How To Build... Tamiyas Armour Kits in 1 35

84 Pages·2014·16.34 MB·English

by  Spencer Pollard

HOW TO
BBUUIILLDD......
TAMIYA’S
ARMOUR
KITS IN 1:35
SPENCER POLLARD
INCLUDES
FIVE COMPLETE BUILDS PLUS:
■ How to apply zimmerit
■ In-service references
■ Step by step tutorials: construction,
painting and weathering
■ How to detail your model:
aftermarket and from scratch
■ Learn to sculpt your own tarpaulins
and sandbag armour
FFEEAATTUURRIINNGG TTHHEE WWOORRKK OOFF
FFrroomm tthhee ppuubblliisshheerrss ooff TTaammiiyyaa MMooddeell MMaaggaazziinnee IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall,,
MMMooodddeeelll MMMiiillliiitttaaarrryyy IIInnnttteeerrrnnnaaatttiiiooonnnaaalll,,, MMMooodddeeelll AAAiiirrrppplllaaannneee IIInnnttteeerrrnnnaaatttiiiooonnnaaalll SSSpppeeennnccceeerrr PPPooollllllaaarrrddd,,, MMMaaarrrcccuuusss NNNiiiccchhhooollllllsss
and Military Illustrated Modeller
and Brett Green
Covers Armour.indd 1 27/10/2014 10:59
FOREWORD CONTENTS
How to build... TTAAMMIIYYAA’’SS AARRMMOOUURR KKIITTSS IINN 11::3355
Thheerree ccaann bbee vveerryy ffeeww ppeeooppllee wwhhoo hhaavvee ttaakkeenn
aann iinntteerreesstt iinn mmooddeelllliinngg mmiilliittaarryy vveehhiicclleess wwhhoo
hhaavveenn’’tt aatt ssoommee ttiimmee oorr aannootthheerr,, bbuuiilltt oonnee ooff
TTaammiiyyaa’’ss eexxtteennssiivvee rraannggee ooff mmiilliittaarryy vveehhiiccllee
kkiittss.. SSuucchh iiss tthheeiirr uubbiiqquuiittyy,, oorriiggiinnaalliittyy aanndd aavvaaiillaabbiilliittyy,,
tthheeyy hhaavvee bbeeccoommee aallmmoosstt aass mmuucchh aa wwaattcchhwwoorrdd ffoorr
11::3355 aarrmmoouurr mmooddeelllliinngg,, aass AAiirrffiixx hhaavvee bbeeeenn ffoorr kkiittss ooff
aircraft in 1:72.
BBuutt ppeerrhhaappss tthheeiirr ggrreeaatteesstt bbooaasstt,, tthhee oonnee tthhaatt tthheeyy
hhoolldd mmoosstt ddeeaarr,, iiss tthhaatt tthheeyy aarree tthhee mmoosstt uusseerr--ffrriieennddllyy
kkiittss oonn tthhee mmaarrkkeett.. FFrroomm tthhee mmoosstt bbaassiicc kkiittss tthhaatt
tthheeyy ooffffeerr,, tthhrroouugghh ttoo tthhee ggiiaanntt ttaannkk--ttrraannssppoorrtteerrss tthhaatt
ggrraaccee tthheeiirr rraannggee,, yyoouu ooppeenn tthhee bbooxx aanndd yyoouu kknnooww
tthhaatt yyoouurr nneexxtt pprroojjeecctt wwiillll bbee ffuunn,, wwiitthh ppaarrttss tthhaatt ffiitt,,
iinnssttrruuccttiioonnss tthhaatt mmaakkee sseennssee aanndd ddeettaaiillss aanndd ffeeaattuurreess
tthhaatt wwiillll mmaakkee yyoouu ssmmiillee wwiitthh eevveerryy ppaassssiinngg sstteepp
aalloonngg tthhee wwaayy.. TThheeyy aarree,, qquuiittee ssiimmppllyy tthhee mmooddeelllleerr’’ss,,
model kit.
