Use it or Loose it

[ALPHA]

Greetings Gentlemen...as may of you know I have undertaken a SHERMAN build for Mcevoyi's D day memorial.... It's been a lot of research with very little time put into the tank so far...I also did not include this part in the build thread because I'm not sure I will use it yet
Enthused and inspired by fynsdad.. Painless and Canned heat...I felt a little adventurous yesterday and began the process of making the mantlet for the tank....

What I did was purchase a "T" copper fitting from the local hardware store


cut heated and bent it till it was fully reversed... sorry no pictures of that
I then heated and forged the Mantlet for the SHERMAN... this is the result after 13 hrs of work... mostly because I made a mistake when installing the flaps that are positioned on either side of the gun barrel







sassgrunt lent to me his FoV turret which he was using for his Kelly's Heros build ...I copied both the low bustle and now the manlet from that tank.
I also used the original upper hull of the Heng long to show the mantlet...All the drillings shape and contours are the same as the FoV SHERMAN

So what do you think guys ... USE IT OR LOOSE IT...it isn't perfect ...but i feel pretty good that I made it

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

...now that, my friend, looks bloody good

Honest Injun? I really am sitting on the fence... It's the first time I've attempted fabricating something so complex ...so I am finding it difficult to decide whether or not to use it

With that said .... I really appreciate you crituque

Thanks fynsdad Have a great day tormenting me with your awesome works of art

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Alpha,
My friend, you put the 'Tank' in Sherman Tank. ;o) That is freaking amazing work! Ol' Crazy Joe is proud to know you. ;o) Of course, you should use it!
warm regards,
Painless

[Dietrich]

Hi ALPHA,
I am not an expert on the Sherman.....it looks 'Bloomin Good' to me.. ..... but please can you post a Photo of what you were 'Aiming For' from a real version....

[jarndice]

So where exactly in the big boys guide of Tank modelling does it say I have to aquire the skill of blacksmith? I swear ALPHA you really must keep out of the sun or stop drinking that home made spirit because one or both are hurting your head. Reluctantly I have to admit a very nice piece of metalwork, please don't stop, I can hardly wait to see what is coming next! shaun

[sassgrunt]

Alpha, I agree with the others - all the hours you invested made a great job of it, and it would be a shame not to use it. With those kind of fabrication skills, I can see you scratch building an entire tank one day! -Mike

[palepainter]

I can simply imagine how many times you burned your fingers annealing that one. Fantastic work and patience.

[ALPHA]

Hi ALPHA,
I am not an expert on the Sherman.....it looks 'Bloomin Good' to me.. ..... but please can you post a Photo of what you were 'Aiming For' from a real version....

It's relatively difficult to pinpoint the exact model.. reason this build has taken so long...the research I've been doing leads to a combination of the Baldwin M4a2 75 and the Fisher

(Baldwin)

(Fisher)
It's really hard... because even all of the links I found that had any information had a mixture of photo's to go along with the descriptions...very mished mashed together... making it confusing at times
the reason I'm calling this a mix of the two is... the fisher doesn't have the rotary engine .. thus the cage type covers .... and it has the low slung rear hull... like the one I'm using...the mantlet I'm using is more like the Baldwin...also the transmission cover...the Fisher had photo's with that same mantlet.... but apparently the transmission cover was changed in the process..as it sported the single piece cover
So if the tank in it's finished state does meet with criticism... I'll just say it was an "in the field" upgrade
with that said... the ultimate goal is for it to look like this

and will probably replace my current Sherman that I have in the Hazardous Material thread

Thanks for the vote Alb

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Alpha,
My friend, you put the 'Tank' in Sherman Tank. ;o) That is freaking amazing work! Ol' Crazy Joe is proud to know you. ;o) Of course, you should use it!
warm regards,
Painless

Thanks Painless...coming from a SHERMAN AFICIONADO that is you... that's a real compliment... and once finished ol' crazy Joe can sit in it anytime...
just don't send him over the Pacific... there aren't any brothels here for him to enjoy


Have a great evening Painless

ALPHA

[palepainter]

I am really getting intimidated by all the information and variants out there, with regards to the Sherman. It has been interesting seeing all the different builds here with so many subtle changes. Honestly, wouldn't know where to begin.