Another converted Sherman

kerick · August 03, 2015, 07:30:15 PM

Inspired by a group build on BTS I'm embarking on an ambitious conversion of an Israeli M51 to a 25mm armed Urban Combat Vehicle. Here is the group pic of donors/victim kits. All but the M51 were in the stash already.

Concept is a insurgent war with fighting in city streets where modern tanks are too much firepower yet something tougher than a Bradley is required. A couple of retired Shermans are pulled out of museums and fitted with Bradley turrets and extra armor for field expedient testing.

I'll keep the Bradley turret intact with perhaps the addition of ERA. The Sherman hull will get belly armor, additional glacis armor, extra side armor from the Bradley and ERA. Extra protection for the commander and gunner. I'll adapt what I can from the Bradley BUSK mods. Also some sort of mine plow, roller or dozer blade up front. If nothing else an adaptation of the hedgerow cutters into something that will push aside cars and barriers.

I'll try to keep up some progress on this but work is really busy and so is family stuff. When summer slacks off and child #3 goes back to college things might slow down and allow more modeling time. That's what I always say......

Old Wombat · August 04, 2015, 07:00:12 PM

Arm-chair? Check!

Popcorn? Check!

Drinks? Check!

kerick · August 04, 2015, 07:16:54 PM

A ramming device as suggested by Lemon jello
http://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=20109

I'll definitely look into this!

Old Wombat · August 04, 2015, 07:38:47 PM

It seems the Israelis call theirs a D'hif ... Yours could be a D'huf?

D'huf! D'huf! D'huf! D'huf!

Who the hell's that at this time of night?

The Israeli Beat Boys, knockin' at the door.

kerick · August 04, 2015, 08:13:49 PM

Quote from: Old Wombat on August 04, 2015, 07:38:47 PM
It seems the Israelis call theirs a D'hif ... Yours could be a D'huf?

D'huf! D'huf! D'huf! D'huf!

Who the hell's that at this time of night?

The Israeli Beat Boys, knockin' at the door.

As long as it doesn't turn into a D'oh!

Captain Canada · August 05, 2015, 07:22:52 AM

Very cool. Love armour whiffs and we defo don't see enough of them !

kerick · August 05, 2015, 10:33:17 AM

At least I have the paint scheme worked out. I'm going to use the Berlin Brigade urban camp. Painting is what usually bogs me down.

kerick · August 09, 2015, 10:40:41 AM

Raining today so no yard work. Time for a little model building.

Added some V shaped belly armor to help deflect IED blasts.

IMG_1260 by Ken Erickson, on Flickr

Plastic rod glued to the seams to look like welds. I filed the rod down after the glue dried and sanded it with 100 grit paper to look a little more like welds.

IMG_1262 by Ken Erickson, on Flickr

So many wheels...........

IMG_1261 by Ken Erickson, on Flickr

And just getting started on road wheels. Already in a snag about paint colors. Should I paint the area below the fenders olive drab or sand to represent the color of the original vehicle or go Berlin Brigade all over? I'm leaning towards OD. The road wheels will be BB camo except for a couple in OD or sand to represent replaced parts.

I need to hit a model RR shop for some grant line bolts for the add on armor.

Captain Canada · August 09, 2015, 10:53:26 AM

Nice work so far ! The new lower hull looks good. Almost amphib

kerick · August 09, 2015, 02:36:05 PM

Further research, (ie looking at tank pictures), has shown that the RW BB camo did not extend down to the lower part of the tank. Road wheels were the standard camo color at the time of bronze green. So it looks like OD on the lower hull. That makes it easy. Or sand. crap.....

kerick · August 11, 2015, 09:59:56 AM

Sprayed OD onto the lower hull parts last night. Don't use old spray cans of paint. Just don't.
On the other hand, cut the armor from the sides of the Bradley to use on the Sherman. Lots of Bradley road wheels left in the box. I'll find a use for them some day.

kerick · August 14, 2015, 07:59:03 PM

I cut the armor sides from the Bradley. I had to shorten them by one of the lower panels each.

IMG_1264 by Ken Erickson, on Flickr

I plan to mount them on the sides of the Sherman hull far enough out to clear the tracks.

IMG_1265 by Ken Erickson, on Flickr

Anyone know how the armor was attached to the Bradley sides? Near as I can tell from photos is its bolted straight to the body of the Bradley. I'll have to create some sort of spacer for the Sherman. I filled in the area at the drivers hatch on the Bradley to make it the same as the right side. Stretched sprue simulates welds.

Old Wombat · August 15, 2015, 06:11:27 AM

kerick, I can't answer your questions, although I believe you are pretty close to the mark.

However, may I suggest removing the weld seams on the left side? $:-\$

The welds would be weak points &, to make this Sherman conversion, they'd probably just put Bradley right-side plates on the left of the Sherman, if possible (I'm not sure about how the armour is structured & whether that is viable - if not I'd guess they'd make front-left plates specifically for this conversion).

kerick · August 15, 2015, 05:20:51 PM

Good point. The welds cover up a seam from filling in that area with left over armor that I cut off. Impossible to fill the glue seam without losing lots of bolt heads. Its the best I could do to make it look decent.

Thanks for the suggestion.

zenrat · August 16, 2015, 03:55:36 AM

Quote from: kerick on August 11, 2015, 09:59:56 AM
...Don't use old spray cans of paint. Just don't...

Did it come out like silly string? Or spit & splatter?
I've learnt the hard way to check old cans spray properly before pointing them at kit parts.