For my next project, I need an early production M4A4 which had direct vision ports. Unfortunately, there's nothing out there kit wise (that I know of) so a little kit bashing is required.

I took one Tasca Sherman III DV hull and removed the upper centre section. The same was done with a Tasca Sherman V hull. Makes a bit of a mess of the III hull, but here's the parts dry fitted with no filler etc at this stage...



The rest is headed for the bin....



Gary

New TMD has a great collection of correct Tasca M4 (Sherman) hulls.
Also the correct early M4A4 hull you are building.
Their stuff is amazing.
Btw. I am not affiliated in any way with the New TMD.

Nice job on the m4a4 d.v.Ive got Tmd and the Resicast hull top for Tasca kit.Both are very well done indeed.One of my fave m4 variants.Good job that man.
Happy modeling from Richard

Thank you.

Yep, TMD do some good stuff and I have some in my stash. I especially liked their T6 Prototype kit ( http://www.plasticarmour.com/gary_boxall.html - towards bottom of page).
However, I wasn't aware that TMD made a DV M4A4 hull?

Gary

Hidden in the "British WW2" section: M4A4 DV hull

Still, your build is already under way! (BTW, I'd save the hull ventilators and radio pot from those scraps before binning - you never know when they might come in handy...)

How did I miss that

I had a spare III DV hull just sitting in my spares box anyway so saved me a few coins doing it this way. Plus I don't usually take the easy route when building something different

Good idea bout the antenna pot and vent covers

Gary

I am a big fan of scratch building and kit bashing. Best of luck on your project! For less adventurous souls, besides the Tiger Model Designs resin M4A4 Direct Vision conversion, there was also one by Verlinden, which turns up on Ebay from time to time.

Nearly all of these early variants went into combat eventually. The US Army acquired over 1200 M4A4 tanks for training the new armored divisions. When Chrysler stopped building them in August, 1943, the British objected, so the Army released their training vehicles to be rebuilt at the factory and delivered to the UK (the training program was winding down, as the new armored divisions and independent tank battalions were overseas or getting ready to deploy, and the armor center just had to supply replacement personnel). Lend Lease deliveries ended in October, 1944.

Thus, you will sometimes see very early M4A4 tanks with appliqué armor (including blanked off vision ports), and M34A1 gun mounts in UK service.

Thanks for the info Gerald. This one is destined to be a Canadian vehicle.

Gary

The 'cut outs' below the vision ports are increased in size and bullet splash guards made from spare PE. The 'new' cast pieces received an application of Mr Surfacer to create a cast effect and Archer resin welds are added along with casting marks and numbers...



Gary

Neatly integrated!

Great piece of modelling. Nice to see some skill being applied. I am lucky enough to have one of Fabio Sacchi's masterpiece M4A4 DV hulls and lower hull conversion which was to be a Formations product I believe but I can now add more M4A4 DV using this technique.
Looking forward to seeing the end result
Al

Thank you gentlemen

Front end just about completed....





Light guards etc will be added later in the build.

Gary

Archer welds?

very nice work, btw, wish mine was that neat

Thanks Jon Yes - Archer resin welds.

Upper hull is just about complete...









Gary

Good eye on detail Gary!
Dan

Cheers Dan.

Lower hull....









Gary

Gary

Hi Gary,
You are doing a great job of the early m4a4.Like what you did with the vertical towing set up.Its something different and in my opinion you are doing a superb job.
Happy modelling from Richard

Thank you Richard. Thought I'd try something different with the tow bar - not often seen modelled in this configuration.

In order to depict an early D50787 turret, I used an M34 gun mount, removed the hatch locks and mounted the lifting rings in the 'high' position. Casting details are again from Archer. The turret surface is 'roughened' up with a Dremel mounted burr and wet and dry sandpaper...





The .30 cal barrel is from Aber and I'm currently awaiting delivery of some more RB turned 75mm barrels. Tie downs are next to be added to the turret bustle.

Gary

Tasca's suspension units are probably the best available in styrene, but still require a lot of clean up. Here are the 6 units in various stages of progress. Note the holes on the leading face of the units have the 4 holes added, volute spring adjusters on the top along with early type track skids...



Gary

Another WIP shot. Gotta love those 12 miniscule rivets you need to add to each road wheel



Gary

And all fitted neatly in place. The gaps between the road wheels are very noticeable on the A4 version...



Just need to decide which tracks to use now....

Gary

... and these should fit the bill...



Gary

Rather you than me with those tracks, amazing detail on the upper hull, top stuff!

After an evening in front of the TV.....



Gary