Build Complete #9 Cyber-Hobby Orange Box Sherman M4A4 75mm WIP

Absolutely Bill that sounds like a great approach I will log it and post it.

Peace!

Hey Edmund, 

I had an idea about using putty as weld seams, I think I came up with it but may have just read it somewhere, if that's the case I apologize, I have never even tried it yet anyway:

Use some masking or electrical tape to make a mask leaving only the weld area exposed, then lay down your putty, then skim it so it's the correct depth, then, before it sets up, but after it starts to get thick, pull the tape.

Maybe you could be a guinea pig?

Bill   

Thanks Phil for answering Utoshita's question very accurately I might add.  You helped me with my T-34 as well as this kit so thank you squared my friend. 

hughes2682 wrote:

Phil-H, You are correct in regards to the symmetrical bogie. Ed, Sorry about the surgery you had to perform on the Sherm. Dragon is renowned for these sorts of boo-boo's in their instructions. Don't get me wrong. Their kits can build up into some very nice pieces. But the instructions can make you want to grab an oaken plank and start chanting "mea culpa" and thwacking your head with it. Ask me how I know. In all it is coming along nicely. Cheers Dave

Cheers Dave!  Another pet peeve I have is why don't they call out the actual part name as well as the spruce designation it would be very helpful, but I guess that's why we have internet connections for the 1-2 hours of research to mount one part!

You are doing a great job getting around the DML fubar instruction syndrome. Nice detail work.

Rounds Complete!!

Schnobs wrote:

Yes they are and I beleive strongly that the same guy who writes the assembly instuctions for DML moonlights at Ikea.

I've yet to build a single DML kit that didn't have at least 1 error in the instructions somewhere. Sometimes the error is just a simple mis-numbering of a part (i.e. B58 when there is no B58 on the sprues)...sometimes it's much more serious as the case here where parts are reversed or not called out at all. I'll never forget the gold standard of errors...the Luftwaffe version of the 251/17...there was an error in EVERY SINGLE step with some steps committing multiple fouls along the way.  

Utoshita wrote:

Can you please enlighten me, what are the 4 holes you have drilled out in the boogies? Again, please excuse my ignorance With Kind Regards Utoshita

If I recall correctly, the central "body" of the bogie is symmetrical and can be used on either side of the vehicle. However, to do so requires that the "arm" supporting the return roller and the skid plate be mounted on the opposite side. The four bolt holes facilitate the "reversed" mounting of the return roller arm.

Schnobs wrote:

... Hey Dave, No they are the bogies that came with the kit. I did my best to keep everything workable which they are and I drilled the requisite four mounting holes in the front face and used Vallyo plastic putty on the seams. ...

This is going to be a very interesting link to follow
Looking Great!

Can you please enlighten me, what are the 4 holes you have drilled out in the boogies?
Again, please excuse my ignorance

With Kind Regards
Utoshita

Thanks Bill I have a lot ot learn about Shermans that's for sure!

I picked up some .015 x .020 Evergreen strip tonight to build up the inset weld seams that I am goign to to tackle tomorrow after I strip teh other side of bolt heads.

I might use Milliput instead to build up the weld seams I will have to play aroudn a little bit.

I wasn't sweating but I thought about swearing but I was too busy with surgery to worry about it.  I got both parts off without damaging the part or the model the Model Gods were good to me today!

Oh BTW just read the Ivan figure post looks great Bill!

Yes they are and I beleive strongly that the same guy who writes the assembly instuctions for DML moonlights at Ikea.

Thanks again guys!

Hi Edmund, looking mighty fine, mighty accurate, too.

I see what you mean now, and yes, on the M4A3 I did a couple months ago, That part was a PE addition from the Aber PE set, and it was already like you have converted yours, I didn't even know what it was!  You conversion looks every bit the part.

Document all these corrections for us< I am certain i WILL do another Sherman, and this stuff is literally gold.

You are making it look easy, my friend.  I know it isn't, but you sure make it look good. 

Without the head banging emoticons, I would swear you aren't sweating yet.

Bill

Looking much better Edmund.

Dragon instructions are notorious for errors, omissions and leaving bits in when they shouldn't be when kits are adapted to create different versions based on the same basic kit.

If I recall correctly there was one Dragon Sherman kit where the instructions omitted the "mounting plates" for the suspension units completely.

Sorry forgot to show the results of removing the bolt heas on one side and drillign out the holes in order to remove the seam.

Thanks again Roy and Phil here is the fix,

Phil_H wrote:

Hi Edmund, I'm afraid Roy is correct. The transposition of the parts means that they are also inverted as currently mounted. The "block" (for want of a better decription) part of the idler mount (seen in your rear-view pic) should form a continuous line with the adjuster "block" (mounted on the rear plate) as it is, in reality, one piece. See this pic for what the real thing looks like: http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/robert_de_craecker/m4a4_sherman_vc_17pdr/images/m4a4_sherman_vc_17pdr_05_of_14.jpg

Thanks Roy & Phil for the heads up I appreciate it!

Hi Edmund,

I'm afraid Roy is correct. The transposition of the parts means that they are also inverted as currently mounted.

The "block" (for want of a better decription) part of the idler mount (seen in your rear-view pic) should form a continuous line with the adjuster "block" (mounted on the rear plate) as it shares the same centre-line (the tensioner "bolt" passes through the centre of both parts).) See this pic for what the real thing looks like: http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/robert_de_craecker/m4a4_sherman_vc_17pdr/images/m4a4_sherman_vc_17pdr_05_of_14.jpg

T26E4 wrote:

schnobs: you've reversed the idler wheel mounts.  The right one is glued to the left side,the left one is glued on the right side.  Maybe gently pry them off?

Are you sure?  I followed step 3 in the pic below exactly. Are the assembly instructions incorrect?

