The tanks are comming!... The tanks are comming!.... I got a call this morning from Geoff(JC AKA Johnny Cannuck) that he is on his way down from our nation's capital, Ottawa with a load of Viper Shermans for me to work on for him. Going to convert one to a Firefly. The Shermans will be accompanied by a couple Stuarts. So here I sit waiting for the convoy to arrive, a 3 hour drive for Geoff one way. He should be pulling into the driveway around 1 or 2 depending on the roads and the traffic. I will definately take some pics of the tanks when they get here... so stay tuned.....Harold

Well Geoff arrived and we unloaded the truck load of tanks and boxes of parts, track etc. Then we sat down drank some coffee and shot the %+*# for awhile and then did a sort of inventory on what all was in the boxes. Scanned through several reference books. After Geoff left our kitten nosey as she is decided to check out one of the Shermans. And she promptly cimbed in through the commanders hatch checked out the interior and then exited out the commanders hatch again. Never a camera on hand when something like happens LOL. Was nice to see Geoff again. Last saw him at the Toronto show. We had a good visit and a great chat. As Geoff stated we have disccussed this project online and cemented the deal today, and I feel we both will be satisfied with the arrangement, after all isn't that what we all want, for both to be happy. He gets what he wants and I get what I want. Don't you just love the barter system?
Here are a few pics of the tanks and parts etc.
1st VP Sherman to be converted to a Firefly detail parts by EastCoast Armory


2nd Sherman to be done up as a regular Sherman again with detail parts


3rd Sherman is mine to do with what ever I want

one of 2 Stuarts 1 rc 1 static. The static one to be converted to a recce turretless Stuart, the rc one is for me to do with as I please

White Scout Car for me to go nuts on detailing like I did on Krieger's WSC


boxes of parts and detail parts for Shermans and Stuarts. A nice set of EastCoast Armories working suspension will put on Geoff's Shermans.





I'm planning on haveing the Shermans, Stuarts, and the WSc finished for the Toronto Show in June. I know June is a long way off yet, but time will fly once I get into working on the vehicles

Well here we go. I decided to start on the turrets for the 3 Shermans. One will be a Firefly and the other two will be just Shermans. I will get the actual designation for the other two Shermans from Geoff. I have removed the welded on cheek armor from the turret for the Firefly, the other two will retain them with some modification on shape etc. I have filled all the holes on the one turret. When I fill the holes I put a piece of masking tape over the hole on the outside then fill the hole from the inside with epoxy. When the epoxy cures I remove the tape and touch up any flaws on the outside with automotive spot putty. I find it much cheaper and a larger tube than buying Squadron putty etc.
Here is the 1st installment of pics. As always comments are most welcome..... Harold

Update:
I'm now concentrateing on the Firefly version. I have constructed the loader's hatch and splash rail. Need to add detail to the hatch yet both topside and underside. I cut out the turret roof to accept the loaders hatch. I'm currently re-makeing the commander's copula hatches as both copulas the hatches are slightly warped and incorrect detail on them as well. What a job cutting out the hole for the loaders hatch. The roof thickness is just over 1/4" thick. I stuck a figure in the hatch to see how it looks. Here are pics of the updates.... Harold

Update:
Since the viper sherman copula hatches are incorrect and warped I decided to re-do the hatches. I also made the periscope rotatable. The handle is made from a piece of coat hanger wire, and I added the exterior security tabs which a padlock can be used to lock the hatches closed. Not sure if these tabs were war time field use or not will have to do some more re-search on this. I still need to add the bottom details to the hatches.... Harold


The next 3 pics show the periscope in different stages of rotation

Nice project.

Are you going to RC these.


Tell me more about these SHermans. Who made them, are they still avialable.

Nice...lots work but will be worth the effort. Are those Jack Yang tracks on the Stuart? I had one and his tracks replaced the hokey unrealistic garbage that came on it. Stuart was nice, but electronics were pretty bad with either full stop or full speed. Have never seen a 1;6 Sherman but believe it will be a real show stealer. Good luck.

