ARMOR - Sherman Family Group Build

Robert,

Thanks. You got mail.

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman Thanks Latch, but I have enough going on right now, especially with the Panther build going. I have a Hellcat, but that was shot down to make for this build. I'm not going to buy a kit until i finish at least one. LOL

I hear you Tigerman!

There's no telling how many "starts" I've got at the moment.

But you gotta start somewhere!

Whenever you feel ready, please come join us.

my sprue cutters decided to go AWOL tonight, and man, are they a nice tool to have!! you learn to appreciate everything when its not there.

So far I've finished the lower hull, I've filled and sanded all the holes on the upper hull I don't need. I'm working on the turret changing the large loaders hatch to the smaller single hatch.
So far thing are moving along smoothly.

Camo Sherman -

Started my Italeri Kangaroo's lower hull yesterday. I think I'm going to like this build alot.

Build 1:
The 2 interior assemblies, of the Jackson, are finished. I left off some of the smaller detail parts and will not install them until the assemblies are fully painted and installed and the hull painted OD.

I will now begin work on the outer hull.

Build 2:
"Project 68" was airbrushed with the first coat of paint and is coming along nicely. This one will definately be completed before the M 36.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak I take it you're building the Tamiya M4 kit, please correct me if Im wrong.

Of course. It's the ONLY armor kit I've got. lol

OK, I just bought a Jordi Rubio barrel off of e-bay. With shipping wasn't too bad. I started this kit last weekend. Ran out of OD paint (I only had 1 bottle). Got some more. Going back at it. I also downloaded the templates for the sponson closures. I noticed that they were open last weekend. I was dissapointed. I hadn't read this thread yet.

Thanks again Latch, I have many builds going, still I want to finish something. Yet you never know, if I can somehow finish this Panther, I may still have time to "pop in". Better "shop around just in case. Nice thing about OD, no three color camo needed.

Tim - just wanted to make sure that it was the M4 and not the M4A3 from Tamiya. Those Tamiya sponsons, makes a guy shake his head.

Chris - they'll turn up, about the time you finish the build.

Eric, Trevor, Bob - you guys are all in full cruise mode here .... I'm still staring at indy tracks.

Tigerman Eric - jump in any old time .... let me know if you decide to and I'll upgrade the site with your own page.

Site has been updated with all the latest members.

Thanks Robert, I'll see how it goes. Like I said earlier, good luck to everyone and we look forward to some great builds.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Tim - just wanted to make sure that it was the M4 and not the M4A3 from Tamiya. Those Tamiya sponsons, makes a guy shake his head.

Robert, you the man. Shortly b4 reading your post I realized that the template wasn't a proper fit, fortuntely b4 I cut up some styrene. I'll eyeball, cut and fit till I get a close approxamation of closure. I'm not looking for perfection, just decency.

I roughed up my road wheels today and started assembling the suspensions.
Shaved the springs off the drivers hatches and made new brackets and tension or assist springs for the hatches.
Drilled the holes for the brackets for the skirting. And assembled the lower hull.

I like this DML kit. Its crsip and so far other than a few "wrong" things all and all its a nice kit.

Mike

Hey Shermanfreak,
I love the webpage (especially the individualized wallpaper!).

hi guys
you're all making me sooo jealous with your progress!!
i haven't done anything concrete yet (little busy this past few days), but she who must be obeyed allowed me to get some extra stuff for my firefly!!

i've ordered edaurd's photo-etch set for the DML firefly, so hopefully should be able to do some of those dented fenders that look soooo cool, and accurate armour's firefly british conversion set
take a look shermanfreak, what do you think?

http://www.accurate-armour.com/aaproducts.cfm?CFID=861216&CFTOKEN=41511412&navlevel=1

i'm getting really jealous of all you guys who've started!!

regards,
nick

nmayhew,

It's very good. I have purchased one. It's an update kit . It has different pieces where there was additional armor added over time. ( some armor is in places that aren't going to be as attractive)

It has a big chunk that goes right on the front of the turret, a couple pieces to cover the hatches in the front. I don't know if I'm going to use them yet.

Good thing - lot of great detail on tools, stowage and bolts on the three piece transmission cover. The resin pieces are sharp and crisp.

