ARMOR - Sherman Family Group Build

QUOTE: Originally posted by RAF120 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.

RAF120 hi
i think you will be amazed by the chameleon qualities of any new carpet/flooring product that you buy, and the way in which you will then find yourself having bought new photo-etch stuff and kits with micro-mini parts that somehow are a perfect camouflage match!!
result: it's cheaper to buy more flashlights than to buy new carpet!!
regards,
nick

I'm not in the Sherman group build but since I am working on a Sherman I thought you guys would like to see some progress pictures. Remember that this is my 2nd model and my first tank model ever so be kind. But I really have no clue to what I am doing so any advice would greatly help me. And its not close to being finished as you can see.

http://img8.photobucket.com/albums/v23/Asykr/models_015.jpg

your shermans looking good Asykr, why arnt you in the group build you can have my place if you want

Very nice looking Sherman Asykr. Thanks for sharing the picture with us.
mark956

Frosty, Your Sherman is looking good thanks for the picture of it.
mark956

My 1st build is complete (give or take a bit more playing with the tracks)

The story....

Pre Ardennes Offensive, Germany sends elite forces to infiltrate the enemy ranks and to gather as much information as they can before the operation begins. In one instance, after a long firefight, they capture a fully functional Sherman 105mm Howitzer. It is brought back to be examined and given the proper camoflage pattern. It is also being used to train newly commisioned King Tiger Commanders on battle tactics. This little known fact was called "Project 68"

Here is "Project 68" or what may also refer to as a German Sherman It's built box stock from Tamiya's 105mm Sherman Howitzer:

Robert:

QUOTE: Bill - A thousand apologies my friend .... I missed your plea on the previous page.

No need for that. I missed your reply the first time I scanned through here. So, I appologize for that. Thanks for the help. I'll press on.

RAF120:

QUOTE: I've spent just as much time on the floor with my flashlight as I have spent building.

I am in the same boat constantly!! Advice...get a hold of the vacuum, or get one that has a hose attachment for it. (I keep my shop vac in the build room, now!) Hold an old nylon stocking over the end of the hose. Vacuum the carpet with the hose. Very carefully remove the stocking and empty the contents into a small dish or whatever. You'll be amazed at what you find. And it's usually quicker than the flashlight method. But, if you don't do it soon after the part tweezerpults, your chances of finding it seem to go down dramaticly! Good luck.

Eric:

Superb job! Excelent ambush scheme. Did you mask the leaves, or hand paint them. Really is a great job!!

Bill

Thanks Bill,

I hand paint them. I use a "Spotter" brush that I bought from the craft store.

Asykr - Sherman looks great and I'll echo the others comments .... why aren't you in the group build ??? Not to late to join you know, just let me know and I'll add you to the Group Build site.

Jon - You're not getting off that easy !!!!

Bill - Glad we gotted this all figured out.

Eric - Once again, great build. Are these the final pics you want uploaded to the site?
If so .... e-mail me your build article and I'll tend to the site.

I'd be grateful if you added me. I wasn't in it because i didn't realy want to wait till the starting date to begin, but at the rate I build looks like most people are almost as far into the build as I am.

Eric,I BOW to a MASTER. My 'roo is coming along slowly, working on the upper hull, just about ready to make this thing one piece.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Asykr I'd be grateful if you added me. I wasn't in it because i didn't realy want to wait till the starting date to begin, but at the rate I build looks like most people are almost as far into the build as I am.

Well so far I have removed the travel barrel lock on the hull and started my road wheels and my son will start his as soon as he washes his mom's truck

Funny thing, watching the movie in slo motion it looks like Oddballs Sherman had both smooth and spoked wheels hmmm...and very faded OD.

now I am looking for different tracks [the kit comes with the "V" pattern and the tank in the movie had the flat rubber pads. I also need to buy a tow cable

Great jobs on all the work so far.

I've been up to my eyeballs with Alligators lately so I haven't done much.

The suspension is done (per the previous pics).

The upper and lower hulls are just about completely cleaned up. I've got a few details to add to the lower hull, and then it will be ready to prime.

I'm now starting to cleanup all the detail parts. This will take a while. There's a bunch.

But, I have gotten my spray booth working, so painting won't be the holdup anymore.

It's suspose to snow here tonight. If so, it'll be shovel the walk, shovel the drive, and clean up detail parts!

Cheek Armour! Found this article on added turret cheek armor.
Might help some of us (including me).
http://www.usarmymodels.com/ARTICLES/Sherman%20Corner/turretcheekarmor.jpg

Very nice looking German Sherman Eric.
mark956

Thanks for the link Derek!

QUOTE: Originally posted by dostacos Funny thing, watching the movie in slo motion it looks like Oddballs Sherman had both smooth and spoked wheels hmmm...and very faded OD.

According to my Squadron "M4 Sherman walkaround book" mixtures of spoked "early" wheels and smooth "later" wheels, were very common. I assume because as the spoked were damaged they were replaced by smooth ones, and supply might have just sent out what was handy instead of worrying about which style.

By the way. While reading these post this week I realized I built the sponson fillers on my Tamiya wrong. I just fixed. I guess it's pretty obvious I haven't done a tank in about 30 years. But give me a ship and I'm right at home.

Asykr - consider yourself in then ... I'll add you to the site maybe even later this evening.

Dostacos - as Tim has already pointed out, mix and match on the roadwheels.

