ARMOR - Sherman Family Group Build

My Formations Sherman M4A1 set came today, along with the Zaloga Osprey book on Sherman 75mm tanks.

Hmmm. The guy who runs Formations told me that his A1 doesn't work for Tunisia because it does not have direct vision ports, but in Zaloga's book there's an illustration of a tank called "Henry III," an A1 (later knocked out by a PAK at Mateur).

The tank does not appear to be direct vision, but it's kind of hard to see from the angle of the pic. And it has the standard M4 suspension, not the funky early M3, so I think this kit is good to go for !st Armored in Tunisia. (Confirming Robert's earlier statement, I might add.)

I may even model it as "Henry III!"

Anyway, spent the past half hour sanding the turret bottom so that it fits correctly into the main turret part. I assume that is the most challenging piece fit issue with this set -- the rest of the build will be, I think, just taking pieces off the pour plugs and gluing them on. Sherman fever -- catch it!

Meanwhile my Panther languishes on the shelf -- a victim of a promise unfulfilled (my wife promised me up and down she'd buy me isopropyl alcohol today. )

Sorry for my late post of these pictures, re: my question on the previous page. Here's what I was talking about:



- Should the 'gap' on the left be filled?
- Should there be a 'seam'/panel line at the spot where I've glued the two parts together on the right? (also visible on the left) Or should there be a 'seamless transition from the 'hull' to the skirt/fender?

Thanks guys...

Murray

Murray - both gaps should be filled.
Though not the closest pic, this should give you the idea.

Well from what I see,its good.Yes I am back from the road or should I say the lack of it.I made it as far as Syracuse,Ne and had to go to the hospital in Lincoln,Ne.Stayed therefor the next 5 days having surgury done and just got back today.
Robert if you want me to,I can make an send so better pic to on my Sherman.
Digger

Robert,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for posting those pictures! Your Firefly is coming along great!

Feldgrau, The interior patterns were made by me, except for the engine, and engine compartment which are Verlinden AM resin. The rest was cast from molds I made from my patterns.

Build: Yeah, I left a lot out... there's quite a bit of wiring that's been 'economized' on it. Still not done 'plumbing' the engine compartment yet. Have to put in the fire supression system, exhaust pipes, air pipes, and upper shrouds. I'll probably use the Tamiya air cleaners for this kit and this kit's on the Tamiya later on.

Larry Dunn: There were a lot of M4A1's in North Africa without the direct vision slots. There's a great photo of one in Hunnicutt's book at the depot with all sorts of notations from maintenance chalked on its hull such as 'Transmission oil full' etc.

Murray, the sand shields were seperate from that front fender piece. I can't remember where they bolted (I think at the inner side by the nose and along the hull sides at the bases of the sponsons...), but they could be removed and the small front fender would stay in place, so the seam is fine.

Great Builds All!!

Ron

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poniatowski Larry Dunn: There were a lot of M4A1's in North Africa without the direct vision slots. There's a great photo of one in Hunnicutt's book at the depot with all sorts of notations from maintenance chalked on its hull such as 'Transmission oil full' etc.

Thanks Ron -- Robert had said as much many pages back (wish I'd bought that Hunnicutt book ten years ago!), but the kit maker's comments threw me for a loop. He may have meant that a certain earlier kind of Sherman was more typical in Tunisia earlier in the campaign.

Anyway, it looks real nice so far and I am excited about getting back to it tonight to inhale more resin dust to go along with the Methanol I inhaled over the weekend.

Sherm/Ron - Thanks for the help (and the pics). I'm getting VERY close to paint!! And then I'm going to try out Domi's (djmodels1999) weathering techniques he posted several weeks ago!!

BTW, that firefly looks awesome! Can't wait to see it done!

Murray

Ron and Robert, both of you have done such superb jobs. My hats off to both of you! Relly look great.

Robert, Ron what can I say that hasn't already been said. Your Shermans L ook Great.

hi, everyone !
i'm just checking in with a progress report on my m32...

my base kit is italeri 1/72 Sherman M4

since the vehicle is at least partially open topped, i've been working on
a scratchbuilt interior.... cut most of the parts but had to get around 2
painting & assembling the engine & drivetrain first...
now that's done, & i've put in some seats up front, some bits & pieces
for controls & instrument panels & the like... (sheet & strip styrene, brass strip)
the side stowage bins in the fighting (towing?) compartment r in...

most of this detail is representational since it won't b seen 2 clearly
but it should look better than an empty hull !

no pix yet, my apologies again...
just wanted 2 let folks know i wasn't slacking !

(between Ron P. & Mike (renarts), i've really been inspired 2 work on the inside
of this one ! thanks, guys !!! )

but now i've got 2 get back 2 the a-frames & misc.
small fittings on the outside... not 2 mention the turret...

Robert: ur Firefly is looking great ! & thanx again 4 the pix !

when is the official end date 4 this build again ? i'm behind the ...

frosty

Oh,I have a very good question for you all.Since I am going to be home for awhile should I start on my firefly and add it to the build?Digger

Digger - What happened, health wise, hope all is well !!!!
If you want to take better pics and forward them to me, fire away, I'll upgrade when I recieve them. And if you want to build a Firefly, then by all means add it to the group. Let me know and I'll add a new page for it.

