alexb
Glue slinger 
Posts: 687 
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Post by alexb on Oct 20, 2018 4:52:21 GMT
It's been a bit. I'm behind on some builds but what a better time to start another one. An idea I've been gnawing on is a what-if WW2 1946 Sherman. To be realistic, a 1946 Sherman would be essentially a M4a3E8. The things soldiered on in Korea. But for the sake of what-if-tude, we'll up the ante a bit with some modifications. I've got a Tamiya Easy-Eight, but I'm not using it for this.
I dug out this old build. It's one I did back in the 90s using the Tamiya M4a3 hull with an Italeri M4a1 turret. This was a common conversion back then. So the plan was to replace the VVSS suspension for a HVSS setup. I've got an Academy M4a3 (76) that is better. I'm almost finished with a M4a3 (75). And, as mentioned, I've got the Tamiya M4a3E8. I am pretty well covered in terms of Shermans. 
I planned to get the HVSS from another old build. The problem was....well I had a lapse of mental coherence and forgot the HVSS is mated to DML's old chassis, which is Italeri. The DML/Italeri lower hull would not fit the Tamiya. I thought about cutting off the HVSS and trying to mount them on the Tamiya hull. But then I had an idea.  This is Academy's M4A3 with HVSS and armed with the 105mm howitzer. I built this back in the first quarter of 2013 and I have not really cared for it. This kit comes with the cleaning rod for the 75/76mm gun. The dozer blade is too narrow for the HVSS. I had to do a good bit of "persuading" to get the arms to clear the wider HVSS track. The HVSS used the M1a1 Dozer blade. This one was probably tweaked from the M1 dozer blade designed for the VVSS equipped Shermans. Or, Academy didn't think about including the wider HVSS track into the equation. Regardless, it was classic Academy shortcuts...which seems to be their deal. To be fair, the 105mm turret is quite nice. I am not a fan of turret howitzers. I prefer the M7 for my SP arty vehicles.
So the first thing to do...remove the dozer blade. Not horribly tough. The dozer mounts to the front and middle HVSS sets per side in an open slot. For the rear sets, this is covered by an insert. The kit came with extras. I have found enough for two HVSS units. I'm hoping the find the rest or else I'll scratch them. So with that started, the plan is to seriously up the armor to the turret and hull. I'm debating on adding a 90mm gun. I'll probably extend the turret rear. Since the turret isn't a later type (ex. round loader's hatch), I was thinking of using the round hatch as a heavier MG mount with a shield. And, maybe some sort of side skirts. I might use the dozer setup on a VVSS Sherman. I have a M4a3 almost done. I am sort of leaning towards picking up a M3 Lee and using it with that. As for the 105mm turret, it's actually a nice turret so I might try to find a home for it at some point. Or I can just slap a 75mm gun on it. |
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Post by SteveM on Oct 20, 2018 7:41:51 GMT
That’s another interesting What-if Alex, nice one  |
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Post by Paul B on Oct 20, 2018 13:19:18 GMT
Get the 90mm on Alex  . Be careful not to make it too similar to the Sherman-Pershing-turreted test-bed |
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Post by Snipersmudge on Oct 20, 2018 13:20:34 GMT
OK I'm in for this  |
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 687
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Post by alexb on Oct 20, 2018 20:34:25 GMT
You mean this?
It looks like one of those stubby Meng cartoon kits....free plug for the upcoming GB.
Here's a shot of the T23 turret next to a T26 turret. If I go with the 90mm gun I plan on extending the rear but have it taper off so it should appear a good bit narrower. Whatever it is armed with the sides will be up-armored along the area framed by the yellow lines. I'm shooting for 2 extra inches of armor. Thicker than that and wrapping the styrene on the turret may be tricky. This will basically be a Jumbo armed with a 90mm gun or 76mm and with HVSS suspension. And it'll be a factory production variant and not a field mod.
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Post by JEFF on Oct 21, 2018 9:07:22 GMT
I'll watch. |
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Post by Paul B on Oct 21, 2018 10:21:05 GMT
That's the one Alex . I have been pondering on putting that one together since my Armorama days . |
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Post by armorguy on Oct 21, 2018 18:10:17 GMT
Very interesting Alex, I'm in.
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 687
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Post by alexb on Feb 22, 2019 18:27:39 GMT
Back to work on this one. I sort of forgot about it. I put it away before the remodel and stumbled across it last week.
I beefed up the turret with layers of sheet styrene. 
Another shot after some clean-up. It still needs work, but if it doesn't look right, I'll probably cover it with a dust cover.
Turret placed for mockup. In all honesty, I probably should have stopped right here, cut the turret ring, and finished up the details. This looks pretty nice as it is.
