Sherman M4(105) HVSS Build

[Pcomm1]

This TBU runner is at the 1/2 way point. I'll sit down and weather the Sherman after the holiday season. Runs great on the T-66 Impact tracks. This discounted Sherman f/o kit was found at my local hobby shop and was an open box item. The store had been using this kit to satisfy their customer's demands for spare Sherman parts. It was missing the tracks, idler setup, suspension arms and a couple of trees, so I used that fact to justify getting the Impact tracks – idlers, bearings and of course a few of the usual Daryl Turner and Schumo replacement parts from Bob at ETO.

The tank commander figure is the Verlinden 120mm US Tanker, modified to fit over the TBU receiver plug in the cupola.

Enjoy, John

[Pcomm1]

And I want to thank Bob at ETO for supplying a few of the parts that make this tank run so well. John

[BREL]

Nice work on the sherman John

[Pcomm1]

Thank you BREL, I do enjoy following your Tamiya builds. Looking forward to your latest too!

John

[Pcomm1]

Well, this build took a lot longer than I would have guessed. Kinda lost interest in this OD Sherman machine along the way, but it is weathered now and ready for backyard fights: US Third Army, 4th Armored Division, Sherman Easy 8 105mm Assault Tank, Germany 1945.

I build all my tanks to run well and look good while Tamiya Battle Unit fighting and these are the parts I used to help achieve that goal.

Included Upgrades, Items & Features:
Futaba SkySport 2.4 Radio with left & right self centering sticks; 3000 NiMH 7.2v tank battery
Schumo 105mm Metal Barrel
Open and close commanders hatch
Resin commanders hatch periscope
Schumo Periscope Covers (3)
Schumo metal shock absorber external oil reservoirs (6)
Daryl Turner metal elevation arm
Daryl Turner gear box mount brace
Solid Tamiya turret rotation unit and elevation unit blue gears (easily sourced from Tamiya USA)
Color Matched Impact Battle Unit Receiver
LED Emitter is installed in the Sherman 105 barrel
Flashing hull mount machine gun
Finished Verlinden 120mm resin WWII US Army Tanker 1/2 Torso Figure
Impact T-66 metal Tracks and Drive Sprockets
Impact metal rear idler wheels
Daryl Turner idler mount re-enforcing metal hull plates
Full set of suspension wheel bearings
On/Off Switch accessible and hidden at the rear of the tank

To bad the WWII Sherman's didn't use the German ambush 3 color camouflage paint scheme, that would make for more interesting work for the modeler and help make the Sherman more popular in the modeling community.

What I like best about building WWII German armor is simply the wacky paint schemes they used to try and hide from Allied Jabos and photo recon cameras.



Regards, John

PS
Named the Sherman after my wife, 1940's style lingo and she was OK with that. Go figure? Damn. Side Bar Fact: The first letter of the girls name painted on the side of a WWII Sherman tank, such as "Jiving Joan II", would often translate to mean the tanks company: as in "J" Company.

[[ICE]monkey]

great job with the sherman, and the weatherings spot on , not to heavy and overdone , not bad for a robbed kit ,was it alot cheaper ?
regards, cliff

[30+]

Very nice work on that Sherman!

Cheers, Jens

[grim_marmazet]

Nice Sherman John,

How did you achieve the weathering effect?

Cheers,
Rik

[Pcomm1]

Thank you guys. I only saved 125 dollars on the build when all was said and done. Next time I will avoid kits with missing parts, the wait for replacement or aftermarket parts is killer.

Visit this model master's web site to learn more about his outstanding weathering methods. We have been adapting to his methods for recent builds:

http://migjimenez.blogspot.com/search/l ... th%20scale" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But instead of oil based paint, I like to use Winsor & Newton Artist's Acrylics over Dullcote layers, no smell, not as toxic, less cost and dries fast.

John

[Pcomm1]

And works pretty good, my 9 year old nephew, yesterday, spent a couple of hours driving the Sherman around the yard and no failures...