Mato Sherman.

[evad]

Here's the latest piece of Armour courtesy of Forgebear with two current projects.The Stugg is being built with Panzer III cast offs.

[evad]

Just a small update, I've ordered a pair of driveshaft supports from Welsh Dragon and metal sprockets from Forgebear. I'm also looking into plating the chassis inside with 2mm plate for strength and weight then I can think about upgrading the motors and gears.
I've also researched the casting marks and numbers which are surprisingly accurate and will help decide which theater of operations the finished tank will be from.

[The Tank Man]

Very nice looking Sherman !

[evad]

General Steel Casting Corporation Foundry Mark On Hull

General Steel Casting Corporation Foundry Mark On Hull..JPG (44.14 KiB) Viewed 2998 times

American Steel Foundry Mark On Differential Housing Along With Part Number And Casting Serial Number

American Steel Foundry Mark On Differential Housing Along With Part Number And Casting Serial Number..JPG (44.1 KiB) Viewed 2998 times

National Roll Foundry Mark & Mantlet Part Number

National Roll Foundry Mark & Mantlet Part Number..JPG (40.76 KiB) Viewed 2998 times

Union Steel Castings Mark On Turret Along With Part Number

All the lifting rings will be replaced as they are wrong shape and fixing as will guards around the lights and siren which are not of the right type fitted by Pressed Steel Car.
This will of course follow sorting out the running gear first but doesn't stop me buying the bits in readiness.

[evad]

Just a quick update with a few pics. I have upgraded the idlers and drive sprockets ( courtesy of Forgebear ) with metal ones and installed drive shaft supports as well. The drive shaft supports needed a bit of persuading to fit and the motor housings needed to be adapted to allow the nuts for the supports to fit. The only problem I have now is the LH track picks up on the drive sprocket in one spot as the Sherman is driven. Not sure whether to try and cure it or wait as the next upgrade will be the suspension and track being changed for metal.

Driveshaft Support In Place..JPG (46.37 KiB) Viewed 2931 times

[evad]

I've not had much time to spare of late what with my job being at risk of redundancy ( that's all sorted now ) and a kitchen / dining room and my hobby room being built! Did I say I've been on holiday as well!!!! That's all coming together now so as soon as I can get into my new room the tank building can commence. The Sherman has suspension and track upgrades waiting plus some detailing parts so words and pictures will be posted once work commences.

[forgebear]

great glad all is ok with you and your back to tank building
all the best dave

[jukebox]

Yeah, hurry up and get it finished bro, my kittys need something to shoot at!

[greengiant]

There is one thing that everyone seems to disregard. That is that the transmission cover casting is incorrect and extends out past the front of the tracks. The fix is really simple and greatly improves the tanks appearance. To correct that take the cover off cut out about 3/8 inch strip from the cover somewher in the flat section before the casting begins to curve then use a hot iron to put the two sections back together. Cut off the pieces that on the sides that fill the space between the front of the cover and the tank lower hull transmission castings. Now with your hot iron heat the trans cover casting on its inside just above the point that the covers curves start, enought that it can be bent to match the curve of the hull. Quickly put the trans cover inplace and bend it untill it matches the curve of the hull. You will now have a tranmission cover that is just prodruds ever so slightly less then the tracks. You will also have the bottom of the cover at the wrong angle so you must again heat the cover but this time at its bottom and bend it up to match the hull. When done the two screw holes that attach the cover will be in correct place and the trans cover will fit just as it originally did but with out it jutting out in front of the tracks. A little filling and sanding on the face of the cover, putting the tow cable holder ins its new correct position and your done. it took me about an hour to do mine and it really makes a difference for the better in the look of the tank.

[evad]

You are right about the transmission cover being to proud and it is on my list of "things to do". Thanks for the advice on how to do it I'm sure it will be helpful. At the moment I'm upgrading the suspension and tracks ( pictures to follow ) with a view to getting the running gear working properly before I start work on correcting faults on the chassis. I will try to get on the forum more often but with work and one or two things in the house to finish off ( you know what wife's can be like ) I have been distracted but not for much longer.