Codename: Sherman 2016 - 3pc Differential Housing Conversion 210122

[ripley]

What drove you over the edge Tracks ? The paint fumes , the uncooperative super glue , or soldering 1 mm fine wire ?

[Rubicon Models]

Work on our M4A1 had finally resumed... not only did we revised the small hatch hull, but we had also finished the direct vision port variant as well.

One more variant to go before prototyping.



















Enjoy!

[ultravanillasmurf]

The direct vision hoods look great.

Any chance of a side view of the later hoods similar to:


Will the hull applique be supplied or like the others be plastic card?

And a final question, will the glacis have the caster's mark?


I must go back and rewrite (correct) my original post and add the photographs of the Grizzly at Southsea (and Michael).

[ultravanillasmurf]

Casting marks:
http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/data/Sherman_Foundry_Symbols_and_Trademarks.pdf

Searching for "hulls" indicates General Steel (as above) and Continnental Foundry.

[edit] looking through the survivors, there are some with the General Steel mark, but not many.

Contemporary photographs might be a better guide.

[ultravanillasmurf]

More on casting marks.
"Starting in early 1943, General Steel began to cast their logo (1) on the front of the hulls they produced. If it can be seen in a period photo, the "G in a shield" logo can be considered a recognition feature of an M4A1 made by Pressed Steel, or one of the 188 Grizzlies made by Montreal Locomotive. "

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/manufacturer/m4a1psc/m4a1_psc.html
So not on DV hulls.

[H0ffmn]

Very,very nice work!  I can't wait for these to be released.
   Also, in your side note in the first picture,the early M4A2 Sherman hull also had direct vision ports.

[Pinky]

I'm so glad you went back and re-thought this kit.  These new designs look great.  I assume the kit includes both types of suspension.  I hope the applique armour is optional, so we can build an 'interim' version (before the upgrade in 1943/44).

[Jaeger]

I am so looking forward to this version of the Sherman tank.

[jamesvalentine]

I just lost my virginity

[H0ffmn]

I know that this is probably a ways off, but when you start planning the decal sheet for the M4A1 DV kit, I have a couple requests. Could you plan to make a few sets of blue drab vehicle numbers, yellow turret stars ,stripes and company geometric bars and dots, and the mailed gauntlet with lightning bolts from G and H company 1st armored division?

[ultravanillasmurf]

I'm so glad you went back and re-thought this kit.  These new designs look great.  I assume the kit includes both types of suspension.  I hope the applique armour is optional, so we can build an 'interim' version (before the upgrade in 1943/44).

I had not noticed the different suspension. Excellent.

I hope the applique is separate as I think the Americanns altered the moulds later.

[Rubicon Models]

I'm so glad you went back and re-thought this kit.  These new designs look great.  I assume the kit includes both types of suspension.  I hope the applique armour is optional, so we can build an 'interim' version (before the upgrade in 1943/44).

These are not a new design but a work in progress, the old illustration was just a "put together" to show our ongoing work.

As for the applique armour, it will depend on how much sprue space there are, still too early to decide.

[Rubicon Models]

The last of the M4A1 Sherman technical drawings are finally COMPLETED!
This will be followed by 3D prototyping and minor revision to existing drawings if required.
Hopefully becoming a plastic product before the year end!







Enjoy!

[ultravanillasmurf]

Nice.

Good to see progress on what has turned out to be a very complicated project. I am sure it is going to be worth it.

[Tracks]

Even though ordering more Rubicon Models is currently outside my reach, I'm still curious about one thing.

Will the new M4A1 large hatch kit come with both the 75mm and 76mm turrets, or will these be two separate kits? That is, the small hatch kit will have the 75 gun turret and the large hatch kit will have the 76 gun turret.

Now I have to pull out my Sherman books to see if the 76 gun turret was installed on the small hatch hull, and if the 75 gun turret was used on the large hatch hull. I'm think the latter is true, but not sure about the other.