WIP IDF M50 "Short hull"

Nice!! Was the Kyrlon decanted?

Drum roll, please!

Krylon green for primer, sand to go on later (after I go buy some more.....)

I am DONE with the little bitty bits already! My eyes hurt......

I'm pretty sure I'm ready for some primer, but gonna take a break for a couple of days and ponder.

Pics so far, all that I know that's left is to finish up the straps on the tarp hanging off the bustle rail.

I smell paint.....

Thanks, Eric. I paint as a unit, pretty much. The tracks will come off, and I have a tarp that fits over the rt rr corner that is off now, but I've found that with rare exception it's easier for me to paint stowage and bits in place rather than separately, since attaching bits always means quite a bit of touch-up. The travel lock and a few oil cans are still separate, but I can probably get those attached w/o getting glue all over everything.....

That hull is starting to look busy!! I am really digging this build. I guess everything will be painted in situ?

A little more time at the bench, got the can straps done, some fiddly bits on the turret and hull, test-fit the tracks and started the stowage. I can smell primer......

I think maybe next project might be an OOB KV from Trumpie, nice and simple.

Man, I'm tired!

Funny way to start an update, but that's all I got......   Back in town for a couple of days, squeezed in a day at the bench yesterday, then gone for another ten or so. I need a vacation.      Oh, wait, that's what I'm doing. Hmm, airports sure take it out of me.

Anyway, so far, I've got the can racks in, no straps yet. Cans are just test-fitted, as is the TC, although I like him enough to paint and use him. I'm within a few hours of paint, but I don't see this one getting squirted till late May. Wow, and I have parts, less gun barrels, for two more M50 variants now. Dang. Also still have to place all the iddy biddy bolts on the rest of the can holders..... oh boy.

So, shaddup and post the pics, Russ. Okay.

On to San Diego for out 25th anniversary, than a rest!

And some more....

I've got the other track rack in, shown empty, and the rest of the can rack bases on. Also the aux. gen. muffler, cover still to do.

Da pics:

Hopefully more to come soon, model on, Garth!

Thanks, Bill. Over the weekend I picked Dragon's original release of the M51 for parts, and found a complete (less cupola and hatches) M50 turret. Score! Now I have to decide exactly how much of this parts bonanza to actually use on this build.

Thanks, and copy till your heart's content Eric. I did the same thing on Tamiya's M51 using smaller diameter rod, but strength is an issue here since there's no moulded-in jerry can. I first saw it modeled in Jim Wechsler's (sp?) Sherman book. I hadn't even seen the need before that.

Just looks better and better with each update!! The scratched stand-offs for the jerry cans look good. I have to figure out how to do this on the Dragon M51 as I have read its a problem. Will probably use yours pics as a ref if you dont mind.

All right, some progress:

I started doing the various bits on the hull sides and finished the jerry can rack on the left rear. I also got the smoke dischargers done. I've been using parts from Academy, MP, AFV Club and the stash for all this stuff. I even managed to finally use naold Collectors' Brass shovel that I'd had around for about a hundred years. I compared it to the Tamiya shovel left over from my M51, and the size was too close to notice, even tho' it's supposed to be 1/32nd scale. It had a nice clasp cast on, so on it went.

It's starting to look like an M50 now. I'll probably show the other spare track rack and the spare wheel holders empty, and I plan on doing some heavy weathering on this one.

All right, some progress:

I started doing the various bits on the hull sides and finished the jerry can rack on the left rear. I also got the smoke dischargers done. I've been using parts from Academy, MP, AFV Club and the stash for all this stuff. I even managed to finally use naold Collectors' Brass shovel that I'd had around for about a hundred years. I compared it to the Tamiya shovel left over from my M51, and the size was too close to notice, even tho' it's supposed to be 1/32nd scale. It had a nice clasp cast on, so on it went.

It's starting to look like an M50 now. I'll probably show the other spare track rack and the spare wheel holders empty, and I plan on doing some heavy weathering on this one.

