Moving on with the Tamiya M4 Sherman (Early Production)

[Beekster]

Apr 22, 2021 15:32:46 GMT -6 rustybaer said:

That's a wonderful book, my only problem is trying to keep all the info straight, especially mid-build. Sometimes it's actually too much, but hey, wadd'ya want? The line drawings are worth their weight in.... well, maybe gold.

True.  Running changes in production are hard to keep track of.  Then there's the depot modifications, either stateside or in Europe, applied to tanks completed and shipped months earlier and stockpiled prior to the Normandy invasion.  That's why often the best way to tackle a Sherman project is to work from a specific image, making note of the visible features.  Sometimes the caption can be useful; sometimes not.  Authors like Steve Zaloga are meticulous in pinning down locations, dates, and units while others are not.  Older titles often have incorrect captions and more general works tend to re-use the same images and often repeat captioning errors.  But you can't go far wrong making note of what you actually see, then comparing that to excellent references to work backwards and establish a plausible time frame for manufacture.  If the registration number is visible, then the factory can be determined with ease in most cases.  Son of Sherman came with a bookmark that listed every serial number block, the contract number, and the factory that built that batch of tanks along with the time frame.

Images from a unit recently introduced to combat will allow you to plausibly extrapolate from one or two visible registration numbers.  Units were issued tanks in groups, and often had sequential serial numbers in the unit as a result.  That breaks down with units that had been in combat a while, and replacements would almost always come from a different production batch.  Particularly at the end of the war, units would show a mix of (for example) M4A3 76W tanks with VVSS, with both oval and round split-hatch loader's hatches, and later HVSS tanks.  The army really only cared about the engine and gun for logistics purposes, so all three of those were considered interchangeable by Ordnance.

And with specialist vehicles, using an image is even more important.  A Sherman converted into an M32 ARV went through a complete rebuild, and original components were replaced with the current standard.  With that specific example, it also created some unusual Sherman variants later on.  The turrets were removed from the original tank, rebuilt to current standards, and sent back to the production line.  The result was a late VVSS tank with flat glacis, but an older low-bustle turret with loader's hatch added and other features.  Waste not, want not and all that.

[rustybaer]

I need to make copies of that bookmark, mine's getting a little "worn".....

[Dwight A. Ta-ala]

Got a little bit of work done last weekend.

Here's how the front hull looks.


The sides with the tools installed.


The rear...


And the turret...so far.


Still so much to do. Hopefully, I will have time this weekend. 

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Lookin good Dwight.

[JCON]

Nice progress my friend!!!

[JED]

Any work is a bonus,looking good

[Dwight A. Ta-ala]

Got it painted and here is how she looks now after the first pass of weathering...
















Got some problems with the decals as I usually don't clearcoat my models but maybe I can still correct them. There are some rough spots that showed after painting and need to be addressed as well.

Now on to the corrections and next set of weathering which is basically more mud and dirt splattered around the tank.   

And not to forget the stowage and the tank crew.

[JCON]

It's looking fine to me Dwight!!! Keep it going my friend!

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Some great Pacific Cammo work. Just watched Tarawa on NETFLIX. They had a couple there.

[Dukemaddog]

Wow, it's a thrill seeing your work once again! You are rocking this build!

[ARMORGUY]

That's one helluvva nice looking Sherman sir.

[Dwight A. Ta-ala]

Joe: Thanks. Feels good actually to get this far in the build.

Bruce: I agree with you. Those USMC M4A2s did come in the most interesting camo schemes. Might do one later.

Duke: Thanks. You know I could never be as prolific as you are but at least I am getting one done.

Armorguy: Thanks for the compliment. I am happy to have this chance to get back into building and getting back the touch.

Thanks everyone.

[JCON]

I'm thrilled to see you building once more too my friend!!!

[JED]

Nice cammo Dwight,makes it look totally different

[tojo72]

Good stuff 👏

[ARMORGUY]

I came back here just to admire this fantastic end result, the camo totally rocks.

[sty57]

Great Job on this one!
I'm working on this same kit too. I started down the rabbit hole on running changes of the Sherman and it started to make my head spin.

[Beekster]

Jun 3, 2021 10:56:06 GMT -6 sty57 said:

Great Job on this one!
I'm working on this same kit too. I started down the rabbit hole on running changes of the Sherman and it started to make my head spin.

Feel free to ask questions or PM me here, Sty, or off-board.  I'm happy to help sort things out.  Running changes can be sorted out, but the biggest problems with the Tamiya M4 stem from the shortcuts they took in engineering it.  The hollow sponsons endemic to old Tamiya Shermans are simple to fix, but the detail inaccuracies that stem from Tamiya choosing to copy an M4A4 glacis take more effort.  Dwight has done a great job rectifying those faults, so you won't go far wrong emulating his efforts.  That said, for a more accurate M4 I would start with something like an Asuka M4A1 and modify from there.  It's currently out of stock, but their DV M4A2 upper hull would work great for an earlier M4 by changing the antenna pot and weld seams.  Their VVSS Suspension Set C could be fitted to get the early M3 Lee/Grant style bogies.  And of course the aftermarket guys have resin upper hulls already reworked to represent particular factories.

[rustybaer]

Good looking Sherman. Camo came out finestkind!

[Dwight A. Ta-ala]

Thanks for the comments everyone. 


Was able to work on the stowage last weekend although these are not yet fixed. I will probably add some more stuff.






Will work on the crew next time.