ARMOR - Sherman Family Group Build

Ok guys, as I wind down my Panther I begin to think about the (abbreviated) time I have to build my early M4! Question -- anyone out there recall who the guy is that makes all those apparently very nice resin tread sets for Shermans? I need the early rubber ones, and Friuli doesn't make them. These are apparently made by a small outfit -- I think a guy in the Mid-west. They are supposed to be really terrific stuff, and quite easy to assemble.

Throw me a bone here people (said in best Martin Short impersonation)!

well got a good bit done today. got all the lower sup, and bogie wheels painted and put on. but did have a magor set back. i picked up the m7 with clumsy fingers today and droped it. the foward gun blast sheiled around the gun all came out and had to be reglued still havent got one pice back on yet. other than that its break time. i wil try to do a little more tonight. plus with what i have stated in my eariler post this hanst been a easy build but i do think it will turn out all ok.

Claymore

If I recall correctly, the 105mm has the same turret basket as the 75mm dry tanks. Now, LET ME CHECK on this before I put this in stone! I'm assuming from what Robert wrote that you're (Claymore) not doing the E8 suspension... but the Vertical Vollute Sprung type.

I'm going from my memory here. For instance, I remember the Jumbo as having wet stowage and a full turret floor (similar in appearance to an M48's ... flat, round, with a lip around its edges. So, I'll get back to you on M4 105mm's if I can find anything.

Ron

Claymore - I have the AFV workable suspension here and was just looking at it. It is the mid production suspension without the upswept return roller arms arms. A real quick glance through my reference pics and all I see are the upswept variety that come with the Tamiya kit. Of course when it comes to Shermans, that doesn't mean much all the time.
As far as detail sets go, there are a few PE sets that can be used. Royal, Aber, and Eduard all make sets for the M4A3. What I usually do now is just get the Eduard zoom sets that are only the brush guards. I've found that I'm tossing too much of the full sets in the parts box.
Interiors for the M4A3 hull are available from Commanders Series Models, but a little scratchbuilding willl give you much the same thing. Nothing that I can find for the 105 turret.
Another option (at least for the hull) would be to use the interior parts from the Academy M10 series kits or even from the Italeri Priest / Kangaroo kits. These would give you the basics under the driver's and co-driver's hatches withough huge expense. A little detail under the hatches and you're on a roll.
Commanders site - http://www.commanderseries.com/armor.htm
Royal is available at - http://www.chesapeakemodels.com/

QUOTE: Originally posted by M1abramsRules another interesting thing that I noticed, it said that the the other TD had a 30 cal. so I'm assuming that the other would have as well. that wasn't too common, was it?

Actually yes. Many TD crews modified their tanks with extra 30 and 50 cals in the front and back of the turret. Usually they just added one to the front, and left the supplied 50 on the back.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Frosty - did you get all 3 batches of the pics? Glad I could help.

Robert:
i sure did !
thanx 4 all of ur help, now if i don't get it rite,
it'll b nobody's fault but mine !

thanks again !!!

frosty

Has anyone used AFV's working SUSPENSION? Looks right for the M4A3 (105) and I am quite tempted - maybe try their tracks too.
Also: Are there detail sets avaliable for this kit (Tamiya) or doesnt it need them? I can't find much of anything.

* EDIT *I would also like a basic interior to do the hatches open - I have a killer dio idea!

C'mon Robert and Tim! They don't want you to buy an upgrade, they want you to buy a new system! (then another and another and another...).

Rpm

Frosty - did you get all 3 batches of the pics? Glad I could help.


Tim - one would think !!!

Well I am back. I had computer problems and could not log on for a couple of days. Latch: Thanks for posting the progress pictures of your work so far, looking great.
Mike: Thanks for the information. I loved the hatch picture.
mark956

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Tim - tough break on the software. What make of camera is it ?