Looks good doog. I think an M50 in Lebanon would be perfect for me to try the hair spray technique on....   and the Dragon kits are getting reasonably priced too. The MP kit sure shows its age, doesn't it? There are some parts, like the basic hull and turret, that are very nice, and then there's some of the detail parts, that are just blobs that vaguely resemble what they're supposed to be. It's almost like there were different sources for various kit parts.

Bill, I've formed enough sheet metal in my life for off-road stuff that I thought I'd use the same techniques in 1/35 scale, and it worked pretty good. The only real difference was the use of calipers instead of two pieces of angle in a vise to do "long" bends, and of course annealing the metal first, although I have heated metal to get it to do "soft" bends. An Etch-Mate is in the cards though.

WOW, man---you're KILLING this build in a good way, Russ!

I remember that old MP kit--it's a great kit! I built it years ago, into a light blue Arab M51. I built it OOB though--nowhere near the work you're putting into this build!

I won't post a pic in your thread, but here's the link to the image if you want to check it out.  

public.fotki.com/.../m50-isherman-super.html

Nice fender work there Russ! Sometimes the simplest tools can still get the job done as you've shown here.

So before I can do the stuff that mounts on and above the fenders, I had to do the fenders. Hmmmm.

I'm not a big fan of brass, especially large pieces. I also have yet to buy something like an etch-mate, which would be wise of me. So, my tools:

And the fenders:

Braces are located using the SWAG method, since I couldn't find pics of two tanks with them in the same place. Based on the  MP box pic and the M51 I just finished, it outta work.

It was mind-numbing.

BUT that part is over, and I'm back to the fun stuff. More on the engine deck, rear plate, front of hull. I'll probably start the hull side stowage and fenders tomorrow. Anyway, the pics:

All the jerry can holders on the sides will be fun.....

Ouch! 26 parts per pair would definitely make for a tedious effort. At least that part's behind you now.

Bill, each bogie  has (I think) 26 parts. Assembly of the sub-assemblies requires at least three hands, something I don't posess......  some would call it needless over-engineering. I like the Tamiya bogies, 8 parts and they look good.

Johan, thank you.  Here's where I am now.

I got the engine deck pretty well finished, with the exception of the welds at the base of the outboard intake splinter shields. The deck is MP (dark green) and plastic card stock. The intake covers will be one Italeri M4A1 part, cut in half like the real thing.

Thanks for looking, and comments always welcomed.

Nice ride, looking forward to your next update :)

VBR

JT

Making a nice job of this one Russ! I haven't tried to build a DML HVSS suspension before...what makes them so nerve racking you'd resort to preemptive slapping?

Sweet!!!

Well, I don't know what happened to P-bucket, all my pics went away. Hmm....

Anyway, where I am now. I got the suspension together and on the hull, the final drive width corrected, and did the radiator exhaust under the hull rear. The turret bustle rail is also finished. If I ever decide to use Dragon's HVSS suspension again, slap me.

Pics:

I'm using most of the MP engine deck, having to back-date it and shorten it, but almost done there. The rest of it is detail parts, pretty much.

Most of the kit makers are co-operating with me, or that's my theory anyway. The Tamiya upper hull fits almost exactly on the Dragon lower, so maybe somebody had me in mind?

Well, okay probably not, but it's tooooo easy.

I does make me feel a little bit like the people in the re-build processfor these things (M50s) might have felt, with all the mixing and matching of parts going on, and how well they all went together.

Always fun to watch your Frankenshermies come to life Russ, making good progress on this one.

Yep.

looks like a shaved porcupine

The turret continued:

Texture is on, including around the Acad. pistol port and cheek armor. I also beefed up the area under the commander's cupola to more accurately represent a late turret. I had to re-do the mantlet cover, the Avew hadn't hardened fully, probably due to the age of the putty. I re-did it in Milliput. Matlet retainers are done, and the main sight cover swapped out for a Tamiya part, much cleaned than MP's.After two unsuccessful attempts at the bustle grab rail, I did just the supports this morning, and will hit the LHS for more rod.

Pics as it is this morning:

Pluggin' away.......