Codename: Sherman 2016 - 3pc Differential Housing Conversion 210122

[ultravanillasmurf]

@Ripley: I meant the mount on the right side of the turret bustle:

This example in the IWM only has a stub of the aerial.
The aerial mount on the glacis is shown here.

[ultravanillasmurf]

Just out of interest, what are these 3-D prototypes made of?  It looks like resin, but I assume it's not the resin we normally see.  The finish is very sharp and clean, although I noticed some finger prints, so presumably it is soft when it's just been printed.

We printed separate parts from a 3D printer using a resin-type solution.  We still have to clean the parts up before assembly, but because they are from a digital file, they are an exact image of the 3D drawing.  Those "fingerprints" are actually step lines from the printer, an artifact you would expected from a 3D printer (for now).

I noticed the lines on the high bustle turret between the aerial mounts on the sprue.
http://forum.rubiconmodels.com/index.php?topic=395.msg5997#msg5997
I assumed this would be cleaned up on the final mould.

[ultravanillasmurf]

  Not going to do the steel cleat tracks as is difficult to mimic with a single track design.  We might do a resin version later on.

You could always look at a reverse PSC and try a multi-part track?

[Rubicon Models]

With the various M4A2 prototypes done, we'd moved onto the M4 Sherman!
This is the large hatch version, with the 75mm turret.









Enjoy!

[Rubicon Models]

Because of the extend for each M4 variant is getting increasingly more in contents,
with 3D drawings, prototypes, and starting to see some TS plastics; we have decided
to split them up into new topics so that people can follow them much easier!

NOTE: Common sprues, like the road wheels, tracks, suspension, and turrets will
still be posted under here!

[Pinky]

Unfortunately, the 75mm-armed large hatch M4 was only produced with the composite hull, not this all-welded hull.  This M4 hull was only built with the 105mm gun.

Also - the high bustle turret didn't have appliqué armour.

[Rubicon Models]

Unfortunately, the 75mm-armed large hatch M4 was only produced with the composite hull, not this all-welded hull. 
This M4 hull was only built with the 105mm gun. Also - the high bustle turret didn't have appliqué armour.

Thanks, will take note.  The M4 (large hatch) will come with the 75/105 turret sprue, so is not a problem for the final product.

[Rubicon Models]

Here is a summary of a list of M4 Sherman variants & sub-types (based on US M4) that we intended to do:
- Not all but major ones, with swappable components to create variants/sub-types by users themselves from the list below.

M4 in progress
- Continental radial engine
- Welded hull
- 75mm barrel cannon
- Users: US, Britain, Poland, France

M4(105) - Upgraded with 105mm M4 Howitzer, designed for infantry support and assault, sacrificing anti-armour capability.

M4(105) HVSS - M4(105) with HVSS.


M4A1 not start
- Continental radial engine
- One-piece cast hull
- 75mm barrel cannon
- Users: US, Britain, South Africa, Poland (M4A1(76)W), France (small numbers), China

M4A1E4 / M4A1(76)W - Upgraded with 76mm M1 gun.

M4A1E8 / M4A1(76)W HVSS - Upgraded with wide-track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS), fitted with the 76mm M1 gun.

M4A1E9 - Late war remanufacturing, applique armor, new vision cupola and oval loader’s hatch on the turret roof, spaced out VVSS suspension, extended end connectors on both sides of the tracks, but retaining the old 75mm M3 gun.  Users: Chile


M4A2 in progress
- Diesel-powered with General Motors 6046 using powertrain from earlier M3A3/M3A5
- First model manufactured with welded hull
- 75mm cannon
- Users: USSR, Britain, France, Poland, US
- No US Army combat use except for DD conversions for the Omaha landings

M4A2E4 - Upgraded with Torsion Bar suspension; never put into production.

M4A2E8 / M4A2(76)W HVSS - Upgraded with wide-track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS), fitted with the 76mm M1 gun.


