Thanks, all. I've been traveling and away from the web (by choice, keeps me in vacation mode) so please excuse my late response.

I have decided to do at least one IDF What-if for every two or three "real" builds for the next few months, just to keep it fun. Others may not be so involved as this one, but hopefully at least as fun.

OMG, the things you must see in your dreams to come up with that!  There are pills for that you know.

But in the mean time... sweet.

You did good job, Thanks for sharing

WOW! Now that's just bada@@!!!!!

Nice!!! That thing looks really awesome, like something you'd see the main character driving in some over-the-top action flick! And even though the tank is kind of fiction, the weathering and finish make it real in my mind. A+

Thanks, Bill. I probably had more fun than I should have.....

It looks like you had fun with it and that's what counts the most! Nice job on the outcome...it's definitely an attention-grabber.

Nuthin' but fun! My goal was to refresh, and I think I was successful. I have a TigerB to do for a GB, starting in Sept, and I'm on vacation for the next couple of weeks, so I should be really ready to get back at it.

Thanks, all.

Wow,that is one mean machine.The weathering is great.

Strange .............weird ............. and nicely done .

Well, not only have you made it cool but it looks real good as well. Everytime I look at this project I get a silly grin that make people look at me funny.

Regards,

Mark

The pics:

Thanks for looking, as always. Also, thanks for all the feedback on this build, it's been very helpful.

Mikey, it's the 120mm gun tube from the old Academy M1A1, with the over-size and inaccurate fume extractor. I used it for the sheer size of it.

Mark, thanks. This model has moved towards completion faster than any model I've doen in years, if you don't count the fact that I did the original suspension and hull more than five years ago....

Okay then, I've gotten some more painting done, getting closer. Pics:

As always, thanks for looking!

Just too cool, man. It's awesome I love it.

Regards,

Mark

Is that the 105mm gun from the Tamiya M60 kit or the 120mm gun from the M1A1?

If it is the 105mm gun I do believe the 76.2mm guns on the M50 Super Sherman and the M51 ISherman were replaced by the 105mm guns around the time of the Yom Kippur War.

RBaer

I know most of you are not in to "what-ifs" but I'm having too much fun here. This all started because I had a serious case of modelers' block and needed something to do that was just plain modeling, with no issues about accuracy.

I had this on the shelf, from a few years ago, same issue back then:

So, in a fit of "I need this", it was off the the spares boxes and cannibalized kits. This is where I'm at now, more to come. The "story" is this: What to do with a bunch of old M51 hulks, when you need an armored vehicle for secondary urban conflicts, or maybe border patrol duty.

Enjoy, I sure am....   :)

Thanks, Bill. Nothing like a nice dark wash on a lighter color to make things pop. I may lighten up the bigger, flatter surfaces, not sure.

Yeah, I kind of liked the super-long barrel, but in the interest of plausibility, it had to go. The shorter barrel and ginormous muzzle brake still have a presence, though.  Maybe the next one....  I've been eyeing the new Tamiya M51 in a major way.

Shorter barrel definitely changes the look! Weathering is bringing out the details, looking good so far.

Bill, Marc, thanks for the input. Always good to get. And I promise, this thing came from my un-aided imagination, and is probably the result of too many IDF builds.

I still get a chuckle out of this thing, can't help it.

Okay, with paint. Primed with Krylon gray automotive primer, followed by MM SAC tan from a rattle can, then a wash of MM acrylic burnt umber. I scrubbed the wash with a Q-tip (actually many Q-tips) and alcohol. Markings are from the spares box and Archer.

Still to do that I know of: Mantlet 50-cal barrel, turret MGs and hatches, tow cables, some more detail painting, weather the tracks, and stowage, if any. I also have a set of Friuls (M26) that I bought for one of the two M26s in the stash that I may use, not sure. Also, I shortened the barrel between the fume extracter and muzzle brake, based on a suggestion on another forum, the idea being to make the gun look more like a large bore, low velocity bunker-buster.

Anyway, the pics:

Thanks for looking, as always!

Now I know how you came up with this idea.  I got some pain pills in the ER last night... did something to my arm...  and I have been seeing alot of that kind of stuff today.  And yours doesn't look as nearly as weird as it did before  Love the basket. balances out the big bang stick.

The Frankensupersherman is coming along nicely! That bustle rack gives it a mean/squared-off look and is perfect for the extended turret/counterweight design IMHO.

As it is now:

I'm almost to the point where this could be the subject of a contest like "Whoever identifies the most different kit/mfg parts wins a Rubics cube",  or something.....

Commander's MG will go on some sort of swivel mount, and I will most likely do something else where the old gunner's sight is, since I do have my added "sight"  on the loader's side of the turret, but it's all electronic, right?  Plus, it looked good, and wouldn't fit anywhere else....

Tongue firmly in cheek, putty in hand.

Too cool !!! Keep em comming !

Well, progress. I have the bustle rack pretty much done, and a few more goodies on. Not shown in the pics are front fenders and turret-mounted MGs. I'll try and get more current pics up soon. Still undecided on the muzzle brake......

(Third pic fuzzy, added one more using "edit")

Why, thankee!  I've had a very busy past few days, no time at the bench until this morning. I hope to have the hull finished up and get on the turret basket this week.

Now, how can one not like something that looks like this? I think it's great.

Mark

Burger King it is!

do it.. yourrrrr.. waaaaaayy.... !

LOL!!!!  It's a good thing my friends and family have no idea what I'm doing, they'd try an intervention.

Got a suggestion on another forum, shorten up the barrel, give the impression t hat the gun is a low-velocity "demolition gun", make it all more believable. I agree, but I really dig the giant muzzle brake.....

I think it will only take 2 forum members and 1 WIP photo to have you committed.  The 1st step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

Oh wait.  I scratch build parts for 144th tanks and slap 'em on a peanut butter lid....  never mind