Rubicon M4 Conversion to M4A1

[H0ffmn]

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This is my first attempt at posting a photo on this forum. I hope it works.
  It looks like Rubicon will not release their M4A1 kit until some time next year, so I decided to try and convert the Rubicon M4 into a M4A1.
  When Rubicon released their M4 and M4A2 (and M4A3), they did not include a hull with the direct vision ports, so I thought that I would give it a try.
  I know that Rubicon have posted pictures on this forum of a M4A1 with the direct vision ports that they are to release at some point.

[H0ffmn]

Cool!! It worked!!
   The first step was to file/sand the angle off of the front upper hull and to cut angles off of the front corner, which will be filled with green stuff and sanded to shape, and to remove the rear portions of the turret splash

[H0ffmn]

 I also added more green stuff to build up the area by the turret splash, and replaced the turret splash to curve out around the gas caps

[H0ffmn]

I then added the direct vision ports. I painted the portions of the hull which I worked on, to check that the area worked on is somewhat close to being correct.

[H0ffmn]

 This is the almost finished project. I will post more pictures after I finish painting and weathering the M4A1

[ripley]

That's an awesome looking A1 . Great kit bash

[H0ffmn]

Thanks. I will post more in a few days, after I blend in some of the weathering and dullcoat it. I also started on converting the M4 hybrid into a M4A1 late hull Sherman.

[ultravanillasmurf]

Nice job.

Can we see more details of the direct vision ports?

[H0ffmn]

[H0ffmn]

    I still need to dullcoat the finished model,but that's it

[ultravanillasmurf]

Very nice.

[Tracks]

Nicely done H0ffmn. Finally, a Rubicon Models M4A1 Medium tank! 

I'm very tempted to try this kit conversion myself.
I have a couple of questions:
1) Do you have any pictures showing the M4 Bogie to M3 Bogie conversion process?
2) Can you offer a bit more details about how you made the direct vision ports?

As a side question, what colors did you use to paint the model?

[Pinky]

Great conversion.  Very impressive.

[H0ffmn]

Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate the feedback.
To answer Track's questions,
   1. The bogies were scratch-built using Rubicon spare road wheels from the Allied accessories set, and then cast in resin. I didn't take pictures when I built up the bogie trucks.
   2. The direct vision ports were made from strip styrene. I don't  know the size of the strips that I used.
     When I get home, I will try to post more pictures and what size styrene was used. I will also try to post more pictures of the direct vision ports, the pictures that I posted didn't really show them that well.
  Also, I used Vallejo Olive Drab primer, and Vallejo Brown Violet, with lighter shades of Brown Violet by adding Vallejo Light Sand to the Brown Violet.

[H0ffmn]

  Here are pictures of the M3 bogie truck, backed on plastic to be made into a rubber mold, and a cast resin M3 bogie truck.
  I used. .080×.188" strip for the main body of the bogie truck , .060 channel for the arms going from the bogie truck to the bogie wheel,  .040 ×.040" strips for the lever arm and 1/16" u channel for the rib going up the center of the bogie truck, and the support for the return roller.
    I don't remember the other styrene sizes