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Post by Dwight A. Ta-ala on Sept 19, 2021 18:58:25 GMT -6
I have been meaning to do this for a long time and I finally got the drive to start it. I got the Italeri M32 kit sometime in 2007 but a friend from another forum Robert "the Shermanfreak"  told me that Italeri got it wrong as they used the M4A1 large hatch Sherman as the base vehicle. So, I used the base vehicle to build an M4A1 76mm Sherman and stored the parts for the recovery vehicle for future use. So, this is the M32 Recovery Vehicle based on the M4 Sherman. This time, I used the Dragon M4 Sherman as the base vehicle. Using some pictures as reference (which are also varying from vehicle to vehicle  ), I tried to adapt the Italeri parts to the Dragon hull and this is what I got.    Unfortunately, due to old age some Italeri parts have either gone missing or disintegrated  . So, I had to scratchbuilt some parts as replacement. There are also a lot of difference between how some parts are mounted on the M4A1 and the M4. It is good that I have accumulated a lot of spare Sherman parts that I can readily use. Anyway, I will post more updates this coming weekend.  |
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Post by JCON on Sept 19, 2021 23:19:56 GMT -6
Cool project Dwight!!! Shermie would approve...
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Post by Dwight A. Ta-ala on Sept 19, 2021 23:39:40 GMT -6
Cool project Dwight!!! Shermie would approve... I am sure he will be happy, Joe. Haven't heard from him in a very long while. Thanks. |
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Post by RLFoster on Sept 20, 2021 2:52:22 GMT -6
Looks very good, Dwight! I'm definitely in for this one!  |
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Sept 20, 2021 8:46:40 GMT -6
Me also Dwight. I have one of these old kits, out in the garage.  |
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Post by Beekster on Sept 20, 2021 14:42:19 GMT -6
Looking good, Dwight! The tube diameter on the A-frame is too small in the Italeri kit, but it's hard to notice without a caliper and you can do something like drape a tarp over some of it to disguise that if desired. Italeri also forgot the small door on the back of the turret to run the winch cable out to the rear. Don't forget that the guys operating these things were repair & recovery specialists, with all the skills and tools to alter the stowage to suit their preferences. You have a huge amount of room to add stuff to the hull sides and rearrange placement to suit you. Lots of reference out there, including a new book from David Doyle (Vol. 6 in his Sherman series). My copy is on the way as I write.
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Post by Dwight A. Ta-ala on Sept 20, 2021 17:59:29 GMT -6
Robert: Thanks. I will keep updating this as I go along. Bruce: Sometimes, it feels good when you dig something like this from the trash stash and have some fun with it. Beekster: Thanks for the heads up. Do you mean the main pipe or the cross braces in the middle? |
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Post by Beekster on Sept 21, 2021 7:00:49 GMT -6
Dwight, the large tubes of the A-frame are too small in diameter; the crossbraces probably are too. It seems Italeri got the proportions right, but everything is slightly undersized. The Tasca/Asuka parts are correct, but the kits are hard to find these days and it seems that whenever I check the web store for individual sprues the M32B1-specific sprues are always sold out. I was lucky enough a while back to get the second turret sprue, which provides the later wide-mouth opening at the front for the winch cable.
Vendors on Shapeways also sell materials for post-war modifications to these rigs, useful for doing a tank retriever from another army such as the IDF...who of course also had their own specific modifications made over time. Tom Gannon's books on Israeli Shermans are excellent references for those.
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Post by Dwight A. Ta-ala on Sept 21, 2021 18:01:04 GMT -6
Dwight, the large tubes of the A-frame are too small in diameter; the crossbraces probably are too. It seems Italeri got the proportions right, but everything is slightly undersized. The Tasca/Asuka parts are correct, but the kits are hard to find these days and it seems that whenever I check the web store for individual sprues the M32B1-specific sprues are always sold out. I was lucky enough a while back to get the second turret sprue, which provides the later wide-mouth opening at the front for the winch cable. Vendors on Shapeways also sell materials for post-war modifications to these rigs, useful for doing a tank retriever from another army such as the IDF...who of course also had their own specific modifications made over time. Tom Gannon's books on Israeli Shermans are excellent references for those. I see. Thanks for the helpful explanation, Beekster. Since, I don't have the immediate replacement, I will keep it for now. Anyway, the frame is not permanently glued to the hull and is just connected by loose pins (can be positioned stowed as shown or during lifting). I may scratchbuild a replacement later once I get the right materials. Again, thanks. |
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Post by Beekster on Sept 21, 2021 19:28:04 GMT -6
Or order the Asuka sprue....it's currently in stock at their online shop. So is the high-bustle turret, so I'll get off my duff and order that sprue and others to accumulate parts for an M4A6.
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Post by JCON on Sept 22, 2021 12:58:38 GMT -6
I see why I build cars for the most part!!! LMAO!!!
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Post by Beekster on Sept 22, 2021 17:47:44 GMT -6
With some cars, year to year variations can be done just by changing the paint colors or using a different bumper. Not so with all the different parts used by different factories building Shermans back in WW2. But cars have glossy paint, and working with glossy paint gives me the heebie-jeebies. That's why I build tanks! |
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Post by Dwight A. Ta-ala on Sept 22, 2021 18:49:37 GMT -6
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Post by JCON on Sept 23, 2021 6:26:31 GMT -6
Dwight that made me laugh as I do remember that one!!! Great memories!!!  |
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Post by JED on Sept 23, 2021 11:13:13 GMT -6
I'm liking the look of this 👍
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rustybaer
ROLLING ON
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Post by rustybaer on Sept 28, 2021 16:19:13 GMT -6
Mmmmm, Sherman porn.
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Post by Dwight A. Ta-ala on Sept 28, 2021 20:42:45 GMT -6
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Sept 29, 2021 8:53:16 GMT -6
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Post by Beekster on Sept 29, 2021 11:43:59 GMT -6
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reserve
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 683
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Post by reserve on Oct 3, 2021 22:46:58 GMT -6
Good looking build
I did one of these awhile back, it sure looked like an M-32...but then I don't get over picky unless something's starkly visibly wrong with the model. For me it was close enough; it'll be interesting to see where you take it
Regards,
Mark
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told me that Italeri got it wrong as they used the M4A1 large hatch Sherman as the base vehicle. So, I used the base vehicle to build an M4A1 76mm Sherman and stored the parts for the recovery vehicle for future use.
), I tried to adapt the Italeri parts to the Dragon hull and this is what I got.
. So, I had to scratchbuilt some parts as replacement. There are also a lot of difference between how some parts are mounted on the M4A1 and the M4.