Derek - great site that one

Tim - just think of the sponsons as pontoons (or something boatish)

Latch66 - please don't say that 4 letter word again (SNOW). It's causing me great pain.

Well my progress was hampered a little over the last couple of days. It's funny how life manages to get in the way of modelling sometimes. Not nice ... but funny. Looking forward to some quality kit time this evening. I'll keep you all posted.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Tim - just think of the sponsons as pontoons (or something boatish)

Aye, Aye Moi Capitain.

Quick questions.
1) What were the 2 angle iron brackets on each side of the bustle for?
2) What was the bracket on the rear of the bustle (kinda looks like a mount for a MG pintle)?
3) Could there been a board placed across the angle iron brackets with supplies strapped on? (Suppose it depends on the intended use of the brackets huh?)

That site also has an article about re-doing the exhaust deflectors.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Latch66 - please don't say that 4 letter word again (SNOW). It's causing me great pain.

I also feel the pain Robert. It's been cold and tonight we are under a winter storm warning. My back is still hurting from all of the shoveling I have been doing. Next year I am going to get a snow blower.
mark956

Sir Eric;

I just showed my wife (she who knows and could care less about armor) the pics of your Sherman alla ambush. Her comment..."Wow!" Quite a feat you've accomplished!

Bill

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Latch66 - please don't say that 4 letter word again (SNOW). It's causing me great pain.

LOL, I hear you Robert!!!

I'm a Southern Boy! This is my first winter "Up-North".

Mark956, I gave up early and bought a blower this year. Glad I did!

Derek -
1) you know something .... for the life of me I have no idea what they were designed to do.
2) yes it is an MG mount. It was used for transporting the MG. Clips for the MG barrel are mounted on those funny little angle iron thingamadewies.
3) absolutely ... stow away ... very often done in the field

Mark - my back is hurting from watching everyone else shovel the snow. I do wish they'd hurry up though, I may want to go out a little later.

Day 8 of my exile.....
Pics of some progress, not much but all in all I'm happy.
I detailed the underside of the drivers and asst. dirvers hatches. These are the base coat of paint. Still need to be washed and drybrushed.


The interior stuff. As I said before, it didn't have to be spot on or real pretty just the "impression" of detail should someone look past the drivers in the hatch. Small hatches and the figures really fill up the opening. Clearly no quick bail outs in a Sherman.


Finished bogey. Still need to paint the tires but the return rollers have been straightened by cutting a wedge from the underside and pushing the roller bracket down till it was straight across. Then the bogey was assembled, added rivets to the skids and the nuts and bolts to the underside of the bogey.


Happy day today, while my wife was at the dog show in Daytona, I went to a hobby shop there and found the Tamiya figures of the British tank crew and a Academy tank accessories with a .50 cal. Yaaaa my model is dressed to kill now.

Just out of curiosity, there is a small plate that protrudes from the top of the turret in front of the command hatch towards the edge of the front of the turret. It is sort of triangular and looks to be about 1/2" thick and maybe 6-8" high in the photographs. What is this?

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by claymore68 Quick questions. 1) What were the 2 angle iron brackets on each side of the bustle for? 2) What was the bracket on the rear of the bustle (kinda looks like a mount for a MG pintle)? 3) Could there been a board placed across the angle iron brackets with supplies strapped on? (Suppose it depends on the intended use of the brackets huh?) That site also has an article about re-doing the exhaust deflectors.

Robert can correct me if I'm wrong, but if my memory is serving me good today......

The angle iron brackets are for the 50 cal machine gun. It would be dissassembled and stored there (barrel removed from the main body). As far as I can tell it wasn't used much. I know I would want my Ma Deuce on the mount where it belonged!

The bracket on the rear bustle is a MG mount.

(Robert please step in if I goofed)

Mike - direct sighting vane for the commander

Latch - Nothing to correct as far as I'm concerned. All the angle iron just to hold up the MG makes me curious though.

Oops ..... Nice job Mike ...... it's exactly what you need for an interior when you have the hatch crammed with pudgy Canucks. Good score at the dog show too !!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by latch66 QUOTE: Originally posted by claymore68 Quick questions. 1) What were the 2 angle iron brackets on each side of the bustle for? 2) What was the bracket on the rear of the bustle (kinda looks like a mount for a MG pintle)? 3) Could there been a board placed across the angle iron brackets with supplies strapped on? (Suppose it depends on the intended use of the brackets huh?) That site also has an article about re-doing the exhaust deflectors. Robert can correct me if I'm wrong, but if my memory is serving me good today...... The angle iron brackets are for the 50 cal machine gun. It would be dissassembled and stored there (barrel removed from the main body). As far as I can tell it wasn't used much. I know I would want my Ma Deuce on the mount where it belonged! The bracket on the rear bustle is a MG mount. (Robert please step in if I goofed)

It took me awhile to dig this one out of the reference stash, but here is the straight story:

The 2 angle iron brackets are definitely for storing the 50 cal.

The proof is in Ground Power No: 032 (Issue 1: 1997).
On page 35 there is a picture of a M4A3E2 with the 50 cal. stored in the "rack". The 50 cal. is in the mount on the back of the turret. It is rotated to the left side of the tank. And the barrel is removed and is stradling the two angle iron brackets. This tank is obviously sitting at an ordinance depot somewhere.

Definitely NOT where I would want my 50 cal. going into combat.