Warlord Games M4A4Sherman V - details

One of the problems mentioned earlier was the representation of the turret lifting rings. So rather than just cover them with stowage, I removed them and replaced them with ones made of 0.7mm brass rod. They are held in place by liquid poly.

Yes, I have still not filled the HMG mounting hole.

Here is the back of the example in the IWM.

The additional aerial base needs to be added.

One of the features of most in service Sherman tanks is the use of spare track as additional armour.

Racks are fitted to the glacis which hold three track links.

The Warlord kit contains the spare track links, but they are too large to fit in the space.

For comparison, here is the Warlord track links and three pieces from the Rubicon Models Allied Stowage Set (cut down from a six link moulding).

As you can see, the Warlord spare track is noticeably larger and will not fit in the space between the driver's hood and the differential housing.

Here are the two pieces of Rubicon spare track in place on the Sherman V. The one in front of the hood barely fits.

Next is filling that hole in the turret top, adding the mortar and the stowage.

Praying Mantis - a real Weird War Two vehicle

The Praying Mantis was an experimental two man vehicle designed to approach obstacles and fire over them. Based on the Universal carrier, the two man crew were in the raisable central section (note the viewports). The vehicle was armed with two Bren guns in a single mount.

Here you can see the Universal Carrier running gear.

Here is the rear mounted engine.

Photographed at the Tank Museum.

This would make a perfect Automated Carrier for Konflict '47.

Smaller copies for other fora.

Warlord Games M4A4 Sherman V

At Warfare I bought the Sherman Tank Troop, comprising two M4A4 Sherman V tanks and an M4A4 Sherman VC tank.

Unlike the M4 kit, this is a Warlord Games only kit, not a joint project with Italeri.

I started by building one of the Sherman V tanks.

The kit is a lot "chunkier" than the M4 or the Rubicon M4A3.

The fit of the upper and lower hull is not very good, as you can see I have had to use milliput to fill some of the gaps. This would be masked if the optional sand shields were added.

There is also the appliqué armour on the hull, some M4A4 hulls had this armour, others did not. The gun shield looks clumsy compared with the M4 kit.

The three piece differential cover does not join the upper hull very well. I was impressed with the join in the upper and lower track pieces. Note also the fixing points for the separate lifting rings.

 More filling and filing on the other side. Note the turret also has the appliqué armour.

The lifting rings on the side of the turret are not particularly well represented. Note the fixing points for the hull lift rings which are separate items.

The HMG mount is fixed to the turret top and not the cupola. I have removed the mount, it still needs filling. There is no sign of the smoke bomb thrower.

SDKFZ 234/2 Puma work in progress - the second fuel drum

So the continuing story of the SDKFZ 234/2 Puma.

Having removed the box from the right rear mudguard, I added the second fuel drum in its place.

Microstrip is used for the straps and a piece of microstrip is used as a bracket under the drum.

Additionally mounting points have been added by the driver's compartment and on the roof of the turret for the IR sights.

M4A4 Sherman V - Imperial War Museum

There is a Sherman V tank at the Imperial War Museum.

The location in the museum is not conducive to photography.

This tank has the appliqué armour on the sides of the hull and the right side of the turret.

The red triangle indicates the A squadron of the senior regiment (the shape would be yellow for the second regiment and blue for the junior regiment). The number identifies the tank

Turret lifting ring and tools.

Rear view of the turret and the engine deck.

Rear left of the hull showing the "Ever Open Eye" of the Guards Armoured Division.

 Tactical sign, for the Guards Armoured Regiment it is the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards.

Another view of the tools, air intake and rear lamp.

 Turret rear.

Aerial mount on the turret bustle.

Left rear view, including a view of the pistol port.

High quality welding on the glacis and the armoured plates protecting the driver and machine gunner "hoods".

Over side of the glacis.

Turret showing the right hand appliqué armour.

Detail of the glacis including the attachment parts for the hull machine gun dust cover.

Applique armour on the hull and the turret.

 Right rear of the hull, including the mounting points for the sand shields.

The Frankenengine that powers the M4A4, five engines bolted together. This example is at the IWM Duxford.

Prelude To Woodbury

So Work In Progress photographs of the contents of the Prelude To Woodbury Solo Starter Set.

Brian

Zombie 1

Zombie 2

Zombie 3

 Zombie 4

Zombie 5 (needs a bit of work on the face)

 Zombie group photograph

Prelude to Woodbury group photograph

The man they called 'Brian'

So, two weeks ago I bought the Walking Dead: All Out War Solo Starter Set.

The set provides a one survivor (Brian Blake) and five walkers plus rules, counters, cards etc to allow the solo player to learn the game and play a number of scenarios. The contents are usable with the core rule set (for reference, Brian has the same points value as Derek in the core set, this is an early version of the character).

For those who have only encountered the television series, Brian Blake is an unknown character, however for those who follow the comics (or the novel The Walking Dead: Rise of The Governor) he is moderately important.

The figure is a one piece moulding complete with a base similar to a 25mm slotted base.

There is some minor work required to remove mould lines, but no more than other plastic figure.

I undercoated the figure with Citadel Chaos Black spray. The trousers are Citadel Castellan Green with Citadel Death World Forest camoflage patches. Boots are Vallejo German Black Brown. Roll neck jumper is Vallejo Khaki and the body warmer is Citadel Steel Legion Drab. Hair is Citadel Rhinox Hide. Dry brushed with Citadel Terminatus Stone. Trousers washed with Citadel Athonian Camoshade, top with Citadel Agrax Earhshade. Skin is Vallejo Panzer Aces Flesh Base highlighted with Vallejo Panzer Aces Flesh Highlight. Citadel Reikland Flesh wash was applied to the skin.

Base was Woodland Scenics cinder fine ballast glued down with PVA. Painted Vallejo Burnt Umber and dry brushed with Citadel Terminatus Stone. Woodland Scenics fine turf Burnt Grass foam was then glued on top.

Comparison shot.

Land Rover

So, the Land Rover is now painted, it now needs weathering.

 William Killan for scale.

 Comparison shot with the Crooked Dice Transit Van.

 Comparison shot with the Empress Toyota technical.

 Comparison shot with the Evil Bear Panther.

Comparison shot with the Mantic Walking Dead Pickup.