Crazy Joe's Sherman Rehabilitation

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning, Alpha,
I couldn't have done anything without the assistance of you and Sass as well as the tech know-how and advice of the rest of the group. I could not agree more about the Tamiya tools. I took time while coats dried to look over each piece and compare it with the Mato version. In each case, the Tamiya tool was the better choice. The only one I kept was the one that Tamiya did not include on their sprue. Having said that, the Mato tools were not bad for their day ( 6-7 years ago) and compared very favorably to the HL tools of the time. Mato has remained static in regards to this tank and it's details while HL has leapt ahead with theirs. Mato seems to be focusing on the metal end of the market now and their new offerings certainly look better and will probably be much better received than the M4A1 was when it first came out. I took time yesterday to read through the threads on this forum from back when and the excitement at finally getting a 1/16 Sherman in RC from a major manufacturer at a price point that most tankers could afford, was palpable. The HL Sherman was just rumors in development at that time. I don't know if the rush to development by Mato that resulted in the strange combo of good and bad features that this tank displays had anything to do with the money being waved worldwide in anticipation of purchasing multiple copies of this Sherman but the crushing disappointment of tankers on this forum and other places when it finally arrived in their hands was evident. It took a while and some posts by tankers who loved it, for the tank to be seen as the modeling opportunity that it is accepted as today. I really love mine and am glad that I finally got off of my kiester and fixed some of the faults and made it into the Sherman I had always seen it to be in my mind's eye. I'll start detail painting and adding on the rest of the parts and stowage and do a Show Off thread sometime at the first of next week. I'm really looking forward to moving on to the KV-2 (even tho' I just ordered some black steel gearboxes for Maxene) and giving my Sherman mania a break for a bit.
regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

Top of the Day Painless ...what you say about the Mato is probably very true..I can only imagine those who drooled at the release of this model... it was a different variant than the well known Tamiya offerings ...different hull ...different turret... all at a very affordable price ...even today the price has not changed much with the inclusion of the 2.4 system to top the package off
Though I have knocked Mato's efforts.. I still think it's an great model for beginners... and a fantastic platform for more seasoned builders ..I'm sure many who have spent time parting the kit out.. upgrading... modifying would all agree... that Mato did provide something tangible to the hobby
Without the Mato on the market ...there would be no cast hull or existence of the larger turret

I have to admit.. after working on mine ... and taking an overview of the fine job you have done..this model can be truly enjoyed by the Masses

Have a great Friday ...Carpe Diem Painless

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

After a very busy Friday and Saturday, I got a little free time to work on the M4A1. Before I put the hulls together again, I took a few minutes and lightly detail painted the rear bulkhead. It's much easier to get to with the upper hull off. After that I took a few minutes to figure out the best way to mount the On\Off switch in the Driver's hatch. The switch is designed to be mounted upside down and there are no screw tunnels on it for mounting in a hatch. On 'Maxene', I built a mount out of plastistruct but here there were space considerations. I ended up driving the screws from above for easy removal and using a couple of cut to fit pieces of rubber tubing as the mounts. It worked very nicely. I crossed my fingers and plugged in the sound pot next. Perfect function and easy to adjust now. The tank sounds better than it did with it's old board and speaker and the sound adjusts smoothly from low to high volume. The only fly in the ointment is the pin cable used by Mato to connect the upper and lower hull. It is very stiff and requires careful routing to stay connected when the hull is together. Overall, I am _very_ pleased and am looking forward to adding the tools and stowage details back on and weathering and marking. Pictures:

[cannedheat]

like it, likes it a lot old chap ....its in the detail the things you will not see, but you know are there the m4a1 to me is the best looker of all the types, and yours is something ,it may be bias of me but this is better than your panther not better modelled but its my tank if you get my meaning old chap so don't go doing to much weathering ? show off beckons old chap wot wot ......

[ALPHA]

I crossed my fingers and plugged in the sound pot next. Perfect function and easy to adjust now. The tank sounds better than it did with it's old board and speaker and the sound adjusts smoothly from low to high volume.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMM ............Does that mean it squeaks louder Waylon might just up and take a chew to poor ol' Mood

Just kidding Painless...you going to make a video?

Carpe Diem Sir

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

like it, likes it a lot old chap ....its in the detail the things you will not see, but you know are there the m4a1 to me is the best looker of all the types, and yours is something ,it may be bias of me but this is better than your panther not better modelled but its my tank if you get my meaning old chap so don't go doing to much weathering ? show off beckons old chap wot wot .....
.

SHOWOFF ........... Don't make me pull out my skirt ..... ...........

Have a good one Sire Canned

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

CH, thank you again. I completely understand about the M4A1. I _really_ like the looks of it now that some work has been done to aid in not only appearance but functionality as well. It looks great rolling across the terrain, indoors or out. and I'm not even finished yet. Alpha, to the contrary. Waylon is very brave when the Mood is rolling away from him but not so much when it is coming back in the other direction. ;o) I have the volume set to about 25% and that is plenty loud enough without distortion. Today was a lawn day like yesterday so I was only able to work after everything was done and dinner was finished. Still, these are the last stages of the rebuild so they are to be savored. I painted some of the stowage and add-ons and will continue tomorrow with the .50 cal and the tools. Pictures:

[HERMAN BIX]

Now that would be tragic...............young Waylon getting his ass kicked for taking a chunk out of the 'Mood'..............
I dont know how it works but olive drab seems to be the 'new black' making everything look great............you should open a boutique mate, a fashion line of O.D stuff that is auto-enhancing !!
And I dont mean Major Houlihan right Mr Alpha !!!!

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning, Herman,
Million dollar idea there, Mate. ( Olive Drab Salon ) Waylon sat there with a quizzical look on his face watching me test the main gun. I could see that he was working hard to make the connect between the tank firing and airsoft bb's whanging off of the target across the way. He is a good boy and will grow up to be a wonderful companion. He drives me nuts some days but then I remember he is only 6 months old.
regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

And I dont mean Major Houlihan right Mr Alpha !!!!

TWASN'T HOT LIPS that drove the tank...TWAS Frank in the tank


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwXeN2FsE7w


ALPHA