Started painting too…but might just find a late cover then and do some surgery. Rather it be correct.
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I’d leave be unless if you’re modeling a specific vehicle that had the late housing. There must’ve been some that had a mix of the earlier FDAs, no?
Here, found one! This is clearly a Firely IC with the same FDA as on yours
Interesting tracks on this one. They look like T-41?
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Problem is, I don’t have any really good frontal pics of the one I want to model. The crew is standing infront of the cover and its dark. Though, on a closer look now, I think I see the little horizontal bar connected to the smaller shackle mount.
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@Tiger_III_L
Does that mean late FDA? I edited my previous post with a clear shot of one with the same combination of features as yours.
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The only positive I can say about you having to remove that FDA is that you’re working with an Asuka and the FDA goes on like the real thing so using extra thin trick on the bolt strip area on the top, sides and bottom and it should slide right off.
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Thankfully it was an easy process. Already done switching them out. Primed and gotta paint the FDA now. Then back to where I was.
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CUTE!! This is the way!
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Adding stowage and weathering the hedgerow device. Also corrected the gun crutch as the kit has you mount it 3.5mm too low.
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Some more detailing, almost ready to receive painting:
Next time I convert a non-radial Sherman to Continental I’ll be less picky about the engine doors as they get out of sight once the grill is on (or no grill at all)…
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@Steo77
I’ve never seen any models of this before. I’m familiar with the image, but most people like to model the ones with the HVSS suspension. I’ve even seen people model the M50s based on M4A1s with HVSS and I think I’ve even seen one based on a regular M4A1 VVSS, but this is one I’ve never seen before. Fantastic work, so many details like those spaced out tow hooks in the lower rear hull. Do you have a lot of photos of this particular tank?
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Unfortunately only the pics I posted earlier.
And the history I could get.
When it comes to IDF I have a soft spot for early birds and this unique M50 was the perfect match to my preferences. Everything out of sight in pics is guess work based on accounts from books (basically from the late Tom Gannon’s).
Conversion to Continental had a certain degree of standardisation and based on the French transformè style so I followed the plausibile way.
I couldn’t spot this tank in any training or parade following the Suez crisis end.
Either destroyed or upgraded or shrouded as many IDF stories are.
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@Steo77
The Gannon books have a lot of errors in them. Dr Robert Manasherob had a series of books on Israeli Sherman’s. He hasn’t released a new one in a few years but his website appears to still be up and running if you’re interested in ordering some of the Sherman books that have been published so far.
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Small update
I have to admit that this kit has exceeded my expectations. I just wanted to see if it would build into a decent “operation cobra” M4A1 76mm and I think the answer is definitely yes. Who makes decals for these tanks? Unfortunately and despite including some nice stuff like link to link tracks that clean and build like RHPS clones (good thing), resin brush guards, metal barrel, some fun stowage, PE, and other details. Even after that BM gets an F for decals and an F for leaving out details like the spare track holders, the sand shield brackets, and not one single crewman to work with. The sand shield bracket thing is really odd considering that their 75mm Sherman includes that detail.
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Just a word of caution. The Cradle on the .50 is wrong.
That’s a glaring error in the assembly instructions.
you attached it to the location where the front mounting pin goes through the front of the machine gun.
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I have searched a bit and the story of the ex crocodile flamethrower prototype seemed reliable. In case it was not, there is at least the pic showing this early M50 whatever those side bars can be. My goal would be to have a collection of Continental powered models, so an M1 and M51 are still missing…
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If your guy is that close to the tank, does he really need binoculars to see it? I thought that’d make him 4F… 
You’ve done a great job on that kit - I love the sandbags and hedge-cutter device.
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I’m feeling the itch to get my own build going, but haven’t decided on which of the many Shermans in my stash to do. OOB or major kitbash? Hmm…
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