Sherman 18
Master at Arms
Started this build this Saturday night. I bought this kit when Dragon online was having a big sale around Christmas. I've never had any interest in this tank as it never came into production. While doing research for the build I'm doing in "In another a World" I ran across War Thunder game play videos of people playing this tank. One stuck out as the MBT-70 was painted in the weird 3rd Infantry Division camouflage from the 1970's. That and the sale was enough to get me to pick this kit up. I will say this is a really nice kit. Goes together easily and the details are nice. So after a couple stressful weeks of work, swinging different hours, stress of getting Grace on a high skill level softball team, not finishing the "Micro Build." Plus being on call this weekend. I just had to unwind and go into vegetation mode.
I'm calling it a M70 I could use a hand on a Generals name to put with it. My thought was Custer because it was a failed program.
So this will be a what if build as the vehicle was fielded maybe Cold War turned warm?
Took this picture in case I can come up with a good story then I'll drop it into the group build.
In a couple hours had the suspension done. The details are very nice even included the hose lines. I left off the suspension arms as I'm not sure how I plan on displaying it. Dragon gives you the option showing the suspension dropped and raised
Turret is cast nicely. The casting texture really well done. The problem I have created for myself is the kit is the German version and the American version. Some the fittings and other details will need to be changed.
Some of th sub assemblies. I started redoing the casting texture on the mantlet to give a little different look from kit texture. The 20mm cannon I almost changed to a M2 machine gun or another thought I had was use a mini gun.
The upper hull before modifications, the American version had a different engine deck and hull fittings.
Fill the side grate with styrene strip and started to remove the German version fittings.
Some fun with power tools here. If I built faster I'd hit up Dremel for sponsorship
The upper hull with most the German fittings removed.
The turret with the German fittings removed rolled steel texture added and casting texture added in spots. I'm kinda liking the turret from the XM803 program, so I might add some of the different details of that turret design. I did add a shell case ejection port the right rear. The part came from a Dragon M26 kit. I have a lot of these as they pretty much come with Dragons Sherman kits.
As you can see I'm at the point of no more vegetation state. Had a lot of fun and I could feel the stress of life move on. Look forward with updates when I can.
:drinks
I'm calling it a M70 I could use a hand on a Generals name to put with it. My thought was Custer because it was a failed program.
So this will be a what if build as the vehicle was fielded maybe Cold War turned warm?
Took this picture in case I can come up with a good story then I'll drop it into the group build.
In a couple hours had the suspension done. The details are very nice even included the hose lines. I left off the suspension arms as I'm not sure how I plan on displaying it. Dragon gives you the option showing the suspension dropped and raised
Turret is cast nicely. The casting texture really well done. The problem I have created for myself is the kit is the German version and the American version. Some the fittings and other details will need to be changed.
Some of th sub assemblies. I started redoing the casting texture on the mantlet to give a little different look from kit texture. The 20mm cannon I almost changed to a M2 machine gun or another thought I had was use a mini gun.
The upper hull before modifications, the American version had a different engine deck and hull fittings.
Fill the side grate with styrene strip and started to remove the German version fittings.
Some fun with power tools here. If I built faster I'd hit up Dremel for sponsorship
The upper hull with most the German fittings removed.
The turret with the German fittings removed rolled steel texture added and casting texture added in spots. I'm kinda liking the turret from the XM803 program, so I might add some of the different details of that turret design. I did add a shell case ejection port the right rear. The part came from a Dragon M26 kit. I have a lot of these as they pretty much come with Dragons Sherman kits.
As you can see I'm at the point of no more vegetation state. Had a lot of fun and I could feel the stress of life move on. Look forward with updates when I can.
:drinks
