The balloon has gone up and we are off.
So I better get started.
The plan is to turn the Cyber-Hobby M4A4 Sherman into a Sherman Bolster.
A bit of a background, as WWII progressed it became apparent that there was a need engineers to be able to provide obstacle crossings under fire and a range of vehicles were modified to meet this need. I think most of us are familiar with the 79th Arrmoured Division and 'Hobart's Funnies'. But what was true for NWE was also true for Italy, and New Zealand had it's own version of the 79th, all be it scaled down, the 28th Assault Squadron NZE. They were formed in March 1945 and during their short existence used a number of different specialist AFVs, including Valentine Bridgelayers, Sherman ARKs, Kangaroos (both Sherman and Priest), Sherman Fascine Carriers and Sherman Bolsters. These were a type of Fascine Carrier, where a fascine and a "stepping stone" (a series of cribs welded together) were carried on a rotatable turntable.
These vehicles based on both the Sherman II and V.
Well that's the beast and the plan, so on to the work bench.
First task, enlarge the turret ring, only to find that that nice 'breathing chap' has not lined up the turret on the turret race
Oh well 364 days to go
cheers
David
