My M4 Sherman

[Andrea Daviero]

Hi all!
I bought an armortek sherman (first version) From Duncan Allender.
After about an year I'm almost ready to start it.
After some research I decided to make some mods to the tank to fit the sherman tank I have in a town near my home.
The tank is it:
As you can see it is an M4 (early) and this means A LOT OF works on it.
I already have some materials and measures taken on the real tank, but I need info on the missing items if you can help me.
For example the antenna(s) the tools position and so on...
Yesterday the idler wheels were modified by a friend with CNC to fit the real "Athena"'s wheel. But, with a more thickness to mantain it strong enaugh for RC model.
Here the modified wheel compared with the original one

[Adrian Harris]

Very nice Andrea - can't wait to see the rest of it coming together

And a good idea to keep some meat in the idler, as the Sherman runs with a lot of tension in the tracks, so this does need to be strong.

Adrian.

[Andrea Daviero]

Thanks Adrian, maybe the works will require some time, at the moment the workshop is full, a couple of kettenkrads tobe rc converted and the Iacopo's panzer III (we are building together). So I have a room for the other models. The sherman is in that room at this time.
Now the works are only on the part of the tank that need deep modifications.
The next one will be the rear hull wall wich is at 80° on the M4 istead of the around 60 of the M4A3. I will also need to cut that plate and replace the rear engine firewall with a new one (higher)
Next to it the upper rear hull.
Hope to be able to do them all.

[Andrea Daviero]

I've almost finished the "research" phase.
Basically here is a comparition of the main mods I must do on the tank:

Most of the works are on the rear engine deck, rear walls and firewall.
And here some pictures taken on the tank I'm approaching to replicate:






What is this? a spare track link holder?

And this one? (not the hook)

[Iacopo Di Giampietro]

The last picture is definitely a shady man ....

[duncanallender]

Hi Iacopo,
I am glad to see you starting on the Sherman.There are some good photos of the real tank.Did this tank in your town break down or get imobilised by German fire.Sende my regards to Andrea.
Ciao
Duncan

[Andrea Daviero]

Hi Duncan!
Thank you!
The sherman is still mine, Iacopo helped me in measuring the real one.
He is still busy with the panzer III but the works are not proceeding for both tanks in these months due to other parallel works (2 kettenkrad rc conversions ended few days ago, and now we have another one to convert plus a sdkfz250 to modify).
I'm searching someone who will make me the rear hull engine decks to fit the M4 version. I found some people able to cut with laser, but I'm searching one at low price.

[Adrian Harris]

Hi Andrea.

If you can send me CAD drawings I can get you a price from my waterjet cutting company, but I'm not sure what the postage charges to Italy would be like.

Adrian.

[Andrea Daviero]

Hi Adrian, thanks for the offer, but I have already some contacts, I'm only searching the cheaper one. i doubt that making it in UK will be cheaper, but, also if it is, the shipping will delete any advantage.
Thanks for your offer!
I will let you know when I advance with works.

[Andrea Daviero]

Just for info, yhere are some other reason to have not yet started the tank, one is the latest meeting we did at Verona Model Expo 2013

Hope you enjoy it.
Unfortunately there were few tanks but I'm sure that there will be more in future.