Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Building the RFM Sherman
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2019 - 07:26 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Installed the Exhaust.


To join the upper and lower hull I started with them parallel with each other, then slid the upper forward using some used knife blades to raise the bolted strip above the strip on the upper front hull.

Once it was over the edge I removed the blades.

Then slid it the rest of the way.



Donald!

I'm amazed that your way of building armor is so similar to mine! Yours looks so good that I feel more confident that my work isn't too shabby, either!

Again, GREAT WORK!
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2019 - 07:33 AM UTC

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This is very nice. I have a quick question. In pic 81 of the hull hatches, they have a beveled edge. How common was this because if I remember right, Blast is the only people that ever added this feature to the hatches. I havent noticed it in many photos but that doesnt mean much...I miss lots already.
Jeff



Hi, Jeff!

I could swear that I've seen beveled and straight edges on different Sherman Hull AND Turret Hatches. It's not something that many people have paid much attention to. GOOD QUESTION!!! I'm sure that some of the REAL Shermaholics/Experts can come up with a straightforward answer for you. I'm only sure that I'm not sure!!!

The only thing that I can think of is,

Different-style Hatches being made at different Tank Foundries..?

Yes, no, maybe???
OldWarloke
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Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2019 - 08:16 AM UTC

Quoted Text

This is very nice. I have a quick question. In pic 81 of the hull hatches, they have a beveled edge. How common was this because if I remember right, Blast is the only people that ever added this feature to the hatches. I havent noticed it in many photos but that doesnt mean much...I miss lots already.
Jeff


After checking the Son of Sherman Book I couldn't find out much about the Hull Hatches I think it's all in how they were made.
If they were cut from sheet armor plate they would have a more sharper edge, and if they were Cast or Forged they might have a more rounded edge. Here's a pic I found showing both next to each other.

Hope this helps.
Donald
ericadeane
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Posted: Friday, July 26, 2019 - 05:56 AM UTC
You asked if there was any screen above where the exhaust are located. Normally the armored louvers are locked down in place. No one could access that underhang area
OldWarloke
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Posted: Friday, July 26, 2019 - 07:04 AM UTC

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You asked if there was any screen above where the exhaust are located. Normally the armored louvers are locked down in place. No one could access that underhang area


Just what I thought I just wanted to be shure.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Friday, July 26, 2019 - 07:06 AM UTC
Now for the structure of the Turret.
View of the inside front a lot of detail for an interior.

The outside front.

If you'r not using the canvas cover the pins go this way.

If you'r using the cover it don't matter.
Skip the lifting rings on the mantlet if using the cover for they will be in the way.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Friday, July 26, 2019 - 07:14 AM UTC
Front view with the canvas in place.

Some filling and sanding is required on the joints of the canvas
& the rear areas f the turret.





Next to add all the little detail parts.
Finished for today.
Donald
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Friday, July 26, 2019 - 08:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

This is very nice. I have a quick question. In pic 81 of the hull hatches, they have a beveled edge. How common was this because if I remember right, Blast is the only people that ever added this feature to the hatches. I havent noticed it in many photos but that doesnt mean much...I miss lots already.
Jeff



The front edge, between the hinge and the handle, was rounded. The backside was square.

KL
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 02:09 AM UTC
The Cupola has a separate ring to hold the clear parts.

There's a small latch to hold the Hatch open, it was a lot of fun bending the Pe. there.


The Commanders Sight should have been on the Pe. sheet, this is from an old sheet from my spare parts box. the one in the kit is really bad.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 02:18 AM UTC
The Cupola isn't glued down yet.

The Radio Antenna is from RB Models the 2 that come in the kit aren't too bad but this looks a lot better.

That's all for now.
Donald
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 01:32 PM UTC
What did the stock TC sight look like? That's one of those pieces that's in a lot of PE sets but just looks better to me in plastic. The real part was made from 5/8 x 1-1/4 bar so .005 brass doesn't cut it for me.



