Anne's M4A3 Sherman GPM

[Amccombs3]

All the details on the glacis plate up front are done! That comprises the siren, headlights, gun barrel support/lock, and hull machine gun. I was very unsure how the machine gun was supposed to go together, so I experimented with a scan that I had printed previously (to replace a lost part). I have to also remark that the fit on the MG parts was AWFUL. The hole for the cone-shaped part was much too small, and I also had to trim the opening in the glacis plate to make it large enough to get the assembly into position. The concave part at the bottom also had to be trimmed a lot. Finally, the teensy gun barrel had to be rolled impossibly tightly. The paper started delaminating, at which point I realized that it would work better if I deliberately delaminated it and only used the printed layer, plus I trimmed off most of the white portion that was supposed to be the interior of the roll.

Also, the cat got so pesky that I was forced to imprison him in the bedroom for a while. He’s a smart kitty and seems to have taken the hint (for now).

The next steps involve the front hatches, just aft of the glacis plate. I haven’t started looking at them yet. I deliberately haven’t cut out the openings before now (visible on the raised flap, with scissor symbols), because that part would have been dangerously fragile while I was working on the rest of the model.

[southwestforests]

Originally Posted by Amccombs3

Also, the cat got so pesky that I was forced to imprison him in the bedroom for a while. He’s a smart kitty and seems to have taken the hint (for now).

Cats versus Shermans, a, maybe the, classic armor contest!

[gotham]

Now if your cat had opposable thumbs, he could help you with the smaller parts.😸

[Amccombs3]

I’m flummoxed by some of the details in the front hull hatches, and have PM’d Greg & Kevin. But if anyone else has insight or detailed pictures, or can send a reference, I’d be grateful. The instructions, both written and diagrammatic, leave a lot to the imagination. In the meantime, I’m continuing to cut & assemble the parts I do understand.

[Kevin WS]

Hi Anne. I havent seen a PM at all and my mailbox is not full. Dont worry though - just send me another PM and tell me what you want details of and I will fish them out or take photos if I don't have any!

[KCStephens]

Anne,

You are making good progress on your Sherman, it looks terrific.

If I remember correctly the front hatches were a bit tricky to figure out. I believe the diagrams show a complicated working version where as the hatches are hinged to open and close. I did not follow that approach, I simply glued them down in the closed position and may have fudged a few other things along the way but in the end I think it turned out ok.

I hope these pictures help.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

P.S. I also included photos of the turret hatches just incase

[KCStephens]

Anne

I just dug out my copy of the instructions...
You may want to consider building and mounting part #66 (the "U" shaped turret bullet shield) at this time as it is incorporated into the hatch assembly.

BEWARE when building this part because it requires bending a very long piece of 1mm board that gets parts of different lengths laminated to each side. When laminating the skin parts to the board stock, form U shape in the heavy board first, then carefully glue the skins (longer on the outside, shorter on the inside) to it starting at the center point and work to the outside edge.

Hope I didn't confuse you too much.

Good luck

Kevin

[Don Boose]

Somehow I missed your 3 September post, Anne.

The front end of your tank looks great! Exceptionally clean and precise artisanship.

I also enjoyed Kevin's explanatory narrative and images of his classic Sherman build.

Don

[KCStephens]

Originally Posted by Amccombs3

I deliberately haven’t cut out the openings before now (visible on the raised flap, with scissor symbols), because that part would have been dangerously fragile while I was working on the rest of the model.

No need to cut them out if you choose to glue the hatches down in the closed position. Only cut them out if you are going to have them open and close.

[modelperry]

Agree with Kevin, no need to cut hatch holes in chassis if not having opening hatches. (Leave that to the Halinski builders).

BTW, Kevin's pictures are better than what I have readily available. Besides his build is cleaner looking than mine.....