My Sherman - a 14 year project

[Adrian Harris]

It looks the original Armortek Sherman demo model in some ways doesn't it? Us "old" Armortek vets will remember the brochure, and pix.

War and peace 2004 ArmortekSherman.JPG (157.9 KiB) Viewed 3392 times

Spot on Bob.

According to the pictures I have she'll be 20 in May, so I ought to get her running again. Nearly there, just currently stuck on getting the motors fitted as they don't bolt to the hull sides like the production ones, but just sit on brackets bolted to the floor.

Adrian.

[Robert E Morey]

Hi Adrian,
Surely not 20?? I thought these came out in 2005 - 2006 (I got mine in 2006 anyway). Year or so in development?
Wow time flies. She looks good for that age! Didn't you get a left outside rust bucket as well?

My motors mount to brackets on the floor as well - I think this was standard for Sherm, but different from the others. I may replace the original Q4D speed controllers and switches. I have new 2x30 and 2x60 Sabertooth ESC - which are so easy to connect compared to the original electronics.

Thanks Frank and Simon - Seasons greetings and thanks for looking! Simon you're right with some OD paint they may blend in fine.

Best regards,
Bob

[Adrian Harris]

I'm basing that on the fact that the EXIF dates in the pictures I have are 2001.

She became the rust bucket, but she's now all shiny again

I dug the hull out this afternoon, which reminded me that the Acetal tyres on the wheels have suffered with age and split. I've spent a couple of hours trying to find a decent price for 85mm diameter acetal bar, or even better tube, but it's all at a silly price. I could 3D print new tyres, or just fit production rubber ones, but that seems a shame given everything else is original.

The kit I bought in 2006 has a bracket at the back of the motor but also four holes in the final drive housing around the aperture for the drive gear, to which you can bolt the Parvalux motors via an adaptor. This one used the same system as the earliest Tigers, with two brackets on the motor which bolt to the floor and there are no holes in the final drive. Any, all very Antiques Roadshow

Adrian.

[Robert E Morey]

Wow that "Was" the rust bucket! Beautiful salvage job!

Acetal/Delrin would be ridiculous expensive, plus a lot of waste for tires. Can you use M3 Lee tires? Another option, in the US you can get black ABS/PVC drainage pipe. Can you find that in UK? I used that for my M5 Stuart tires. Easy to machine, cheap and tough!

Best regards, Bob

[Robert E Morey]

Perhaps one last 2020 update. I redesigned the Sherman air cleaner box to be much simpler, and slightly smaller. Will be using these 3D printed version.

Mostly printed parts:


Assembled air cleaner box, take 2:


Installed: Original on right, new smaller easier to make on left!





Happy new year everyone. Hope to continue <and finish> this in 2021.
Bob

[Vince Cutajar]

To my Sherman untrained eye, the new one looks much better.

Vince

[Robert E Morey]

Thanks Vince - I think so too. Happy New Year. Working on the metal bits to finish them off.

Did you ever finish your T1 muzzle break? Curious how it came out....
B

[Vince Cutajar]

Happy New Year to you also Bob. Let's see what the new year has reserved for us.

Yes, I think I finished tinkering with the Tiger muzzle brake but have not printed it out yet. I haven't done the metal endpiece (the one that goes between the muzzle brake and the barrel) but have made a 3D drawing for when I decide to do it from aluminium.

As always, you are welcome to the files if you want to play around with them.

Vince

[Robert E Morey]

Few updates on this old girl. Trying to get it finished before E8 arrives. A few more detail bits added.

Sledge from alum and cherry wood handle:
]



Sledge mounted:


track spanner mounted:


Side tools mounted: Shovel is brass n wood, pick and axe are kit parts. Axe is modified - made slightly smaller. Armorpax excellent footman loops.




springs on front hatches:


Rear end overall:


Still a lot to do. Till next time,
Bob

[Phil Woollard]

Exquisite!

[David Brady]

Lovely job Bob

Cheers

[simon_manning]

Is it that amount of time gone by, another reminder, keep at it Bob, great build, regards simon.

[Robert E Morey]

Plugging away on this old girl....Nearly finished with the detail bits...until I find something else to fix.

Added faux grease fittings to wheels. Nearly ready for the faux grease...


Faux fittings to Idler wheel:


Never quite liked my original color for the tracks so overhauling the tracks - slow job. The retainers for track pins are the "new" type much better than stamped steel originals:


Added faux sand shield attachment rail to hull.


New front lamp gaurds courtesy of Fabrice L. for xmas! Thanks Fabrice -looks better!


Fitting the turret bullet gaurds - needs some fill under the rear.


Finished the pioneer tool fitting:




I think that's it... till next time.
Bob

[Phil Woollard]

Nice work Bob!

[mark j. radick]

Looking great !