KL
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, July 27, 2019 - 09:56 PM UTC
The part that I used is really heavy Pe. Brass,this is what the Kit part looks like.

No openings in it, just a L shaped piece of plastic.
Donald
ericadeane
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 12:56 AM UTC
Don, yesterday I followed your method of track assembly. Everything went well. Thanks for your tips and pictures
OldWarloke
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 01:04 AM UTC
[quote]Don, yesterday I followed your method of track assembly. Everything went well. Thanks for your tips and pictures [/quote

See, this is why I do this.
I like to help if I can, and not worry if someone worries about if a part looks better in plastic or Pe.
Regards.
Donald
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 02:51 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I like to help if I can, and not worry if someone worries about if a part looks better in plastic or Pe.



You shouldn't "worry", you should do whatever you like. I was just expressing my opinion on what I like to do, and why I think that way. I am following this thread to see how the thing builds up, which is why I was interested in why you thought the PE piece was better than the kit part and should have come on the kit's PE fret.

KL
panamadan
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 04:08 AM UTC
Shure is a good build.
Pongo_Arm
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 04:28 AM UTC

Quoted Text

What did the stock TC sight look like? That's one of those pieces that's in a lot of PE sets but just looks better to me in plastic. The real part was made from 5/8 x 1-1/4 bar so .005 brass doesn't cut it for me.



KL



where there multiple versions of the gunners periscope housing? that shot looks quite a bit taller then the kit part
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 04:51 AM UTC

Quoted Text

where there multiple versions of the gunners periscope housing? that shot looks quite a bit taller then the kit part



Yes, the originals were flush with the roof. The first armored housings had a sheet metal cover and later the armored cover seen in my picture.

EDIT - Ah, now I see what you were talking about. There were no "intermediate" height housings.

KL
ericadeane
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 05:02 AM UTC
Greg Sutton: I have the turret side by side with my Asuka turret -- I can tell you I see no difference in height of the gunner's periscope armored housing.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 05:19 AM UTC
Hey Guys, Here's The 50 Cal. from the kit.
It is really nice it even has the Butterfly Trigger unlike the Taska Gun.





You know, if I didn't know the name of the company making this kit, I would think it was from Taska.
The parts and their lay out are very Similar .
Regards.
Donald
highpoint
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 09:52 AM UTC
Thanks Kurt,
As many photos as Ive looked at (not nearly as many as us though) I hadnt noticed many being rounded. Now im gonna have to pay more attention.
Ultra_aussie
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Posted: Sunday, July 28, 2019 - 10:34 PM UTC
Awesome build log as always Donald ! The way you take photos and note your builds are great and an excellent reference for anyone wanting to do the same build. Keep up the great work mate.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, July 29, 2019 - 04:13 AM UTC
Today I present the Pioneer Tools. The ones in the kit are nice, but I like the ones from Formations better ( Not shure if they are still in business. I purchased about 20 of them years agoe Still using them.
Well here's a shot of the kit Sprue.

Here's the ones from Formations.

With the Formations tools being resin you have to separate them from the pour blocks. It's not too hard to do.



With the Kit parts you will need some belts with their hold down parts to make it look right.
Well on to more painting
Donald
barkingdigger
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Posted: Monday, July 29, 2019 - 08:38 AM UTC
Hi Ron,

Looking at the detailed back of the main gun mount, I'd say it is begging for a "field replacement" diorama, except you'd need the interior of the gun mount/recoil system, and of course something to fill the big empty void you'd see through the big hole in the turret face! Still, we're definitely seeing the bar getting raised yet again.

Oh, and the top of your 50cal barrel has a nasty seam to scrape - don't you just love macro photography?
OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, July 30, 2019 - 05:36 AM UTC
I almost forgot the Turret Ring, another part pointing to an interior.


You still have to paint the edge as it can be seen with the Turret in place.



Now it's just the final assembly and touch up painting.
Regards.
Donald