II’’vvee lloosstt ccoouunntt ooff hhooww mmaannyy TTaammiiyyaa aarrmmoouurr kkiittss II’’vvee
bbuuiilltt –– ppeerrhhaappss mmoosstt ooff tthheemm.. WWiitthhoouutt eexxcceeppttiioonn II’’vvee
aallwwaayyss eennjjooyyeedd tthhee ddeelliigghhttffuull wwaayy tthhaatt tthhee ddeessiiggnneerrss
aapppprrooaacchh eevveenn tthhee mmoosstt ssuubbttllee ooff ddeettaaiillss aanndd nnoott jjuusstt
tthhoossee ooffffeerreedd iinn ppllaassttiicc.. TThhee iinnssttrruuccttiioonnss ffoorr iinnssttaannccee
often make me smile, pointers that others miss,
ssuucchh aass ccoolloouurr ccaallll--oouuttss,, eexxaacctt ppoossiittiioonniinngg aarrrroowwss
aanndd cclleeaarr ddrraawwiinnggss,, mmaakkiinngg tthhee rrooaadd ttoo ccoommpplleettiioonn
pplleeaassaanntt aanndd rreellaaxxiinngg.. IInn ccoonncceerrtt wwiitthh tthheeiirr ssiimmppllee
aapppprrooaacchh ttoo kkiitt bbrreeaakkddoowwnn ((wwhhyy uussee 110000 ppaarrttss wwhheenn
2200 wwiillll ddoo??)) bbuuiillddiinngg aa TTaammiiyyaa aarrmmoouurr kkiitt iiss qquuiicckk aanndd
tthhaatt mmeeaannss yyoouu ccaann ssppeeeedd aalloonngg tthhee ppaatthh ttoo tthhoossee
areas we all enjoy, painting, weathering, adding
ddeettaaiill,, ccrreeww,, aacccceessssoorriieess aanndd eevveenn bbuuiillddiinngg ddiioorraammaass
aarroouunndd eeaacchh aanndd eevveerryy oonnee.. TThheeyy aarree aa ggaatteewwaayy ttoo
aann aallll--eennccoommppaassssiinngg hhoobbbbyy aanndd tthhaatt’’ss wwhhyy II lloovvee
them so much.
This new book brings together five in-depth
ffeeaattuurreess ccrreeaatteedd aarroouunndd aa ddiivveerrssee ggrroouupp ooff TTaammiiyyaa’’ss
more original releases, two of which are new to
tthheeiirr rraannggee tthhiiss yyeeaarr –– tthhee NNaasshhoorrnn aanndd tthhee MM44AA33EE88
‘‘EEaassyy EEiigghhtt’’ SShheerrmmaann,, tthhee llaatttteerr bbeeiinngg aass yyoouu mmaayy
be aware, a tie-in with TASCA. Hold on a minute! I
hear you cry – that Sherman’s not a Tamiya kit! No,
it’s not, but its design, layout, ease of assembly and
appearance once complete is such that it could so
easily have been designed by Tamiya rather than
elsewhere and that makes its inclusion here, more
than acceptable.
I’d like to thank my other two co-conspirators in
this project Marcus Nicholls and Brett Green for the ■ Spencer Pollard
offer of their models, as well as the Hobby Company
Spencer was born in Haverfordwest, South Wales in 1967. Having
who so kindly provided the kits that we used to
been born into a military family (both his mother and father served
create the five extended chapters that I hope you are
in the Royal Navy) it was not surprising to see him develop an
about to enjoy. Thank you all, without your help this
abiding interest in the military and thanks to that Fleet Air Arm
book would not have been possible. connection, aircraft, both full-size and in miniature. Having spent
This then is ‘How To Build… Tamiya Armour Kits in many years building models as a hobby, Spencer was able to turn
1:35’. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we a part-time passion into a full-time career, as he swapped a role in
enjoyed putting it together. the Civil Service for one in the Editor’s chair, taking over the reigns
of Military In Scale magazine in 1997. Sixteen years on, Spencer
changed direction once more as he joined the ADH team to become
Spencer Pollard, October 2014
their in-house model-maker, working on a wide range of models
both military and civilian. He spends downtime playing drums in a
rock-covers band, living in Shropshire with his wife Liz.
