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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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| Last Chapter | Jul 27, 2007 |
This is the last chapter in this BLOG. To finish the weathering I add paint distortions (chips & scratches), fuel spills, rust streaks and dirt & dust. Picture 1 shows the scratches and chips being applied using a Winsor/Newton Series 7 brush and Vallejo paint. To make the Vallejo flow better I add a bit of distilled water. When I first started adding scratches and chips I would use a very light color but more recently use a lighter shade of the base color. After observing actual paint scratches I find this to be true. The picture is a bit over exposed thus difficult to see the scratches. Picture 2 shows that heavy chips might expose the metal thus rust the surface. Once again a Series 7 brush is used to apply small areas of rust using a mixture of Bragdon rust, Winsor/Newton watercolor and Ox Gall Liquid. Rust streaks are created using Winsor/Newton Burnt Sienna watercolor streaked from the chips. The edges are feathered using a damp brush with a mix of water and Ox Gall. The third picture shows fuel and oil spills. For spills that are a bit faded I wet the surface with water than apply Winsor/Newton Lamp Black and Raw Umber watercolor mix for oil and Yellow Ochre and Burnt Sienna for gasoline spills. For heavy or fresh spills I apply the mixture without wetting the surface first. Wetting the surface allows the paint to spread out and create a random uneven splotch of paint. The picture shows oil streaks being feathered out much as described for the rust streaks. Last picture shows the loader’s hatch pad. My experience inside an actual Sherman seems that the padding is painted along with the rest of the interior. The soft padding when bumped and hit bends and has the paint chip off. This was the idea of the head pad on the loader’s hatch. The chipped paint was created using Vallejo German Camouflage Black Brown. Not photographed is the final stage of adding dust and dirt, exhaust and muzzle smoke using Gambling pigments. I did have problems with the kit’s unit marking adhering to the front surface so I hand painted it using Vallejo Foundation White.
Well, I hope the BLOG has been entertaining and useful. If I missed anything please let me know.
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