My first 1/16 build was my M26A1. To replicate the cast texture Itook some testors glue and sacrificed a paintbrush to apply it to the turret and front cast areas of the hull. Came out pretty good. Maybe some combination of the 2 will work. I'd shy away from paints as the coats may diminish detail and cover things that wouldn't have texture as KSOC mentioned.

I'll have to find the other methods that are available. Shermans weren't that rough, a lot of what we think as casting marks on monument tanks is actually a protective coating and or layers of paint that wasn't removed. But the turrets did look a little different depending on the foundry that made them, some had huge scrapes or markson the side, visible nail impressions, etc. Thosewould best be replicated by putty IMO.