Tamiya M551 Sheridan build, Update 10/4/19 Fwd Hull Mod

[pitstain]

Looking forward to watching your build Barry, you do fantastic work.

the hull gaps on my M551 annoy me as well, I may go back and add some polystyrene strips, but I am currently balls deep in this Leo 2A6 as you may know, and it needs some filler as well thanks to the Hong Kong bathtub I used.

[lmcq11]

Hi Barry,

That molded-in 1/16 scale surfboard is even more annoying given that their latest M551 in 1/35 scale (no 35356) has a separate part for it...

M551 1/35 instruction

Capture1.JPG (49.46 KiB) Viewed 3964 times

But I am getting concerned that this build might not be the relaxing break you were looking for.

M551 Vietnam

Regards, Louis

[tankme]

I'm guessing the surfboards were removed because these things didn't actually swim much and became a source of flying debris if hit. The amount of effort it would take to erect all of the side skirts and deploy the surfboard were probably time restricted. It's like the M113. They eventually gave up on the thing swimming. I sure as hell wouldn't want to get out of my Sheridan in Vietnam to erect all of the swim stuff especially since you could be ambushed at any moment.

[43rdRecceReg]

Something extra to look forward to, Barry, now that the nights are drawing in Looking forward to little bits of ingenuity and inspiration, and your trademark excellence with metal parts

[BarryC]

Something extra to look forward to, Barry, now that the nights are drawing in Looking forward to little bits of ingenuity and inspiration, and your trademark excellence with metal parts

Thank you sir!

I will do what I do and hope it in someway meets your expectations.

Barry

[BarryC]

So I've settled on a tank with a name that in bodies the measure used to determine if we were winning....a totally false measure.

It also has additional crew served weapons that will make it unique beyond the removed "surfboard".



This is an awesome publication if ones interest is the M551 Sheridan. It provides photo coverage of all actions the Sheridan was involved in as well as it's many guises.

Pics of the removed Surfboard and rebuilt forward upper hull coming.

TAFN
Barry

[BarryC]

OK here..........we go!

I just could not let the Surfboard stay so, it had to go. Actually the tank I want to model is not pictured with the Surfboard but it has twin 50s and twin 30 cals. as shown in the cover photo of the SABOT publication.

Here are the pics of the forward upper hull with the surfboard removed and rebuild using .080" and some .010" styrene. It is very solid and I do not expect any issues. Though not pictured the forward mounting is very similar to the original Tamiya design concept but bonded as opposed mounted with screws.

I will likely switch back to the Abrams now that the "heavy lifting" is done here.











TAFN,
Barry

[BarryC]

Hi Barry,

But I am getting concerned that this build might not be the relaxing break you were looking for.

Regards, Louis

I suspect you're correct Louis!

Barry

[HERMAN BIX]

Ah haaaa

“ switch back to the Abrams now the heavy lifting is done”

So you got the memo from ‘home’ ” about Earth Project Protocol “!!!

[BarryC]

Ah haaaa

“ switch back to the Abrams now the heavy lifting is done”

So you got the memo from ‘home’ ” about Earth Project Protocol “!!!

A short diversion is like a good bottle of whiskey!