2 How to Build... Tamiya’s Armour Kits in 1:35
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FOREWORD CONTENTS
How to build... TAMIYA’S ARMOUR KITS IN 1:35
22
PPPPaaaaggggeeee FFoorrwwaarrdd
4
PPaaggee Introduction
6
Page Chapter 1
Tool Box
8
Page Chapter 2
An Easy Eight by Spencer Pollard
28
Page Chapter 3
Getting Your Goat by Spencer Pollard
CCooppyyrriigghhtt ©© 22001144 AADDHH PPuubblliisshhiinngg LLttdd..
AAllll rriigghhttss rreesseerrvveedd.. RReepprroodduuccttiioonn iinn ppaarrtt oorr 36
Page Chapter 4
wwhhoollee ooff aannyy tteexxtt oorr pphhoottooggrraapphhss wwiitthhoouutt
wwrriitttteenn ppeerrmmiissssiioonn ffrroomm tthhee ppuubblliisshheerr iiss ssttrriiccttllyy Rhinoceros: Armed And Dangerous
pprroohhiibbiitteedd.. WWhhiillee dduuee ccaarree hhaass bbeeeenn ttaakkeenn ttoo by Marcus Nicholls
eennssuurree tthhee ccoonntteennttss ooff tthhiiss bbooookk aarree aaccccuurraattee,,
tthhee ppuubblliisshheerr ccaannnnoott aacccceepptt lliiaabbiilliittyy ffoorr eerrrroorrss.. 52
Page Chapter 5
FFiirrsstt PPuubblliisshheedd iinn tthhee UUnniitteedd KKiinnggddoomm bbyy:: (Re)Made In Israel by Brett Green
ADH Publishing Ltd., Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane,
Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX 66
Page Chapter 6
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Elefant In The Room by Brett Green
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.adhpublishing.com 82
Page Chapter 7
Designed by Alex Hall Final Thoughts
How to Build... Tamiya’s Armour Kits in 1:35 3
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the latest in more sophisticated. Kits that once
our ‘How to Build…’ featured 200 parts, now contain
series of books and 500-1000. Individual track links
the second that I have have become the norm, etched
Where it all began,
personally put together, based brass, resin updates, multi-layered
Tamiya’s very first
1:35 military release around Tamiya’s superlative range finishing techniques, everything
was this group of kits. Last year we took a look at that has pushed the boundaries of
of spiffy looking
German tank crew, their aircraft and now we are tackling the hobby to hitherto unimaginable
offered for sale some of the kits from their extensive heights. It is truly a golden age.
during 1968.
range of 1:35 armoured vehicles, Whilst this is great for those with
perhaps their most loved range. the skill sets to keep up, those less
Over the next 80-odd pages able can at times feel left behind,
yyoouu’’llll ffiinndd ffiivvee ddiiffffeerreenntt pprroojjeeccttss tthhaatt uunnaabbllee ttoo bbootthh ccoommmmiitt ttoo tthhee ttiimmee
eennccaappssuullaattee wwhhaatt TTaammiiyyaa’’ss rraannggee nneeeeddeedd ttoo ccoommpplleettee tthheessee ccoommpplleexx
ooff kkiittss iiss aallll aabboouutt:: ssiimmpplliicciittyy,, eeaassee nneeww kkiittss aanndd lleeaarrnn tthhee sskkiillllss nneeeeddeedd
ooff aasssseemmbbllyy aanndd ffuunn.. EEaacchh ooff tthhee ttoo ffiinniisshh eeaacchh oonnee.. SSuurree,, mmaaggaazziinneess
aarrttiicclleess iiss ddeessiiggnneedd wwiitthh bbeeggiinnnneerrss aarree aa uusseeffuull wwaayy ttoo ooffffeerr iiddeeaass ttoo
iinn mmiinndd aanndd aass ssuucchh,, wwee hhaavvee ttrriieedd tthheessee mmooddeelllleerrss ((iinnddeeeedd mmaannyy ooff
Tamiya have never ttoo ooffffeerr iiddeeaass tthhaatt mmoosstt sshhoouulldd bbee tthhoossee ppuubblliisshheedd hheerree aatt AADDHH ddoo
rested on their
laurels, often taking aabbllee ttoo aatt lleeaasstt aatttteemmpptt,, iiff nnoott iinn jjuusstt tthhaatt)) bbuutt oofftteenn tthhee ffeeaattuurreess
time to replace tthheeiirr eennttiirreettyy,, tthheenn aatt lleeaasstt iinn ppaarrtt,, ccaann bbee ccoommpplleexx aanndd tthhee kkiittss
older kits with new
ppuulllliinngg oouutt aassppeeccttss ooff eeaacchh oonnee ttoo uusseedd,, eemmbbeelllliisshheedd wwiitthh aallll mmaannyy ooff
