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Modeller Build Logs
M51 Isherman |
| By Michael Bedard | | Started: | May 19, 2007 | | Updated: | Jul 27, 2007 |
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June 5, 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the Six-Day-War that is still having repercussions felt around the world even today. I was asked to write an article for Military Modelcraft International to mark this event. Well, between my lack of speed constructing my model, my lack of computer technical skills sending things international and the slow speed of mail my article unfortunately missing the April deadline for publication. Tony Little the editor has mentioned that the article will however appear in the August issue. I asked Tony if it would be alright to publish a BLOG on track-link about the M51 build and he agreed. He mentioned that the on-line BLOG would probably be more detailed in nature due to the restriction of space in the magazine. I would appreciate helping Tony out by at least purchasing the issue when it is published.
In honor of the Six-Day-War I decided to build the M51 Isherman (someone has stated that there is no such things as an Isherman). For me, a Sherman nut, it is the ultimate statement as far as the Sherman tank goes. I purchased the DML M51 shortly after it was introduced in 1997. I started the model around 2000 or so and it sat around for some time. This BLOG focuses on the original issue and what I have done to detail the kit. many of the parts I bought or made myself are present on the latest Premier version of DML's M51.I am sure that some of the Shermanaholic details I addedwould be appropriate for the newer release as well. Besides the DML kit I also bought the Aber fender set for HVSS Sherman and Eduard's photo-etch set (35182) that was meant for the Academy kit.
Hope you enjoy the BLOG and that there is something useful for your own model. |
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| Finishing the tools | Jul 19, 2007 |
This chapter will focus on painting and finishing the tools. Tools include spare tracks, tow cable, .50 cal MG and jerry cans. Steps for tools are just like the tracks in the previous chapter. Differences are that the tools have wooden handles to paint and jerry cans are not rusted. Of the 9 pictures for this chapter the .50 cal MG only appears in the first picture. Once the MG was painted flat black it was rubbed with a No. 2 pencil to give it a steel like effect. Wooden handles on the MG were painted similar to the tools only a darker color. In picture six after all the metal parts have been painted the wooden parts were painted Vallejo Yellow Ochre (Saddle brown on the MG). To achieve a wood grain effect the handles were first given a coat of Winsor/Newton raw sienna oil paint mixed with Liquin (raw umber for the MG). A chisel brush damp with Turpenoid was then drawn across the surface to remove some of the paint to create the wood grain look. Liquin contains oil that makes the paint ‘fat’ while the Turpenoid is ‘thin’ that breaks down the paint in an irregular fashion thus producing the streaking desired. Once dry the handles were given a coat of PollyScale Flat to dull down the sheen of the oil paint. Jerry cans were painted exactly like the tank as mentioned previously. I believe the style supplied in the DML kit is originally hard black plastic with a red cap (I could be wrong). To show weathering being beat up a bit I used Vallejo German Camouflage Black Brown to paint chips of paint exposing the black plastic underneath. I did the same thing with the caps but used red. Winsor/Newton watercolors (raw sienna, raw umber) were used along with Ox Gall liquid to produce fuel stains. I used On-The-Mark strap buckles from their M4 Sherman set for all the tool straps. Lead foil was used for the straps. Once in place the straps were painted Vallejo Khaki using Buff to highlight and US Olive Drab to shadow the straps.
Next chapter oil paint weathering.
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