Converting Hobby Boss Super Pershing To Regular Pershing

Armor/AFV Cold War
1

I know the Hobby Boss Super Pershing #1 has the old-style tracks, which I want to have. Does the kit have “extra” parts so I can make a regular Pershing instead? I already have a replacement barrel.

2

It’s been a while, but looking at the built model in my case, I would say “no”. The fenders in the Super are narrower and the turret is set up for a circular loader’s hatch, both changed for a T26E3 or M26 as used. Digging through the box of left-over parts confirms this.

3

Thanks for the heads up. I cannot believe that Hobby Boss, having already made the molds, couldn’t just issue the old track M26 version, considering that Tamiya’s kit is a turkey.

4

Tamiya’s M26 is no turkey. It is modeled after one specific type in a museum. Hobbyboss also has a basic M26 Pershing kit, which is a later production type, like used in Korea. Dragon also makes some decent Pershing kits.

Dragon T26E3, M26A1, M46

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5

Except fpr the awful rubber tracks and turret halves which are very hard to fit together.

6

The Tamiya one is pretty nice. The tracks can be replaced. I had no issues with the turret.


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7

I too think the Tamiya kit is a good one. The tracks are actually pretty good and I’ve never had an issue assembling the turret halves. I’ve built four so far.
Since the Super used different fenders and a different style loader’s hatch it seems only natural to me that HB only supplies the Super -specific parts in their clearly labeled kit of the Super. Not intended as a slam, more “don’t overlook the Tamiya kit” advice.

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8

You can compare the parts here, the two pages contain images of sprues and instructions.

The different width of the fenders is very visible.

9

Also had no problems with the Tamiya turret halves.

10

Thanks for the info. But I’m not sure if the Tamiya Kit will be useful for a Korean War diorama, or if some of the tanks never got updated.

11

I never realized that asides from the main gun all of the other differences between the basic M26/T26E3 and the T26E4. I knew of the added armor for one sent to Europe for field combat testing, but not much else. Interesting to see that the T26 turret also had split loaders hatch at some point like on the T23.
The Hobbyboss kits look quite tempting with their detailed engine compartment…

12

The T26E4 -1 that was sent to Europe was converted from a T26E1. It had a different hull and turret. The T26E4-2 was converted from a T26E3. Production T26E4s were built that way, basically as T26E3s.

You can’t make a T26E3 or M26 from the T26E4-1 kit without a lot of work, unneeded work because there are a number of suitable kits available.

If you want to make a production T26E4 you should get the T26E4-2 kit because it has, for some reason, the correct barrel clamp. (It is also in the T26E4-1 kit, on the sprue with the equilibrators and not used.)

Only the T26E4-1 kit has T81 tracks and sprockets. One of the other kits has vinyl T81 tracks but I doubt they fit because the T81 was 24 inches wide and the T80E1 was 23 inches.

KL

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13

The Tamiya kit is actually accurate for Korea, needs minor mods for WWII.
Out of the box it builds into an earlier M26 as used in Korea with the infantry phone and reinforced final drive housings, whereas for WWII, the infantry phone and gussets on the inside rear of the final drive housings should not be there. If you have it, check David Doyle’s recently released book on the Pershing, lots of excellent period photos there.

14

Thanks for the explanation on the Super Pershing variants. If I get a kit of one, I’ll want to do the one that went to Europe during the final days of the war. With all the additional armor plates, it looks like quite the beast, plus I do believe that it did wear a two tone scheme… or plausibly could have…

15

I believe it has been established that it received the black stripe camouflage. I am not an expert on field use, however.

KL

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16

I was friends with the late Bob Dillon; who’s tank was the first to break out from the pocket in Korea. There’s a fairly good film about him in Korea; if it interests you. He told me once that the original Pershing tanks were “late” M26’s in Korea. After the break out there was a need for more M26 tanks as the Sherman couldn’t deal with a T34-85 very well. Virtually every new tank was sent to Korea, and there still wasn’t enough. They then took left over T26’s out of Germany and sent them to Korea. He also said that everytime they got a new batch; they were different from what they had. I ask him once about tracks being used, and he simply it was whatever the repair depot had laying around. The way he talked; Korea must have taken it’s toll on tank tracks.
gary

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