1st vBench: Soviet Emcha, "Death to the German Occupiers"

[armor fiend]

A group of friends and I are doing a group build, quarter scale Shermans. I wanted to do something a little different, so I decided to build a Soviet Sherman (called Emcha's by their crews because symbol for 4 looked like the Cyrillic character for ch--Ч--"cha"), which we mostly M4A2's. Oh silly me, no such critter at 1/48 scale, so I have to do a lot of converting.

I'm starting with the HobbyBoss M4A3 (76)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/2917446107_4fbf22f550.jpg

I've got two Hauler photo-etch kits. One for the skids and one for the M4A3.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2917446123_8068a7bdf9.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2917446091_7c7bcf46e3.jpg

Because the particular tank I want to build has T49 tracks, I got the T49 resign kit from Fighting48th.com. No good photos, sorry. I'll have to take some with the digital.

Lastly, I got the resin M4A2 conversion from Steve Faxon.
http://www.track48.com/model-pics/faxon/4839b%20M4A2%20Dry%20Late%20Wet%20Early.JPG

I'm still waiting for my LionMarc 76mm barrel (with ring protector)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2917446063_057306083c.jpg

Here's the tank I want to build
http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/albums/Russian/russian_tanks.sized.jpg

Lastly, thanks to Toadman, for answering my questions and pointing me in the right direction.

[armor fiend]

So, first question: what color primer was used on Shermans?

[armor fiend]

And the barrel is here. Huzzah!

[César]

So, first question: what color primer was used on Shermans?

Red oxide primer for Shermans. Nice project, I will looking at this.

[Panzergrenadier]

Looks interesting...:)

[armor fiend]

Here's a bigger version of that image. BTW, "Death to the German Occupiers" is what is written on the tank.

http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/albums/Russian/russian_tanks.jpg

Now, decision time. Sprue A and N both contain bogies. Sprue N is what the directions say is to be used. The main difference between the two sprues is a defined line across the top on N, and a much more faded line across the top in A. But, there's two different types on A, also, where one set has a deeper bevel on it's lower arms. Oye.

Sprue A
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/48/hobbyboss/images/hb84801a.jpg

Sprue N
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/48/hobbyboss/images/hb84803n.jpg

[halaci]

I don't see these differences but as far as I see, the sprue N contains the raised return roller arms and the A contains the straight ones. Though the picture was taken just from an angle where the parallax effect can foul you, I would vote for the straight arm bogies on this Sherman.

[armor fiend]

AM goodies

Hauler PE and the LionMarc barrel
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/2930430626_ff6c14e9af.jpg

Steve Faxon's M4A2 resin conversion kits
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2929571121_e3a476f143.jpg

Fighting 48's T49 tracks
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2930429692_96b330efb5.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2929570223_de502b5277.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2930429756_8f972c76d1.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2929570299_9874a9a1b4.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2930429816_0819871a76.jpg

[armor fiend]

Does anyone know where I can get a picture of the underside of a Sherman? Should the front bulge and the bottom have a gap like the one on the right? I'm thinking no, but I don't really know. Leave it or fill it with putty?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/2932337824_ac62f03be7.jpg

[halaci]

As the front "bulge" (the transmission cover) was attached to the body by a row of large screws on both side, and there were no gaps, a gap this wide on the bottom is very unlikely, that part was fitted quite snugly.

[armor fiend]

A couple of messy shots here.

I've added the Faxon rear to the bottom hull. I forgot to take a shot of it with the full sized piece, and I had to cut it down to fit, as the Faxon top hull is solid. :( It's just a tad loose on the sides and doesn't quite fit the bottom. NP, I'll just putty and sand.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2943220333_1a3d13f325.jpg

Next, I decided to start on the turret. The turret is a the two full-hatched T-23, as can be seen in the pictures above. HobbyBoss did a poor job, as few of the main parts fit. Some had to be forced, others sanded and trimmed. The back part of the gun mount barely mates with the front. :yell: On one of the hatch covers, I had to cut off the bottom lips and then force the piece into it's spot. When done, there are noticeable gaps between the top and bottom of the turret. I need to fill and sand all that, then add a weld seem along the bottom. I need to find some Mr. Surfacer so I can make my turret look cast. What type should I use?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2943220361_d7716d4602.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2943220379_796de6a84f.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2943220399_2f748863f4.jpg

A dry fit for now.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2943220345_5e805db1b8.jpg

Lastly, a box of puppies. Everyone loves puppies.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2943220427_a03bb3cd6e.jpg

[MZsolt]

Hi, I would use some putty (I have MrHobby at home) first for these gaps, and after sanding maybe some correction with MrSurfacer 500...
Btw, your puppies look nice - resin set painted by you? :D

[armor fiend]

How can parts disappear on a tile floor in a 5' by 10' room!?! Argh! So far I've lost a loop for the turret (I made a brass wire replacement, you can see on top--this is better anyway, as the plastic one was too thin compared to all the photos I've seen). I also lost one of the parts for the back wall, the starboard side idler axle. http://boa.apolyton.net/forums/images/smilies/complain.gif

Anyway, some progress. I've puttied the gaps and sanded the edges. To get the cast texture, instead of buying Mr. Surfacer (for now) I did it the old-fashioned way: smeared glue on the turret and poked at it with a brush.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2969428061_e2f90e7524.jpg

One thing I'd like to mention is that the port side pistol port is wrong. Placed according to the instructions, it's recessed from the turret wall, not proud like I see in all the pictures. I've sanded down the frame so at least they are flush now.

[armor fiend]

Not a great picture, but . . .
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2969496673_28e7bcf4b0_m.jpg

The Faxon resin rear plate doesn't match up with the hull, so I've added styrene strips and will be cutting them down to fit. In some places, there are gaps that will be needed to be filled with putty. I've already cut and sanded the port and startboard sides, so I could fit the other strips.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2969496687_33e4efc874.jpg

[armor fiend]

I really hate PE for 1/48. :(

[armor fiend]

The rear, not finished. Still needs the idler axles.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2970394921_6ee76c70b0.jpg

A decent shot of the turret, with texture and PE.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/2970394671_6b40b7fd2b.jpg

As you can see, dry fitted, the hubs sticks out from one of the wheels. I had to sand off the raised nub on the inside of the hub to make the wheels fit.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2970394657_0c15784b30.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2971237894_6d904c8fce.jpg