Scratch Built 1/6th scale M26 Pershing project

And your family moved out when??  I've heard of big projects but this is too much. Even those model rocket nuts out west can at least fly their projects 2-3 miles up. You should restore the real deal for a museum..in Europe. 

I have completed 1/2 of the tank's fenders.

The storage boxes have been completed with the exception of the working latch handles which will be casted in resin shortly. The storage box lids are also all brass / steel construction and all components are soldered together.

The storage container inner lids feature the ridgidity straps and the condensation vent details.

The remaining fender details were added. These would include the rear armored first aid kit container, front fender rigidity crimps, and fender tip hex bolt head details

I will now focus on the fender details on the tank’s other side. Once that is wrapped up I can finally start on the turret

Beautiful work mate!!! REALLYYYY looking forward to seeing that turret build and installation!!!!

Just a quick update, I completed the tank's right side fenders. With these out of the way

The tank's sheet metal work is now complete. Now that the tin work is completed I can say that this tank has had the most complex and intricate sheet metal work of any of the 1/6th scale tanks that I have built second only to the BRA Jag (which is all sheet metal construction).  

The right hand fender boxes were completed and mounted to the fenders. The right hand side boxes and fenders have numerous foot loops soldered to the boxes and to the fenders.

The tank's front horn and brush were also added to the tank. The horn's power cord will be added along with the head lights later.

It is now off to the tank's 90mm turret! More progress to come

I keep saying it, WOW!!!! Really looking forward to seeing the turret coming to life as well!!!

I have some progress on the tank's turret.



The tank's turret is fabricated out of a 1/4 inch plywood skeleton. The plywood is then thoroughly coated and soaked with fiberglass resin. The fiberglass resin transforms the wood to plastic.



















The turret's basic body work and shape has been completed. The casted in details for the copula, loaders hatch, and other fittings have been "casted" into the turret's surface.













Currently the turret's surface is far too rough and sanding and filling will be required to finish the turret. The sanding will be the next procedure that I will perform on the model. More info to follow shortly!!

Please use a dust collection system and a good mask when sanding. The particles of debris will be so fine... and we don;t want this project to be your last.  How long is it... about 4' ? And what are you going to do with it?  

Bocks Suv

Please use a dust collection system and a good mask when sanding. The particles of debris will be so fine... and we don;t want this project to be your last.  How long is it... about 4' ? And what are you going to do with it?  

Thanks for your concern, but I do have a professional dust and particle respirator. This is also not my first 1/6th scale vehicle. I'm building the tank for my own personal 1/6th scale tank collection. Currently I have about 20 of these 1/6th scale tank models. I also have about a dozen or so in the pipeline.  

most of my collection is at the following website. http://www.eastcoastarmory.com/battlezone.htm 

Very impressive collection mate!!! Stunning detail on all!!!!!!! How long have you been building these 1/6th scale jobbies???

Great work. The suspension is wonderful.

Thanks guys, I've been building 1/6th scale tank models for about ten years now, and since then I have seen the hobby grow by leaps and bounds.

I have finished up the turret body work, and I added cast texture to the surface.

I also built and mounted the armored mantet drum top covering. The mantlet, when installed will then go over this plate. The plate is secured to the tank via slot screws as per the real vehicle.

I'm now fabricating the tank's gun mantlet and gun barrel. more progress to come. 

WOW, man! I just came across this thread, and I'm simply gobsmacked by the amount of work and dedication in this build!

YOU, SIR, ARE IN A LEAGUE OF YOUR OWN! THIS IS SOME AMAZING WORK!

I have one question--where does one get those massive styrene sheets used to construct the hull?

I hope that you are able to sell the master for this project and make some serious cash from your efforts!

Looking forward to seeing the barrel put on and REALLY looking forward to seeing the tracks being made!!! Stunning work mate!!!

the doog

WOW, man! I just came across this thread, and I'm simply gobsmacked by the amount of work and dedication in this build!

YOU, SIR, ARE IN A LEAGUE OF YOUR OWN! THIS IS SOME AMAZING WORK!

I have one question--where does one get those massive styrene sheets used to construct the hull?

I hope that you are able to sell the master for this project and make some serious cash from your efforts!

Thanks guys, The styrene lower hull was started by another 1/6th scale model maker. The large panels can be bought from the styrene companies direct. No way would I sell this one, it's all mine 

I fabricated the mantlet and the tank's gun barrel. All that is needed to complete the mantlet will be some casting / foundry numbers. The gun barrel is constructed out of turned PVC. The gun barrel also has a retention spring that prevents the heavy barrel from drooping.

I will now be fabricating the tank's 90mm muzzle brake.

WOW!!!! Always a treat to see your posts and see whats happened next!!!! Beautiful work!!!

Thanks guys, I have made some more progress on the tank's turret.

I have also completed the tank's turret loaders hatch and added it to the product line. The hatch will work for many US tanks of the period including the M4 Sherman, the M4A3E2 Jumbo Sherman, 76mm turreted shamans, and M46 / M47 Pattons.

http://www.eastcoastarmory.com/ustankparts.htm

I have also completed many of the turret details. including the

commanders copula

Retracting 50.cal pintle mount.

Rear turret bustle 50.cal storage racks and pintle.

On the turret's front the gunner's scope, range finder, search light, lift hooks, and loader hatch retaining hatch was added.

The last piece of detail that I added was the foul weather driving hood rack. The rack is all scratch built out of sheet steel and brass.

The Muzzle brake master is completed and is currently in molding. More info to come!

Excellent !!

