1944 M4A3 105mm

[Panther Ausf G]

Hi Painless
Hope your health problem is well under control now.
Like the others I’m following your excellent build programme.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning, Alpha,
I cleaned up the tabs a little more with fine grit sand paper so they look better. cleaned up the hatch as well. It has to look like something after I paint it. *chuckles* I will do the cast surfacer too. That's a nifty product and makes the Sherman turret and transmission cover pop. Easy to brush on. Phil used it in his build and I was really impressed. This is a 1944 M4A3 so I will look at what came ashore on D-Day just to see. Panther, Yes, I got looked at early on and took some severe meds so my Pneumonia is 90% better than last Friday. I can see being fully recovered in another week.
warm regards,
Painless

[palepainter]

Glad to hear you are on the mend, Painless. No fun, especially this time of year. I am enjoying the pics of progress and most certainly will be using this thread as a guide line down the road. I have to balance out forces here and get some more Allied contingents.

[cupoftea]

'Tis good to read that you are on the mend painless. Keep up the good work both with your health and the Sherman.

[PainlessWolf]

34th Day: Thank you, Gentlemen for the well wishes. They are appreciated. ;o) Nothing much on tap for tonight. Experimenting with plastic or sprue to make the round connectors for the hatch so that the Springs will connect. More thought is required and that after a good night's sleep. ;o) I think I have it figured out...

[greengiant]

My only real gripes are that HL has seen fit to put the screw posts for putting the hull sections together are on the front hatches right in the middle of the hatch which means that to have opening hatches they have to be cut off the hatch on the inside and then curved to a location about a half inch to the rear and than reattached to the upper hull.
Also the lifting loops on the turret are pretty thin, the 50 cal mount is to far back , the turret housing molding sticks out to abruptly
( something that it has in common with Tamiya ). Also the gunners periscope should have a cover over it like that on the Mato 76mm turret.
I guess that that for 109.00 us$ I can fix all that myself and have. For all their faults you really can't beat HL. I think Tamiya is starting to feel the heat of areal competitor for our dollars.

[ALPHA]

My only real gripes are that HL has seen fit to put the screw posts for putting the hull sections together are on the front hatches right in the middle of the hatch which means that to have opening hatches they have to be cut off the hatch on the inside and then curved to a location about a half inch to the rear and than reattached to the upper hull.
Also the lifting loops on the turret are pretty thin, the 50 cal mount is to far back , the turret housing molding sticks out to abruptly
( something that it has in common with Tamiya ). Also the gunners periscope should have a cover over it like that on the Mato 76mm turret.
I guess that that for 109.00 us$ I can fix all that myself and have. For all their faults you really can't beat HL. I think Tamiya is starting to feel the heat of areal competitor for our dollars.

Boy you had me for a moment greengiant.... I was going to come in to defend HENG LONG's SHERMAN.... but yes it isn't perfect... but what model is? Take the MATO... good looking ... from a distance...but just about everything as far as little details are over sized... I just had to sand the hinges down on a commander's hatch I'm planning to use... they are monsters... and restrict the opening and closing of the hatch

I think what we all have to remember is each manufacturer has their own idea of what is practical for the market... and what is not RTRs are meant for the majority... so fine modellers can tweak to their hearts desire...and little ones can just have fun

Tamiya.. is basically a model company.... It's not that they are bad..but they've never made it to my shopping lists...because even after they are built... with all of Tamiya's efforts and eye for detail...there are still issues ..that are not up to snuff ....but fine for a kid who doesn't care much... once again bad for the discerning eye of the fine modeller
to which I agree.... Tamiya must be feeling some pressure as HENG LONG is really stepping up their game.... Hopefully Tamiya will follow up with some new British entries into the Hobby

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

34th Day: Thank you, Gentlemen for the well wishes. They are appreciated. ;o) Nothing much on tap for tonight. Experimenting with plastic or sprue to make the round connectors for the hatch so that the Springs will connect. More thought is required and that after a good night's sleep. ;o) I think I have it figured out...

Don't feel bad Painless.... I did some work on my Sherman's turret... and it caused me to have some pain in now my right wrist So there are times doing the little things is all one can do to keep moving forward....Everybody knows you haven't been feeling well... no need to push too far my friend.... We all have faith that when you are 100% again... This build will really take flight


All the best sir Painless

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

35th Day: Thank you for the vote of confidence, Alpha. I'm in no rush. This sort of 'fun' is best enjoyed when in good physical health. ;o) Springs are finally mounted on the Loader's hatch. I used some white pvc blocking for the hatch mounts. Rounded off the tops using a fine file. Drilled out the center hole with a #61 and used some picture wire for the loop holding the spring in place. The springs are made out of solder, stiff when wound that small yet flexible on the connecting loops. If I want to get really finicky about the finish, I'll add a couple of tiny nuts on the reverse side of the block from the loops. Pictures:

[ALPHA]

35th Day: Thank you for the vote of confidence, Alpha. I'm in no rush. This sort of 'fun' is best enjoyed when in good physical health. ;o) Springs are finally mounted on the Loader's hatch. I used some white pvc blocking for the hatch mounts. Rounded off the tops using a fine file. Drilled out the center hole with a #61 and used some picture wire for the loop holding the spring in place. The springs are made out of solder, stiff when wound that small yet flexible on the connecting loops. If I want to get really finicky about the finish, I'll add a couple of tiny nuts on the reverse side of the block from the loops. Pictures:

I tend to agree Painless... there is just something about making your own detail parts...there's a different feeling of satisfaction once you finish and install them...than buying them and putting them in place

nice job on those springs...it is how I imagined they'd look...better in fact

Take care my friend ...go easy

ALPHA