I purchased it because I only have an MP hull ( not great detail) and needed the tools and stowage.


If you have agood kit to begin with, you might not need it.

Nick - Looks good .... I've never had the pleasure of using any of A.A.'s product so let us know what you think of it.

Jim - that old MP hull still withstands the test of time.

Ron - Re: Sherman camo patterns

If JoAnne is still doing the Marine Corps Sherman ..... there are some Shermans used on Iwo Jima that were painted in two-tone camo of tan over O.D. Unfortuantely I have no pictures of the real item (have to get some better Marine Corps references). If you check out the model forums on Track-Link, you'll find some M4A3's done in these patterns.
http://www.track-link.net/gallery/USA_WW_2/subject/3

You're right Sherm,

Let me re-phrase that,
The detail is there,..... the platic is not as crisp and clean as others ( I'm not trying to trash it ) The casting numbers on the nose are great, lots of little bolts you don't see on other kits and the overall slightly uneven texture is nice too.


I'm happy with it

Digger - a while back you were looking for Shermans with sandbags on them. Here's a site that has 4 or 5 good pics of them.
http://www.enygmag.com/military/photos.htm

Ron - further on the Marine Corps camo pattern. On this same site is a pic of a Marine M4A3 which clearly shows a distinct pattern. I believe this to be a two-tone tan on O.D.

You would think that a site that says ships 2-5 days would be able to get a shippment to me in 16 days????? I ordered my tank on the 2nd. and they did not ship for 14 days! I had 4 unanswered emails asking, I finally ordered a second kit from a different vendor. I wonder which one will arrive first

the good news is my youngest son [16] is interested in building the other Sherman, and that will be his first model ever hmmmm. TWO Shermans coming out of the tunnel?

or maybe the river scene with one on one side of the river and the second burning, [with Verlinden's submerged Sherman for the third]

Actually I think he may do a winter scene, not sure yet

Hopefully everyone is having fun with this... I'm a bit rusty and am working slow as molasses. I started last night right after dinner and stopped last night, or should I say this morning, and didn't realize the time was 5:30 am..... how time flies with modelling!

Regards, Dan

well, I got my sprue cutters back today, they were in my pocket from doing some modeling, and they fell out. luckily someone picked them up and returned them to me. but as I went skiing yesterday, I didn't do too much to it.

Well, I've just finished the bogies on the BARV.

Using the AFV bogies really kicked up the parts count. If you count all the nuts I added (10 on each bogie), then the parts count for each is 25.

I did go ahead and scratchbuild the track return skids. I used some brass strip for this. I couldn't help myself. It's a disease you know.

I'm still cleaning up the upper and lower hull assembly. I'll be at this step for awhile.

Progress Report ..... Indy Tracks !!!!!

There never seems to be any progress.

Wow, lots of guys already made good progress on their Shermie. As for me, I just finished (almost) my Panther D so I'll get on my Shermie tonight. That's TONIGHT, finally. Yessssssss.

Gotta play catch-up now and I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

Well, here are some shots of the bogies!

Single Bogie:


Well, OK, we only have one picture.

It looks like I just overloaded Ron's site.

Everyone will just have to trust me that they are all six done!

Got into one of those projects I wished I hadn't started. Modifying the bogies to reflect the correct bracket for the rollers on the M4A4. !st one I flubbed bad and had to scratch a whole new bracket, roller and skid. Has anyone ever killed themselves by throwing themselves on a razor saw?

The second one, I broke out the coping saw and cut the bracket from the bottom going up to the top of the bracket. I shaved a slight wedge out of this and then gently pushed the bracket down till it was straight across and glued it in place. Filled any cut marks or gaps and then added the bolts on the skids. I return to my original question only using a coping saw. Although easier, my progress has ground to a halt like a Tiger at spring in Russia.

I took a break from this and scratched some new applique armor for the side of the hull and attached it and did some assembly on the hull.

I think once I get the bogies fixed the way I want them I'll move to doing some of the interior detail. (Just enough so that if you look past the drivers etc. you'll see something.

Mike

Let's try again:



Here they are! All six ready to go on the hull.