Thanks again guys. I have made some more progress on the tank.

I have added more new parts to the product line. Many of these parts will work on other vehicles besides M26 Pershings.

http://www.eastcoastarmory.com/ustankparts.htm

M3 90mm gun double baffle muzzle brake. This component will work on the M36 and M36B1 Jackson Tank destroyers.

M26 Pershing family Spent shell port hatch kit. This kit will also work on the M46 Patton family.

M26 family T80-E1 Live Track. The track is fully articulated and is very realistically detailed. The track is almost identical to the T80 track that is used on the M4 HVSS suspension. To transform this set for Sherman use I only need to make a different center guide tooth.

The tank's turret detailing is almost complete.

The turret spare track rack was fabricated out of sheet steel. A length of spare track will be mounted once the tank is finished.

The tank's engine removal studs were also added. These studs are only found on early production M26 Pershings.

The remaining turret details have been added. These would include the MP-48 spring antenna base, 50.cal travel lock, and the spent shell port hatch.

The only components that are left on the turret are the track tension jacks. Which will be done very shortly.  

if I ever leave a blank post, Just take it as being SPEECHLESS!!! lol Out standing work mate!!! You have truly whetted my appetite showing a bit of the track!!!! Really looking forward to that part er.....parts, many parts.

This is just simply amazing!  You have the skill, the correct dimensions and knowledge, and most importantly the drive to keep plowing through and finishing this beast!  This makes me feel shame for losing interest in a 1/35 scale model and moving onto another, your resolve is unmatched!  Looking foward to seeing this thing painted up and good to go, awesome man!

Ask him how many he's already built like this. Be sure you're sitting down first. Heck, I'm amazed at all the photos he takes to show this project off in such detail.

Every time you do one of these builds its hard to believe it isn't real. You put so much detail into it.

Thanks a lot guys, The feedback is much appreciated!

Just a quick update I have completed the tank's turret detailing.

I added a second MP-48 spring antenna base, and the tank's track connector ratchet jacks.

I have also added the jacks the product line. These jacks are used to tighten up the space between the two tracks when they are being re connected to insert the last connector block.

Now that the turret detailing is mostly complete I will now start on the tank's rear wall detailing. This would include the exhaust manifold, tail lights, how hitch....ect. More info to come!!

WOW this is looking WAY cool!!!!!

I have completed the tank's rear wall detailing.

The tank's rear wall detailing includes The Tail lights, Tail light guards

The tank's Tow shackles were added, and the chain mounts for the tow Lug Pins.

The tank's Tow hitch and Tow cable mounts were added to the tank's rear wall. Unlike most US tanks the M26 series usually carries it's tow hitch in the stowed position.

The final piece of detail, and the most important to the rear end of the M26 is the tank’s rear exhaust manifold system. The M26 series had about three different exhaust layouts.

The first and earliest (T26-E3) exhaust system had the main gun travel lock mounted directly to the exhaust casting. The travel lock proved to have too much stress on the tank's exhaust and would often break.

The second version moved the travel lock mounts from the exhaust manifold to directly besides the exhaust. The exhaust still had the mounts for the travel lock casted into the housing.

The last version (M26A1) featured a smooth round surface that was void of the travel lock mounting lugs, the travel lock itself was moved to the tank's upper hull behind the center gas cap.

For my model I went with the early T26-E3 style exhaust manifold system. The travel lock is full function and does clamp onto the tank barrel. This item was added to the product line.   

http://eastcoastarmory.com/ustankparts.htm

Now that the rear wall is complete I will now move to the top deck and work on the grill work. More info to follow :D!

I have completed the tank's rear wall detailing.

The tank's rear wall detailing includes The Tail lights, Tail light guards

The tank's Tow shackles were added, and the chain mounts for the tow Lug Pins.

The tank's Tow hitch and Tow cable mounts were added to the tank's rear wall. Unlike most US tanks the M26 series usually carries it's tow hitch in the stowed position.

The final piece of detail, and the most important to the rear end of the M26 is the tank’s rear exhaust manifold system. The M26 series had about three different exhaust layouts.

The first and earliest (T26-E3) exhaust system had the main gun travel lock mounted directly to the exhaust casting. The travel lock proved to have too much stress on the tank's exhaust and would often break.

The second version moved the travel lock mounts from the exhaust manifold to directly besides the exhaust. The exhaust still had the mounts for the travel lock casted into the housing.

The last version (M26A1) featured a smooth round surface that was void of the travel lock mounting lugs, the travel lock itself was moved to the tank's upper hull behind the center gas cap.

For my model I went with the early T26-E3 style exhaust manifold system. The travel lock is full function and does clamp onto the tank barrel. This item was added to the product line.   

http://eastcoastarmory.com/ustankparts.htm

Now that the rear wall is complete I will now move to the top deck and work on the grill work. More info to follow :D!

I have completed the tanks rear grill work.

The grill work is all fabricated out of brass strips. The grills are all soldered together.

The rear grill slats are angled to the tank's rear. These details aere also built into the brass grills.

The inner portions of the grills have support struts that are present on the real vehicle and make the grills more rigid.

The grill grab handles were added and are functional

I was able to make the grills are fully functional. To make them static it would have required the same amount of scratch building, so I decided to make them fully functional.

I will now be focusing on the main engine grills. They will be built using the same method. more info to come.

This tank looks great. I sort of jumped on the bandwagen too late, and missed most of the WIP stuff, but I'll get around to seeing it all, eventually. Exelent work so far. I can't wait to see the finished results.