tools, as they did
in 2009 when they hheellpp iimmpprroovvee tthheeiirr oowwnn pprroojjeeccttss.. aafftteerrmmaarrkkeett ggooooddiieess aanndd ffiinniisshhiinngg
replaced their 1973
BBuutt wwhhyy hhaavvee wwee ddoonnee tthhiiss?? pprroodduuccttss.. IItt’’ss nnoott tthhaatt wwee aarree
era Matilda with a
brand new kit. TThheerree ccaann bbee lliittttllee ddoouubbtt tthhaatt aaggaaiinnsstt tthhaatt ssoorrtt ooff tthhiinngg aass wwee lloovvee
oovveerr tthhee llaasstt ffeeww yyeeaarrss tthhaatt tthheessee mmooddeellss aass mmuucchh aass yyoouu ddoo,,
mmooddeelllliinngg hhaass bbeeccoommee mmoorree aanndd iitt’’ss jjuusstt tthhaatt wwee ffeeeell aann ooppppoorrttuunniittyy
Before their tie-in
with TASCA, this
was what Tamiya’s
‘Easy Eight’ looked
like!
Spencer Pollard’s favourite Tamiya
1:35 armour kit is the Leopard 2A6,
as featured in our sister title “How To
The addition of
Build… The Leopard Family In 1:35”.
personal touches
can improve the
most ordinary of
kits. This is Spencer
Pollard’s Opel Blitz,
built just after its
release.
An all-time
classic - and still
available today - is
this neat little Pak
35/36. How many
remember those
end-opening boxes?
4 Introduction
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INTRODUCTION
is being missed. And that’s where little features, most of which are We certainly do use off-the-shelf
we come in… either homemade, or found in the weathering products and materials,
The great thing about Tamiya’s spares’ box. This has resulted in but we don’t let them sit front and
range of kits is that they are on a collection of unique models that centre: the kit and resulting model
the whole very easy to build and almost anyone can be inspired by is always the most important
so can be used as a learning tool without worrying about breaking the element of each feature, not the
without feeling that you need to bank, or being beyond their level materials used to finish it.
spend hours on construction. As of skill. We hope that this book will be
you’ll see here, they compromise Along with the constructional used to drive forward your projects
little on detail and so can be made aspects of each feature, we and that you try and build some of
to look very good, even when you have been careful to ensure that the models seen within its pages.
build them from the box and apply the finishing steps are simple to But don’t let that be the end of the
a simple layer of paint. follow and use products that most story; use the ideas to help you
But that’s only just the beginning modellers will find in the toolbox. choose other kits to build, other
of the story! Though there are some advanced models to collect, other techniques
What we really like about our ideas amongst those revealed to master. There are plenty of
favourite manufacturer is that the (such as the ‘hairspray technique’ fantastic kits that we could have
shorter time needed to complete used on the Sherman), many of built - such as the Leopard 2A6M
basic assembly, leaves plenty of them will be familiar to modellers seen here – but we will leave those
time to add those little personal who have followed our work over to be part of your future. We just
touches that we all love so much. the years with washes, drybrushing, hope that you enjoy building your
With the exception of Marcus pigments and chipping all present Tamiya kits as much as we have,
Nicholls’ ‘out of the box’ build and correct. That’s not to say after all, that really is what this is all
of the new Nashorn, all of the that you won’t learn anything, just about: having fun!
models have been embellished that you might find yourself more So, with the introduction out of
with scratchbuilt details, crew inspired than intimidated, just as the way, shall we begin..?
figures, accessories and other we would hope you might be.
