M4A3 Sherman

Awarded: Gold

By: Sven-Åke Grufstedt

Manufacturer(s): Dragon

Description: Dragon's Sherman M4A3 built OOTB with the addition of resin and scratchbuilt stowage and figures from Calibre 72. Painted with Vallejo Acrylics and weathered with oils and pigment.

Judge 1: Good build (needs an in-progress photo) and the paint finish is very good. The stowage is very well done and the weathering is excellent, especially around the tracks and running gear.
Judge 2: I think this is my favourite model so far, showing you don't need additional parts ( but beautiful kit to start too) Although no WIP photo, I think taking closer or different height photos & seeing more of the front & back will help next time.The OD paint is very well done with good variation in tones with streaks & darker OD in recesses. The decals are well applied, the turret's ringed star is a little clean a brown streak like on the hull side would stop it sticking out so bright. the weathering all makes sense getting heavier as you go down to the wheels & suspension. the stowage works well with the tie downs colours.To be picky the 'Mars' long roll at the back sticks in my eye as looking to much like the crews jackets colout wise & the 3 straps could be painted a different colour too. lastly the cable looks alittle to rusty to me, a steel drybrush would tone it down.
Judge 3: Excellent model very hard to find fault with the build on this one. The photos could have been cropped much tighter as I’m certain I’m not the only one that would have liked to see more of this gem, and you have missed an under construction picture. The decals are very well applied and the colour is spot on with great tonal variation, fading and streaking, it could have been made better with deeper shadows on the engine screens. The crew, stowage, tools and MG are all of the highest standard and I really like the big wooden box but I wouldn’t expect to see such a rusty tow cable. Subtle weathering really brings this one to life but it’s hard to see, some tighter shots would have helped everyone greater appreciate your hard work.