thanks bruce, it seems that your most likey right.i for one wodnt mind an artilce on how to fix them.Are there any faults with the hobbyboss m4a3e8 forward of the weld line just before the angle on the hull.if you check out my last posting under bride of frankensherman iwas doing an early m4a3 with the drivers hoods but icould add the front end from the e8 kit and ishould have a accurate m4a3? sound ok or am i pushing something up hill with a drinking straw? iawait your learned response wayne