Bill

The Shermans are made by a company called Viper. With some work I uess they could be made RC. Reguarding the Stuarts one is a static one and the other is an RC one. Geoff wants his static Stuart made into a static recce turretless tank, the rc one is for me

Update:
The barrel is almost finished just need to make a muzzle brake. The barrel was constructed useing the lower esection of an open face fishing reel I picked up in a yard sale. I stripped the rod and then applied a wrapping of butchers cord then gave it a coat of polyester resin. When the resin had cured I repeated the process wrapping with cord then applying the resin untill the diameter of the barrel was reached. The barrel unit was sanded smooth between wrappings and resin. I like useing old fishing roads as they have a nice taper to them and won't warp or bend like a wooden pool cue, plus they are alot cheaper too... rod cost me 50 cents in a yard sale. I modified a standard East Coast Armory Sherman mantlet into a Firefly mantlet and added the barrel unit to it and mounted the barrel/mantlet unit to the turret. Next I constructed the radio box that is on the back of the turret bustle. Here are the update pics

Quite the project, very impressive work.

Update:
Well I filled an old plastic pill bottle that was the right diameter for the muzzel brake and long enough with urethane resin and let it cure over night. I then drilled a hole down the center of the cylander of resin, inserted a bolt and locked it with a jam nut, then chucked it in my drill(poor man's lathe) then turned the outer shape of the muzzel brake. When satisfied with the shape I then drilled out the bore diameter and then cross drilled the vent holes. Here are pics of the muzzel brake snug fitted to the end of the barrel......Harold

Update:
Well work continues on the Firefly turret. The first 2 pics show the mantlet mounted on the turret and the barrel press fitted to the mantlet.


The next pic is the shell ejection port from ECA attached to the side of the turret. John makes very nice detail parts.

The next 2 pics of the barrel elevation mechanism for raiseing and lowering the barrel, instead of either glueing the barrel in one fixed position or as some use a spring to hold the barrel. I embedded the nut in a sandwich of styrene discs.


The last 2 pics are of re-worked viper lift rings

You've got a heck of a project(s) there Harold! Enjoy the work and thanks for taking the time to post the pics. Twenty or so 1/16 scale tanks with associated spares and hobby work area occupies about 200sq ft for me, I cannot imagine how much space you need for those big boys!

Then you should see my living room... 2 shermans, 2 stuarts, 1 white scout car, then 2 more shermans in the basement awaiting to b worked on. By the way I have a very understanding wife.....LOL.... Harold

Really nice work!!!

Update:
Well work continues. Been awhile since the last post. Here are a few new pics. I added the armored bow gun cover plate and the add on armor plates infront of the driver and co-driver positions. I added weld beads useing an epoxy putty simular to the tv stuff called wonder putty. This putty is black instead of white. I kneaded the putty then rolled it into strips and applied it to the seam that would have the welded bead. I then took a section of tubing and proceeded to impress the beaded effect, I then added the the hatches. I left the spring counter weights off and left the hinge pins removeable so the hatches can be removed till near compleation to prevent them being damaged. I have primed the front of the hull. I have filled all the holes in the upper hull and removed the stock rear deck hinges and inscribed the panel lines. I will be replaceing the old hinges with ECA detailed hinges.




The next set of pics are of my viper sherman. I'm useing mine as the test bed before applying things to the firefly and the other sherman. Here are a few pics of my sherman. As always comments are welcomed..... Harold

Looks really good Harold. I would love to get my hands on a 1/6 scale Sherman.

Ya, that Sherman screams RC. Keep the pics coming. [8D]

With the viper sherman's it would be very hard to rc since the ends of the transmission houseings are almost solid resin, would take alot of grinding to remove alot of the resin. There is a gas and electric rc sherman comming out right now but is around 1000.00 or more. There is a post on SAG and sixthdivision about the new sherman

Update:
The construction crew have been hard at work on the firefly. Here are the next series of pics.
Here are the air filters assembled and installed. They are held in place with a screw on the inside of the rear bulk head. Will be adding the smoker boxes and trailer hitch shortly. The rear bulkhead is is starting to get crouded .....



The next 2 pics show the fuel/oil/water filler covers, the external fire extignuisher box, and the rear lift rings installed


the last 2 pics are of the headlights, lift rings installed, and the front fenders trimmed and temporarily taped in place


as always comments are welcomed..... Harold