Ok, guys--- I think this is about ready for primer.
Look it over, and be an extra set of eyes for the old man.
Also, anything that needs adding or correcting, please point out.
Most of yous guys know more about Shermans than I do.
Also, I could use a photo of how the tow cable was placed. (there's none included in the kit)





There are a few other shots in my gallery.

Looking great Dave! Didn't notice the lead out the rear of the tail-lights- nice touch!
As for the tow cable, well this did vary a little, but it ran from a clamp that was welded onto the transmission housingon a slight offset angle, [right of centre (looking from front of tank) on the top slope before the sharp curve]- then over the glacis past the drivers' hatch, through the guide cleat, along the left side through the other cleat and then draped over to the rear of the hull, where it is fixed into another clamp right on the rear edge of the hull, close to in-line with the edge of the engine access doors... This is a M4A1 I know, but you can get the basic picture as they weren't different in positioning the cable.
As you can also see, the cable is held mostly by its own weight, so it can sag a little where it bridges the gap between the cleats for example...
HTH
Bradley

Looking real good there.. I think thats going to be a sherman kit to be proud of...

only thing I would do is to drill out the barrel of the 50 cal. and the .30 cal.. from your pics they look solid.. you don't have to drill far just enough to give the end the appearence of being hollow.. really helps out the appearance of the guns..

I know bugger all about Shermies... but I'll say this - if all the white bits are your scratch you should change your name to "Nimble_fingered_Old_Man"

Looks great - what is medium did you use on the welds?

Looks ok to me Dave,nice and fiddly,just to tease the tired old eyes :-)
Arthur

Looking good so far Dave. What is the red stuff, as it looks like rust ( which i know its not ).
Thanks Andy

I think the red is auto body filler that Grumpy used to fill in the gaps

Looking good Dave.I'm with Delbert on drilling out the muzzles.A pain,but not much time involved and very worth the effort.
Were the kit light gaurds that bad?
Please keep us posted on the progress!
cheers!

Thanks guys, especially on the cable info. I'll have to make one up, I think it looks naked without it.
I can assure everyone that the MG barrels have been drilled out.
Yep, the red stuff is good old fashion body filler. The bulge was made from Magic Sculpt, and texture-less, so I thinned the filler, and stippled it on.
The light guards were really easy to make.

Just a thought,Dave.
Could you make the grill door supports a bit wider? The ones you have seem tall enough,but skinny. I never measured a 1;1 one, but looking at photographs,they seem wider. (++) (++)

Yep, Carl.... no problem popping them off, and putting wider ones on. Haven't primed it yet, been taking a few days off...... :-) :-)

EDIT:::: OK I widened the door supports, made them twice the with. They look closer to what the picture shows now. (nope, didn't use a micrometer, just the old MKI eyeball.

Are you going to compliment that Sherman with a tattoo of Mr. Peabody? :-) :-)

There I was, not paying attention to what is going on here, and here you are Dave, off building Sherman's, and I might say a pretty good job of it to, but what have you ever messed up before anyway.

Nothing that I know of, you have always come out on top, no matter what subject you choose. Well I wish you luck buddy, keep up the good work.
Kerry

Ciao Dave,
I agree with AndyD. You are pretty nimble-fingered for being "old." (You ain't as grumpy as you make yourself out to be, either.)
Looks like a masterpiece on your hands. All the little extras are really going to make this one a gem. Great job and keep us posted.
Ciao for now
Rob

http://members.aol.com/EarlWerks/sounds/rimshot.wav

Dave
How hard was it to make the bolt hole strips along side the hull? What was your technique for doing them?

That looks very promissing! Keep it going and keep us posted!
Cheers and happy modelling
Prato

Thanks again.....
Chad the strip with the bolt holes was really simple. Just a strip of styrene, glued to little blocks layed along the hull. I forget the measuement thickness, probably .10 or .20 by .40 or .60 wide. The bolt holes were laid out using my favorite MK1 eyeball, and a pencil, and simply drilled out, again I don't remember the size. I just ran a pencil line down the center of the strrip to try to keep them in line.

OH... I took two days off from modeling..... and I don't feel guilty...... LOL

i hadnt noticed the blocks along the back of a real tank when i put mine on....where did you get the idea for them?

Kevin, from a photo of a photo etched set........ :-) :-)

Very very nice. Makes me want to focus on a single AFV and ramp it up and superdetail it. Inspirational.

I really like the 50 cal. Nice improvement

Well, it's "go for broke now...... "
Primer coats on......

Hi Grumpyoldman,

Hmm....you may need to recreate the cast iron texture on the turret and the front plate that covers the gearbox.

Nice build.

Angela

Wow Sir, this is the "essence" of detail modeling. I'm very fond of the fact that you take the time to correct each detail.

As a fellow detail nut, bravo bravo!

WC