Well, really its going to be an M32B3 which is an ARV on an early M4a3 vehicle.

I got Ludwigs kit and decided I wanted to save his nice A1 small hatch hull for a tank so I am substituting an early M4a3 welded hull from Nick Aguilar.

Here is the styrene sheet of parts.


I began by trying to curve the armor wrap for the operation compartment. I decided to heat up up over a paint can to help form its curve.


The base has a groove machined in it that the curved armor plate fits into. These vertical tabs hold up the lower piece of the top. The top is a sandwich of two pieces. These vertical tabs were a problem. They did not fit either way. One way they hang over the groove as seen in the photo below, the other way they will not contact the surrounding curved armor coupola wall and they would hang inside so I measured the proper gauge and sliced them down to make them fit to brace the curved armor wall.


Here is the operation coupola after assembly. There is some overhang that was unavoidable, believe me I tried but it just would not fit perfect. Glueing this thing with styrene/abs cement takes lots of clothespins to hold the curve together. Also it should be done slowly but all at once so the parts and flex and move as everything is slowly glued into its final place. I had to push soft glue joints around a bit to make it all fit.


Here it is so far. Operation coupola sitting on the A3 hull. Im likeing this build. Cant way to complete the boom mounts and get it mocked up.