Sherman M4 A2 and LCM Mklll.

The sprues have a little flash, but nothing dramatic to worry about. No fine parts that could be accidentally damaged 😉 

Very simplified appearance, so there are opportunities to add some details.  

Today's progress. 

Some filling of ejector pin marks, then the suspension and wheels added. Every wheel requires the hole to be drilled to match the axles. Originally, the wheels were moulded to create the holes between the 'spokes', but these are generally all closed with flash, and I don't have the right skills to open them up again.  

I'm not sure if this is meant to be a closed deck, or have grills. I'll have to find out.... 

I hate an open turret like this, so I'll have fun closing them off.  

The turret had a horrid 'chin', so I'll remove it. 

The blobby moulding of a side hatch is just too ugly, so will be removed, and a new hatch added. 

Almost ready to be fitted. I chamfer the edges with the intention of a flush fit. 

Hmmm....could be better, so a little filler required. All good practice for when it matters 😉 The blobby side hatch has been removed, and that mould gap will now be filled. 

Front towing eyes scratched and added, lifting eyes added, and a rain diverter gizmo added around the machine gun. I'll tidy up the cut ends... 

Scratched a new side hatch and it's cast surround, lifting eyes added, and periscopes enhanced (to be completed...). 

The kit does not have a machine gun to mount on the turret, so I have borrowed this from another kit. I'm going to try to make a towing cable too. The casting around the side hatch will be filed back and made neater. 

Hatches still to be added, so they will go on, before priming. 

Periscopes enhanced with narrow PE strips. I'll meld them to the plastic behind. 

Some white highlights added to the grey primer. 

Definitely taking shape 🙂 

Olive drab overall, details painted, and decals applied. Not yet sealed down or weathered. 

Rain gutter and lifting points added, but no guards for the lights. 

Periscopes and lifting points added.  

The start of the next phase... Wheel house 'box' only had a wheel and compass, so I'm adding controls and a radio / Tannoy. 

Engine controls are fiction, but give an impression of what two engines might need. 

Can you guess what these are? 

Quite correct! I'm considering adding loops of rope to the life rings. Let's see how that develops!  

Loose fit mock-up. Were jeeps squeezed in with Shermans? 

It could look dramatic.... 

Assembly is underway. The two air vents were cast solid, so I drilled them out and thinned the edges. 

Fettling the control levers, so they look like they have knobs on their ends.  

The anchor was totally plain, so it has been developed a little. 

Last of the flash and seams removed. 

First small parts added. primer followed. The air vents look much better 🙂 

Some small details painted.  

A North-pointing needle added to the compass 😉 

Duffle coats and sea boot stockings 😉 

The third crewman. 

Which is the coxswain? 

All aboard! 

The steel wardrobe 😉 

Very little room inside. I'm wondering if I should make one wall of clear plastic?  

Door handle added, and door hung on hinges. 

Control console installed. 

A little white on the walls, another coat to follow, after I tidy up the window aperture. 

Hmmm.... didn't see that one coming. The door clashes with the bollard. I'll modify the bollard so the door clears it, visually. 

Skids fabricated, to protect the screws and rudders. 

I'll paint the screws brass, when I can procure some appropriate paint. 

Engine cooling water waste pipe added. 1mm steel tube, from a glue applicator! I see I need to smooth out around it. The winch also needs to sit tighter to the deck. 

A little wear on the ramp / bow. 

Coming together, slowly.