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Transforming a Sherman "high-buslte" turret into a "low-bustle" turret

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Transforming a Sherman "high-buslte" turret into a "low-bustle" turret
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 9:36 PM
Hi!
I’m planning to transform a “high bustle” double-hatch Turret from a M4A1 Sherman (75mm gun) into a “low bustle” single-hatch turret to be used on a M4A1 Sherman (also 75mm gun). Both kits are Bandaï/Fuman 1/48 scale.
My question is: what changes do I have to do? I know that I have to eliminate the left hatch (the one for the loader) and that I could add an extra armor “cheek” to the right side of the turret. But, do I have to so something with the rear part of the turret? I read that single-hatch turrets had a sloped rear (that why they were called “low bustle” I guess). Do I have then to slope the rear part of the turret? How many degrees? Is it worst to do it on a 1/48 scale model? Or the change would be too small to be noticed at that scale? Do you know a good web site where I can see pictures, profiles, and may be plans, of the different Sherman turrets?
Thanks in advance!
Smile [:)]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Southern California, USA
Posted by ABARNE on Thursday, December 9, 2004 2:51 PM
The main difference is the rear overhang on the turret which is lower on the low bustle turret. Not only will the turret roof need to be angled down, but the floor of the overhang will need to be lowered as well. Other than that, the gunner's periscope on the the low bustle turret usually have the standard filp-up tin cover with a wire periscope guard, whereas the high bustle turrets usually have the more solid armored box periscope guard. The low bustle turrets were often fitted with the later wide mantlet, so you don't have to change that. You can, but do not have to add the applique cheek armor. You can find plently of examples of Shermans in which the hull was fitted with the extra armor, but the turret was not. Good luck.

Here are a few links that I have used in the past
http://www.onwar.com/tanks/usa/index.htm
http://www.jedsite.info/tanks/sierra/sherman_series/sherman-series.html
http://mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk/tanks/
http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/usa/m4_sherman.html

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