Another right out of the box conversion; this time from Dragon:


Sherman with AMX turret as converted by the Egyptians.


Initial kit review by Carlos Martin over at:

http://armorama.com/forums/249724

Turret ring adapter to mate AMX turret to Taska Sherman casting available from Shapeways as created by RanchFX:



http://www.shapeways.com/product/5XXYLYEW2/amx-sherman-turretring-adapter?optionId=43711200&li=more-from-shop

New Spartan car/truck horns now available in 1/35th and 1/24th scales from Shapeways as created by barkingdigger*:



https://www.shapeways.com/product/PFN6L5C9Z/sparton-truck-horns-1-35-scale?optionId=60398887

* Be sure to check out his other great detail parts for the M31 and M32!

I have reposted this image a second time here at the beginning of this new page #12 because I fear that posts made right at the end of an older page tend to get overlooked.

Tom,

Very nice. I'm going to get some of the track skids for the M4's.

I'm sending a PM.

Thanks,
Randy

My Brazilian Army M20 (Tamiya 1/35)

Iury, nice clean conversion.

I assume that front shield is just the right height for the 50 cal to shoot over? Or did they not carry the large caliber weapon?

Mike

Well I had a lovely Saturday at Dundee Model Show until I packed and headed home !

The Bedford TM nose dived off my runaway trolley and will require repairs ! Bugger !

Ah well ,,,,,,,,,,,,, not quite back to scratch but will need some TLC ! Still dreading looking over the damage !

Nige

Here's my latest bit of scratch building/converting. It's the 76mm gun its equipment and M62 gun mount. All at the test fitting stage.































Pat
MMiR

Hi Guys,
I'd like to show you pics of my Renwal/Revell M 55 howitzer's scratchbuilt turret interior, but seem to be too dumb to upload them here -- any help would be very welcome!
Peter

Pat

What is your 76mm breach going into? It looks great! Pet peeve of mine - even it a tank model offers no interior the manufacturer should always provide the internal gun breech!

This because the breech mechanism it SO visible on the model unless you entirely button up the turret. Even with TC and loader figures in the hatches you can still tell if there is no breech!.

You know it Mike!

I'm using mine in the Tasca/Asuka 76mm turrets. I realized rather late that those early turrets essentially have two gigantic round holes in the top!

Joe from TMD is making copies for me and may eventually release it as a kit.

I have yet to make the breech guard because I need to glue parts together in order to gauge its dimensions--and make sure it fits right. It is usually complex and in spite of hundreds of reference photos, I still have no clear view of the right side.

I am also sending him a proper radio and mount, along with the turret control box and the MG mount. That last item is another thing I can't make unless I have an assembled mount.

Pat
MMiR

Pat, are you talking about the FT-237 mounting tray that the BC-604 and 603 transmitter and receivers bolted into? I have handled more than a few of these but have nothing as to basic dimensions.

I can tell you that the Patton Collection (now the Ft. Benning collection) has virgin copies of these components somewhere in their "attic" if you know anyone down there that you can talk your way into the place. Also a number of the Shermans and Stuarts at Benning have full radios in them. I know because I helped rewire some of these tanks. We never got the inter tank radios working but the transmitter also drives the internal tank como and we got that working in 4-5 of the tanks.

Mike

That's the one--I think. I am not sure of the nomenclature. In terms of dimensions, I used them on my first try, but it was too big! I have adjusted the base to fit in the Tasca turret. I am using the Tamiya radio with an added tray and a phantom antenna.

Pat
MMiR

The Tamiya radio (with tray) that comes with the old M-8 and M-20 kits is nicely done even for its age. Also I think it is Verlinden that makes a good tank radio in resin. I have four of those installed in various Shermans.

Though not a great photo, here is the Tamiya radio installed in my M-20:



(Sorry but no phantom antenna in the Tamiya offering!)


Here is the complete rig: FT mounting tray, BC-604 transmitter, BC-603 Receiver and a misc. parts storage box that can be substituted for a second BC-603 receiver when desired.

Thank you Mike!

I had forgotten about the M8 radio. I'll have to check that out. I have been working with the older radio from the M4 kit. There is quite a gulf in development between those two kits.

BTW, I did finally manage to get some pretty good pictures of the breech guard on the 76mm. Going to be tricky to build.

Pat
MMiR

Tonight I had the chance to take some better photos of both the plastic and the resin tank radios. See what you think:






Pat there is your phantom antenna mounted horizontally on the radio in the M4. It is a little bit bigger than a beer can. It puts a dummy resistance load on the antenna which greatly shortens the range of the transmitter for testing, maintenance and also that the TC's can talk, tank to tank over short distances without creating confusion with other tanks in the area.

Phantom Antenna

Believe me guys I am still in with this thread. Check out my first modern build over at:

http://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/250147&ord=&page=1

I am working on accurizing the latest Italeri HEMMTT with the flat rack Load Handling System. Doing some scratch building as well as adding as many missing details as I can find.






Adding bolt head detail to the differentials as well as oil drain and check plugs among many other details.



Also planning on adding the beautiful Real Models resin engine to this build just as soon as the postman shows up with the parts!

Thanks again, Mike!

The progression of the phantom antenna is an interesting one. It started out in the horizontal position as you've shown, inside the low bustle turret. This was found to poke the commander in the back, so it was moved to the vertical and mounted within a guard. This how all the 76mm turrets are configured--and the Jumbo.

The M8/M20 radio is much better than the old M4 one. I am also looking at the Dragon one, which is surplus on their tool sprue in the M48A2.

Pat
MMiR

I have seen both the horizontal and vertical mountings but never a guard over the device. It had to be in that general area so the radio operator could disconnect the antenna wire ( at the far left end of the FT tray) and attach a short jumper between the antenna connection and the phantom.

Real Models' beautiful resin engine being mounted in the Italeri HEMTT I am working on:

The paint job on the resin HEMTT engine:



The engine installed and weathered:

Looking good.

Are we still going to do a campaign on our conversions?

Well Randall as I said before we only have 4-5 who have expressed an interest. I have inquired but have not received a response.

Besides, in my case I feel like I have already started my entry over at:

"My first HEMTT - the Italeri LHS"

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/250147