Yes!
I wanted something different, a bit more colour.
4 Likes
I cannot remember if I posted a start photo. In any case here it is: ESCI Sherman.
I think I am going to build it as a damaged Sherman for a larger diorama.
More to follow 
7 Likes
SLA photos are M51 I think, not M50 ???
They should be all M50s, first and third pics show the French 75 mm high velocity gun CN 75-50 as mounted on AMX-13
Second pic shows general turret shape of the M50 as well.
Anyway, if refs are correct and all pics can be referred to SLA then I am not aware of M51s “donated” to South Lebanese Army.
Until pics pop up…
3 Likes
Only M-50 for Lebanese Army. And some Firefly tanks.
2 Likes
Just got some welds replaced; this is my first go at it. Not entirely pleased but they’ll get better with practice I’m sure.
(And yes, I will fill that gap later)
7 Likes
Looks good. By “gap” do you mean where the nose meets the upper hull at the front? Bear in mind there was a real joint there, so don’t make the gap disappear altogether!
3 Likes
Yeah, that one. I’ll fill it just enough that there’s a space still but it won’t be all the way through.
2 Likes
The first steps have been made.
First thing I noticed is that the Dragon plastic is hard, which has a tendency to damage parts as they tend to snap off, when being cut from the sprues.
A plus is that it does not fray when being sanded.
A warped turret bottom.
8 Likes
I built the M51 kit a long time ago, and as I recall, the fit of the bogies to the hull is very tenuous — small contact areas that makes it too easy to misalign them and knock them off. You may want to take care there.
4 Likes
Awesome build and setting there John, and with a great real life backstory. You really have made it all look so real. Glad the Rabbits are in NATO brown, couldn’t have them in Farrow & Ball could we!
Good to hear that you never missed with SWINGFIRE! One happy taxpayer here. I wonder what the Sherman hulk would look like if a live SWINGFIRE had hit it?
I’m intrigued by the multiple small penetration holes. What sort of rounds would have made those? I’m thinking 30mm canon maybe, but wondered if discarding sabot penetrators would make similar holes on an empty hull like that?
2 Likes
Lookin’ good Colin!!
2 Likes
Thanks Terry.
To be honest, there wouldnt be a great deal externally … probably a scorched area at the impact site and a neat little hole — Dont forget, these were just HEAT rounds … so the shaped charge jet ideally bores through the armour at insane speeds and then once inside, breaks apart into hundreds if not more molten particles, all travelling at insane speeds still and create havoc and mayhem on the inside, penetrating ammo, cooking it off, slicing through crew , equipment … you get the picture… As well as that, if you dont get a full penetration, the impact and shock wave will cause a huge amount of damage through the inside of the tanks surface spalling and breaking away and these bits flying around, killing those near , and the same damage to equipment, sights etc … and the third element is the shock wave/concussion that would effect the vehicle / crew and importantly the electrics …
The holes on the real one were done by multiple platforms, the hulls had been there for decades on various ranges and the ranges change firing systems from time to time.
4 Likes
Eeeerection!
Not nearly as worrisome as I expected drilling two holes on opposite sides with no markings/measurements.
Mike
7 Likes
4 Likes
- Modelers over 50, Little Blue Pill $19.95 extra.
6 Likes
Not exactly the blue one, but I could’ve needed some energizer to bring it on the works; conversion of the back M4 is on the good way:
Now I need to understand what kind of tool was on the left sponson back end:
Can anyone identify the tool/s in the red circle?
6 Likes
I’d say a crowbar and the wooden handle of the pickaxe.
1 Like
So I’m working on the turret of my Sherman, and I’ve run into a problem.
For a refresher, this is the tank I’m building, a captured Sherman in Italy before it has been repainted:
And another angle (it’s the Sherman in the back):
I was about to add the spotlight(?) on the turret and decided to check my references; as you can see in the first photo, you can’t see one due to the German soldier in the way. In the second photo, when you zoom in, there appears to be no spotlight.
And the part in the instructions:
What do y’all think? I’m thinking it’s not there, so should the mount still be there or is there nothing at all?
Thanks!
2 Likes
I would leave off the light and mount. Feels like it wasn’t manufactured for that turret. Not sure when it was a regular item.
4 Likes