M4A1 Sherman - 2nd Armoured - Carentan

[fleshpedler]

do love those brass guards.........very smart and did you use a former to make them on or is your soldering beyond compare ,because i am impressed Rik........
Fleshy.................

[grim_marmazet]

Thanks Fleshy. It took a few failed experiments, and a nice dose of luck to make them! lol

I bent the two end bits to the correct shape and length, and flattened the ends of the rod to have something to glue down. Then taped two lengths to a ceramic coaster, and held one end in place with a pair of tweezers mounted in a stand.
Once those were soldered in place, I removed the tape, and used a second pair of tweezers to hold the other end in place, and soldered that.

The hardest part is getting the two end bits to be identical. If ones a bit too long, or slightly the wrong angle, it doesn't sit straight. I have several failed attempts lying around my work bench, lol.

I have the two for the other turret periscopes, I just have to finish the two on the hatches. To do that though, I need to open the periscopes on them.

Cheers,
Rik

[littletankman]

What can I say mate your realy making an excelent Sherman Rik , keep up the good work and the photos

Andy

[fleshpedler]

Cheers for the info Rik and i am glad that it took you several a temps to get it right,other wise i may have been upset that you could breeze it.LOL.......cracking work and maybe if you can make the next Luton meeting i am sure we would all love too see her.....
Fleshy..........................

[grim_marmazet]

Thanks for the comments guys! Most of the experimental bits I try take a few attempts, but its that experimenting thats the fun bit.

It would be nice to make it to a meet, its not easy for me to travel though, I don't drive, so i'd have to train it there. I'd love to show off the Sherman and Tiger. I need to get a second receiver for the Tiger, and I poached it for the Sherman.

I should have some good pictures to show over the next few days Andy!

Cheers,
Rik

[grim_marmazet]

While the forum was down, I managed to get quite a bit done. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures while I was doing it, so I have almost final shots for you.

I've painted the base coat, added a filter layer, applied the decals, varnished, applied a dark wash lightly, and varnished again, so she looks more like a tank now;



I put on the stars, and used the Vallejo Decal Fix and Medium to make them set onto the irregular surface. They work the same way as microsol to soften the decal;


I applied the markings for the tank I want to represent. Tank 10, Able Company, 66th Tank Regiment, 2nd Armoured Division;



I also used a mixture of the Tamiya decals to make a custom War Department serial number for her;


Archers do some really good shipping marking transfers, so i'm going to get those to apply and add a bit more detail.
I need to rework the elevation and rotation as they both seem to keep sticking, and I want to make them more efficient, and modify the recoil to work more like my Tiger's. Also the functioning brake light just stopped working. I even changed the bulb at great hassel and nothing, so thats a function i've lost, but can live with.

Now I need to do the last bits of detailing, the periscope guards need to go on, add the tools, and put on stowage, give her a very light weathering, and she's done.
I need to get the 2 extra track links from Dave before I can set her on a maiden voyage though.

Cheers,
Rik

[BREL]

looks good Rik

[Silverstalker]

this is great!!!

[grim_marmazet]

My Sherman is still plodding along, and thanks to the extra langth of track from Dave It's finally had a first run.

I rebuilt the elevation, it works better, but unfortunately doesn't want to depress at the moment. I think I can fix that though, but for now I just want to get it finished.
I'm down to detailing, I still need to make the wooden tool handles, and the straps for said tools. I got some extra Y sprues for stowage, and some thin balsa sheet to make K ration boxes. I also have read a way to make very realistic tarpaulins, which will be great for the stowage.
I purchased a set of Archer's D-Day shippin stencils. They're ment for 1/35, but the larger ones dont look too bad on the Sherman;


I unforunately ruined the one for the other side in the process of learning how to use dry transfers, lol. So i'm awaiting a second set.

Now the bit your all waiting for; pictures!




Just the details to go, then i'm onto my next project!

Cheers,
Rik

[FireflyKeith]

Them stars look great Rik and the tanks not to bad either

Keith