The plan was to heavily up-armor the turret and hull. I used tape to make a template of the turret sides and hull panels.
 
Remember where I said I should have stopped...well that was foreshadowing. I used .040 styrene. It's pretty stiff but I wanted the added armor to really show. I wanted each panel to be a single piece...like it was designed at the factory as opposed to being added in the field. A Sherman turret is deceptively irregular in its shape. It took all the stubborness I could muster to get this thing clamped down.
With that added, I began removing the details on the hull.
I don't have a great deal of hope in that turret. I removed the clamps and rubberbands before I posted this and well...it looks pretty bad. I'm going to try to remove the add-on plates. If it doesn't work out...this build may shift to a casemate TD. I'll give it a few days to think over.
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Post by JEFF on Feb 22, 2019 19:28:43 GMT
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Dude. Onwards and sideways. |
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 687
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Post by alexb on Feb 23, 2019 6:35:24 GMT
Yeah it tends to be trial and error at times. The ideas in my head don't always translate to styrene as I had expected. As it was, it just looked sloppy. I did find a second T23 turret and I was also able to get the add-on plates off with limited damage. I might just go back and rebuild it without the added armor. I'm glad because I really don't want to do a casemate Sherman TD. The downside is I've stripped the fittings from the hull front and those will need putting back on. Not a huge deal, but just added work.
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Post by Boots on Feb 23, 2019 16:05:06 GMT
You certainly like a challenge fella |
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Post by Ian H. on Feb 23, 2019 17:34:36 GMT
Another great concept, Alex. Looking forward to this one, for sure.
Regards,
Ian
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Post by Paul B on Mar 1, 2019 16:21:31 GMT
Shame Alex, I thought it would turn out okay  . Never mind I reckon you'll get what you're after in the end |
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 687
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Post by alexb on Jul 20, 2019 16:35:54 GMT
Back to work on this one.
So I had to rethink some things on this...namely the add-on armor idea. To be honest, if I hadn't already removed the glacis details I'd probably just do a gun swap and call it done. I added a solid piece of add-on armor to the front. No hull MG. I was planning on adding plates to the sides. However, I decided to just up-armor the front quarters where the driver and radio-guy sit. It's to save weight. I also worked up a deal to allow the turret to sit without having to hack up the turret underside. I found this plastic cover cap...it fit. I will glue it to the underside of the turret.
So the hull...I took a hint from the M36 Jackson and added add-on armor points to mount additional plates. I don't think I've ever seen a M36 with the armor on it. With the hull up-armored I really needed to do something with the turret. I added mount points to the turret sides. If I ever come up with some add-on plates I like I can just glue them on.
Speaking of the turret, I had a problem with the extended turret front/mantlet. You wouldn't be able to open the driver and radioman's hatches. When I was moving bits from the boogered turret to the spare, I left the extension shim off so the hatches can clear it.
This is an early T23 turret. It has the large round loader's hatch. Realistically, this would have the late war smaller oval loader's hatch. The easy fix was to use the round opening and give it a shielded MG mount.
The 90mm gun is big and since I lost the turret front extension, I'm going to try to extend the rear. I'm going to test fit the extension on the boogered turret before I start hacking off the rear details of the good turret. I'm probably going to add a stowage basket to the rear of the hull as opposed to the typical folding shelf you see on Shermans. I'm thinking about side skirts, but the problem there will be mounting them. The HVSS track extends out from the hull so I'd have to rig up a mount to clear them.
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Post by Paul B on Jul 20, 2019 17:27:01 GMT
I like it Alex . Regarding the skirts, you should be be okay as the track guards are still there. The tracks should be inside of these, you could strengthen the guards and fix the the skirts to that |
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Post by Snipersmudge on Jul 20, 2019 18:06:15 GMT
Nice one mate looking good |
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Post by Ian H. on Jul 20, 2019 19:12:32 GMT
Looks great, Alex! Great work on the add-on appliqué armor. George Patton, C-In-C of III Corps 1946, will be happy.....no sandbags!!!
Best wishes,
Ian
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alexb
Glue slinger
Posts: 687
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Post by alexb on Jul 21, 2019 0:49:40 GMT
Thanks.
Paul, I figured I'd use the guards as mounts and beef up their supports. And since Ian mentioned him, I'm thinking about doing something with them that would make the old man howl. I'm thinking about having the skirts come up above the guards a bit and let the crews stow jerry cans, sand bags, etc.
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Post by SteveM on Jul 21, 2019 7:30:26 GMT
Looks feasible which is the mark of a great what-if in my book. Keep it coming Alex
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