Sherman M4A3E8 76(w) HVSS Prototype

[Armortek]

Little update on the easy eight.
Only parts left to make - apart from the two castings - are the top armour inserts, the front hatches and the loaders hatch. The rest is all done, so really it is a case of waiting for the castings to be able to finish off this model.

Castings, at least in the small volumes that we need them seem to take an inordinate amount of time. In fact we have already ordered all the castings for the Tiger 1 and in the next month will shortly be doing the same for the Hetzer.

Current estimate for the castings is that we will get them around the second week of May. We will then set to work machining them and then it is on to the packing and shipping.

[Armortek]

Production for the Sherman is now pretty much done - just the machining of the (cast) turret and differential armour to go .... but still waiting for those to arrive. Will have an update on that in a few days.

In the meantime, packing of all the parts is in full swing and we have also been making the option pack mechanical parts. On the topic of option packs, there will be a few changes:
1. Elevation for the Sherman will be operated via a linear actuator rather than using a lead screw
2. Recoil will be operated by a servo - programmed for a fast recoil and slow recovery. The LED will also be programmed to only flash on the recoil movement and not on the recovery.
3. We will offer a servo set up to move the machine gun back and forth, along with an LED. It is unlikely that we will have machine gun smoke ready in time, but it should be able to be added at a later date.
4. We will offer LEDs for the front headlights.

And finally - below are some photos of the finished model. We should have some video of the tank driving around outside once we get some dry weather .... currently predicted for next Friday

[Jerry Carducci]

Kian why let wet weather stop you! Get muddy! You know we Americans and our tanks love the mud....not!

The good old Sherman slogged through some muddy fields I'm sure...

I'm pulling your leg- I never, well hardly ever run my models in the mud. They're hellish to clean - our local adobe mud once
it hardens..... well you'll understand why the Spanish built missions up and down the coast with it. Try hiking up the hill in it and it
will suck the best of boots right off your feet...

No, a clean tank is a happy tank... looking forward to this..

Jerry

[Derek Attree]

Hi Guys
I really wish I had gone in for one of these as well as the Hetzer it looks a super bit of kit.
Storage space is an issue for me now

Regards

Derek

[florian rudolf]

Hi Derek,

you are in competition with me. Hopefully we get one from storage

[William Vallejo]

Dried mud is tough. Frozen mud is impossible. Essentially the same as concrete. Dried mud is normal around Tucson, but not frozen mud.

[Armortek]

Castings have arrived !!!

We have wasted no time in getting the turrets on to their first machining operation. In total each turret will spend about an hour and a half on the machines going through various operations.

Differential cases will be set up soon.

Current projection is that we should be able to start shipping in 7 to 10 work days.

[Jerry Carducci]

Outstanding! ... I Iove the smell of metal turnings in the morning.... smells like.... victory!

Jerry

[Armortek]

Shipping started today - first 4 kits were picked up today and are on their way to their new homes in the U.K. and the US.

[Armortek]

20 Sherman kits packed up - shipping well underway now.
Funnily enough this is probably as exciting an experience for us as it is for the people getting the kits

[Andy Walker]

Its arrived

[jwwirds]

One of those sets of boxes is going to The Netherlands

Can't wait!