Military Model Scene

One way to adapt the Dragon kit of the M3A4(76)W kit is to add a set of sandbag armour to it.  In this instance that means a resin conversion set from Black Dog.

The Dragon Sherman hull is built just built straight out of the box.  I have built the basic kit before, and it goes together well enough, though there are some small parts which are fragile that need some care when removing them from the sprue.  There were one or two small parts which look to me not as finely moulded as I remember, so I wonder if the mould is showing a few signs of wear.  Not enough to bother about though I think.  There are then two resin parts from the Black Dog set which are simply fitted to each side of the hull.  These provide the metal framework, filled with sandbags, which provided the extra protection to the hull sides.

The turret is a one piece resin replacement part from the Black Dog set plus a new ring for the loaders hatch and you add parts from the kit to add the commanders hatch, loaders hatches, gun barrel and mantlet, shell ejection port hatch and the lifting rings and fittings on the rear of the turret.  Moulded integrally with the turret is the metal framework and sandbag extra armour protection, and I have to add this looks very neat, they have done a nice job of it.

With the kit built, being a mix of resin and plastic, the kit needs a coat of primer.  With that done and dried, I sprayed a base coat of US Olive Drab, a 'rattlecan' colour from the series of 'Tank Sprays' available from The Plastic Soldier Company.  The sandbags have then been individually picked out with a fine brush (using one of the new Ammo of Mig Jiminez brushes) and Vallejo German Camouflage Tan.  The details such as tools and machine guns are still to be done.  The tracks are rubber pads with worn/rust coloured link connectors.  Then it will need some weathering...

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Robin