M4a3 75mm Calliope

[frankie]

With the flail and the easy8 nearing completion, I thought I'd make a start on a new build..a nice straightforward 75mm Sherman..

[frankie]

...got the mantlet sorted and changed the sandbags slightly..

[HERMAN BIX]

Jeez I like those sand bag sets.
How would you recommend these be seen to be retained on the front of these Shermans ?
Scale rope, or some other method?
How were they retained on a real machine ?
And, do you think they are able to be screwed from inside the hull to hold them on solid when being run hard in a rough environment ?

Also !!...............have you any plans for a side sandbag set ? the ones that cover the entire side of the sherman inside small section frames ?

Not being a Sherman fan as I am, I would do one if I could cover it in some form of applique armour (i really need to stop it with the extra armour thing ) and fit it with a 76mm short barrel.

[frankie]

From what I can tell, these "ad hoc" sets weren't secured very much..the ones on the fenders were tied to the light guards but the rest seemed to just rely on gravity with a bit of rope here and there. The tanks with them down the sides etc had a metal framework fabricated to keep them in place..
I'm not actually going to fix them perminantly as the way they're molded they literally clip on around the light guards

[Glasgowtanker]

Yep they are a pretty tight fit, I got a set already....thanks again frank!

[frankie]

..that's the basic build done..onto detailing...

[frankie]

..made a start on a little "extra"

[forgebear]

ah rockets frank

[frankie]

Hell yeah....

[forgebear]

nice one i like that
dave