ARMOR - Sherman Family Group Build

Progress report time.

Progress .... HA .... if you all recall back when this Group Build kicked off, I said I would do a Firefly Ic OOB with the only change being the addition of a Jordi Rubio barrel. Then I added the Ram .... which I also said would be OOB.

Well you've all seen what happened with the Ram ..... there might be 10 pieces that came out of the original kit. But, I managed to hammer through that one fairly quick.

Now comes the Firefly, a very nice kit from DML .... other than the tracks, should tkae me a couple of good nights and this one will be in the bag because it's OOB. A person who shall remain nameless (Renarts) laughed and said "Yah ... right ... sure you will" when I said OOB.
Quit laughing at me Mike !!!!!!!
Anyways .... back to the Firefly. Here's where I'm at so far. The suspension has been tweaked and detailed with Grandt Line bolts (10 per unit). The road wheels were replaced with ones that actually have backs on them. All grab handles sanded off and replaced with staples. The stowage bin on the back was constructed using the kit original as a template, then I backed the hull into a bookshelf to cause the damage. Yes on purpose !!!
Quit laughing at me Mike !!!
Drainage holes were drilled out and the hull was lightly sanded as the casting was a little too rough.
Next comes the PE detail sets ... kind of a combination of bits and pieces from various sets I have laying around.
Here's some pics of the progress



Can you all hear that Mike laughing ..... somebody get him a paper bag, I think he's hyperventilating.

My next kit will be OOB .... Honest.

Looking Very good Robert.
mark956

Sherm: Did I tell you that when you said OOB I never really believed it? Ha-ha-ha. Anyway I think at the level that you are at, you can easily identify the need (or none) of PE to make the model look more real. And I think it is looking better, too. But my Firefly will be OOB. That is true. He-he-he.

You sure you will have only 2 entries for this build? LOL.

Robert.....

har har har, (cough) , snort, quick...someone....pass....me....a....bag....can't....breath....laughing....too.....hard......
(snif) out of box he says....(snif) I think I hurt myself....(snif) lmao, on the floor,.....can't breath.....ha.....

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by renarts Robert..... har har har, (cough) , snort, quick...someone....pass....me....a....bag....can't....breath....laughing....too.....hard...... (snif) out of box he says....(snif) I think I hurt myself....(snif) lmao, on the floor,.....can't breath.....ha..... Mike

As always Mike ... thanks for your support.

Hey guys, I gave up on guessing if I was putting all the right doodads on my Tamiya Sherman for a Tunisia Sherman, so I just ordered the Formations M4a1 conversion and the Italeri M4a3 (IIRC) that serves as the donor kit. As soon as it comes, I'm going to start working on it. I will post a mini-review of the Formations kit, which is quite extensive, but very afforable considering how much stuff you get.

I am really itching to use the M3 suspension on my Formations kit. I wonder if it will fit, and if M4a1's in Tunisia wore the M3 suspension.

I'm really excited about doing another Sherman -- the last time I did one was an Easy 8, literally decades ago.

Robert,, the firefly is coming along great. By the way,, what did you use to make the rear storage bin with??

Looking good Robert.

Larry - check back a couple of pages .... most of your questions re M4's in Tunisia and the use of the M3 suspension have been addressed.

Rich - sheet brass was used for the construction of the bin, it bends nice !!!

...Good looking Firefly Robert...

Regards, Dan

Sherman Freak: This is a little but on Ebay, they have a Sherman tank periscope for about US $20. First piece to a 1/1 scale Sherman? Maybe

There are so many awesome builds going. You all are true masters. I've almost got my 'Roo finished, I think. Hope to be posting final pics this comming week end.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Larry - check back a couple of pages .... most of your questions re M4's in Tunisia and the use of the M3 suspension have been addressed.

Ok, thanks. I've been looking for information in mqny sources, and I get mixed up sometimes!

Have you ever built one of these Formations kits? How much fitting and grinding is necessary?

Dwight- I can see yours is almost done, looks awesome! I sure learned something from those photos of your sherman.

Robert- That firefly-IC looks great. I'm really looking forward to seing yours done.

well, I did school till 3:30 last night so i could get this m10 looking a little better today. we'll see how it comes!!!

Looks really good, Robert, but you're the master!

As far as oob goes, I guess it depends on your definition of "box". Just about everything came out of a box at one time or another!! I figure you're just using an expanded definition!! lol

I love that bin! How thick of sheet brass did you use?

I'm having a little problem with my Firefly. The stupid ring of sprocket teeth won't stay glued to the drive wheel drum! I've glued them 3 or 4 times and let them sit over night. They still are very weak and keep pulling loose. There just doesn't seem to be enough mating area between the two parts. Last time, I put some paint over the area and am hoping I've "painted it shut". lol Next try will be with super glue!

I actually managed to accomplish a tiny bit on the Firefly. I got all the bogies painted steel where they are supposed to be (I hope), the road wheel tires black, and the bogies glued onto the hull. I need Robert to teach me how to speed build!! lol Not much, but at least SOME progress!

