"Report back........not bring it back!!" - M4A1 vignette

[PlaStix 14,977]

"Report back........not bring it back!!"

M4A1 vignette

This was my project for the M3/M4 Sherman, Single Type Group Build down in the Group Build Section.

On 9th June 1944 M4A1 Sherman Tank 'Goldie' was part of the 66th Armoured Regiment that landed at Normandy. During the landing it was fitted with wading gear but this was removed shortly after it arrived. A week after arriving the 66th was part of the 2nd Armoured  Regiment and took part in the 'Battle of Bloody Gulch' which took place near Carentan. 

The German forces in the battle were made up from the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division and 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment.  American forces consisted of the 501st, 502nd and 506th, Parachute Infantry Regiments of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, reinforced by the U.S. 2nd Armored Division of which 'Goldie' was a part. The German forces were decisively defeated during the battle and the American victory led to the linkup of forces from Utah and Omaha beaches, creating a secure lodgement area for further American operations.

The headquarters of the German forces during the battle was a manor house in the area and the American soldiers nicknamed the road running past the manor "Bloody Gulch" after a place mentioned in a popular western movie.

I have modelled my version on how 'Goldie' may have looked travelling across the countryside on it's way towards Carentan.

 

The Vignette - One of the things that bugged me while I was making this project was that the tank commander figure seemed to be smiling - it just didn't seem to fit with the idea I originally had. So I tried to think of things that might have made him smile on the way to battle over the fields near Carentan. I have made scenes before where I have used road signs to indicate the location and then it dawned on me I could make the scene as if one of the crew had been sent to check out what the road sign on the other side of the fence said - but, rather than reading it and reporting back, he's broken it off and is carrying it back. In my head the crew member next to the Sherman is saying "He said report back...not bring it back!!...."  .....anyway........

 

Kit: 1/35 Eduard/Tasca

Paints: Humbrol, Revell, Citadel and Railmatch Acrylics all applied by brush.

Extras: Tank figures set from Dragon , stowage items from AFV CLUB, Tamiya and Dragon, plus Towing Cable wire kindly supplied by @modelling minion

Base: MDF, filler, Woodlands Scenics mixed turf and various tufts from Army Painter. The fencing was made from wooden coffee stirrers and the signs are from Matho Models. The puddles were made from layers of Humbrol Enamel Gloss Varnish.

 

WIP: Here

More photos of just the Sherman and base, without the background, can be found here: in the RFI section

 

These photos below were taken on my Spitfire display base which has a sky backboard:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of the above in black & white:

 

 

...and finally a photo of the base before the Sherman and figures were added:

 

This was a thoroughly enjoyable project made in a great GB. It was the first all Armour GB on Britmodeller and the hosts @Sgt.Squarehead and @Ozzy were very attentive and supportive. Thanks must also go to everyone who took the time to comment or offer advice in my thread.

 

Kind regards,

 

Stix

 

Edited March 13 by PlaStix

[Dads203 5,430]

Incredible work 

[Macki 372]

Awesome! very realistic!

 

Cheers

 

Macki

[Corsairfoxfouruncle 5,621]

Great work Stix  Love the idea.

[robvulcan 3,660]

Wonderful job  

[Vinnie 873]

Stix, that is stunning. I am in awe.

[Sgt.Squarehead 7,920]

Stonking finish Stix.....Absolutely lovely! 

[clive_t 1,680]

Absolutely top shelf modelling! Great set of photos too 

[Mr B 2,080]

lovely

[Chillidragon 522]

Very good indeed - and funny.

[PlaStix 14,977]

On 12/03/2018 at 14:52, Dads203 said:

Incredible work 

Thank you very much Dads203! Most kind! 

Kind regards,

Stix 

[Alpha Delta 210 2,928]

Sensational vignette. So much to look at and everything looks just right and natural.

[dreadeddrew 239]

Lol.......he's obviously not the sharpest tool in the box,but I guess every unit had one. If you didn't know who it was,then it was probably you.

Great idea & well executed,top notch work.

Andrew.

[Steve_farrier 406]

Gorgeous! That mud is amazIng

[stevej60 20,974]

Top quality work Stix,still can't understand why the Magazines have not come calling for build article or two!

[spaddad 1,901]

orsum

[PlaStix 14,977]

On 12/03/2018 at 15:06, Macki said:

Awesome! very realistic!

Cheers

Macki

Hi Macki. Thank you very much indeed! Most kind!  

Kind regards,

Stix

[PlaStix 14,977]

On 12/03/2018 at 15:35, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Great work Stix  Love the idea.

Thank you very much Corsair - most kind. 

Kind regards,

Stix 

[PlaStix 14,977]

On 12/03/2018 at 15:51, robvulcan said:

Wonderful job  

Thank you very much Rob! 

Kind regards,

Stix

[stips 94]

Very good work

 

Black-and-white photos looks special.

[Gimme Shelter 2,571]

looks amazing - very convincing mud and grime at the back end - 100% convincing all round in fact

[Ozzy 3,491]

Fantastic job Stix, I like the back story for the sign. You've got a year to think of what your going to do with your Panzer IV, 

[Hamden 1,678]

 

As others have said stunning, exquisite, realistic, superbly finished as always!  

 

   Roger

[PlaStix 14,977]

On 12/03/2018 at 15:59, Vinnie said:

Stix, that is stunning. I am in awe.

Hi Vinnie. Thank you very much.

Kind regards,

Stix 

[goggsy 1,204]

Great work, you’ve really nailed the mud.