(Login TopGunBob) Registered Users from IP address 71.254.127.166
Yep, just poured the first half today. Flip side tomorrow and ready for sale by mid-week next week. It does include sponson covers by the way. The 105mm Howitzer Turret is molded except for the Mantlet which I mucked-up. Fixing it now and it will be ready in a few days.
Bob
Bob and Steve
Top Gun Military/IRON DIVISON Resins
http:www.topgunmilitary.com
This message has been edited by TopGunBob from IP address 71.254.127.166 on Jun 16, 2008 5:05 PM
On this site a while back, it was mentioned that you might be going to produce a "fix it" set for the HobbyBoss HVSS suspension. Is this still a plan of yours, and if so, have you any idea of when approximately it might be ready for sale? I ask because I have a number of projects for which such a set would be most useful.
Thank you for all your work in the aid of Sherman builders everywhere.
Welded hull DV Shermans were not used by the British in the North African Campaign
June 19 2008, 12:09 AM
I couldn't help but notice that Nik had enquired that he was hopeful that the upcoming IRON DIVISION res' M4 direct vision hulls would be appropriate for early WW2 British, Desert use. They are not, unfortunately. However, they could be modified to M4A2 standard by the removal of the rear engine deck and adding the appropriate missing details on the deck, and of course, modifiying the rear-most vertical plate on the hull. Most of the Sherman's the Brit's received were radial engined M4A1s along with not quite so many M4A2's with their twin GMC diesel engines. M4, Welded hull Shermans with radial engines would not arrive in North Africa until the Torch Landings in Nov of 42 and would only be used by the U.S. armored divisions. It isn't clear as to when the Commonwealth units started receiving welded hull M4', with either the direct vision slots and/or welded driver hoods. Perhaps somebody out there can help us with that particular query..Just when did Commonwealth armored units start receiving welded hull M4's? They already had M4A1's in their inventories, and M4's were automotively similar. It sort of seems to me that as the inventory of M4A1's died out, simaltaneously the numbers of lend-lease M4A2's started to fill the inventories. As time passed, and batches of M4A2's didn't quite seem to fill the UK inventories fast enough, that radial engine M4 batches would be called upon to satisfy the UK's hunger for tanks; provided it didn't put to big of a dent in the US ARMY's needs...which may have been in a position to better "Let go" of increasing numbers of radial engined M4's as the US Army prefered the M4A3, water cooled Ford engine version as it's
"Standard" tank.. Can I get a witness hear to my theory? Halleloooyah...
Chris Schwach
Welded hull DV Shermans were not used by the British in the North African Campaign
June 19 2008, 12:10 AM
I couldn't help but notice that Nik had enquired that he was hopeful that the upcoming IRON DIVISION res' M4 direct vision hulls would be appropriate for early WW2 British, Desert use. They are not, unfortunately. However, they could be modified to M4A2 standard by the removal of the rear engine deck and adding the appropriate missing details on the deck, and of course, modifiying the rear-most vertical plate on the hull. Most of the Sherman's the Brit's received were radial engined M4A1s along with not quite so many M4A2's with their twin GMC diesel engines. M4, Welded hull Shermans with radial engines would not arrive in North Africa until the Torch Landings in Nov of 42 and would only be used by the U.S. armored divisions. It isn't clear as to when the Commonwealth units started receiving welded hull M4', with either the direct vision slots and/or welded driver hoods. Perhaps somebody out there can help us with that particular query..Just when did Commonwealth armored units start receiving welded hull M4's? They already had M4A1's in their inventories, and M4's were automotively similar. It sort of seems to me that as the inventory of M4A1's died out, simaltaneously the numbers of lend-lease M4A2's started to fill the inventories. As time passed, and batches of M4A2's didn't quite seem to fill the UK inventories fast enough, that radial engine M4 batches would be called upon to satisfy the UK's hunger for tanks; provided it didn't put to big of a dent in the US ARMY's needs...which may have been in a position to better "Let go" of increasing numbers of radial engined M4's as the US Army prefered the M4A3, water cooled Ford engine version as it's
"Standard" tank.. Can I get a witness hear to my theory? Halleloooyah...
Chris Schwach
Re: Since you are doing a Sherman 105 turret, does this mean...
June 17 2008, 3:32 PM
If you want a product guaranteed to sell, then Sherman return rollers are it. The Hobbyboss kits come with a variety of bogie assemblies but only enough return rollers for 6 and without more return rollers, the spare assemblies aren't much use. A bag of six return rollers certainly would allow me to expand my Sherman building projects, and I don't think I am the only one who would purchase these.
I think I answered my own question that the new tuttets would be high bustled. However, I'm curious if the gun mount plate (or whatever the part of the turret that mantlet attaches to is a seperate peice on either of your high bustle turrets?
I ask because one of the Shermans I will build has the M4 105 turret with the M34 gun mount an mantlet.
Nik; I don't see why you couldn't cover the rear engine deck..but then; you not only would be hiding those "Pretend" M4A2 details...you might just catch that baby on fire..lol as the engine screens to vent away the heat are right smack in the middle of the mess. You could also salvage the day by sacrificing a Tamiya M10 and cutting out the rear engine deck and of course using the rear end details, i.e. exhaust and the deflector if you want to model a mid production version. I have thought of just that but simply adding these "Borrowed" details from the M10 and adding it to the Tamiya welded hull M4 as I really prefer to work completely in plastic and don't care for the resin so much. Let me know if you need any reference and if you are not terribly far away from the states, etc...I could probably mail it to you. Otherwise, I may be able to cook up some stuff off the internet (as you may also) for the M4A2. Cheers and good luck on your project. Chris Schwach
Nik; I don't see why you couldn't cover the rear engine deck..but then; you not only would be hiding those "Pretend" M4A2 details...you might just catch that baby on fire..lol as the engine screens to vent away the heat are right smack in the middle of the mess. You could also salvage the day by sacrificing a Tamiya M10 and cutting out the rear engine deck and of course using the rear end details, i.e. exhaust and the deflector if you want to model a mid production version. I have thought of just that but simply adding these "Borrowed" details from the M10 and adding it to the Tamiya welded hull M4 as I really prefer to work completely in plastic and don't care for the resin so much. Let me know if you need any reference and if you are not terribly far away from the states, etc...I could probably mail it to you. Otherwise, I may be able to cook up some stuff off the internet (as you may also) for the M4A2. Cheers and good luck on your project. Chris Schwach
