1
Work In Progress / Re: Project of the Month - Dec 2021 - M3 Lee & Grant
« on: May 17, 2022, 05:55:13 am »
This is very exciting, I can’t wait to get a few of these…
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
2
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: June 14, 2021, 09:39:49 am »First, (@SheriffSherman) your work on the muzzle end looks great. I wouldn't change a thing.
I mostly made the reference to the other thread for the new members. Several people have added some good info and suggestions (including you SheriffSherman). Now that Rubicon Models offers so many versions of the M4 Medium, I just had to shamelessly point out that older thread.
As for the collar ring, well, originally I was going include the cover (ring + thread protector), but later changed my mind after doing some research. I noticed that in some WW2 photos they didn't use the thread cover, and you could clearly see the threads (and collar ring). So I said, "I'll do that instead, but without cutting the fine threads" because I build my models for gaming and not for contests. Yes, I still try to make my models look okay, but I tend to skip things like adding very fine threads.
Okay, back to the collar ring. I started out by making a ring from the end of a piece of plastic pipe. First I did some careful shaping before cutting the tip of the pipe to make the ring. After slipping it onto the barrel, I used a little Tamiya extra thin to tack it into place. I don't recall if I had to do any smoothing afterwards.
Side Note:
My first M4 Medium was the Italeri/Warlord plastic model kit:
But this was the very first Rubicon Models M4 Medium I assembled and painted:
Tracks,
After reading your post now it makes perfect sense why your barrel is the same thickness before the collar and after the collar. Yours was a really clever and elegant solution to the problem. It certainly wouldn’t have taken me 2 plus hours to do that had it even occurred to me to do it that way.
I was really puzzled and I thought on mine for a couple of days before I eventually did what I did. I simply couldn’t come up with anything easy, so I just assumed you were being sarcastic on your post, LOL.
So the area where the muzzle brake attaches to the end of the barrel, that area, the smallest part of the MB literally wraps around the barrel so the barrel extends to that point inside the MB. I didn’t want to lose that 4-5mm in length as I felt the gun is already lacking thickness and length as it is. I just wanted it to extend to it’s full potential.
So I just glued on the MB then cut it off at the area where the barrel ends and then sculpted the plastic with hobby knife, small file, and sand paper. Once I got the tip smaller than the collar it was a matter of being patient and carefully turning the barrel tip by hand with sand paper until I thought it looked right, I wanted it to look like the thread protector was installed so I didn’t sand it down to the same thickness as the area before the collar. I just felt like that extra 5mm at that scale was too much lost length, it doesn’t look as nice or clean as yours and nobody will be measuring my M36B1 barrel, but that’s the only thing I could think to do.
3
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: June 11, 2021, 11:52:05 pm »
Wasn’t the 76mm a smaller version of the 3” gun on the M10?
4
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: June 11, 2021, 11:49:38 pm »
Something I noticed on the tank destroyer kits, I know they go back to 2015 but the guns seem just a shade thin and undersized on the TDs. On vintage photos when an M10 is parked near a sherman the gun really stands out, but with these guys the guns on the TDs look small to me.
5
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: June 11, 2021, 11:27:58 pm »
This morning I couldn’t sleep after 3:30 so I decided to put my insomnia to work and threw this together. I have a little assembly line going and the tanks are all being worked on simultaneously as I’ve decided to try and paint them at the same time when the sun conditions are ideal instead of doing them separately and hoping for perfect conditions after each tank has been completely detailed.
6
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: June 11, 2021, 11:18:53 pm »Have you seen the M4 Medium Tank thread? (For the new members)
http://forum.rubiconmodels.com/index.php?topic=726.msg9454#msg9454
Yes, it's an old thread, but still a goodie.
Yes, I referenced you and that image from that thread a couple posts back. It was the reason I decided to build my own M36B1. In that thread you asked if anyone knew how to create the correct dimensions on the gun barrel tip minus the muzzle brake. Then you said it had been easy to do, I’ve now done it on mine but it did take me a couple hours so I would love to hear how you did yours because you said it was easy
I basically glued the MB on and then cut it after the second baffle and that started a lot of hobby knife, mini file, and sand paper work. I noticed on yours the tip after the collar appears to be the same size as the area right before the collar. I left mine a shade thicker because I wanted to simulate the thread protector already installed.
7
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: June 11, 2021, 01:30:37 am »
I’m branching out into vehicles based on the Sherman tank to add to the collection. I’ve always wanted one of these, just thought they looked really interesting. Tracks posted an image of his on the M4 thread and I knew I had to have one too
Hopefully when the pershing comes out I’ll be able to make the pershing turret sherman too.
Hopefully when the pershing comes out I’ll be able to make the pershing turret sherman too.
8
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: June 11, 2021, 01:23:12 am »Looking great . You might want to paint over the white on the hatches as the picture it looks to be OD . I admit to painting most of my hatch interiors white as I think it sets off the crew figures within , but in reality "most" tanks had interior of hatches painted overall body color . Mind you many early war photos show the pre war standard of lighter color interior on hatches to aid in interior visability when buttoned up , the change coming soon after they realized that 2 foot square white plate gave the bad guys something to aim at
Thanks Ripley, I didn’t know that and should’ve studied the photo more carefully. I will correct them when I finish painting the crew. the stowage and the final weathering is still pending. I haven’t had an airbrush for a couple of years now since my compressor and airbrush went kaput. so I’m still learning how to get by with rattle cans from home depot and paint brush. Since my modelling time and space is very limited, these kits are giving me an opportunity to collect many of the subjects I’ve always wanted in my sherman collection.
