Converting 15mm M4A3 into Sherman III (part 3)
Continuing on the Sherman III conversion.
Here you can se that I have filled and cleaned up the rare engine deck with some modelling putty. This could probably have been avoided but I am more of a sculptor than modeler I guess. I have also moved some of the tools down to the back plate as seen on several contemporary photos.
Some aesthetic changes beside the conversion into a Sherman III is the addition of an aerial made from steel wire (about 0,3mm thick). A smaller B set aerial will be added to the aerial mount behind the tank commander.
I have copied the ventilation parts in front of the turret by using a simple clay copying technique. The front drive wheels have also been slightly modifyed to represent those on earlier production model.
On the last picture you can clearly see some of the "dry stowage" armour plates. The tank i given a british Sherman V turret with an old grumpy british comander to complete the transformation. The front anthenna mount have also been modified and moved slight to the tanks center to better an M4A2.
Some aesthetic changes beside the conversion into a Sherman III is the addition of an aerial made from steel wire (about 0,3mm thick). A smaller B set aerial will be added to the aerial mount behind the tank commander.
The lifting rings have been removed and replaced with steel wire. The armour plates in front of the drivers hoods were removed, and the gun barrel has been replaced with a shortened 76mm barrel. I don't really understand the reason for making the standard 75mm barrel about two thirds of the 1mm thicker gun...
Now about everything left i stowage and paint.
Cheers!
Over & out.
Converting 15mm M4A3 into Sherman III (part 2)
I recently got the starter for the new game Tanks. It includes two american M4A3 tanks and a panther. SinceII have no interest in american units and the british didn't use the A3 version, I decided to try and rebuild this tank.
This is part two of yhis process.
Here i cut out the whole rare compartment in order to rearange it:
I then filled the inside of the gap with plasticard to have something to build on. Here you can also se the simple additions of dry stowage extra armour plates and the turret from the British M4A4 box.
Here is what the rare compartment looks like after I rebuilt it to look like the M4A2 version. It has a slimmer part with grills in five rows. I have rebulit one row on each half with the part cut of. The surounding plates are made of plasticard.
Here is what the rare compartment looks like after I rebuilt it to look like the M4A2 version. It has a slimmer part with grills in five rows. I have rebulit one row on each half with the part cut of. The surounding plates are made of plasticard.
This process was really fiddly and I don't think the dimensions is at all correct, but it looks quite fine to me so far. Clearly a Sherman III.
Over and out until next update!
Converting 15mm M4A3 into Sherman III (part 1)
Started to try and turn one of the American M4A3 Shermans from the relatively new game tanks starter box into a British Sherman III (M4A2).
First step was to cut of the front of the M4A3.
With that done, I then inserted a new front from the British Sherman V/Firefly VC box. The new front is a bit too long, as the M4A4 had a longer hull, so it took a fair bit och cuting and filing. Looks alright so far I guess.
To be continued...
Over & out.