Bill

Looking at Ga.modler's comment about hugging kids... GREAT IDEA It's also good to have a talk with them about abduction. I've told my kids to kick, scream and if possible, yell "FIRE!" If they yell 'help', about 20% of the people won't want to get involved. If they yell 'fire', then almost 100% of the people will come to watch something burn... Odd but true! I've also shown my kids how to bust out tail lights from the inside, get out of trunks and otherwise make a 'getaway' car look suspicious to another motorist or a police officer. A last alternative, bite off a nose or finger... if you think you're going to be killed anyway, put up a fight and you may live.

Really off topic, but important, I think.

Ron

People who hurt kids are the best argument for capital punishment I've ever heard!

Bill

Back on topic!

Dan! Looking good!
Derek, the turret is coming along very well!
Trevor, the M4A3 is looking great!
Dwight, wow.. what can I say? Love to hop in and take it for a ride! It looks ready!!
Robert, You're making more progress than I!

So, Snow day on Friday, lot's of skiing... up to six inches of powder too, which is a rarity for south central Wisconsin. Guard all weekend, not much fun there, getting ready for an inspection...

I did get the turret basket constructed and have to detail it. The tranny / final drive assembly is almost done and I made a Little Joe aux. generator and fuel tank, which I'm making a mold of as I write, so I can copy it in resin.
Still working on the hull interior and brought a Tamiyaa 'Early' M4 to work on in study hall while I 'baby sit'.

That's about it for now. I'll try to get more photos in the near future.

Ron

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw People who hurt kids are the best argument for capital punishment I've ever heard!

On an emotional level I am with you. My first thought when I heard about this is that the guy should be flown out into the middle of the Pacific on a helicopter and then pushed out.

Problem is that convictions are not foolproof. Our justice system is flawed. Sometimes it is deeply flawed. No innocent person should ever die for a crime he or she did not commit. Think of how horrible that would be for you and your family if it happened to you. Dying horribly that way, everyone, maybe even your family, convinced you had raped and murdered a child you did not rape and murder. And once you are gone, poisoned or electrocuted, and the DNA evidence is proven wrong, we can't bring you back and give you your life back again.

Scores of people have been removed from death row when evidence was uncovered proving their innocence. The thought of that -- being that innocent person, waiting to die -- is enough for me to say that capital punishment is not the way to go.

Anyway, Shermans. I can't wait to get my early M4a1! I wonder what color I'll paint it ... ?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn Anyway, Shermans. I can't wait to get my early M4a1! I wonder what color I'll paint it ... ?

I heard an old vet say the 'A1 looked like a big elephant to him... maybe..... PINK?

Ron

well, I feel like working on audie himself today, so that's what I'll do.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poniatowski I heard an old vet say the 'A1 looked like a big elephant to him... maybe..... PINK?

Pink? That's the other group build.

Dwight - Your Sherman does look good.
Robert - I glad to see I'm not the only one who can't do OOB. No matter how hard I try, I'm going to add somthing.
Chris - What did you finally end up using for your figure of Audie Murphy?

Update- None to speak of, because I've been helping my son build a .......dare I say.....a wingy thing. Now all I've done is cut them off the trees and clean them up a little.
Hey, at least he's building.

Shermanfreak,did you get any of my pics on the Sherman.I leave out tomorrow for six
weeks and if you didn't get them I wil need to resend them.Thank Digger

Scubaboy99 - sure ... get me started on 1:1 ... explain that to my wife !!!

Larry - no, I haven't had the pleasure yet, but everything I hear is great about their product.

Bill - not really to sure how thick the brass is, I picked up a bunch of packages of brass shims a number of years ago and they come in 5 different thicknesses. I just use whatever fits the project. Re: drive sprocket - super glue it !!!
P.S. Pics Bill ... we want pics !!!

Trevor - it's a disease I tell you

Digger - no pics in any of my mailboxes

QUOTE: P.S. Pics Bill ... we want pics !!!

I'm so far behind, I haven't figured it was worth any pics yet, but if you want me to post one of my lonely lower hull, I'll see what I can do!!

Wow, Ya'll are moving so fast and everything is looking so good!... I have not even started on my project yet... Still not 100% sure I'll get to. I have a couple of more that I am working on right now, but somehow I am sure I can fit in a Sherman some where.... I suppose it will be a suprise to me and ya'll what comes out We'll just have to wait and see...

Ya'll keep up the AWSOME work...

Peace

Last night I was able to finish the tank crew as well as the remaining baggage to be hung on the turret. And as far as the instructions go, it is basically complete. However, I am still planning to install a pennant at the tip of the antenna. And I would like to ask for suggestions. The box art showed something like an olive drab or khaki pennant but I am not so sure. I used a thin wire as guy wires for the antenna. Not so straight though and I may still do something about it later.

Anyway, I may be putting this shermie on the shelf for awhile before any more additions will be done on it. I will be a bit busy with the finishing works for the new house.

Anyway here she is as photographed last night.


With the background sanitized (he-he-he).




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Comments are still welcome.