9
General Discussions / WOW! Amazing job Rubicon, just wow…!
« on: June 10, 2021, 11:10:54 am »
I bought the M32b1 recovery vehicle kit and I am completely blown away by the attention to detail, the quality of the mouldings, etc… I know, I know, it doesn’t fit into the gaming situation and it’s almost the price of two regular kits but OMG what a beautiful little kit!!!
I very highly recommend this, I normally don’t like resin but when it’s already trimmed and ready to build like this, what’s not to like?
Rubicon, PLLEASE PLEASE, consider doing this with the Israeli M50 and M51 super shermans. You already have the hull for the M50 and M51, just need the turrets, guns, special equipment. The M51 can also use the tracks from the easy 8, I Know because I’ve already built an Israeli M1 sherman using the large hatch M4A1 kit and your HVSS tracks.
the M50 would require a special long HVSS tracks though. I would purchase 5 of each of these tanks to start, just to use in middle east war dioramas along with your centurions and T-55 tanks.
I very highly recommend this, I normally don’t like resin but when it’s already trimmed and ready to build like this, what’s not to like?
Rubicon, PLLEASE PLEASE, consider doing this with the Israeli M50 and M51 super shermans. You already have the hull for the M50 and M51, just need the turrets, guns, special equipment. The M51 can also use the tracks from the easy 8, I Know because I’ve already built an Israeli M1 sherman using the large hatch M4A1 kit and your HVSS tracks.
the M50 would require a special long HVSS tracks though. I would purchase 5 of each of these tanks to start, just to use in middle east war dioramas along with your centurions and T-55 tanks.
10
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: June 10, 2021, 10:42:36 am »Eternity will become my first Rubicon model completed. It still needs some work on paint details on the crew and I’m considering adding scratch built stowage on the back. My goal is to nail details like what type of FDA, what type of mantlet, tracks, and suspension when possible. And to approximate the decals with the sheets provided by Rubicon. It’s not model detail and it’s not a gaming piece, it’s something in between but it’s a whole lot of fun
Some of these little guys will eventually end up in vignettes or simple bases.
11
Showcase & Gallery / Re: First Rubicon builds - inspired by The Monuments Men
« on: June 06, 2021, 02:01:10 pm »
6/24,
What is going on with the tires on the CCKW? Is it me or does the tread pattern wrap around the walls of the tire? I just cant wrap my head around it but the tires look really odd to me, it’s probably just some kind of optical illusion.
Can’t wait to see the finished pieces, you got some really nice clean builds going there.
What is going on with the tires on the CCKW? Is it me or does the tread pattern wrap around the walls of the tire? I just cant wrap my head around it but the tires look really odd to me, it’s probably just some kind of optical illusion.
Can’t wait to see the finished pieces, you got some really nice clean builds going there.
12
Work In Progress / Re: Codename: Sherman 2016 - 3pc Differential Housing Conversion 210122
« on: May 31, 2021, 11:05:06 pm »By popular demand and requests, we are bringing you a new release soon... M4A3(75)W / M4A3(105) Sherman.
This should fill in the missing link in our M4 Sherman range without using our "Mix & Match" arrangement.
Enjoy!
This is nice because now you can build a late 75mm M4A3 from the ETO without buying two kits. Also this kit will build the late war M4A3E8 105mm that the marines used in the pacific very late in WW2.
Unfortunately part D22 (the sharp nose FDA) is missing here. That final drive cover is only offered on the 76mm turret sprue. ALL large hatch shermans received the final FDA casting, the M4 hybrid, the large hatch M4, and these late M4A3s that still featured the 75mm or the 105mm guns. Even some mid production hull shermans were getting that final FDA before they switched to large hatch hulls. Part D22 should have been included as an option on most of the sherman kits.
A resin version of part D22 is sorely needed to accurately build many of your wonderful sherman kits. If I knew how to cast resin I would invest in making my own just to complete these tanks. Please consider making a resin version of part D22 so that folks like me that want the correct part on their late war shermans can purchase it to complete those kits, thanks rubicon!
13
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: May 31, 2021, 01:53:25 pm »
This is my “operation cobra” early M4A1 76mm as they were equipped in that battle, they were the first 76mm armed shermans used in WW2 by the US so they had early turrets with the double loader hatch, no vent guard in front hull between the drivers, and no fan at the rear of the turret so I left those items off. I also added the hedgerow cutter.
14
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: May 31, 2021, 01:47:53 pm »
This is my A4 or Sherman V and it will be finished in either Canadian service in italy or in brit service in normandy.
This will be “eternity” from “operation husky” the invasion of sicily. It’s odd in that these tanks still had 3 piece FDA and M3 style suspensions on a mid production hull. They also had the early turret with the early mantlet.
15
Showcase & Gallery / Re: Sherman US medium tank company project
« on: May 31, 2021, 01:35:48 pm »
This is my “El Alamein” known as Sherman II in brit service and represents the debut of shermans in WW2. This one required sand skirts from my M4 kit and a bit of modification to create the inside face of the sand shields in the back.
This tank will become “dixie belle” and is from the battle of “kassarine pass” in tunisia, it was the first use of shermans by US forces and these tanks were interesting in that they had round one piece cast FDA on very eary DV hulls, they still had the M3 style suspension but the later FDA gives them an unusual look.