SAUNDERS D DAY INVADER ...M4a3 SHERMAN

[palepainter]

Awesome build Alpha. The brass and copper work is fantastic and meticulous. Could you please share what kind of solder iron and solder you are using? Thanks for the inspiration.

[ALPHA]

Some photos I neglected to take and show this morning... though I just noticed one shot does show the tiny grill work on the side vent on the right side of the hull

These are the internal engine grill covers I forgot to include..they were part of the FoV package.... I was pretty surprised they fit.. as I had so many problems trying to fit the normal electricals ...dry fit them the deck lids closed ...so decided to use them


luckily I had the perfect mesh for these vents... I found a photo of a WW2 SHERMAN in the field that had the exact pattern if I come upon it again I'll post it lol
and this is just another picture of the front light protectors and armor shields ...but from a different perspective

Sorry about not including these in the first post... the weather looked really sketchy...so I didn't want to get caught in a downpour with the Kv2 and Sherman in my hands lol

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Good Morning,
Nothing but smiles on this one. ;o) Beautiful work, my Friend! ( possible periscope guard of brass on the hatch? )
regards,
Painless

How do you like the change of barrel... even though I had reworked the 105... for some reason I couldn't live with it like that... just by luck... found an old MP5 airsoft barrel...it was thick enough for me to chuck and mill to the taper you see .. It's subtle ... but it does taper

It's kind of another USE IT OR LOOSE IT situation lol... I like it...it's more prototypical... but if others don't .. it's an easy swap back to the modified 105

I'm not sure about the guards yet.. they look great on your tank... but on the anime based tank I am mimicking they aren't there...Mike let me borrow some so I can make a Jig...just not sure if it's really needed yet...as this tank is sooo heavy ( going to weigh it later) that when I grab it .. little things that aren't secured well break off easily ...I already broke the spring on the machine gunners hatch... and one of the handles on the engine grill...I saved both pieces ... the handle I put back.. but am uncertain of the location of the spring lol

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Looking very good Alpha, I like the exhaust system, very neat. Really captures the overall look of the tank you are modelling.

Hey Thank you scalawag... if it wasn't for the site you posted I think it was on cupoftea's build . I would have not found it..and probably would have continued the build with the stock HENG LONG units

All the best Scalawag

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Wow! Metal light guards to go along with the metal upper hull; metal gun shields; metal exhaust; and metal tracks - that has got to be one heavy Sherman! It's hard to see the taper of the barrel in the photos, but I know it's there, and it looks a lot better than the 105mm one you originally had. It is going to be a shame to cover all of your great work up, when you eventually paint it. It is a very nice and one-of-a-kind build. -Mike

Hey Mike... it was a must do... I was able to salvage the HENG LONG guards ... even though the Heng Long Glue Monkey had done it's job ... they still popped out pretty easily...but because of the nature of the metal hull and how I had to double insulate the LED leads...the guards were too small and short ... so I realized they had to be a custom build...as the rear bezel became a tad elongated ... even the front lights had to be re positioned I think the FoV guards would have worked for the front... unfortunately the FoV glue monkey was more thorough ...not to mention the guards were made of flexible stuff ...that all four suffered damage

This one will definitely go under paint.... it isn't as clean as the Kv2... and kind of looks like a refugee from a WW2 salvage project

ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Alpha,
The brass barrel looks great! You should definitely use it. The periscope guards? If they aren't there on the Saunders Sherman then you should not use them. You are remaking a specific tank there and have gone to a lot of work and trouble to make one up to match. Looking forward to seeing both the KV-2 and the Sherman completed with paint.
regards,
painless

[ALPHA]

Awesome build Alpha. The brass and copper work is fantastic and meticulous. Could you please share what kind of solder iron and solder you are using? Thanks for the inspiration.

Sure Pale.... the soldering iron for the brass fittings is your standard 35 watt iron sold by radio shack...the solder is electrical rosin core solder...I have plumbing silver mixed solder ... but it's messy...you also have to use a larger iron 100% of the time....and clean off residual flux ...For the lightweight stuff ...not only is it overkill... but a gamble .... as the heat can melt the plastic ...especially the way I made these... each piece was formed .the hull drilled ... then they were fitted and soldered

on the copper parts.. I use my 100 watt craftsman got it on Ebay two decades ago... you can still find them but most aren't complete ..mine had two tips a stand and a cleaning brush
Looks like this


what I like about it is it's convenient to use ... most of the things I made were with that a couple of different pliers and a few vise grips

ALPHA

[cannedheat]

alpha old chap
I must say that if this is not worthy of a medaI,? can see this sat next to my in comparison poor shermans my endeavours are not in the same league .wot wot

[ALPHA]

Alpha,
The brass barrel looks great! You should definitely use it. The periscope guards? If they aren't there on the Saunders Sherman then you should not use them. You are remaking a specific tank there and have gone to a lot of work and trouble to make one up to match. Looking forward to seeing both the KV-2 and the Sherman completed with paint.
regards,
painless

Man Painless you are fast.... I didn't even see this reply awhile ago when I replied to pale ....yeah the guards are tricky.... as I'm sure with them the tank would still be nice... but what made me hesitate was when I did the main gun site thingie ... that big shark fin sticking up on the side of the hull... at first I was going to just fab it out of plastic...but just because of it's location said to myself nah it's going to break off reason I did it in copper...it's way solid now..as I was able to incorporate pins that go into the turret ...suffice to say...it's not going anywhere lol ...but it is the same reason the guards are on hold.... if I can figure out a way to make them solidly mounted... it'll be a go...if not most definitely no lol

Thanks for the input on the barrel....it's a better depiction of the 75 I think

Have a good one Painless

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

alpha old chap
I must say that if this is not worthy of a medaI,? can see this sat next to my in comparison poor shermans my endeavours are not in the same league .wot wot

Hey canned... I would say your SHERMAN endeavors is what inspired this tank to be created ....think of it this way.... you have done many ... I have done two ...one of them basically stock... same league.... yes ... I would agree... you are by far above and beyond me ...In SHERMANOLOGY you are a professor and I am a student

Now go finish that flamer

ALPHA