Israeli M4 based Trailbrazer

[hawkeye3guns]

Well after my bridgelayer I thought I try a easier but differant model to build "WRONG" the more I look the more details I see where do you stop.
Any way Here she is.
Started with a MATO sherman lower hull and top and then started cutting and re-enforcing.

Gutted lower hulll

empty mato hull front.jpg (28.91 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

. I then fitted heng log metal gearboxes and Pershing M26 drive sprockets

gearboxes and sprockets fitted to give a track aligment guide

new Heng long gearboxes and M26 sprockets.jpg (30.47 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

from various Tamiya spares suppliers around the world managed to put together a set of HSVV suspencion units and then fitted them along with pershing tracks and idlers to get a running hull

running hull bench run under a light load to run in.

black steel gearboxes and M26 drive sprockets.jpg (29.14 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

Next started on the upper hull cut away all unwanted parts and replace with fresh plastic card then started building the new superstructure

turret replaced and holes filled.jpg (26.86 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

Fabricated the new side/tool pods and the crane base onto the hull

upper fitted to lower to get correct crane base level

sidepods and crane base.jpg (27.04 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

Fabricated the crane jib.

basic crane superstructure.jpg (24.73 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

and then made the swivel base and jib hinges.

crane supports and hinge.jpg (28.48 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

.Next moved onto the rear winch unit its a simple hydraulic unit so is fairly devored of any detail and easy to make.

rear winch unit bolted to hull for easy removal and maintenance.

rear whinch unit.jpg (24.78 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

started on the rear mineclearing blade and spud unit for when winching. First made the lifting section and then the rear blade separate before attaching to the rear hull

rear lifting arms

rear mineclearing mech.jpg (27.8 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

rear blade

rear mine clearing blade.jpg (25.24 KiB) Viewed 2983 times

[hawkeye3guns]

well heres some pic's

rear blade down.jpg (28.41 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

I then started at the front of the hull first with the front blade supports

front supports fitted and screwed into place hoping to have a working front blade

front blade supports.jpg (24.28 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

then the front blade

front blade rear.jpg (23.52 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

front blade in its operating position

front blade down.jpg (24.22 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

then the last shots are of the model in its present state.

front blade fitted.jpg (28.28 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

model to date.jpg (26.51 KiB) Viewed 2981 times

. well thats the basic model blocked out and now its all the detail work ie hatches tools towbars lifting strops toolbox doors lights handles ladders , kitchen sink and a partridge in a pear tree,LoL where do you stop? I'll post more pictures later as I get my head round the detail work. the main thing I want her to be a fully working model so some detail may have to be left out.
Denzil.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning,
The whole thing is a Marvel!
regards,
Painless

[ALPHA]

WOW! I agree with Painless and fynsdad... this build is incredible !

ALPHA

[doc larsson]

FFS !

[cannedheat]

excellent.old chap .....wot wot ........

[lister fiend]

another winner denzil
just try not too make us wait so long for the pictures of the finnished article!
cheers
lister

[palepainter]

Simply awesome. Yet another Sherman variant I have not seen.

[971wright]

Hi Denzil ,Wow that was quick 2 weeks ago you were collecting bits for it . Is it going to have a working crane and dozer

regards pete

[hawkeye3guns]

Yes thats my next jobs to tackle I want to get both front and rear blades to raise and lower and also the crane jib to lift and swivel. I think the hook lowering maybe a step to far. I have some rough ideas how to do it but theres only so much room in the hull and you can only minaturise mechanisms so far.
Once the units are working I'll start on the detail work, but as you can see from cannedheats pic's there is a lot of it and some might have to be left of.
thanks for all the positive comments though I was not sure if this varient of the sherman would fit in.
Denzil.