M4A3E8 - Up armoured

[Ad Lav]

Next build I’ve been slowly plodding on with!

M4A3E8- up armoured version from 4th Armoured Divison.

Thunderbolt was the inspiration for this but I want to do a different one with no extra turret armour.

Got a second hand full option Tamiya Sherman and decided to pull it apart

Using photos and a modelling magazine for sizing etc I marked the shapes onto paper then transferred to plasticard. Cut to size and test fitted. So far so good.

Drilled and bolted the tranny armour, putty used in the screw heads to smooth off.

Side armour needed little notches cut for the fender holders.

Glacis front armour cut and trimmed to fit around the mg and all fittings marked from a spare hull I have.

Turret to be stolen from my cast hull as it’s a split hatch and correct for an up armoured Sherman’s, whereas the cast hull needs an oval loaders hatch. win win!

Schumo upgrade set installed.

Impact driveshaft bearing supports fitted.

Impact T66 tracks are on the way.

[Ad Lav]

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[Ad Lav]

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[Harry Serpent]

Hi Adam, looking good.
The rear Dec lifting ring, and the engine cover resting block should be straight up, and not following the slope contours.

[Ad Lav]

The lifting rings are the Schumo ones, they have angled bottom and are apparently correct angle?!

The engine door pegs I probably could straighten up

Engine deck to change - being 3d printed by Woz.

[Ad Lav]

Harry - I’ll try and move them a bit straighter, Schumo have the angle set so a bit gutted they aren’t straight given the money they are...

Here’s some photos of them in war. Early T66 tracks, split hatch and various armour add ons.






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[43rdRecceReg]

There are not many people bold enough to rip a Tamiya apart, Adam, but you're certainly one of them. Even second-hand, or abused, Tamiyas generally command a significant price..
For his reason it's always interesting, and informative, to see you taking all the risks and, as with the Syrian Pz IV, the aged Tiger 1, and so on; but getting all the eye-popping results! Of course, you do it with new kits too!
You're a sort of resident Tamiya surgeon, and also our advance guard.
Looking forward to an exemplary outcome...
Roy..

[Ad Lav]

Thank you for the kind words Roy!

I am slightly biased with Tamiya, but they’ve never given me reason the doubt the quality. I must stop buying Sherman’s though, this is my fifth

[Model Builder 4]

Looks great Adam coming along nicely

Cheers, Lee.

[Ad Lav]

Thanks Lee