Sherman M51; an accidental build.

[tomhugill]

I really need to get this finished so I can start my KV-2. So I've been beavering away today! Main bits have been getting the tools on (for now as they'll come off for painting) so I can make the holders in brass:











The aux jenny exhaust:





The little hoops for the straps that hold the jerry cans



Tow hoops on the rear stowage:





Last but not least when I was rechecking my references I realised the tubular frame should extend over the whole stowage bin:

[The Tank Man]

Brilliant work Tom your skills just keep on growing!!!! Its going to be another belter from the Hugill stable!!

[PainlessWolf]

Tom,
It's just getting better and better. Brilliant detailing.
regards,
Painless

and yes on your KV-2 ;o)

[cannedheat]

nice tom, as impressed maser .....wot wot ......

[tomhugill]

It's almost certainly a well known fact that shermans look better with a 50cal mounted. So it was time to tart up the henglong offering I had left over from some Pershing bits. I've rebuilt the wire bit under the barrel, constructed the holder for the ammo box, reworked the swivel mount, bored out the holes on the barrel and finally built a better pintle mount.

[PainlessWolf]

Huzzah!
A very nice job of Tarting Up there. ;o) That's one of the best redo's on the venerable old HL .50 cal that I have ever seen.
regards,
Painless

[tomhugill]

Cheers Painless! A bit of brass and some styrene goes a long way!

Tonight ive ive crossed another bit off the list and done the clasps on the bins. I was going to use PE ones left over from my German builds but they where too small. I've had to bodge it a bit but you get the idea of what they are!





Hopefully my chain and springs will arrive tomorrow so I can finish the build phase!

[tomhugill]

The build phase is nearly done, need to add the chains to various bits like the fuel filler caps etc, need to add the barbed wire hook, bit you pull to cock the 50cal and some weld lines. Tonight I've detailed the clips on the stowage boxes and added clips and padlocks . I've also added the sprung antenna which will need to be tied back:

[PainlessWolf]

Tom,
Looking forward to seeing this industrialized and upgraded Beauty in paint.
regards,
Painless

[tomhugill]

Little bit more done tonight, added some chains to the smoke launchers and made a search light to house the IR emitter: