Sherman VC Firefly - My first project part IV

Hi folks!

The last stage of work on my first model. Time for dirt effect and diorama. I was not satisfied with the color of the armor. The Shermans had a single-color camouflage. One color camouflage is difficult - In my noob opinion of course 😄 Painting the model with one flat color creates the impression of a plastic toy - and we don't want this. I decided to vary the color of the armor using the dirt effect. I applied thin layers of earthy colors to the model. The paint was very thih - with very low coverage. I think I got an interesting effect. Tank armor looks now dusty. Even though it is single color, it looks more realistic and more interesting.

My Sherman VC Firefly got markings of 1st Polish Armoured Division aka „Black Devils”. Diorama shows the Polish Sherman on Hill 262 during the fights from 19 to 21 August 1944. The Poles fought in the encirclement for three days. Consuming almost all ammunition and incurring heavy losses in people and equipment. They held positions until the arrival of the Canadian relief from the Canadian 4th Armored Division.

President of the United States Eisenhower commented fighting for the hill 262 "no other battlefield presented such a horrible sight of death, hell, and total destruction."

A good source of knowledge and rare photos of Polish armored forces is - Śladami Polskich Gąsienic - the magazine. Unfortunately, published only in Polish.

Summary of the project.

My first project has been completed. I made a lot of mistakes. But I also learned a lot. Everything was a new experience for me. The next model will be better.

See previous parts:

Part I - beginnings and failure

Part II - chipping hairspray way

Part III – accessories

Part Time Modeller