Dragon 'Cobra' M4A1 76mm Sherman

[JungleJim]

Ay-ay-ay! Slow modelling so far this summer. Thought I'd depart a bit from my usual modern subjects and tackle one of the many Shermans I seemed to have collected! All resin bits are from Formations, and AFV Club tracks. Lots of little kit bits to add still, except for the Culin device, most of the hard stuff (can you say suspension and tracks...) is done.

Jim

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0285s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0288s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0291s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0293s.jpg

[Panzergrenadier]

I like the texture of it. :thumb: Sweet job.


Siim

[MightyRhinox]

Okay forgive a Sherman newbie, what is a Culin device? Also how do you paint the tracks and road wheels? (or are they articulated?) I've just been trying to figure out the best way to do indies and am stuck between painting on the model or in sections...... :(

[Larry Bates]

Looks real nice Jim,

What vehicle are planning to do? Are those MK tracks or AFV Club?

Larry

[amba]

Great work Jim! Keep it coming...

Take your time, I'm also a slow modeller ;)

-Ambjoern

[Plushy]

The Culin Device is a home made solution to busting through the Hedgerow country in Normandy

Checks this link for info from Steve Zaloga :
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/usa/z...ulin_cutter.htm (http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/usa/zaloga_culin_cutter.htm)

and heres some photos of what some of them look like :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/Thiokol/JFA5-D0327.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/Thiokol/hedge1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/Thiokol/hedge2.jpg

:)

Great Looking Sherman by the way Jim !

Are you going to do a Operation Cobra time type paint job or a later operation ??

Cheers Plushy

[JungleJim]

Plushy, neat photos - those smaller pics looks like someone was trying to duplicate a type of Culin, don't seem to be 'wartime' photos :) I want to do the OD/Black camo used in Cobra, that's one of the main reasons I like this particular version.
Larry, they are AFV Club T-48's, the kit ones are a little more work I think!
MightyR, I have everthing so that I can take it off and paint it. I'll take some pics of how I did the suspension bits to remove them. On the tracks, I just dab a bit of Superscale Liquid Tape on the pin ends during assembly, which keeps the end connectors on good and it all stays together without glue and is nice and flexible. Will keep updating as I progress (obviously I'm not as productive as Sammy!)

Cheers,
Jim

[Larry Bates]

Cool,
Operation Cobra is my favorite time period for the Shermans.


Larry

[MightyRhinox]

Thanks Jim, Thanks Plushy

[Sheeds]

Nice work Jim, excellent photos. :)

Willy.

[Plushy]

The two smaller photos are from a guy rebuilding a stuart tank and he wanted to add a culins device so using plans he made his own .

O.D and black is one of the nicest allied schemes i reckon and a personal fave !

Plushy

[Finnmodeler]

Jim,
that looks just excellent. Was it easy to build?

Niko

[MikkoH]

Jim it looks nice! Have that M4A1 sherman also. I planned to do it South African. Any tweaks to be known?

Cheers Mikko

[JungleJim]

A little more work done, and some details:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0304s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0298s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0299s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0300s.jpg
Turret casting number just sliced from kit sprues:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0301s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0303s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0297s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/img13.jpg
My attempt at a the Rhinoceros Culin plow. Got the triangle plow bits a little too big I think, but close enough for me.

Hei Mikko and Niko! The kit goes together pretty good overall. I added the Formations stuff, but the kit plastic is perfectly usable, I wanted adjustable idler mount for the link to link tracks. The kit track is do-able, but fiddly, I had a set of AFV Club T48's, so I used them instead. Also the kit photoetch is a pain, the siren guard was a pain in the *ss, so thankfully the plastic ones can be used, although it seems a little too small.
Things to watch out for, most importantly I found out that the two filler caps on either side of the large cast engine inake cover need to be removed, and the front fenders are incorrect. The photos show my fixes. I still need to add the skirt mounting strips, and I'm going to add some sandbags and stowage. Also used an Academy US style radio antennae (the kit has Commonwealth radio bases?)

Cheers,
Jim

[MikkoH]

Hi Jim!

Thanks for the input. Have to remember check those things when starting to build this one. Good work on your Sherman!

Cheers Mikko

[Larry Bates]

Hi Jim,

Nice job on the culin hedgerow device. Oh, and those roadwheel bolts :o

Larry

[JungleJim]

Just about ready for paint. I ended up rebuilding the plows so it was closer to photo.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0314s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0316s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0318s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0320s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_0315s.jpg

[MartinD]

Hi Jim,

Nice looking Sherman you have there. The Culin adds some character. I like the sandbags a bit less. They don't seem to have enough 'sag'.
And have you added the gunner periscope? The opening seems a bit empty.

Cheers, and good luck with the paintjob.
M4rtinD

[Larry Bates]

Jim,

Thats one sweet looking M4A1. :thumb:

Larry

[mnickolson]

Jim,

One great looking Sherman :)

Mike

[JungleJim]

Well, finally got around to putting some paint on the old girl. Still glossy from a coat of Future (used decals). Debating on adding the large yellow turret call signs because I think they were painted over.

First a few pics to show how I modified the suspension to allow everything to be apart for painting/weathering. Not my idea, stole it from a friend (Ed Kusiak):

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3462s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3464s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3465s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3468s.jpg

Then few shots of in-progress painting, just started the base coats of sandbags, then will do the stowage, and progress on to the weathering.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3471s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3473s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3475s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3477s.jpg

Jim

[Stuke Sowle]

Superb work Jim! I actually like the look of this OD and black Shermies!

[Larry Bates]

Looks Fantastic Jim,

I also love the OD and black Shermies.

Larry

[lquah]

Nice paint job Jim! I like the look of the Culin cutter - looks mean!
:)

Lawrence

[sam_dwyer]

Excellent Jim!

Im really getting into Shermans at present, how did this kit go together?

Looks killer
Sam

[Larry Bates]

Originally posted by sam_dwyer@Aug 21 2006, 08:50 PM
Excellent Jim!

Im really getting into Shermans at present, how did this kit go together?

Looks killer
Sam
HUH????!!!!! :lol:

[MikkoH]

Looks great Jim! :)

Cheers Mikko

[JungleJim]

Some more progress, just about done. Painting up one of the fantastic Alpine figures to pop in the hatch. I noticed the colour is off in the photos, one of my colour balanced bulbs burnt out and I was using a regular incandescent with the remaining colour balanced one, screwed up the white balance on the camera I guess. Oh, and the green background I thought I'd try out - doesn't go good with an OD vehicle. :o

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3483s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3485s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3488s.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y76/jcarswell/In%20Progress%20Models/IMG_3491s.jpg

Cheers,
Jim

[sam_dwyer]

Gday Jim,
Love it, its Shermanriffic!

Sam

[JungleJim]

Hey Sam,
Thanks! I forgot to answer your previous query. It is a pretty straight forward build, a few little tweaks here and there (have to remove the extra filler caps on either side of the armoured intake cover, add sandshield mounting strips, and rebuild the front fenders). Turret is well done. But enough WW2 crapola, back to modern stuff now :lol:

Jim

[Stuke Sowle]

Originally posted by sam_dwyer@Aug 31 2006, 07:50 PM
its Shermanriffic!


Tell me you didn't go there......please! :)

Very nice build Jim. Cool to see something a bit "older" out of you. What's up next .... the new Abrams from DML? :)

[MikkoH]

Jim!

This is absolutely Nice!! Forget those modern armoured computers and get back to time when men and machines were made of Steel! :lol:

Cheers Mikko

[Cadu Souza]

KILLER!!!!

Regards
Cadu Souza