MonsieurTox wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 2:30 pm
It looks fantastic mate ! It's great to see a French Sherman, not something that happens very often !
Regarding your front stowage, to secure it and be able to remove it, I would put a magnet in the crate and a piece of metal or another magnet behind the transmission cover.
Yes I've been thinking about that. Although I ran it hard over some obstacles and it stays in place pretty good. It won't bounce off on the field. Those are cool pics. Flandres must have been a slightly newer one as it has the threaded barrel with cap. I like the way the stowage is stowed more organized without everything including the sink and bath on the US and Brit Shermans. I guess when you are liberating your own country you aren't as likely to be liberating stuff of the civilians
So I finally secured my rear deck stowage and it won't need to be removed and then moved on to the 50 cal. These initial turrets had no racks and cradle for the 50 cal when stowed so I wasn't sure if I was going to mount it when running on the field but after finding 2 pictures of how the crews stored it I figured I would give it a shot. The first one the mg was open to the elements with the mount placed in the corresponding socket welded to the turret rear vent and then it just had a strap tied around the barrel and the lifting loop. It took a while to get things right but it can now stay on the tank in stowed position when the IR apple is in the loaders hatch for battling. The second image I found the 50 cal was wrapped up in a tarp or net and I might try and fit one but for now it can stay open to the elements.So now that is done other than doing a proper weathering job now I know how everything sits I'd say she is finished until I can run her around outside I suppose around May
Here she is with the 50 cal in it's standard position above loaders hatch
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Now when she is setup for IR battling with 50 cal moved to it's position at the rear of the turret
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View from rear of tank in standard set up
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and from the front and sideshowing rear deck stowage and 50 cal in place with strap around the loop
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One other thing is I noticed that the photos on the phone had a weird crappy effect that looked like nothing the naked eye is seeing. It's the HDR. Turn that off because otherwise it makes the streaks,pigments etc just look truly bizarre.
So it has been a fascinating example to work on. One of the very few M4A3 (76)with the leftover T-23 turret from that cancelled program,the early 76 barrel with no threading for cap or muzzle brake, the lack of 50 cal mg racks and just really unique colourful markings and a very interesting history. I will definitely do Free French subject again sometime in the future
