Semper Fi War in the Pacific

Heres the pics.

Turret and gun:

There was a small gap between the lowe and upper turret pieces, full with super glue and sanded.

Hull:

The suspension and wheels Ive decided to go with:

Back of the tank:

Picture of some things together but not glued:

Rob , i gree that the rear view is not as noticeable . If the front bumper bothers me i could hack it off and straighten it .

Everthing got a coat of O.D. last night .It took a while to mask off all of the finished detail under the hood .

WW2 - Does sound like you have a lot done.....look forward to your pictures.

CARL - Don't think you'll have much trouble covering that.  The rear is not really that noticeable at all.  Can see what your talking about in the front but going with the rope or gear on front should cover things up.  Think you are looking good.

DEATTILIO - Nice getting those kits at such a good price   Very interesting with the LVTP7 road wheels.  I had always thought they where all aluminum.  Did you say when they changed to steel.  I only worked around them in the early 90's.  What were these?  I know, not the best picture and it got worse trying to blow it up.

Deafpanzer, the road wheels turn to “cheetos” very quickly.  Figure these were designed for the Army’s Bradley and made of steel, which was never intended to operate in the oceans where the AAV regularly plies.  The AAV’s pre-RAM/RS road wheels were made of aluminum, so rust was never an issue — on the wheels anyway.  The design of the Bradley road wheels lend themselves to rusting.  There is a large lip on the road wheels, not accurately rendered in any of the kits or AM road wheels I have come across as of yet.  This lip traps dirt and sand in the road wheel and as the vehicle is tracking along the inside of those road wheels are essentially being sand blasted, which is followed by a dunk in the ocean or boat basin where the salt water rests in the road wheels until it evaporates while sitting on the ramp.  Salt water then works its magic on the bare steel.

Below are a couple newer photos of AAVs.  The rusty road wheels are the norm on the ramp and the bottom picture helps show the lip of the road wheels and how sand and salt water pool.

Well i aint fixing it . Not now .

 I was so busy detailing the engine compartment that i overlooked getting a few things straight . To late now . I'll think about covering the crookedness with some stowage in the rear of the jeep and a rope raped arounf the bumper .

Yes, I have a camera. I will post some pictures today sometime.

Deattilo- Nice kitty!  Too bad I am allergic to cats.  Is that rust I am seeing in the picture?

If so, jeez those wheels must rust pretty quickly? 

Rob- Jeez, six kits for Christmas and a new airbrush.  Santa must love you so much!  I was leaning between M4A2 and Neubau-Fahr as they both were on big sale at Sprue Brother.  But I went for M4A2... I figured I need more American armor because currently my stash is 90% German.

Carl- At least you got more pets for Christmas instead... they love you back more that way. 

Happy New Year guys!

WW2 , have you got a camera ? It would help tp post some pics of your build . Sounds like you are doing well on the research

Detail , ypou gpt a great deal . I've noticed Hobby Boss sometimes has a problem in their research dept . but that happens with most manufactureres of kits . Good idea on using the water in the airbrush .Cats only seem to understand physical results to their actions . Cat looks comfy ............it'd be a good time to wake it up with a blast of air n water ..........just satin He he

Bill , i agree that dogs rule ,but did you see the size of Details cat ?!

I have only laid out the parts and scribbled parts needed either through modification, cannibalizing another kit or fabrication to build "MARDI GRAS."  I believe I have most of the work figured out and will start the cutting, drilling and sanding mid-January.

I am in the final class towards my BA, so that is aggravatingly taking precedence over time at the hobby desk.  I also am working on awards for several Marines executing orders early next year; should be the final ones from my pen before my own retirement.

I did take advantage of Squadron’s sales this month and picked-up a couple more AmTracs – Hobby Boss’ LVTP-7 and AAVP-7A1 RAM/RS w/EAAK.  I had been contemplating this for some time but was unwilling to surrender the $70 per kit.  I couldn’t pass on $24 per though!  I will be kit-bashing them into a hybrid P7 that was at AVTB until 1997.  It was an LVTP7 with EAAK and RAM/RS suspension, along with several other quirks found on either the P7 or P7A1 variants.  Unfortunately I will not be able to open her up the way I wanted as Hobby Boss sort of short-sheeted this deal and did not do their research on an LVTP7’s interior and simply slapped in the same P7A1 interior found on their other kits.

My cat stays away from my kits; he had a couple run-ins with the airbrush – filled with water that he has not forgotten.  After verbal directions failed, air and water on his paws worked wonders.  The airbrush sits on the hobby desk and serves as an excellent deterrent.  If that fails a back-up is to wear him out until sleep away from the kits occurs.

PANZERWAFFE

WW2PSYCHO - There were many different road wheels for the Sherman's throughout  it's life.  Not sure of any details of when or what wheels were used?  You can try asking over in the armor forum.  There are many that know about these M4's over there.  Hard to tell from the real picture but it looks to me that vehicle has the open spoked wheels and solid idler?  What options come with your kit?

In the picture many things may not be present because of the offload (and stowage while on the LST) of the tank.  Once on land many things would have been mounted or rearranged.

The kit does come wih different road wheel options. Im going to go with the open spoked wheels.

A lot is done on the sherman. Turret complete except the anteana, and im working on the road wheels and suspension. Im thinking of getting some eduard masks for the road wheels, Going to try something in the book I got. The guy that wrote the articles uses an Army Helo Drab for the rubber on the road wheels, Im guessing its so dark that its not quite black but  close to it.

Carl,,    great looking group there.       (nothing against cats) but,,,   dogs rule!