HHooww ttoo BBuuiilldd...... TTaammiiyyaa’’ss AArrmmoouurr KKiittss iinn 11::3355 55
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CHAPTER 1 TOOL BOX
Before we begin to enjoy TOOL BOX
the models, we thought
it might be worth talking
briefly about the tools that
you might need to complete the
pprroojjeeccttss tthhaatt yyoouu’’llll ffiinndd wwiitthhiinn tthhiiss
bbooookk.. DDiissccuussssiioonnss wwiitthh mmooddeelllleerrss
often reveal some gaps in their
knowledge and thanks to the
pprroolliiffeerraattiioonn ooff ttoooollss aanndd mmaatteerriiaallss
available to the modeller, a little
ccoonnffuussiioonn aabboouutt wwhhaatt tthheeyy wwiillll nneeeedd
aanndd wwhhaatt tthheeyy mmoosstt ddeeffiinniitteellyy wwoonn’’tt!!
TThhiiss sshhoorrtt sseeccttiioonn sshhoouulldd ppooiinntt yyoouu
iinn tthhee rriigghhtt ddiirreeccttiioonn aanndd ooffffeerr ssoommee
guidance as what you’ll need to
complete your first model.
GETTING STARTED
In order to build a model kit,
you’ll need a very basic tool kit
comprising only a few specialist
ttoooollss.. FFrroomm tthhee ooffff tthhoouugghh,, lleett uuss
ssttrreessss tthhaatt iitt iiss aallwwaayyss aa ggoooodd iiddeeaa
ttoo bbuuyy tthhee bbeesstt ttoooollss yyoouu ccaann:: yyoouu
get what you pay for. It’s a false
economy to buy cheap tools,
bbrruusshheess aanndd mmaatteerriiaallss aanndd hhooppee
tthhaatt tthheeyy wwiillll llaasstt aanndd pprroodduuccee ggoooodd
rreessuullttss –– tthheeyy wwoonn’’tt.. EExxppeerriieennccee hhaass
ttaauugghhtt uuss tthhaatt iitt iiss bbeetttteerr ttoo bbuuyy wweellll
aanndd yyoouu’’llll nnoott nneeeedd ttoo ddoo ssoo aaggaaiinn!!
So, in order to build your first
mmooddeell,, wwhhaatt ddoo yyoouu nneeeedd?? HHeerree’’ss aa The basic tool kit
– everything you’ll
list of tools to get you started: need to build your
A sharp knife. Modelling latest masterpiece!
companies produce their own
knives, but we tend to favour
Swann Morton Scalpels fitted with
No.10 & 10A blades. Whatever you Sanding sticks and sponges. piece of detail. To do this neatly
choose, always ensure that they are These are perfect for cleaning up you will need a set of drill bits and
sharp – blunt blades are far more seams (see our ‘Easy Eight’ feature a small pin vice to hold it tight. A
dangerous because you will force for more details on their use). Again search of the web will reveal a huge
the blade and that can make them widely available, but we would choice of both items to buy, most
unpredictable in use. Keep them recommend Flory Models as the of which will be quality enough for
sharp and once dull, replace. best we’ve used (www.florymodels. modelling use – Amazon being
A pair of side-cutters. This co.uk/skinny-sticks/). particularly useful in this regard
is a very useful tool that allows Files. You’ll always come up (www.amazon.co.uk/Micro-HSS-
you to snip the parts away from against delicate parts that need to twist-drill-20pce/dp/B004H2AF9S).
