RAM's M4A2 Sherman - COMPLETED - Pic's pg.2

[Old Wombat]

So, moving on from the F9F-8 Cougar into my preferred field of Armour, I'm going to build something I've never actually built before - a Sherman tank.

Seriously, in all of the years I've been modelling, I've never built an M4 Sherman of any variant. Closest I came was an M3 Grant, back when I was about 11 or 12.

Being me I've already made my first mistake; I trimmed off the casting numbers on the front left hull top next to the driver's hatch.

Anyway, enough waffle, this is more a place-holder for when I get past the tedious bit of building the running gear & get into the build proper.


Catch you soon!

[Old Wombat]

Oh, by the way, I'm using the Dragon 1/35 USMC M4A2 Late PTO (DR6462) variant as the base for this build which will be mostly OoB.




Below is a photo of the casting numbers I removed last night.

[NARSES2]

Sherman designations have always confused me (easily done), looking forward to watching this come together 

That casting number throws me a little though. The hull seems to be a series of welded plates ? Was that plate cast, rather than rolled, because of the hatch apertures ?

Please note mate that if I don't respond to any reply it's because I'm away at Telford, not being rude and I don't tend to travel with the internet if it's only a few days.

[Old Wombat]

I'm no expert, either, but the M4A2 is the twin-diesel powered version.

The Chieftain (a.k.a. Nicholas Moran) gives a bit of an explanation in the earlier part of this video, if you want a more professional opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Iirk8Q4Xw


PS: Shermans went through a number of construction types of varying levels of cast-&-plate which were, generally, welded together - the original M4s were almost all cast while the last versions were almost all plate.


Edit: Changed out the link for a better one.

[zenrat]

Looking at the box art this one appears to be made of wood...

[nighthunter]

Looking at the box art this one appears to be made of wood...

Zen,

The wooden added armor was to prevent Japanese magnetic mines. One of the things I'll be looking for at the local model railroad swap meet this weekend is HO (1/87) wooden siding and planks to put on my build, as well as some brass or plastic tube to make the gun barrel better. The latter is a maybe.

[Scotaidh]

Looking at the box art this one appears to be made of wood...

Zen,

The wooden added armor was to prevent Japanese magnetic mines. One of the things I'll be looking for at the local model railroad swap meet this weekend is HO (1/87) wooden siding and planks to put on my build, as well as some brass or plastic tube to make the gun barrel better. The latter is a maybe.

Why not just use stir sticks?  When I wanted a wooden bed-plate for my hover-truck that's what I did - stir sticks soaked in coffee for 48 hours or so ...

[nighthunter]

Looking at the box art this one appears to be made of wood...

Zen,

The wooden added armor was to prevent Japanese magnetic mines. One of the things I'll be looking for at the local model railroad swap meet this weekend is HO (1/87) wooden siding and planks to put on my build, as well as some brass or plastic tube to make the gun barrel better. The latter is a maybe.

Why not just use stir sticks?  When I wanted a wooden bed-plate for my hover-truck that's what I did - stir sticks soaked in coffee for 48 hours or so ...

Scott, are you talking about the coffee stir sticks?

[Scotaidh]

Looking at the box art this one appears to be made of wood...

Zen,

The wooden added armor was to prevent Japanese magnetic mines. One of the things I'll be looking for at the local model railroad swap meet this weekend is HO (1/87) wooden siding and planks to put on my build, as well as some brass or plastic tube to make the gun barrel better. The latter is a maybe.

Why not just use stir sticks?  When I wanted a wooden bed-plate for my hover-truck that's what I did - stir sticks soaked in coffee for 48 hours or so ...

Scott, are you talking about the coffee stir sticks?

Yes. 

[nighthunter]

Don't forget the bolts for the planks.

And green stuff for the concrete

[Old Wombat]

Photo's have been rare for this build, I'm afraid, but only because I've been flat-out working on it.

Currently in the paint shop getting the base OD done.

Once I've done that I'll be putting more of the sub-assemblies together &, hopefully, fitting them for semi-final paint.

Then I'll be working on the clear bits (a lot of little ones for the periscopes, etc.).

Followed by final construction & paint.



Typical of a Dragon kit, this thing has far too many small, fiddly parts & didn't come with a .50 cal (the mount but no gun), so I've used an AFV Club item from a set of .50 cals (which also had too many small, fiddly parts but looks very good).


Thanks for watching!

[zenrat]

Balsa has a nice fine grain and is very easy to work being soft (ironic being it's a hardwood).  I've had good results staining it with soy sauce.

[Old Wombat]

To stop people fussing about wood planks; My build isn't using them.

[nighthunter]

To stop people fussing about wood planks; My build isn't using them.

Sorry, that's my fault

[Old Wombat]

To stop people fussing about wood planks; My build isn't using them.

Sorry, that's my fault

Not really, I should have said so at the start.


Base OD has come out a bit lighter than desired, so I'll have to darken it a bit but I'll do that later, after she's all together & the camo is on (which I'll do a bit light to allow for overall darkening).

I'll try to get some photo's up but probably not before Monday. Got 3 more arvo shifts to get through first.