ORIGINAL: Pah co chu puk
OK, here is a different angle on the same question. My next tank is going to be a Sherman. I would like to set it up as a battle tank to take over to Denver to spar with the FRAG folks. The FRAG battle field is set up as a Normandy village. I have researched and it looks to me that the Mato Sherman is period correct for the time from North Africa to the end of the war (except for the main gun)
First off - you lucky lucky b******!!!
I'd love to play in their sand pit [&o]
The Mato Sherman is a M4A1 76W - Normandy and later, mostly issued to 2nd and 3rd US Armored for Operation Cobra, also the Polish 1st Armoured after Normandy, and in small numbers to Commonwealth troops in Italy in late 44 / early 45. (I'm sure there are exceptions - Panther F will be along shortly to enlighten us [8D] )
and the Tamiya Sherman is only period correct for the last 6 months of the war.
180ish built
So… it seems to me that I should get a Mato and put Tamiya guts in it so I can battle IR and fit in to the Normandy scene over in Denver.
Yes
What parts would I need to pull that mod off? How much should I expect to spend to make it happen? Should I just go the easy way, buy the Tamiya, ignore the historical facts, and just battle? I also think a Rhino would be cool on it and that rules out the Tamiya hull. Why can’t the Sherman be easy?
Ok, in order:
If you want to go Tamiya electronics - see above. the turret needs a little work and if you want recoil thats a whole lot of hacking and whacking to make a Tam recoil unit fit - I've done it a few times but its not straight forward. By Rhino I think you mean the Cullen hedgerow cutter? That works for a Normandy tank
tank-modelbau.de sell a drop in replacement for the main gun that is set up for a recoil - I forget who stocks it in the US, either ETO or rctankwars (or both?).
Other than that and the Tamiya apple (Jason's store on ebay) you are all set. I've been running Mato chassis with out mods for a while and not broken them, so you should be good to go [8D]
Good luck!
mart