the runners with little chance of be cleaned up and this where fine Liquid cement. Though modellers
damage. I use Xuron cutters, but files come in handy. Though you have traditionally cut their teeth on
they are also widely available can use standard steel files, we tubes of cement, these days we
from many of the model kit would recommend using smaller have plenty of easy to use liquid
manufacturers as well. ‘diamond’ files that are available in glues that are far easier to apply
Tweezers. Grab yourself two packs of five. These are far harder, and produce consistently clean
pairs, a standard set with large don’t clog so easily and if they do, results. The builds in this book were
prongs and fine set with sharp are very easy to clean. The set we completed using four types: Plastic
prongs that can be used for use is made by Keil Kraft and is Weld; Tamiya Extra Thin Cement;
delicate details. We use Tamiya’s available online from fruugo (www. Gunze Sangyo Mr Cement S and
own tweezers, but we would also fruugo.co.uk). Humbrol Liquid Poly. Each of these
recommend checking out Adam High quality drill bits and a pin glues has different properties,
Wilder’s new sets (www.wilder.su) vice. Most kits require at least one drying times and viscosity, allowing
as they are very good indeed. hole to be drilled to accept a small the modeller to create instant joints,
6 Chapter 1 - Tool Box
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CHAPTER 1 TOOL BOX
joints that can be adjusted and THE FINISHING LINE
those that fall somewhere in the Almost all of the kits that you
middle. Experimentation will reveal build will include detailed painting
which is best for a given job, so we information, both for the smaller
rreeccoommmmeenndd uussiinngg aallll ffoouurr.. details and the camouflage
MMooddeelllliinngg ffiilllleerr.. SSoommeettiimmeess yyoouu scheme in which the model will be
hhaavvee ggaappss ttoo ffiillll ssoo wwee rreeccoommmmeenndd finished. This will usually take the
aaddddiinngg tthhiiss ttoo tthhee ttoooollbbooxx.. WWee uussee form of numbered call-outs, cross-
HHuummbbrrooll MMooddeell FFiilllleerr aass wweellll aass referenced to the manufacturer’s
SSqquuaaddrroonn WWhhiittee aanndd GGrreeeenn SSttuuffff.. preferred range of paints – such
AAllll aarree aavvaaiillaabbllee ffrroomm yyoouurr llooccaall as Humbrol with Airfix – but not
mmooddeell sshhoopp.. always. Sometimes you’ll find a list
HHiigghh qquuaalliittyy ppaaiinntt bbrruusshheess.. DDoonn’’tt of different manufacturer’s paints,
sskkiimmpp oonn tthhiiss ppaarrtt ooff yyoouurr ttoooollbbooxx!! IIff so you can choose which best suits
yyoouu wwaanntt hhiigghh qquuaalliittyy ffiinniisshheess,, yyoouu your personal preferences.
hhaavvee ttoo uussee tthhee bbeesstt bbrruusshheess yyoouu In terms of specific choices you
ccaann.. BBootthh ssyynntthheettiicc bbrruusshheess aanndd will use either acrylics or enamels
Keep you bench
tthhoossee mmaaddee ffrroomm mmaatteerriiaallss ssuucchh aass and we can certainly not offer any do though, ensure that you use
tidy! Here’s a
ssaabbllee ccaann bbee bboouugghhtt iinn bbootthh aarrtt aanndd advice here as to which is best. The shot of Spencer’s whatever thinner is created for
mmooddeell sshhooppss,, aass wweellll aass oonnlliinnee.. FFoorr reason for this is that we use both workbench during a the paint you have chosen. Each
project earlier this
bbeeggiinnnneerrss,, wwee wwoouulldd rreeccoommmmeenndd and so it will be up to you to decide year. Everything is of these thinners is specifically
llooookkiinngg aatt ssoommee ooff tthhee bbrruusshheess on which is more user friendly; you neatly laid out and formulated for the paints and so
the surfaces are
pprroodduucceedd iinn ppaacckkss ffrroomm tthhee lliikkeess ooff may decide to spray acrylics and whether you decide to paint your
perfectly clean –
HHuummbbrrooll,, AAKK IInntteerraaccttiivvee,, LLiiffeeccoolloorr brush-paint enamel details, or the not a speck of dust model with a paintbrush or more
in sight!
