Sherman M4A3E8 (I Love Kit, integral RC conversion)

[MonsieurTox]

I decided to replace the plastic gun travel support with PE.

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Unfortunatly once you fold the part, it's obvious it's too wide. It is a wide as the plastic part but the walls are way thinner so it looks weird.

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I decided to split it in 2 pieces, remove some material in the center then sold them back together :

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In place :

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The upgrade set as some nice markings for the fuel/water/oil tanks, like on the original. Was thinking about mold them and use castings on future Sherman builds. Then I noticed...

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It's wrote "DISEL" and not "DIESEL", oh well I guess I can still use them... It's so tiny after all.

[MonsieurTox]

I forgot to mention there was a nice resin figure included with the kit :

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[Herr Dr. Professor]

I have been waiting for the I Love Kit of the M4 with cast turret and cast hull. Seeing the detail here has encouraged me to go for it. I have two questions: what are the brand(s) of the PE you are using? Do you use a soldering pen (not a torch) and silver solder to solder PE? Thanks for your fine photos and information you are providing.

That resin figure is quite good! I hope one comes with the cast hull/turret kit (if the kit is ever made).

Imagine coming up quickly out of the hatch with the barrel of the Ma Deuce crossed overhead. Ouch!

[MonsieurTox]

I have been waiting for the I Love Kit of the M4 with cast turret and cast hull. Seeing the detail here has encouraged me to go for it. I have two questions: what are the brand(s) of the PE you are using? Do you use a soldering pen (not a torch) and silver solder to solder PE? Thanks for your fine photos and information you are providing.

That resin figure is quite good! I hope one comes with the cast hull/turret kit (if the kit is ever made).

I've been waiting for the I love kit too... Was going to be released next year... It did not happens, I bought the Easy 8 instead... Was going to be released this year, still not here ! I've ordered the M10 instead... Not a big deal as I've started this one on my own though.

The PE I'm using is the PE of the kit, I bought the upgraded version which contains the figure, 3D printed parts for the tracks, PE set, brass hull machine gun (very nice), and an aluminium barrel, nice but solid, not sure if I'm going to use it or the plastic one in order to use LED and maybe smoke.

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I use a soldering pen and tin to solder PE, and a torch and silver for bigger/thicker stuff.

Imagine coming up quickly out of the hatch with the barrel of the Ma Deuce crossed overhead. Ouch!

[ColemanCollector]

The video of the hvss units doing their work over the cat course is righteous! Each one is a little jewel of a kit on its own. Another slice of Sherman goodness!

Mike.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

MonsieurTox: You've "been waiting for the I love kit too." Perhaps now or very soon? See: viewtopic.php?t=35261

[MonsieurTox]

MonsieurTox: You've "been waiting for the I love kit too." Perhaps now or very soon? See: viewtopic.php?t=35261

Yeah I saw that, it was meant to be released in April but it seems to be delayed again, well too late, I bought the M109 instead (still Sherman related!! )

The video of the hvss units doing their work over the cat course is righteous! Each one is a little jewel of a kit on its own. Another slice of Sherman goodness!

Mike.

Thank you Mike, I'm very happy with the suspensions, they worked pretty well! Since I'm not battles with my tanks, they don't get a lot of abuse, the plastic parts should be fine.

[MonsieurTox]

I've been able to work a bit on it but I should admit I already started another project...

I decided to replicate that detail of the M4A3 hull :

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(from the Sherman Minutia site : http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minu ... 3_75w.html)

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I guess we can now assume my M4A3 hull has been produced by Chrysler.


I also replaced the door support brackets of the engine deck because they are tapered (so the kitpart could be pulled out of the mold) :

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Yes, you can see the new project I mentionned earlier in one of this pic.

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I tried to do better welds that I usually do, they're not perfect but I think I improvided my US weld style (one of them anyway).

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I have added small chains to the headlight plugs.

[MonsieurTox]

I machined a custom gear for the turret (HL compatible) :

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And now some pics as it stands today after a coat of primer on the upper hull. Still need to do some minor work and add the elevation mechanism. Maybe the recoil too, but not sure about it yet.

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Oh yes I forgot to mention I forgot to talk about the spare links. If you build them th eway they are designed, the chevrons are facing the hull which is incorrect. I had to cut every pin ends (molded with the support brackets) and glue them back upside down.

Now it's time to leave and hea dup to Normandy to see some real Shermans !

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Pic from here : https://www.facebook.com/share/p/dY7zrQfsqy87uAnN/

[Jofaur86]

Alors la Mr. Tox ,je dirais «  chapeau bas «  superbe travail , il y a vraiement des artistes avec des doigts d’or sur ce forum. Je vais me remettre au Tricot … par compte,pas bien saisi l’histoire des chevrons ? Pas dans le bon sens