Sherman M4(105)

[DRAGONWAGON]

Hi Dan,

That's the dark side of our hobby: well meant advise, tips and tricks and all those posted pic's seem to end in spending more money....
If there were more modelleres, there wouldn't be an economic recess, I guess...LOL

John.

[DRAGONWAGON]

Hi all,

I wasn't happy with the look of my tie-downs on the turret, so I knocked them off and started over again:



Then it was the shovel's turn. Since there is no Aber PE around for this kit, unluke for the Tamiya Tiger I, I had to cope with the Evergreen:











That's it for now, new progress will follow soon, John.

[X82d Pathfinder]

John:
Great work! Just to let you know Plasistruct make several different sizes of plastic lettering. The 1/8" 4MM size works about perfect for the casting information. I just finished lettering the inside of the hatches and my hull, as well as the early low bustle Crab turret I am building for someone else. They're much cheaper than the Archer sheet and photo etch numbers.

-Dan

[X82d Pathfinder]

John:
Great work! Just to let you know Plasistruct make several different sizes of plastic lettering. The 1/8" 4MM size works about perfect for the casting information. I just finished lettering the inside of the hatches and my hull, as well as the early low bustle Crab turret I am building for someone else. They're much cheaper than the Archer sheet and photo etch numbers.

-Dan

[DRAGONWAGON]

Dan,

Plastruct might be cheaper when you're in the US, but it is very hard to find in Europe, and when I have to let it ship from the US it'll cost me a bundle on postage....And 4mm, isn't that a bit big? That makes letters and numbers in 1:1 of 6,4 cm's!!

Grtz, John.

[DRAGONWAGON]

Since the allied troops could use anything they could lay their hands on, and specially German equipment was highly valued as a war-souvenir, I decided te place some German objects on my M4 Sherman.
A very good friend of mine was kind enough to donate a Mp40 complete with ammo-pouches. I was very pleased with the quality of the Tamiya items, the only thing needed was to drill out the bore sight and it's barrel.





I was told that the German binoculars were highly wanted by the US armor-troops, so now I'm looking for a well detailed German pair of binoculars, maybe one of you guys has one lying around....If so, I would be very happy to take it off your hands.....

Thanks for looking, John.

[X82d Pathfinder]

John:
I have a set of German resin binoculars I would volunteer. They're from Verlindin productions. I like the MP 40. The M3 "grease gun" became the standard for most tankers. Many also kept a Thompson Sub Machine Gun on hand as well . The .45 ACP round was hard to beat for knock down power. Anyway, as for the Plastistruct; I assumed it was available in most places. The set I am using matches the size of the lettering that is on the top of the Tamiya turret. I did order the three Archer sets because I needed some of the general steel corporate logos to finish the turret. I'll hope they're large enough for 1/16 scale. I went to bat on our behalf asking Archer to consider manufacturing the sheets in 1/16 scale. He seems open to this idea, at least with the general sheet that wasn't vehicle specific. I'll keep the forum posted. The M4A3 that is at my VFW post has large foundry numbers and letters that are about 4" tall, a couple are even larger.

[DRAGONWAGON]

Thanks Dan,

PM is sent....

John.

[DRAGONWAGON]

As Dan (x82d Pathfinder) finely pointed out: The casting numbers on the nose were too small, so I had to replace them. (you see Dan, I take your advise!! LOL)



After that I finished the tools with their clamps





And started to install the gun travel lock,





The travel lock will remain loose, for painting purposes, after the paint job the axles will be glued.

Grtz, John.

[X82d Pathfinder]

John:
I was having the same issue with finding lettering and numbering that was scale in size. I stumbled on the Plastistruct lettering. I needed to do the hull and turret numbers. I went to Archer's Fine Transfers to propose offering the armor casting numbers and welds for 1/16 scale U.S. kits. I think we may have them available before long. I provided the websites for RC armor modeling. Anyway, your build is coming right along. If anything you need pops in your head before I send you the Binoculars Wednesday, let me know..

-Dan