aanndd TTaammiiyyaa.. IIff yyoouu rreeaallllyy ccaann aaffffoorrdd other way around: enamels being sophisticated airbrush, please
iitt,, tthhee WWiinnssoorr && NNeewwttoonn SSeerriieess 77 used for the main finish and then do so using matching materials:
rraannggee aarree tthhee vveerryy bbeesstt yyoouu ccaann bbuuyy acrylics for the smaller features - it Humbrol Enamel Thinners with their
–– eexxppeennssiivvee,, bbuutt wwoorrtthh eevveerryy ppeennnnyy!! really is up to you! Whatever you enamel paints; Vallejo Thinners
Paint and thinners
need to match with their acrylics; Mr Color Thinner
for optimum with Gunze Sanyo’s range of
performance. Here’s
lacquers, etc., etc. Trust us, it
a small selection of
those available to makes a massive difference to
the modeller. their performance – after all, you
wouldn’t fill your car’s engine up
with the wrong oil now, would you?!
AND FINALLY…
I often see images of workbenches
where the surface is covered with
all manner of kit parts, paint, glue
and accessories with barely an inch
to work in. Don’t do this! If you want
to be truly productive and create
well made, well finished models,
work in as tidy an environment as
you can - you’ll find it easier to
concentrate on the job in hand,
will reduce accidents and the risk
to your finishes from dust and
dirt. Trust me – I know what I’m
talking about! Tidy up; remove
dust and dirt from your bench and
put everything away – it only takes
five minutes at the end of the day,
but repays you with a clean slate
from which to begin the following
day. Think about it: how can you
hope for a dust free finish if you are
painting on a work surface that is
covered in the stuff?
We are now ready to get
cracking. Let’s begin with Tamiya’s
excellent ‘Easy Eight’ Sherman…
How to Build... Tamiya’s Armour Kits in 1:35 7
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CHAPTER 2 TAMIYA 1:35 M4A3E8 SHERMAN “EASY EIGHT” KIT NO.25175
AN EASY EIGHT
HOW SIMPLE IDEAS CAN
IMPROVE A STOCK KIT…
MODEL SPEC Spencer Pollard shows how, with
some straightforward alterations,
TOOLS AND MODELLING
PRODUCTS USED: a little scratchbuilding and the
Tamiya Extra Thin Liquid Cement
addition of some stowage and
Gunze Sangyo Mr Cement S
Tamiya Masking Tape
crew, even the easiest of kits can
ZAP Super Glue
Delux Materials Roket Blaster look radically different from one
Tamiya Fine Surface Primer
built ‘out of the box’.
PAINTS AND FINISHING
PRODUCTS:
Magic Sculp
Green Stuff
Baby Talc
Tamiya Fine Surface Primer
XF-1 Flat Black
XF-52 Flat Earth
XF-49 Khaki
XF-67 NATO Green
XF-59 Desert Yellow
XF-62 Olive Drab
XF-71 Cockpit Green
XF-68 NATO Brown
XF-15 Flesh
XF-85 Rubber Black
XF-7 Flat Red
XF-84 Dark Iron
Gunze Sangyo Mr Color Thinner
Humbrol Enamel Thinners
86 Light Olive
150 Forest Green
159 Khaki Drab
33 Matt Black
72 Khaki Drill
29 Dark Earth
119 Light Earth
61 Flesh
34 Matt White
73 Wine
26 Khaki
117 Light Green
33 Matt Black
Mig Productions Thinner For Washes
502 Abteilung oil paint, buff, Light Earth,
Light Rust, Dark Rust
Dark Wash
Tamiya Earth Texture Paint
Vallejo Flat Varnish
Vallejo 169 Black
150 German Camo Black Brown
306 Dark Rubber
Vallejo Face Painting Set
ACCESSORIES
Verlinden Productions - US Tankers WWII
Wet/Cold (2587), US AFV Crew WWII
(1619).
