Panther F

I need some advice as I never claimed to be a Sherman expert, I just happen to love the little guys.

Beside the A1's used in North Africa and the M4A4 Fireflies in France, what A3's were used in the ETO? Were they strictly early configurations? I have several books on Shermans BUT, not all the pictures are clear.

I need a British Sherman and since no Grant or Lee is on the drawing board, I need a British tank real bad.


Thanks for any guidance!







Jeff

bigfiver69

I'm interested in this too.... I can't believe there are no British tanks out there yet. I had to scratch build my Comet and Crusader off the WSN t34, and I'm starting a ground-up Comet build sometime before the year's end.

I wish Tamiya would do a Comet, Centurian or Mathilda... and hen HL could copy it!

Panther F

I did get a very good answer here: http://www.rctankregiment.com/rctank...hp?f=55&t=6416

I just don't have enough material on British tanks let alone British Shermans. But I do have an early A1 kit from Profiline that I will turn into a desert Sherman in British colors.

Now to get the decals for it!





Jeff

rgallant

They used A1, A2 and A4 no a3's other than what you mentioned. A3's are almost all used by the US only. I am more knowledgeable about Canadian usage but the British were pretty much the same. Even Firefly's were mostly A4's.

mcovalsk

Jeff British didn't use A3, however if you would like to play with the idea Zaloga refers to a A3 modified by the British for the US Army in ETO. http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/...flysz48_1.html

Panther F

Hi Mario! Yes, I know about the American Firefly story and thanks for showing it.

It's a good thing then that the A1 is down the line to get built, I was just hoping to jump into a British tank with this A3. Or I could make it an M4 with the radial? Hmmm... I need to look N see.

I have my work cut out for me on that A1 as I will modify the VVSS to the early M3 type, "Initial Suspension". Due to track widths and wheels size I do have an assortment of pieces to go with. Like cutting out some wheels or using the 21st Century wheels to achieve the spoked wheel look that they had.


The direct vision slots do look a little treacherous to work out.





Jeff

Glen B

I don't know how accurate this reference is but thought I'd post it for general interest;

http://www.armouredacorn.com/Refs-%2...an%20Tanks.pdf

mcovalsk

Nice profiles, good information.

mcovalsk

Jeff, why not to ask Nick. I know he was working in a Firefly VC or something like that. I saw the hull in progress and looked as a good start. I don't know if he alreday has the turret done, but is really easy if you go for it.

Panther F

I'll do that!

Gotta have a Firefly!





Jeff

rgallant

just to add fuel to your fire they were mostly the big single hatch version too. The a4 works out to about 1/2 inch longer in scale if i remeber I decided to just skip it on my build

Panther F

I believe I am going to build this version, the British Sherman Mk.III Mid Production Sicily.



It won't have the spoked wheels or the exact tracks, but it will have the T-49 tracks (which were common among Commonwealth tanks) minus the Mato's version with the duckbill parts.


Should be fun!





Jeff

YHR

When they redesigned the Canadian Flag it is nice to see a nod to the commonwealth armored divisions for the source of inspiration. All they did was stick a maple leaf in the middle

Panther F

Hey Dan. You're becoming quite the Sherman expert, what are those angular "panels" on the rear sponsons?





I've never seen them before and since I don't have any material on the British Shermans, I thought I'd ask. Plus... I guess I must have them on mine too.




Jeff

YHR

I think it is impossible to be an expert on the Sherman, as soon as you are sure about one thing an example pops up and blows your theory all away, I have no idea what those are, I have never seen them in any photos or books that I have. Maybe the guy was shielding the tools from the airbrush when he was painting the model!!!!!.

Panther F

Well, once I recognized them I have seen some real tanks with them. But my guess is in real life they were discarded.


No... they are part of the PE sheet in the kit and shown where to install them so I have no idea but will soon find out.

Thanks Dan.





Jeff

fynsdad

My guess would be some sort of dust deflectors. Sicily is hot and dusty so may-be they were fitted to stop some of the dust that was kicked up going into the engine deck grills. (but that is just a guess)

Panther F

That's what I was thinking. Maybe that's why you don't see too many in pictures of this tank.





Jeff

YHR

There also seems to be a shot deflector ring around the turret base, which I have never seen before

Panther F

Oh thanks for pointing that out Dan. I need to refine the resin hull to represent that in the front.

Since my resin hull part is an A3 and this kit that I want to represent is an A2, some things are going to be much different but the shot deflector is more evident up front behind the hatches, so a little bit of work.

Better I see them now but I think now I'll buy the Dragon kit to double check things... like the front hull vent has been plugged as opposed to the A3's.





Jeff

Panther G

Jeff, the brits used models that where designated M4A4's and M4A5's .I don't know alot about the specifics of these but they where used.
i think it had to do with hull length and engines used. M4's where the model they used primarily in the early part of the war.

edoubleaz

My Feedback: (1)

M4A5 was the reserved designator for the RAM tank from Canada.

The brits occasionally used the rear sand skirt to make a stowage rack on the rear hull. Some other tanks had racks like the Priest for stowage in N Africa and Sicily.

Brits were only given 7 examples of the M4A3 for testing but USA kept the majority for their own uses.

Fireflys were only on M4 M4 Hybrid and M4A4 as they used the oil gear traverse models for the modified turret.

Only 75 models of the M4A6 built with the diesel radial in an M4A4 chasis.

sassgrunt

My Feedback: (1)

Jeff, my guess on those things on the rear deck is that they are the sand shields for the rear idler area. (They would cover the idler and wrap around the rear). No idea why they would have been pulled from there and stored on the deck, though. -Mike

edoubleaz

My Feedback: (1)

They were sometimes used to make a stowage rack on the rear deck........

sassgrunt

My Feedback: (1)

Sorry Ethan. You JUST got done saying the same thing! I read 'sand shields' but it didn't sink in that I was calling them 'fenders.' Long day, I guess.