This is an overview and a tutorial on the Revell 1/72 Scale plastic Sherman Model Tank. It is part of my series of tutorials on how to make a WW2 Diorama. This is an inexpensive little model and it comes out looking really great. It is perfectly suited for making a diorama. The 1/72 Scale is an interesting scale. The models are small and can be a tad bit challenging to make, especially if you have big hands. But the models have a good level of detail and are very cost effective because they themselves don't cost much and the dioramas you make with them are typically smaller and will cost less.

Here is a similar 1/72 Scale Sherman M4A1 tank on Amazon: M-4A1(76)W VVSS Sherman Tank 1-72 Dragon(Note that this tank is part of a tutorial I have on How to Make a WW2 Tank Diorama) - And, if you are new to making plastic models you might want to check out my Tips and Tricks on how to make plastic models. Note that some of the pictures in this tutorial are from my tutorial on how to make a Tiger tank. These are the pictures where the plastic is a sand color.

(This is the Tank I make in this tutorial)

This the box for the Sherman Tank I made for this tutorial

Okay! Let's begin assembling this Tank Model:

As with all plastic models. There are several things that come inside the box. You should inspect everything carefully to make sure nothing is missing. This model comes with several sprues with parts, an assembly procedure booklet and a small sheet of stickers (decals) that you will apply to the model when it is done.

You should inspect everything and make sure nothing is missing from the kit. You should also read over the whole assembly process. This is important because the assembly of parts can be affected by future parts. Gluing a part in place might need to be changed a little bit because of a part you will place in a later step.

After inspecting and reading everything you should gently and carefully wash the plastic sprues in warm soapy water. Rinse them all off and let them air dry. This will make a difference in how the paint and decals adhere to the plastic.

It is a good idea to paint some of the smaller parts while they are still on the sprue. You can get them looking much better this way and painting them once they are assembled into the model can be difficult to do. The instructions will often give you recommendations on this.

It is a good idea to figure out your painting scheme before you build the model and to paint some of the smaller parts while they are still on the sprue. This will give you a much higher level of detail. And painting some parts are they are glue into the model can be very difficult. They can be difficult to reach with a brush or painting them can cause paint to run over into other parts. Once these parts are cut from the sprue you can touch them up a bit before gluing them into place.

I often use the paint from the cap. This is a nice way to get small amounts of paint.

Once you are ready to start building the model you should cut the parts from the sprue with either side cutters or a hobby knife. (I prefer the hobby knife) This will help you keep the shapes exactly as they are intended without distortion or breakage. Only cut the parts from the sprue as you need them! You can end up with a mess of parts and not know which one is which!

Notice that the sprue will have numbers on it to show you which part is which. This is why you should keep each part on the sprue until you are ready to use it.

Once the part is removed from the sprue you will see it has a small burr on it where it was attached. You should carefully file this down with a micro file or small piece of very fine sandpaper.

I really like the parts holder with magnifying glass. It holds the piece while you work on it. In this picture I am gluing the track to the tank. Having two free hands makes a big difference.

Plastic model cement really works well and it usually only takes 5-10 seconds of holding it before you can release it but sometimes using a rubber band (or clothes pins) to hold large parts together can really help.

The most difficult part of this assembly is the track. There are some long units but around the front and rear drive wheels you have to glue individual track pieces together so they form nicely around the wheels. I used a fine pair of tweezers for this.

Follow the assembly procedure in the instructions and paint as you go along. Once the model is complete you can do some touch up painting and once this has dried you can add the decals.

The turret has been assembled and is ready to be placed onto the body of the tank. This turret does not get glued in. It has tabs on it so it can swivel which makes it really good for making adding to a diorama. This way you can position the turret in any direction desired.

How to Build Dioramas- Learn everything you need to know about making your dioramas look real! This fantastic revised edition will show you how with new projects, new photos, and expert tips. Includes painting, weathering, and detailing tips for figures, aircraft, vehicles, and more! 290+ photos with color throughout; 41 illus.; softcover.

How to Build Armor Dioramas- Award-winning modeler Lynn Kessler leads, photo by photo, through the steps of building detailed armor vehicles and displaying them in a realistic scene. Topics include beginning and advanced kit assembly, designing a diorama concept, modeling and painting figures, finishing details and more. Perfect for beginner to advanced modelers.

Terrain Modelling (Modelling Masterclass) - This title helps modellers who wish to display the results of their efforts to the best advantage in a diorama. This book provides detailed information on how to create many different types of terrain; the paints, glues, tools and materials that will be of help to the modeller; and how these can be obtained both in Europe and the USA. Illustrated with some 200 photographs and written by a master of diorama modelling with a lifetime's experience, this book provides the essential and invaluable guide to the materials and techniques needed to create top quality terrain for anywhere from Ancient Rome to the Western Front.