Larry - methanol and resin dust ..... mmmmmm .... doesn't that sound tasty

Frosty - March 15 is the "official" end date ..... lots of time.

Robert you got mail
Digger

Robert, The firefly is looking very nice.
mark956

Ron and Robert...excellent.

Nice jobs on them sherms guys , very impressive for sure ! That PE stuff sure kicks it up a notch if you can handle the shear frustration of its construction , fiddly little critters that they are !

Shermanfreak, Great job!!!! You handled the kit very well.. I'm looking forward to seeing it OD'd...

Well hell, this explains why I keep getting beat out on trying to buy the old version of the Tamiya M4a3 kit for a reasonable price. Everybody and their brother is on a mega group build. Have fun guys, I'm too wrapped up in the Abrams and the Atlantic warship campaigns on the Armorama club net to even attempt to enter this one even if I can get the kit.

Maybe next time jdeltaarrow.

Digger, seriously what happened, are you all right? (obviously you are if you are back at the forum and building models! ) Get well soon.

I have started my M10. I've got the interior assembled and painted and have got the bolts on to the hull. Wow, those things were tiny, probably the same size, if not smaller than the thickness of a paper clip. I've recieved my figs and will be getting after market suff soon. So far everyones models have been really great! I can't wait to see everbody's when their done!

jdeltaarrow - probably would have been a great time to have shares on the Sherman molds that the manufacturers have.

Robert fine work not that we expect less from you

Ron you are doing some great work with your interior. Are the pictures of the uniforms from your own collection?

A couple of questions for you all:
Did the late M4A3(75) (re: Tamiya - Winter Breakthrough model) have engine access cover stops? I noticed the hinges on mine are different from the ref. pics I have.

Also - anyone have any decent pics of the inside of the split-style commander's hatch?


My progress:
I'm too anal - - I know.
I removed the bogies to add bolt detail and bolt holes. I still need to spend some time on the periscope guards (I keep putting that off) and the .50 cal. mount (PE). Other than that, I'm finally about ready to paint and weather.

Everybody that has posted pics - excellent looking stuff!

RAF120, Yup, from my collection. The camera darkened them a shade or so, but the color isn't too bad. The tanker coveralls (HBT's) are fairly new and not too faded, but the bibs have had a lot of use and are the right color for a 'broken in' uniform item. Most figure painters make them too light... as if I can talk about figure painting!

gnsnow, my reference photos show the cover stops on most, but not all of the 75mm wet Shermans (including 76mm and E8's) I've photo'd and a few dry stowed. I'd say it's your call.... but that's just my opinion!

I'll see what I have regarding the TC's hatch, but it's pretty plain... just a black foam rubber pad around the ring (which usually fell off pretty quickly) and a latch on one of the hatches... periscope mount on the other.. Like I said, I'll see what I have. Maybe somebody can post a photo sooner than I.

Ron

Any word on Ron's site yet?

I got the hull halves glued together and the nose glued on. I seemed to have a lot of alignment problems with the nose. I just wasn't sure exactly how itfit up against the hull. I think I got it in there, but then the strip that runs across the nose between it and the hull left some pretty good gaps. I think I got it all aligned pretty well. Getting there slowly.

A bunch of my family has been sick this week, including me, and I haven't done a whole lot of anything. I've got two kids and my wife that can barely move around. I'm not much better. Hopefully, it will be over soon! Don't get what ever this is! Terrible headaches, vomiting, exhausted, dizzyness (fun for those small parts!! lol).

You guys all have a great rest of the week.

I have the urge to dirty up some bogies tonight. Got the soil pulverized and microwaved (kill those little critters), some acrylic paste and tools... ready to spread MUD!

Ron.

gnsnow, I'll take a look for TC hatch photos for y'all. (If someone else has some good ones, post them! It won't hurt my feelings)

Need some help in the camo dept.Started my Firefly today and need some advice on the colors used by Britton.1st ? is did they use the two tone green camo during wwll or just the medium green?#2 any pictures on the Firefly?Mine are very breif and one has it with the German cross on it.Thanks Digger
P.S.does any of you all have pics with a forging kit on?

Digger, don't know if this will help. I was assured at my LHS that the Brits used Bronze Green on their Fireflies, and that Humbrol Bronze Green is a dead on match. I'll have to check the number when I get home.

Don't know anything about a two tone camo. Sorry.

Digger - for your Firelfy either Bronze Green like Bill has mentioned or you can use O.D. for it to. I don't remember running across any Firelfies with a camo pattern.
Pics in your mail box.

Picture Hosting

Ok ... it seems that Ron's site is still down. So I will host Sherman Family Group Build progress pics too. Just e-mail them to me at ShermanGroup@shaw.ca.
I'll get them hosted and posted for you until Ron's site is back in the picture.

Please try to send them in jpg format as these will not overload the mailbox. Anyone needing software to change graphical formats from bmp to jpg, I suggest you download Irfanview .... it's a free download and easy to use. Available from here
http://www.irfanview.com/

RON'S SITE IS BACK UP!!!!!!

Here's a pic of my Firefly as of a couple of days ago.

[image]http://rongeorge.com/albums/upload/Firefly_Vc_3_Quarter_Rear.sized.jpg[/image]

Digger, The Humbrol color I'm using on my Firefly is #75 Bronze Green.

Good luck

Bill