M4A3 in progress
- Ford GAA V-8 engine
- Welded hull
- Both 75mm and 76mm cannons used
- Users: US, France (small numbers), Nicaragua (small numbers)
- The M4A3 was the preferred US Army vehicle.

M4A3(75) - M4A3 with 75mm M3 gun.

M4A3(105) - M4A3 with 105mm howitzer used for infantry support rather than anti-armour.

M4A3E2 Assault Tank - postwar nickname “Jumbo” - extra armour (including 1 inch on front), vertical sided turret, but about 3-4 mph slower. Built with 75mm gun but frequently re-armed by the using units with 76mm guns. Grousers fitted to the tracks. Users: US, France (one vehicle)

M4A3E4 / M4A3(76)W - M4A3 with 76mm M1 gun.

M4A3E8 / M4A3(76)W HVSS (Easy Eight) - Upgraded with wide-track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS), fitted with the 76mm High Velocity cannon.

M4A3E9 / M4A3(105) HVSS - Upgraded with wide-track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS)


M4A4 not started
- Chrysler A57 engine
- Welded & lengthened hull
- 75mm gun only as-built
- Users: Britain, France, China, Lebanon (Firefly), Nicaragua (small numbers)

Sherman Firefly / Sherman Vc - About 2,000 were re-armed by the British with their 17-pounder (76.2mm) guns as the Sherman Firefly. (It should be noted that the Firefly variant wasn’t exclusive to M4A4/Sherman V subtype, as 17-pounder gun was mounted on more Sherman subtypes.)

[ultravanillasmurf]

Excellent.

The 17 pounder was only fitted to the Sherman I and V as the cast Sherman II hull was not deemed compatible with the ammo storage (the Canadians apparently managed it on their Grizzly example).

The only missing Sherman is the M4 Sherman I composite or hybrid. As it uses the same front hull shape as the M4A1 Sherman II attached to a welded M4 Sherman I hull it is probably something for after the Sherman II.

[Pinky]

M4:
As UVS said, there is also the composite hull M4, and the M4-based Firefly (built on both the earlier welded hull and the composite hull).

M4A1:
I don't think China got any M4A1s - just M4A4s; Britain also received the M4A1(76mm), and used them in Italy.  The US Marines also used the 75mm-armed M4A1.

M4A1E8 / M4A1(76)W HVSS - Upgraded with wide-track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS), fitted with the 76mm M1 gun:
Doesn't seem to have seen service in WW2.

M4A2:
Also M4A2(76mm), used by the USSR.

M4A2E8 / M4A2(76)W HVSS - Upgraded with wide-track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS), fitted with the 76mm M1 gun:
Only used by USSR.

M4A3E2 Assault Tank - postwar nickname “Jumbo” - extra armour (including 1 inch on front), vertical sided turret, but about 3-4 mph slower. Built with 75mm gun but frequently re-armed by the using units with 76mm guns. Grousers fitted to the tracks. Users: US, France (one vehicle):
Please do one of these!!!

[tyroflyer]

I must say the collaboration going into getting the Sherman variants right is terrific. There is obviously a treasure trove of knowledge from a number of people here. I think Rubicon are going to be setting the benchmark very high on this one. The Sherman family tree makes the Panzer IV look simple by comparison. At first glance anyway.

[ultravanillasmurf]

The Sherman family tree makes the Panzer IV look simple by comparison. At first glance anyway.

The more you look, the more complicated it gets.

This is worth a look: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/

Normal single source warnings apply.

[Rubicon Models]

With not much of an update on the M4 Sherman project, here is our WIP of the M4 hybrid/composite hull:



Enjoy!

[ultravanillasmurf]

Good to see some work on this, though technically it is an M4 hybrid or composite​..

Great for the Firefly turret.

[Rubicon Models]

Good to see some work on this, though technically it is an M4 hybrid or composite​..

Yes, it was my mistake.  Should be a M4 hybrid...