Thanks Orion! I had never put any bogies together before so it took a minute for me to figure out what had to be glued and what not to glue to keep free range of movement.  They are actually very zen!

Citadelgrad87 wrote:

It's funny how complex Sheman's really are, isn't it?   I remember getting to this stage on mine and thinking WOW--that's a pretty complex running gear, what a lot of parts. Looks to be right on track, you conquored that fairly nasty seam on the front, I see. Looking over your shoulder, in a good way. Oh, I finally figured out that the egg I keep asking yuo about is the silly putty! Great work, I will talk to you sooon. Bill

Thanks for dropping in as usual Bill!  Yes the build has been more complicated than I had anticipated and also as we talked about on the phone the "corrections" I am going to have to make to the DML kit to make it accurate will be quite time consuming.

wing_nut wrote:

I will be watching with interest since I have a Sherman in the pile.  I know that is not much info... a Sherman in the pile... so many letters and numbers.  M's, A's, 4's 1's and isn't it a crime in some states to forget all the V's and S's? Your progress looks great.  Maybe the mystique about the SHERMAN is all in my head. The bogies do look like an odd motorcycle assembly line though.

Hey Marc,

That's what I though until the third phone call to my Sherman Expert last night!

I did manage to get the rear armor piece completed and mounted the bogies,

The mystique began today when I was infroemd by my Sherman Expert that the seam and bolt heads on the upper hull had to go and be replaced by drilled holes becasue they were for the sand gaurds that were removed for Normandy.  What that means is that each bolt head will be scraped off and then I will drill a hole for each one and then scrape the remaining seam.  Tere are 24 bolts on each side!

The next bit of good news is that the weld seams on the upper hull are inset and they need to be built up. I will need to run evergreen strips in each weld seam and then apply glue and use my knife to make weld seams.  If any one knows a good toot on how to do this please let me know but it seems pretty straight forward.

I was also told that if I had bought a Tasca these "improvements" would not have been necessary!

This is fun right?

I will be watching with interest since I have a Sherman in the pile.  I know that is not much info... a Sherman in the pile... so many letters and numbers.  M's, A's, 4's 1's and isn't it a crime in some states to forget all the V's and S's?

Your progress looks great.  Maybe the mystique about the SHERMAN is all in my head.

The bogies do look like an odd motorcycle assembly line though.

It's funny how complex Sheman's really are, isn't it?   I remember getting to this stage on mine and thinking WOW--that's a pretty complex running gear, what a lot of parts.

Looks to be right on track, you conquored that fairly nasty seam on the front, I see.

Looking over your shoulder, in a good way.

Oh, I finally figured out that the egg I keep asking yuo about is the silly putty!

Great work, I will talk to you sooon.

Bill

Looks realy good. i hate putting bogies together but yours turned out good

Schnobs wrote:

Eric now I am really confused what is a Dawg?  I assume you are probally talking about sports right? I will let the whole world on a little secret I don't watch other men excercise!  I have ran Marathons for the US Military, boxed golden gloves for five years, ran cross-country and track but have never I repeat never watched a full baseball, football, golf whatever game in my life!  I would rather watch paint dry!  I have done some curling as well great sport!  LOL! I think it had to do with the fact that my Dad never was into it and I spent my youth hunting and fishing from sun up to sun down.  Also there were no professional teams in North Dakota but there was a lot of Whitetail!!   I am talking about deer for you dirty minded city folks. It catches guys by suprise whan my eyes glaze over when they start spouting meaningless "to me" sports statistics and I start quoting "They call Me Ishmael" and other literary quotes until they go away! I have gone to a few professional baseball games but I was comotose with boredom so I started visting with the people around me and made friends with them.  It's the most grass I had ever seen without cows on it at that time in my life. I don't even know the sports rules other than boxing anyway and there isn't a lot of "rules" with weight lifting and running.  I have read "War & Peace" three times awesoem book by the way. Long story short I don't know what a Duck is honestly!

No kidding? I thought my son was the only other person not into sports. Ducks stand for the University of Oregon Ducks and Dawgs is Oregon slang for Huskies or University of Washington Huskies. Everett being close to Seattle, I thought you might be a U of W fan. Anyways, we used to have a bitter rivalry in football, but it's been stale the past few years, because the Huskies stunk.

Okay, sorry to go OT.

wbill76 wrote:

Off to a good start Edmund, welcome to the world of Shermies!

Thansk Bill I am truely off on the edge of my knowledge on this one. Let me tell you all I know about Sherman M4A4's.....................................................................................................

I am done!

terry35 wrote:

Goodluck on this one Edmund, I'm sure it will be up to your usual standards. Terry.

Thanks Terry I am going to do my best not to embarras the Canadian Folks!

hughes2682 wrote:

Ed, I thought the same thing about Sherman bogies after building my first Sherman after a string of German armor. That came back to bite me in the end rather quickly. I failed to notice but, are you using Tasca bogies? If not check them out for your next Sherman. They are exquisite. Looking forward to seeing the progress of this one. Cheers Dave P.S. You are not alone in the glazing of the eyes in regards to sports stats. Sorry about typos. First day off from working nights, and too little sleep in too many days

Hey Dave,

No they are the bogies that came with the kit. I did my best to keep everything workable which they are and I drilled the requisite four mounting holes in the front face and used Vallyo plastic putty on the seams.

Goodluck on this one Edmund, I'm sure it will be up to your usual standards.

Terry.

model maniac 96 wrote:

Wow, that is coming along very nice so far, I like the look of that AM resin tanker! Thanks, Jim

Thanks Jim I really enjoyed building up the bogies it's definately a change from German armor and it's a pretty cool part.

He is an Ultracast Commonwealth figure.  Great company and great products!