Value Gear – Wooden Crates #3, Tents
&Tarp Rolls
8 Chapter 2 - An Easy Eight
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CHAPTER 2 TAMIYA 1:35 M4A3E8 SHERMAN “EASY EIGHT” KIT NO.25175
Tamiya have had a
longstanding love affair
with the Sherman,
releasing kits of this
famous vehicle regularly over the
years. Indeed, the ‘Easy Eight’
was one of their very first kits and
though far from accurate (parts of it
were in 1:32, with others in 1:35) it
was a staple of the kit world before
they decided to replicate the M4A3
during 1981, followed by the 105
mm howitzer-armed variant during
2002. More recently we’ve seen an
Israeli M1, an M51 and thanks to
a tie-in with Asuka Model (formerly
TASCA) we now have both the
Sherman Firefly and the subject of
this feature, the M4A3E8 - or more
memorably, the ‘Easy Eight’ - thus
taking us full circle!
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CHAPTER 2 TAMIYA 1:35 M4A3E8 SHERMAN “EASY EIGHT” KIT NO.25175
IN THE BOX… With the suspension dealt with,
Though this feature is not really a we come to the tracks. As part of
review, it may well be worth offering this feature you’ll find a ‘step-by-
some thoughts on the kit before step’ guide to their construction that
we get cracking on the meat and will show you how easy they are
bones of this section of the book. to build. In essence they are made
When TASCA first emerged onto up from individual links broken up
the modelling scene, they were into two pieces that combine to
instantly lavished with praise, many trap pins moulded on the edge of
believing that their new range of each one. Though repetitive, the
Sherman kits were not only the last only care you need to take is with
word on the subject, but also bore the glue brush, sparing application
an uncanny resemblance to the of adhesive being needed to join
work of Tamiya’s designers. Though the links to create a run of flexible
The lower hull is built up
more detailed than Tamiya’s track. It was planned to build these from separate flat panels,
Sherman kits, they matched in tracks over a few days, but once in internal bulkheads ensuring
that everything joins square
terms of sensible breakdown of the groove they can together in only and true. The fit is perfect.
parts, ease of assembly, packaging, a few hours.
instructions and fun! They seemed The finer details in this kit are
to be twins split at birth and so really very well handled. I was
seeing their kits now sold in Tamiya particularly taken with the amazing
boxes, is no surprise whatsoever. .50 cal MG and the almost
Their ‘Easy Eight’ is a fine unbelievably fine retaining springs
example of what they are capable found on the loader’s hatch: I’m not
of. Though initially daunting in terms sure I ever seen finer parts in a kit!
of parts-count (the tracks alone, Tools and other fittings are equally
could give you sleepless nights!), splendid and though they don’t
the ease with which everything feature any form of retaining straps
goes together, makes the building – thus aping the Tamiya parts found
of this kit a far from arduous task. in their own kits – they look great
The hull for instance is broken once in place and painted. Where
down into individual panels that fit you will find improvement over
cleverly together, internal bulkheads Tamiya’s Shermans, is in the way
stiffening it up until the one-piece that TASCA handle the handles The lower hull is complete. Fix the inner wheels in
upper hull is glued in place. The (sorry!), all of these being tiny place allowed the bogies to be lined up and then
flattened out, all working features being fused
turret is similarly straightforward, individual parts rather than solid
permanently in place with liquid glue.
two parts taking care of the shell features, moulded in-situ. This of
before the modeller spends a few course adds to the care needed to
happy hours adding the details. assemble this kit, but the results are
The bulk of the work is needed to worth it: even from the box, this is a
construct the wheels, suspension fantastic looking model.
and tracks. Initially, this looked
overwhelming, 26 parts for each THIS FEATURE…
suspension unit seeming like a lot Over the next few pages or so,
of work, but fear not; clean-up is we will take you through the
minimal and so once the parts are construction and painting of this
free from their runners, everything model. Unashamedly aimed at the
falls together easily. The kit would beginner/intermediate modeller,
have you build the bogies so that you’ll find a whole raft of step-by-
they can articulate, but as I loath step guides that you can use for
such gimmicks, I glued everything not only this model, but many more
together firmly, a flat surface being besides.
used to ensure everything was This then is Tamiya’s ‘Easy Eight’
straight and level. – we hope you like it!
When TASCA first emerged onto
the modelling scene, they bore an
The large air vent and exhausts
uncanny resemblance to the work of are superbly realised in the kit,
multi-part assemblies ensuring
Tamiya’s designers... a pleasing level of finesse.
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