Peter.:thumb2:
I've had the same like you with Hobbyboss before, parts made for something that isn't included in the kit...:upside:

Oh and Mr.Hobby works fine on VJ primer, used it a couple times now with a RAF coldwar scheme.:smiling4:
What colour did you use for the Sherman?

[col68]

Looking good peter

[stillp]

Thanks Jakko, Jim, Si, Fernando and Colin! Back from the car show, where I was pleasantly surprised to be awarded a trophy and a bottle of champagne for "Best car 1961 - 1999"! I thought there were better ones there, but who am I to argue with the judges?
Thanks for all the suggestions. The colour at the moment is Vallejo Olive Drab primer. Needs a touch up in a couple of places but I might just use the same paint, if the airbrush will behave. I'm having second thoughts about it being the needle/nozzle not seating together - symptoms are that if I depress the button without pulling it back, so I'm blasting just air, it bubbles back into the paint cup. Could this be a problem one of the seals buried deep in the airbrush? It's an H & S Infinity CR Plus.

Pete

[stillp]

Well, the airbrush problem turned out to be the seal behind the nozzle not properly seated, so normal service has now been resumed! Main hull and turret have now been painted (using the Vallejo OD primer), tools, stowage and a few small external parts are in the paint booth for a touch-up. Road wheels have had the rubber rims painted.
[ATTACH]310992[/ATTACH]
Incidentally, the inverted hull is sitting on a disposable shot glass, which fitted perfectly into the turret ring and made a very convenient hand hold so I could paint both top and bottom without waiting for the paint to dry.
The gap along the hull side sponson doesn't look quite that bad in real life. I might just fill it with some mud. I haven't made up my mind how to paint the tracks, since it seems that M4 Shermans could have had solid rubber tracks, rubber with steel chevrons, or all steel. I'm favouring all steel, so I can play with rust effects. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Decals are included for "Classy Peg", but that should have the spoked road wheels, which are included in the kit, but I fitted the disc wheels, so it'll just be a 'generic' Sherman with white stars on the hull and turret.

Pete

[stillp]

Now with tools added, clear coat, and decals:
[ATTACH]311295[/ATTACH]
The 'Bad News' decal isn't shown in the instructions, and I couldn't find any pictures of the original to tell me I'd fitted the wrong wheels/whatever, so that's what the tank/tamk is now named! Still haven't decided on the colour for the tracks, but I thinl I'll be weathering soon!

Pete

[minitnkr]

For the TR4 or another classic? The spotlight is almost always modeled lens down in stowed position so maybe source of model makers' confusion/no lens. Tracks are always tough. Looks good so far.

[stillp]

It's a TR4A Paul, the only classic I have now.
Yes, many photos show the spotlight stowed pointing down, but this one isn't so I'll have to make a lens.

Pete

[minitnkr]

Never worked on an A. Any synchros in trans?

[Fernando N]

Congrats on the award Peter and good to read the AB issue was minor.:thumb2:
Looks nicely clean with the decals and tools on, any weathering planned?

[stillp]

Never worked on an A. Any synchros in trans?

Yes, 4-speed synchro, overdrive on 2, 3 and 4. I rebuilt it completely in the 80s.

Pete

[stillp]

Congrats on the award Peter and good to read the AB issue was minor.:thumb2:
Looks nicely clean with the decals and tools on, any weathering planned?

Thanks Fernando. I think it's time I tried weathering. I'll need dome Microsol on the decals first, then I'll seal them and try some pigments.

Pete

[minitnkr]

Just what the little 4banger needed, a decent trans. Sometimes you see more than the judges. Especially if your make/model is a favorite. PaulE