Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Heller 1/72 Sherman M4A2 ====== <WRAP round half box> * Manufacturer: Heller * Part number: 79894 * Year of production: 2014 * Scale: 1/72 * Series: [[:blog:models:military:index|Military series]] * Kit type: Scale model of WWII armoured vehicle * Vehicle: Allied medium tank * Build date: Started May 2025, completed July 2025 * Price: £8.99 from [[https://www.emodels.co.uk|eModels]] in September 2024. </WRAP> {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:345425-13652-65-pristine.jpg?400|}} This kit was bought in September 2024 to be displayed as part of my [[blog:models:french_armour_display|WW2 French countryside ambush]] display. ===== Build Log ===== ==== Box Contents ==== Box front and rear: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910101658.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910101711.jpg?300|}} Instruction sheet: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910101841.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910101859.jpg?300|}} Parts sprues, really nice detail: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910102011.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910102019.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910102028.jpg?300|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910102040.jpg?300|}} Rubber tracks - two versions (rubber block and steel): {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910102058.jpg?300|}} Decal sheet - printing is not quite perfect: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20240910102127.jpg?300|}} ==== Build Images ==== **[May 17th 2025]** Started to built the Sherman to go alongside the [[:blog:military:models_sherman_m4a4_firefly|Firely]] in the [[:blog:models:french_armour_display|WWII - French countryside ambush diorama]]. Working on the lower hull and wheels/suspension first: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250517192348.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250517192354.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518114851.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518121911.jpg?500|}} **[May 18th 2025]** Completed suspension and working on the upper hull, turret etc. Main upper hull and front glacis plate: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518134639.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518140757.jpg?500|}} Turret completed and stowage items added: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518163902.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518163912.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518163923.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518163934.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518163938.jpg?500|}} ==== Comparisons ==== Side by side comparison with the [[:blog:military:models_sherman_m4a4_firefly|Dragon 1:72 M4A4 'Firefly']]: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518164034.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518164040.jpg?500|}} This was a nice kit to build - no nasty areas which needed massive amounts of repair work, and detailed enough without being //really// fiddly to work on. It probably took about 1/4 - 1/3 the time the Dragon kit did, but I wouldn't say it was 1/4 - 1/3 the detail. The big downside, which hasn't been tackled yet, is the vinyl/rubber tracks. //Not// looking forward to those. ==== Painting ==== === Base Colours === Primed in light green: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518192149.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250518205856.jpg?500|}} Top coat olive drab: * Vallejo Model Air - N41 Dark Olive Drab Painted at the same time as the [[blog:military:models_sherman_m4a4_firefly|Dragon 1/72 Sherman Firefly]]: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250524132608.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250524132627.jpg?500|}} Stowage and accessories painted: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250524190612.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250524190618.jpg?500|}} === Decals === Gloss coat added prior to applying decals: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250525090116.jpg?500|}} Decals added. These are //not// the greatest. The printing is not brilliant, and one of the colour layers is quite clearly offset, leading to stray white borders where there shouldn't be any. {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250525102902.jpg?500|}}{{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250525102910.jpg?500|}} Also added the vinyl tracks. These are awful, as usual. They were fitted (ends fastened with superglue) and then painted with Vallejo Surface Primer - Black. They will get weathered and painted later. Dirt added around road wheels and tracks using Ammo modelling pigments (Dark Earth + Europe Earth), then mud splashes with Vallejo Weathering FX (European Splash Mud + European Thick Mud): {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250715193204.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250715193211.jpg?500|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img20250715193218.jpg?500|}} A final matt coat was needed to dull everything down again: {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6229.thumb.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6230.thumb.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6231.thumb.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6232.thumb.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6233.thumb.jpg?400|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6234.thumb.jpg?400|}} ===== Completed Images ===== {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6215.jpg?700|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6216.jpg?700|}} {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6241.jpg?700|}} On patrol with a M4A4 Firefly... {{:blog:models:sherman_m4a2_leclerc:img_6217.jpg?500|}} ---- [[:blog:models:military:index|Back to Military models index]] blog/military/models_sherman_m4a2.txt Last modified: 2025/07/26 16:31by john