ARMOR - Sherman Family Group Build

Looking Good Robert, Bob, GA and co.

Ron, after your comment, it is good to see I'm not the only one who grew up with styrene as the only aftermarket options. We can cause a little stir here and say we are true model builders not just assemblers (bricks coming.....duck, weave, side step, dodge...)

Priest looks great!

Ron

The pictures I have seen so far are looking good. I started on the upper part of my Calliope. I did not like the road wheelsin the kit , so I ordered some replacements from the tank workshop. I will be posting some progress pictures in the next week or two.
mark956

DML M4A4:
The commanders hatch has a ring around it. Looking forward is 12:00.
There are sockets for gun mounts (?) at 12:00 and 6:00 and the areas for the hinges at 3:00 and 9:00. The photos I have are not consistent with the gun mount placements. And I can't make out the detail of what they are. Obviously one of those sockets is for a .30 cal (?) or .50 cal. What is the other one for? Anyone have any detail photos of this area?

Here's the kicker... there are no machine guns in the kit! (Other than the ball turret in the front) So I have to either have them stowed or pick up some aftermarket....... One of the best parts of a tank and its not there!!!

Mike

has anyone seen italeri new m 7 priest yet or got any news on it. i am at the point of puting the sandskirts on and i wasnt looking foward to it. i did notice on the box art that m7 priest doesnt have them on . any one got any pics of a priest with no sandskirts on?

dont look for the pics i found a bunch on the web. as for the sandskirts they are off.

Ok....I have my man...Mannfred checking out progress....



Regards, Dan

Ga.modler - shields are optional, most didn't have them once they got in the field.
What new Italeri Priest ??????

Dan - you have Manfred checking out an Isreali Sherman .... hmmmmm.

for you sherman is the m-12 155m based on the sherman if so i am all most finshed with the priest just miner parts and a little paiting and weathering to do. if the m12 155 is i will add that to the group build too.

Ga.modler - here's a site that has some M7 pics and lots of other vehicles too.
http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/m7/m7a.html

The M12 was based on the M3, so unfortunately it was vetoed early in the discussions.

QUOTE: Originally posted by boybuddho Ok....I have my man...Mannfred checking out progress.... Regards, Dan

got my accurate armour british firefly conversion, but still waiting for my deuard photo-etch stuff to arrive...so no progress as yet[:0]

regards,
nick

Mike (Renarts),

Are you looking for detail shots of the front of an M4A4? If so I have some (can you wait until Monday?). I should just bring all of my reference photos in to work and leave them here. But then I'd need them at home... I know, I'll just send all 1,000 or so photos out for duplication! Heck, a student's parent told me that I'm rich (I wonder if he meant in money or free time)!

The ring on the TC's hatch, is that the wierd little ring section they want you to put on the side of the turret? I had that on mine too, but couldn't find a single photo reference of that style (not that it doesn't exist, but I don't like it). I cut the TC's hatch opening out and moved it over toward the center of the turret slightly to correct it. It is now two scale inches too close to the loader's hatch. (can you feel my shame?)

Ron.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Larry - RHPS tracks are U.S. made and I believe they have the type you are looking for. Also I believe they are available from AFV Club too.

I sent off a check for the rubber block treads today. Thanks.

Question -- by the time the US 1st Armored Division was shipped to Tunisia, did the Shermans in use by the US Army still have the really teeny, short 75mm or the slightly longer-barrelled one?

I got AM Jordi Rubio Barrel in yesterday. This barrel will really help improve this kit.

I bought new digital Camera off e-bay wed. Will get some more work done this weekend, and hopefully next week I can get some pics posted next week.

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 Not much to show at the moment... Just the basic Italeri/ESCI hull put together and the petrol cap (?) recess on the top of the hull, as well as the sink marks filled in with Milliput (no sanding required!). Next step, removing the mud guards at the back and start stretching the hull a little...

Domi:
a quick question - how did u deal w/ the transmission housing (part #19, i think) ?
this gave me fits the first time i built this kit, because it fits better upside down ....
so, is urs flat side up, or notched side up ?
mine is flat side up...

frosty

"Project 68" should be done by Sunday.....

I so want to post pics but....must....not....be....tempted...until....complete

QUOTE: Originally posted by mark956 The pictures I have seen so far are looking good. I started on the upper part of my Calliope. I did not like the road wheelsin the kit , so I ordered some replacements from the tank workshop. I will be posting some progress pictures in the next week or two. mark956

looking forward 2 seeing some of ur work, mark856 !

frosty

IT'S SNOWING !!! Up to 4" by tomorrow! Skiing tonight.... grading, resin clean up and bogies this afternoon.

Ron

Achilles progress. Interior hull assembly is complete with replacement ammo racks, etc. Casting of kit spare 17 pdr ammo still to go.

Moved to the turret area. Main gun assembly completed and sink marks inside turret walls filled for the second time (They were so big that I will do them in 3 stages to prevent shrinkage of the putty. How big?....say the almost the size of the nail on my little finger for a few of them!) Going to be painting this interior the same time as my Panther's scratch built one. Wish I was ambidextrous.

ok heres the question? i am all most done with the m7 priest and was wondeing if i could add another sherman to the build.i have found 2 kits that i am drooling over. one of them is the m4a4 sherman with 60lp rocket on it shows the brits on the box but was wondering did the us use this version? and the other one is a marine sherman with the skids on the back of it so know which one do i pick for the group? if i can add another sherman to the build.

