USMC6094 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 (edited) I started building the what if Sherman over the last week. The Cyberhobby M4A3E8 is a real gem and the upper hull has really gone together quickly with very little fuss. So far I've only replaced the molded on hatch handles with twist tie wire. Heres my progress so far. I added sprue sections to spread the lower hull to meet the upper hull and make the fit a tad better And last was the first of the suspension bogies, theres six of them, each with 27 parts........the first one was almost a nightmare. And just out of curiousity, what do you guys use to bend photo-etched fenders? I got the front section for the left side bent but the middle (long) has brought me to a stopping point as far as bening it goes. I'd appreciate suggestions if you guys have any Thanks for looking, more to follow Edited August 30, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AgentG Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Nice start. You do realize this isn't a "What If" tank. One was actually built, the Pershing and Sherman had turret rings of the same diameter. I use a steel ruler for bending long pieces. I tape it to a smooth flat surface, place the PE under the edge, then us a single edge razor blade to bend the edge. I don't try to form the crease at this point though. Once I get the bend started along the entire length, I use another ruler to finish it. G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 I know one was built, I posted a picture of it a while back. This ones more a what if since its going to have a T26E4 turret and gun. Thanks for the tip on the PE bending, I'll give it a try here soon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AgentG Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Cool! I didn't pay attention to the -E4 Duh............... Yeah that's the best I can do as far as bending PE. I don't use, nor do I want, any "special" tools. I'm special enough as it is. :wacko: G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted February 8, 2013 Author Share Posted February 8, 2013 I got majority of the turret assembled. I used a mix of Testors liquid glue and Tamiya putty to give the turret a more appropriate cast look. Then I used parts from the kit, the commanders cupola, sighting vane and the light on the turret roof ( atleast I think its a light), the 50 cal pedestal mount and gun. I also noticed that when compared to the Dragon/Cyberhobby parts of the same type kit, the Hobbyboss details are much softer and have less relief. Pictures to follow over the weekend Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 (edited) made lots of progress in the last week or so. I got the turret complteted, assembly wise and have just about got the painting complete. Assembly was great, the Hobbyboss kit went together as easily anything I've ever built. The only area I was concerned about was the long light gun barrel. I stiffened it up with a piece of sprue back near the breech end and a round tooth pick near the muzzle. I restored the scribed detail with an exacto razor saw and then added the muzzle brake. I finished bending the PE fenders and attached them last night as well as the intake trunking assembly for the engine compartment. Assembly continued with the driver and co-drvers hatches as well as attaching the lower to the upper hull. Now my biggest worry is adding some tone to the dull OD camo. Anyone got any ideas or helpful hints there? hatches intake trunking Edited August 30, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 (edited) Hull Fenders and turret Now if it would stop raining, I could do some more painting Edited August 30, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted March 6, 2013 Author Share Posted March 6, 2013 made some more headway, I got one run of track assembled, each track has 79 seperate guide teeth, yippee!!!! The hull and turret are more or less complete assembly wise, now its the road wheels and return rollers that are getting all my attention. pictures to follow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 (edited) Not too much to report today, this thing is really drawing out. I'm so close to the end of it that I can see it done in my minds eye, but Lord all Mighty, Cyber Hobby has made some of the Sherman parts WAY TOO COMPLICATED(alot of its on detail you cant even see in the end)............. I dont ever remember kits as in depth when I built years ago, hell this Sherman chassis has me looking for and buying old school Tamiya kits just for thier simplicity. Now dont take my ranting as bad mouthing either Dragon or Cyber Hobby, but this tanks chassis is going to be upwards of 500 parts at the conclusion of assembly, I'm honestly getting burnt out on the assembly but I'm gutting it out, slowly but surely. I'll post some pictures this weekend. Thanks for listening to my rant...... Edited March 8, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 (edited) I have been paying attention and followed your thread..looks great to ME. Will be back for more... Edited March 15, 2013 by HOLMES Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 (edited) Thanks for the encouragement Holmes, here are some pictures of the last progress..... for the commanders vision blocks I used testors silver coated with tamiya clear blue. Edited August 30, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 (edited) and last Edited August 9, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AgentG Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Looking good. G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 Thanks, but I'm dreading like going to a doctors appointment the second track run with its 79 seperate center guide teeth. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 and I have a quick about the color of the steel cheveron T80 ( I think style tracks) tracks, whats a good base color for them? I'm not going to weather this model very much so I dont want to have it looking like it just came from the proving ground lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HeavyArty Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I paint the tracks flat black, then a wash of a dirty brown color, and finally I hit the high areas with some gunmetal to show wear. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 Thanks again, I'm gonna tackle the remaining parts and painting this weekend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AgentG Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I paint the tracks flat black, then a wash of a dirty brown color, and finally I hit the high areas with some gunmetal to show wear. X2 G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 no new pictures of late, I havent been able to get myself to work on anything in the last three weeks, but I hope to get the other run of tracks completed this weekend and work on the all the tires for the road wheels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Four Corners Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Are you working on it again? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stikpusher Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 This is a most interesting project. It makes the IDF Super Shermans look a bit weak. Indy link tracks are quite the PITA to do. And some of the more involved ones like for the HVSS suspension with seperate end connectors and center guide teeth are overkill. No wonder you're going bnkers. Good luck and I look forward to the next installment here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 (edited) I went to my local model clubs contest about a three weeks ago and bought an already built up but not painted Tamiya M51 Sherman and after giving the 51 a good looking over and decided I had wasted my money, so I tokk a close look at the running gear and decided use the road wheels from the Tamiya kit on this build. I had to open up the Cyberhobby axle holes but otherwise it wasnt too bad. Here she is on road wheels for the first time. I'm leaning toward using the Tamiya tracks as well since they fit the Cyberhobby drive sprockets. More to follow Edited August 30, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 (edited) Canning the parts from the other Sherman really kicked started my desire to get this one finished, so I've been working like crazy the last few days as youve seen from the pictures I posted yesterday. Anyway, yesterday I got the pioneer tools, as they were called, finished and installed. This is them in place before the paint. And after paint and permanently installed. Next is the outer road wheels. These were kind of tedious, I had to hand paint the rubber portions after airbrushing the hubs. This is a picture of either side before I'd completed the rubber portions, all twelve are finished now. And last is the rear deck, theres a folding shelf I still have to paint that goes over this part, I believe it was a crank handle for an inertia starter. Other progress I havent taken a picture of is the two radio antennas for the turret have been built up using the kit supplied bases and some wire I have just for the purpose of making antennas, and the bow machine gun has been painted and is ready yto install, as well as the inner road wheels are in the process of being completed. More to follow Edited August 30, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 (edited) I didnt any work of substance last night, but I did put the track runs on just to see what would be involved later when I put them on for good. Heres some pictures of her on her feet, just remember that the tracks have yet to be painted and I still have some work to do overall. Edited August 30, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 (edited) and now for some close ups I have some touching up to do on the road wheels and I still have six of them to finish painting, but I'm getting close. Edited August 30, 2013 by USMC6094 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.