Possible M55 Conversion

[Mackem]

Hi All,

I took delivery of a S&S Pershing yesterday and I'm thinking of converting it into the M55 8" SP Howitzer.
I had a 1:32 scale model of this kit a few years ago and failed on several occasions to RC it. Hopefully this time I'll be more successful. Anyway, for those of you who haven't seen an M55 here's some pics.

Cheers
John

[Matdragon]

nice one i say go for it!! im sure you'll do a cracking job mate!!

be sure to keep us posted if you do build it,

Matt

[wibblywobbly]

Now that looks like a mean beastie, I have never been a great fan of the standard Pershing, so anyone that does something different with one gets my vote.

Rob G

[mcevoyi]

hmm thats a big job ...

i remember the history makers m55 kit ... its accurate .. and a very good reference point if you can find one .. its odd that there so much 50's and 60's armour thats just not looked at ... almost no drawings at all ... even the tank museum has a sort of gap in its history ...

i know theres a  recovery tank based on the m55 / i think its the m53 bison ... it was used by the us marines and there almost nothing info wise

[Saxondog]

Hey Mackem,do you know which museum that M-55 is displayed at? I am planning a trip next year and would hope to see as much armor as possible.Sax

[fv432]

on my travels around the net came across 2-3 different types

the m46 based m55 and the m41 based m52-53 also comes up as an m44

the difference between a std m26 and m46 being the higher sprocket on the m46 and the inner idler wheel on the m46

[Mackem]

Hey Mackem,do you know which museum that M-55 is displayed at? I am planning a trip next year and would hope to see as much armor as possible.Sax

Sax, I'm sure they have one on display at Aberdeen.

On the subject of the actual conversion. If you have the Tam Pershing it can be done, but if you have the HL Pershing it's a non-starter. The problem is the final drive set up. The HL final drive is purely cosmetic, while the Tam final drive actually works as per the real thing and would need to be rotated 45 degrees to give the correct sprocket height. In the meantime I've decided to make my Pershing into the Korean war M26-A1 version which did actually do quite well in combat.

Cheers
John