Larry - re: 75mm barrels. I've heard this question come up in the past and as far as I know the U.S. only used the standard 75mm barrel throughout the war. The early version was only used on the test vehicles such as the M4A1 "Michael" that is at Bovington. Note that this barrel has a counterwright at the end of the barrel.
If someone has more info on this long / short 75mm subject please let me know and what reference there is to it.

Eric - I can hardly wait to see the end results of this "top secret" project of yours !!!

Ga-modler - Of course you can add another Sherman.
The M4A4 was not used by the U.S. It was mostly used by Commonwealth forces as part of lend-lease. If you use the rocket variant of the M4A4, it narrows the playing field down even more as it was used by the 1st Coldstream Guards.
The Marine Sherman is listed as an M4 / M4A2. Italeri is a little out to lunch on this part and they came up a little short for these specifications. But the good news is, it builds into a very nice Marine M4A3 with deep wading gear.

A bit of help, here, please.

I'm building the new DML Firefly Vc, which has the Verticle Volute Suspension. What color are of the little, round, upside down cone shaped things above the bogies? What color are the elongated b-shaped, spring looking things right above the bogies, and lastly, what is the color of the tension(?) rollers attached to the springs?

It would sure help if I had some ref books on these puppies. I've got NOTHING on allied armor and the hobby stores I've checked don't have a lot on the shelves, either.

Thanks;

Bill

you are good sherman . went and looked at the kit deacls and you hit it right on the head this model is being as a 1st coldstream guards at the rhine of 1945 or 1942 i think. so i think i will add this one to the build. hats off to ya

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Larry - re: 75mm barrels. I've heard this question come up in the past and as far as I know the U.S. only used the standard 75mm barrel throughout the war. The early version was only used on the test vehicles such as the M4A1 "Michael" that is at Bovington. Note that this barrel has a counterwright at the end of the barrel. If someone has more info on this long / short 75mm subject please let me know and what reference there is to it.

Hey Robert, thanks for the response. I did a little quick check and apparently the first Shermans built had an M2 gun, which was shorter and, as you menton, had counterweights added due to the gyrostabilization of the turret. I wonder though if these had mostly been delivered to the Eighth Army in the Western Desert? Same goes for the double MG's in the hull -- I wonder when that early trait fell away?

I've got a replacement hull for the Tamiya kit which has the direct vision ports, and I also picked up the M2 barrel/mantlet as well as an M3 barrel/mantlet. I wonder which one to use. Got a more accurate turret, nose and suspension too. In fact, I literally don't think that I'll be using any parts from the Tamiya kit except mayne some tools. I wish I were kidding.

Different topic -- anyone out there building the humongous 1/16th scale Korean kit of the Easy 8?

Thanks Ron,
You mean you don't have a PDA with all the pics loaded in so you can reference them from your back pocket???? The shame of it all. And you call yourself an armor buff...

You mean you're not rich? I thought teachers got paid alot. Maybe while the boys in Washington are voting themselves another pay raise and setting aside 87 billion for Iraq and 1.5 billion for marriage counseling they can cut you guys a check.Teachers....ha, what do they need money for? But I digress.

I talked to Robert last night and he sent me a pic of an A4 turret. There is only one gun mount, so the other gets shaved off. There is still some sor tof fixture opposite it though from some of the pics I've seen. I'm thinking these are some sort of battlefield mod, and I'm not going to worry about it too much. Tomorrow I'm ging to see if I can pick up an A/M .50 to put on the turret. Ya know, a tank just doesn't look right without it. Its like showing up for a really hot date and having your date show up at the door barefoot. There's just something missing and not right about it.

I ordered a brit tank crew for it but who knows when that will come in. I suppose Hornet and Wolf may have something or Verlinden. I've been scanning the Squadron catalog looking for crew figures and so far have come up with zippo.

Mike

It looks like everyone is making real progress.
I finally said enough and glued the turret together after I scratch build a radio, add wiring and a commanders seat. It's not perfect but at least it looks like there's somthing there.

Robert this is the one I'm talking about.

Renarts,

Try Ultracast (they have a bunch of british tankers) Accurate Armor has them. Stuff I have ordered from them comes quick, by airmail.

http://www.accurate-armour.com/

Ga.modler - 1945 would be the year the the M4A4 on the Rhine. This kit will slow you down a bit ....... indy tracks. HAHAHAHAHA

Larry - very few of the M2 barrels with the counterweights hit the front. A few M4A1's went to N.A. with the Brits. IIRC you want to build the early U.S. version which as far as I have seen used the M3 barrel with the small mantlet.

Trevor - Hey .... I know that picture !!! .... I should ... I'm the dummy that took it !!!!

Ron - if you're copying all your pictures and reports and line drawings ... I want a complete set too ..... can you have them laminated please.

mike - I agree ... think Ultracast

Thank you for the picture Robert.

Bill - A thousand apologies my friend .... I missed your plea on the previous page.
Very easy paint job on the suspension ..... paint everything green except the rubber part of the road wheels. On the return rollers the surface that contacts the track would be worn so steel is my colour of choice.

Trevor - I took the pic .... didn't post it though.

I don't know what it is about this model but i've never had so many tweezerpult incidents. I almost think I've spent just as much time on the floor with my flashlight as I have spent building. *note to self, When replacing carpet chose color unlike that of resin and PE aftermarket parts*

Robert you didn't have to post it I stumbled over it just fine on Ron's site.