Rob,,    thanks and will do.            Nice that you will have your wife and daughter both home soon....               And, to answer the glue-Q,,,,   yes, I have done some work.      Verrrrrrry little however. I did a little chassis work and am still contemplating adding an engine.   Carl is paving the way for me for sure. He is already setting the bar pretty high.        I hope to get more into this GB as I finish up the Blitz pz I.

Here's my sons dog , she's border collie + unknown breed , about 9 yrs old .

Here's all of them .My rotweiller mix and the red retriever pup .

Not enough to show pics of yet but have got 1 sponson, road wheels and sponson parts cleaned and ready to assemble.  It has nice fit and some fine detail but you can tell it was a Italeri mold.  Will have pics by this weekend if not sooner.  Has anyone else put any glue on yet?  I know Carl has anyone else?

BILL - I look forward to your full involvement but do take your time on your Pz I   The girls (wife, daughter) are very good to me.  I'm lucky I have them.  Have to pick one of them up tomorrow from the airport the other on Sunday.  Will have them both back very soon.

Rob,,,    hopefully I will be in this GB 100% soon as well.....  (your carrier was / is superb).                          And,,  very nice assortment of goodies.!!....        Santa is a good guy (or gal), as the case may be.

Carl,,        the jeep is looking good,,,  You are reconnoitering my future efforts, and it is appreciated greatly!   ....       I also am with you on the skepticism on having a cat near my workbench....  dangerous to say the least.       Hope he behaves his fuzzy self.        Let's see some pics of the new pooches too!

Man o man ! I thought Andy was bad enough but you put it over the top Rob ..............sounds like you got everything except for the kitchen sink ! I'm not jealouse ........well................ maybe a little ............

Well it was nice of ya to give him a towel.  Looks pretty dangerous around the model boxes.  Go figure....3 dogs that are scared of 1 cat.

Well I don't want to brag especially after reading your post over in the Pz III GB but since you asked....This must have been the best score of presents for a single Christmas ever!

Guess should add the new airbrush in there also.  I had only asked for some update sets for the LAV-4, didn't get any of those but I'm not complaining  Had also got some Tamiya masking tape, 100 pack of #11 blades, couple bottles of paint, and a miniature chisel set for stocking stuffer.  Did not think I was that good this last year.

He was looking at me until he saw the camera ..................................

I dont know how the towel and old shirt got up there ...........................

Rob , looking forward to you starting your build . Did your M4A2 PTO arrive yet ?

That cat lives in the basement where my work bench is . Right now he has taken up residence on top of my stash of models ...................... Oh , and all 3 dogs are affraid of him ! Typical cat attitude .................

WW2PSYCHO - There were many different road wheels for the Sherman's throughout  it's life.  Not sure of any details of when or what wheels were used?  You can try asking over in the armor forum.  There are many that know about these M4's over there.  Hard to tell from the real picture but it looks to me that vehicle has the open spoked wheels and solid idler?  What options come with your kit?

In the picture many things may not be present because of the offload (and stowage while on the LST) of the tank.  Once on land many things would have been mounted or rearranged.

CARL - Undercarriage looks great!  Just keep the 3 dogs in the hobby room and maybe that will make the cat think twice?

It was good to hear everyone made it over there for the holidays

OK, have finished my other project so I am now fully engaged in this build.  Breaking out sprue as I write and will be going over my plan of attack for this build.  Hope to have some kind of update in next couple of days.

Any booby trap would probably scare the cat and cause it to do further damage ............... I'll see how it goes but my expeience with cats is that they are nosey and dont mix well with model components .

Carl- Jeep looking good!  Just set up booby traps on your workbench... it should keep the cat off for a very long time.

Here,s a small update . Weathering the underside of this jeep is all i accomplished in the last week . Been busy with the family but everyone headed home today . I gained a couple more pets............ my sons dog and cat so now we have 3 dogs and a cat . As long as the cat stays out of my hobby stuff on my workbench he and i can co - habbitate . 

Im trying to match the instruction options with the picture. From the little that is visible I can tell that there is no extra armor on the sides or turret, no .50 machine gun. The road wheels dont match the option with the same turret as in the instructions, did this vary a lot?

Im going with this tank hasent seen action before as its being off loaded so some things will be on my tank that arent on the one on the 3rd page. I just dont see why some of them arent on here to begin with.

ANDY - Gad you and the family had a good time on vacation and that you are back in time for Christmas   Hope you have a good one.

PSYCHO - Merry Christmas.

Good to hear that you have started up   I would guess the modeler used some imagination to fill in any empty gaps for that one on page 3.  Look forward to your updates.

Merry Christmas to all!

Started the sherman, after looking through the instructions and the photo I found plus the model that was shown on page 3, Im going to have to do some guessing on whats correct and what isnt. The picture of the model doesnt show any extra armor and I cant tell in the origonal picture because its the wrong side of the tank. Not sure where the guy that built the model found his references but I couldnt find any.

Hey guys!!!  Merry Christmas everybody!  Hope you are having a great day. My family and I are at the airport now returning home just in time to open some presents.  One thing I am going to miss... The warmer weather here. :-(

BILL - Nice to here you are starting with the foreplay with your jeep.  Looking forward too it.

CARL - That does sound like a great Christmas.  Great that all of you can spend the time together

Hope all of you guys have a Merry Christmas

Thanks Bill and a Merry Christmas to you and our fellow modelers ,

Carl,,   I hear that. I am getting small dinks completed on the Jeep..  no leaps and bounds for sure. Mulling over a few different ideas for it.

Hope you all have a great Christmas!