It's an RCA CDS 1005. You'd think with an RCA that an update would be available

Robert:
thanks ever so much 4 the pix !
i'm going 2 b very busy trying 2 get this one rite...
am i the only 1 doing the M32 ?
(oh, no... the pressure !)

frosty

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poniatowski JoAnne has found a camo scheme she likes for her M4A3. One similar to Steve Preston's PTO (Pacific Theater of Operations) USMC sherman. She's decided to do tank number three two, instead of three one (since that was her old man's tank number). So although she has yet to cut a sprue or trim a mold line, she's getting her ideas in hand and getting ready to go! Ron

Yay, JoAnne is building a sherm 2 !
ideas in hand is much of the battle, i think...
i probably spend more time figuring out how i'm gonna do something than it takes 2
do it once i've got it figured out !
who was it that said "if i had 7 hours to cut down a tree, i would spend 4 of them sharpening the axe." ?

frosty

here's another link on Audie murphy

http://www.audiemurphy.com/welcome.htm

here's the original link from the first one. nice site on US TDs
http://www.lakemartin.net/~cfrench/

M32 ARV progress report:

i have managed 2 resist the temptation 2 build a Jackson !
i am doing the italeri M4 in 1/72 as the recovery vehicle variant...

put the lower hull 'tub' together

started work on the tubular a-frame for the towing / lifting rig...
trying 2 decide whether 2 make it moveable or just fixed

looks like i'm gonna b scratchbuilding a lot of little parts
over the next few weeks...!

hope ur all enjoying ur builds so far !

frosty

cool story on that link..thanks for sharing...

another interesting thing that I noticed, it said that the the other TD had a 30 cal. so I'm assuming that the other would have as well. that wasn't too common, was it?

well here's the link for what I want to replicate with my M10
http://www.lakemartin.net/~cfrench/audie_murphys_one.htm
no dio, just the TD as sescribed. I thought about a dio but I thought I can do enough detail on the TD to make enough of an impact. ie- Audie himself, his carbine, field telly, spent ammo, empty cartridge boxes lying on it.

but the problem is damage. I really don't kow what to do about that. i know it was on fire, so I'll have some smoke coming from open hatches I guess. It says that the shell that knocked it out killed the commander and the gunner, so that means it hit the turret. so does that mean it was the turret that was on fire? or what?

what did you find out in your research Trevor?

also, where can I find a field telephone?

JoAnne has found a camo scheme she likes for her M4A3. One similar to Steve Preston's PTO (Pacific Theater of Operations) USMC sherman. She's decided to do tank number three two, instead of three one (since that was her old man's tank number). So although she has yet to cut a sprue or trim a mold line, she's getting her ideas in hand and getting ready to go!

Ron

PS, we're still trying to get here onto the site. The problems encountered when you have to have all sorts of email addresses and work out of two households.

Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, MIKE. cool site. I wonder how much those dimensions might vary from foundry to foundry.. not much I'd 'spect.

While we're at it. How 'bout foundry marks? Here's a site I've posted before http://web.inter.nl.net/users/spoelstra/g104/foundry.htm
it's great for research also.

Ron.

Missing a couple of days is never a good idea. So many posts to read! Mike (Renarts), I'm really VERY impressed by that spring stuff..!

No much to report on my 1/72 Ambutank. At this stage it's still a M4A1. The Italeri kit is good but there are a number of annoying sink marks on the sides of the hull, that I had to fill in with Milliput before going anywhere further... I'll post a pic tonight.

Finals start tomarrow eccch! After that there is one more model to build for my project (finished a 1/700 Hornet, 1/48 V-1, and have a 1/72 Me-262 left). After that, I am free to start. Finally!!!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by renarts For those playing the part of the bogey man...... http://mmcalc.tripod.com/Shermans/VVS/bogey.html Mike

Love the site Mike!

QUOTE: Originally posted by boybuddho Nice info....Renarts.... I spent the weekend painting the bogies the hard way ....I cut up plastc q-tips and stuck them in a piece of foam...should learn to use a template mask and airbrush. Dan

Or a Sharpie !!!

Nice info....Renarts....

I spent the weekend painting the bogies the hard way ....I cut up plastc q-tips and stuck them in a piece of foam...should learn to use a template mask and airbrush.

Dan

I purposely didn't tell you about this site Mike ...... knowing what it would do to you.

For those playing the part of the bogey man......

http://mmcalc.tripod.com/Shermans/VVS/bogey.html

Mike

Geuss I better get mine off the shelf! Still on the Panther tho'

Dwight just make sure you have somthing for her too and I'm think I'll go out on a limb here and say it souldn't be somthing from the LHS.

Sherm: Thanks for the advice. I'll be heading down to the LHS this lunchtime for some paints. I just hope that I won't come back with a kit or I am doomed. Promised my wife not get another one until this Shermie and the M1A2 and the Leopard2 are completed.

Hmmmmmm. I wonder how deep the trouble I will be into if I break that promise?

He-he-he.