Sherman-M4A3/76(W)

[James Tainton]

I'm going to make a M4A3/76(W) Sherman tank using the old Tamiya kit for the hull and the Italeri for the turret. Also I will utilize some pieces from the Aber set for M4's.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/boxes.jpg

one of the first jobs to inprove the basic Tamiya kit is to add sponsons with plastic card
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0020.JPG.jpg

wheel assemblies come next after sanding and cleaning up the parts,
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0021.JPG.jpg

cut off the thingy at the top -to be replaced with the Aber piece.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0002.JPG.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0022.JPG.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0023.JPG.jpg

[James Tainton]

the reccess was filled with two part putty that sands down nicely then the Aber pieces added.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0004.JPG.jpg

this pic shows alot of plastic dust that will come off in the wash.the wheel will be smoother as well. nuts added
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0010.jpg

the sponsons filled with putty and sanded smooth,
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0025.JPG.jpg

[James Tainton]

here I've added the Aber strips on the side after sanding the molded on ones.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0017.JPG.jpg

fenders bent and the sttachment strip added
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0019.JPG.jpg

added stretched sprue through the holes in the Aber parts these will be melted back with a stick of inscence- that melts the sprue back on either side intoo a nice round rivet shape.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0026.JPG.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0028.JPG.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0030.JPG.jpg

[James Tainton]

fenders flaps glued in place with the strengthening strips.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0033.JPG.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/DSCF0037.JPG.jpg

[Kurt Laughlin]

Originally posted by panzerfaust@Oct 9 2004, 01:10 AM
added stretched sprue through the holes in the Aber parts these will be melted back with a stick of inscence- that melts the sprue back on either side intoo a nice round rivet shape.
James

FYI, the fenders were attached to the mounting strips with screws and nuts, not rivets. That's a good technique for making them though.

If there are no rivets, does that still make me a rivet counter? :lol:

KL

[James Tainton]

Hi Kurt- I kinda figured it was wrong but I'm not a Sherman guy so I'm ignerant on M4 minutia. l will keep this in mind for the future. ( or I may get ambitious and slice these off and replace with bolts.) But thanks for the info, none of the pics I had for reference were clear on this. Now I know. I will undoubtly make many more mistakes but I hope the errors will be pointed out - this is a learning experience for me. Cheers. :)

[Kurt Laughlin]

That's a problem with many PE sets - bad representations of fasteners (e.g., more PE!) or no mention at all.

Do the ABER instructions say to put the sand shield strips such that the holes overhang the sponson bottom? There were captive nuts on the back side that the shield screws threaded into; these had to hang below the edge.

You are up in Vancouver, right? There's an M4A2(76) HVSS at the BCR Armoury. Many of the details like this would be the same on an M4/M4A2/M4A3 large hatch, so you could check it out if you wanted.

KL

[James Tainton]

Do the ABER instructions say to put the sand shield strips such that the holes overhang the sponson bottom? There were captive nuts on the back side that the shield screws threaded into; these had to hang below the edge.
No they don't! Thanks again.

http://members.shaw.ca/panzerfaust/abersherman.jpg


You are up in Vancouver, right? There's an M4A2(76) HVSS at the BCR Armoury. Many of the details like this would be the same on an M4/M4A2/M4A3 large hatch, so you could check it out if you wanted.

I'll look into it-thanks for the heads up.

[James Tainton]

Kurt or anyone that may know- the Aber side strips have one side with two rows of holes, upper and lower, and one side that has only the lower set.. what decides which side shows out- the instructions only say optional- which one would be right for the M4A3/76(W) that I'm trying to make? Thanks ;)

[James Tainton]

The tracks that come with the Tamiya hull are the ones with the side extensions. If I were to replace these with AFV tracks or something -any suggestions?

[Sticky]

All the pics i have seen show only one row of holes, and the strip welded to the hull.

[Kurt Laughlin]

Originally posted by panzerfaust@Oct 10 2004, 06:23 PM
Kurt or anyone that may know- the Aber side strips have one side with two rows of holes, upper and lower, and one side that has only the lower set.. what decides which side shows out- the instructions only say optional- which one would be right for the M4A3/76(W) that I'm trying to make? Thanks ;)
The strips with one row of holes were apparently the earlier type. I have photos of these on several European Sherman survivors, including a couple of wrecks which definitely weren't reworked post-war. Some remanufactured tanks have single row strips, some have combinations of double and single, and some have all double. (Sometimes double row strips were cut to fit below the applique plates which look like single row.) Late war photos show the double row strips in use. Why the change, I don't know. The sand shields always had 1/4-turn fasteners that engaged in the captive nuts on the strips - It's not like you could flip the strips end for end or anything like that.

If you are making an earlier tank with the two circular turret hatches, I'd use the single row types. If you were making a tank with an oval loader's hatch, you could use the double row strips. (No connection between turret and sand shields - it's just the most visible feature.)

The strips should be two inches wide. One inch hangs below the sponson. On the tapered end strips the tapered side is always up.

P.S. HVSS tanks did not use these strips at all.

KL

[Sticky]

Thanks for the enlightenment Kurt!

[James Tainton]

Yes thanks for the info.
Here the Italeri turret is getting put together.
The barrel of this kit is incorrect in its depiction of a stepped effect where it goes into the mantlet. (oval) This was filled with putty and sanded smooth.
The little side hatch needs to have the joint seams (arrows) filled and sanded smooth.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/turret1.jpg

[James Tainton]

here I have used some Mr. Surfacer 500 to give the mantlet some casting texture and fill side hatch seam- the mantlet depiction here is only initail stage roughing in. Most of the Mr. stuff wil get sanded off on the sides as I don't believe there was much texture here.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/mrsufonturret.jpg

[James Tainton]

put nuts where ther were rivets
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/flapnut2.jpg

the holes are now in the correct place
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/holes.jpg

the lifting loop things added-used wire for these. and used MS for some texture on the lower portion of the hull.
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/texture.jpg

[James Tainton]

the kit' s hathes will be (Inproved with parts from the Aber set)
http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/hatch2.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/periscope1.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/pantherd/Sherman/periscope2.jpg

the sanding and look here is rough but the work will continue behnfd the scences to finesse a nice finish. ;)

[Finnmodeler]

Originally posted by panzerfaust@Oct 9 2004, 01:10 AM


added stretched sprue through the holes in the Aber parts these will be melted back with a stick of inscence- that melts the sprue back on either side intoo a nice round rivet shape.

Great idea! Will have to try it myself too when needed.

Niko