So jumping way ahead on this build as in the last week the many packages I was waiting for to start moving on it again started to show up every day. It also never occurred to me to look to see if there was a photo etch set for the Sherman and looking at other builds I see there are plenty. So then after tearing the tank apart the first thing that had to go was the comically out of scale Torro muzzle brake. I should have heated it because this thing put up so much resistance to removal I was worried I might damage the barrel. It eventually surrendered. I had sourced a thread end cap but this particular tank was such an early 76 it's barrel end didn't even have the threads that most were delivered with until the muzzle brake became available. Comparison of the Torro one to the properly scaled muzzle brake
- muzzle brake.jpg (686.28 KiB) Viewed 2348 times
- barrel.jpg (771.52 KiB) Viewed 2348 times
I then removed the left side of the mantlet bulb that Torro uses for the airsoft firing warning light and put in the coaxial machine gun flush in the hole as Torro has the machine gun incorrectly on the right side. I see some with the 30 cal barrel slightly protruding but almost all the ones of them in action seem to have them totally withing the mantlet and that is it for the turret as it is going out for all it's new internals and servos and a the many new details that will be added would just be knocked off.
So while everything was off I did new handles for the hatches on the rear upper, put on the engine hatch supports and the track holder cleats and rear light covers that are missing entirely on the Torro. I also did the cast texture on the transmission cover and the cast one piece around the front hatches and did some casting numbers and even a half dozen small weld beads where I thought the Torro ones needed improving. I enjoyed doing them but I am not a fan of ludicrously huge weld beads and looking/picturing the Shermans in Bovington for just this reason I saw that some of the ones I see on the scale model forums while looking impressive are just way over the top in size so I have left the Torro ones. The turret will be another story. It then received it's Vallejo OD base coat and I re-painted the tools in place.
Being a panzer guy I though the ends of the barrel cleaning rods would be brass but later found out they are steel so those have been re-painted.
- casting for upper hull hatch area and turret mantlet.jpg (1.14 MiB) Viewed 2348 times
Superb creation! This tank had three other companions named after French departments: Champaubert, Montmirail, and Romilly. The latter is on display in the town of Romilly-sur-Seine, despite the controversy surrounding it. Is it not the real thing, but a pale imitation? A mystery!