@18bravo – the M7B1 had the normal 105mm mounting but with the Ford GAA engine. The M7B2 was the 1950s version which raised the howitzer mounting and also raised the MG pulpit.
(and yes, that’s the version I’m doing with my conversion)
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Ah, then that’s the one I was doing as well before it fell off the radar screen,
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The M36 kit I ordered while cheaper than here in Christchurch was taking forever to arrive and after adding freight the price was virtually identical to the price here. So I cancelled the order and got the one here, made more sense. The donor Sherman kit I had originally ordered is still in limbo in Aussie somewhere. And the M36 gives me the option to build it with two different engine decks, mufflers, exhaust deflectors, and rear ends.So the kit can still be built it’s just limited to two markings for M36’s in French Service in Indochina. But aftermarket decals can no doubt be found for the M36B2 that remains after said robbing of parts has been done. So some surgery will of course be needed, the engine deck will need trimming and the slight cutout for the turret ring will need filling. The rear end will need surgery on the idler mounts and where it joins to the hull floor, I just need to figure out how I’m going to do it. Do I add plastic or remove some form the hull sides to get it to sit flush with the floor? Still debating that particular quandary! So here are some pics to illustrate where I am at this time.
P4030001 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030002 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030004 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030005 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030006 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
Cheers
Chris
5 Likes
Today is a holiday here in NZ so I’ve been working through attaching the rear end of the M7B1. I went for reliable secure fit over accuracy. If I was more invested in an accurate look it would likely have been a much longer process. But doing it the way I have it has been quick and easy. The engine deck is going to be a much more involved process though still relatively easy I hope (yeah right).
P4030004_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030005_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030006_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030002_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
Cheers
Chris
6 Likes
Got the engine deck on after a couple of major cutting sessions with the razor saw and the small modellers vice on my bench. Cut’s weren’t laser perfect and some filling with plasticard was necessary as can be seen by the whits plastic in the construction. However it has turned out how I had thought it would and the engine deck is on. Now comes the truly fun bit! Getting the rear plate put on. I’ll fill in the spaces where the tail lights were originally and figure out how I’m building the rear plate. I have a book resource with me now to figure out what else needs to be added to the build. Filler caps, stowage, etc.
P4030001_02 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030003_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4030004_02 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
Cheers
Chris
6 Likes
It’s perfectly okay Roy, I’m well aware of the longer hull and I’m going to scratch build the remaining hull extension. I was just using what I could of the Italeri hull and parts as it made it easier to build.
Cheers
Chris
4 Likes
Hi. Good stuff. That way is actully easier and less tricky than trying to tack on a Sherman rear to the Italeri hull, my join is too obvious. So something like a ladder or rope against it may be needed to hide it 
PS unsure if the cab interior was white though, as it’s visible from the air (?).
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I’m not to sure either but it was what Italeri colour call out was, again not really a definitive answer but one that I followed anyway.
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The whole interior of the crew area on the M7 was olive drab, including the driver’s compartment.
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Well hell, time for a respray I guess. 
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But before the respray I’ve been winding up the conversion. Cutting off mudguards, adding exhausts and modifying exhaust deflectors, adding the sponson extensions using parts of the removed mudguards and plasticard, and generally tidying up the added rear amour plate. I’ll need to fill some joins etc. and add the internal ammo storage, seats, rifles etc. but it’s coming along nicely.
P4040001 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4040002 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4040003 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4040004 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
Cheers
Chris
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Great ! Stowage can easily cover any issues. NB VERY late Priests had HORIZONTAL ammo storage. See the Signal in Action book.
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Looking good now 
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Yes I’ve seen the bins in M7B2s and I’m going for WW2. So the ones I’ve seen in the Images of War book on the M7 are what the kit supplies and I’m going for that. Some filling and sanding is still required but just a fine skim. Time to add the various seats, ammo bins, and stowage bins.
Cheers
Chris
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@Jakko Thanks buddy!
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So stowage bins have been assembled and added, the cages for the top have also been assembled. Ammo bins have been glued in after a light file. Excess plasticard has been removed from the sponsons. Putty has been added, filed and sanded down smooth. I was not happy with the idea of a butt join for the climbing handles on the sides of the M7 so I’ve drilled out the locations slightly, just enough to make the join a little more “resilient” to handling, hopefully. Getting to the point where I decide how I want the finished kit to look.
P4050002 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4050003 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4050004 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
Cheers
Chris
10 Likes
The conversion is looking good.
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@mech Thanks! Yeah it’s coming along nicely and the final piece has been ordered, a set of individual track links. Which should hopefully be here in a couple of weeks. In the meantime it’s painting and applying the various tools and tow ropes etc.
Cheers
Chris
3 Likes
Progress has slowed on the Priest conversion while I wait for my track links to arrive. I did find 3D files for an M8 Ammo trailer towed behind the HMC and the trailer towing pintle, once I get my old 3D printer sorted I’ll give the trailer a go and see how well I can get it to turn out. I also discovered tow cable clamps for the Sherman in 1/35 but have settled for building my own (as my 3D printer is an Anet A8 clone and prints with filament and doubt it could render them very well). I found a couple of pics of a M7B1 with the towing cable clamped in place and while rather short to my mind, gave me ample reference to attach it to my conversion. weathered the fighting compartment a little and added the various missing fire extinguishers, rifles, seats etc. Created the tail light guards out of photo etch supplied with the Academy kits, cut them down and bent them a lot tighter than the original application. Pretty happy with the result so far to be honest.
P4260001 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4260001_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4260002 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4260004_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4260005 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4260005_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4260009 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4260010 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
P4260006_01 by Chris Wilson, on Flickr
Cheers
Chris
4 Likes