Was just checking out the pics of the Sheri. I have the same kit. Makes me go "Hmmmmm"
Did you happen to notice that Jaguar got the drain plugs and the drivers escape hatch switched as far as locations? lol They came to Ft. Bragg to gather their info and used one of ours as a referrence. When I saw the buildup in Santa Clara I mentioned the drains plugs/hatch info to them. I guess they didn't listen... oh well easy fix. Any other major problems with the build? I'll be doing mine in my tanks markings while with the 82D. I couldn't find the DS version so I'll be converting my Vietnam version. "Q"

Hey Red4, that's one kit I would love to attempt. Being all resin and that price, keeps my urges at bay for the moment.
I just love the look of it. Very cool. I especially like the MG's guards atop the turret.

Any way I'm suprised that our Gunnie hasn't chimed in yet to this post. I hope I don't step on his toes with this, but here is a link to Gunnie's build of that beauty.


http://www.guntruck.com/M551Sheridan.html

Gunnie where's the "next page" link at the bottom of the page? Looks great Gunnie! :-)

Thanks for the link. It is some nice work. I noticed that on the first page though that Gunny mentions that the Sheridan is still in use with the 82nd. I wish this was true, but we deactivated in July 1997. Made our last trip in the Sheri down Ardennes and said goodbye to the Division. Not sure when he created his page so it might justbe an oversight. Thanks again for the link. "Q"

No link activated yet Ken because I haven't completed the page. Actually - I shouldn't have activated the link at all because I'm still writing, building, and rechecking the information - as Red4 pointed out my error in historical recounting. I haven't even uploaded a revised version of the page yet.

I have been guilty of activating links before their time in the past but I'm learning not to do that going forward...

My commentary / opinion on the Jaguar M551 Sheridan isn't all that favorable so far, but I don't want to shoot it in the foot before I complete work on it. With small detail errors, I won't pan them - and thus far there is no comparison between it and the Tamiya / Academy releases back in the last century as far as detailing quality goes.

The biggest drawback to the Jaguar release is how long it is taking to bring together. Warpage and ill-fitting parts are expected in a resin kit like this, but Man - it seems a bit much for a kit that promises you so much with all the fantastic detail cast in it. When I reach the painting stage, I planned to upload the second and third page - with corrections and amendments.

Gunnie

Gunnie,
With that much warpage and problems are you sure somebody didn't sell you a AEF casted model. lol... I haven't checked my Sheri out in detail yet, hopefully I won't have the same problems. "Q"

Ooooh - you're bad! There's some AEF apologists out there who'd get mad at 'ya!

Biggest problem I had was that the lower hull was warped - in the opposite direction than the upper hull. Sucked real bad to get them both to cooperate - at the same time - to come together. My turret didn't really sit into the cast-in socket on the upper hull - probably a by-product of the warpage. I had to make styrene strip shims to both fill the gaps to get the turret to sit properly. The Commander's Cupola wasn't sitting all that well in my example either, and the fit / placement of the Driver's Hatch left a lot to be desired.

The road wheels are a whole story in themselves - and I'm apprehensive for reaching the time when I have to mount them and balance the heavy beast on them. The whole experience was - WOW when I got it, and has been diminishing steadily downwards as I work on it. I'm really hoping that it'll go on the up-slope when I begin painting and finishing.

For the amount of money it cost - I'll be darned if I don't pull a silk purse outta a sow's ear here :-) :-) :-)

This soap opera might be titled: "The Model that Ate Gunnie"

Gunnie

Hey Red4, Condolences on having to live with the "styrofoam filled, tank like target" During my basic course while firing the Sheridan at Ft. Knox, we found a hole punched in the sheet metal side of one of the vehicles, and inside we found the flotation foam But then again where can you find a 6" diameter shotgun on a 17-ton chassis. WHOA. Fire HEAT and the front two road wheels on each side come off the ground, fire over the side and the downrange track would lift completely off the ground. One positive was that the M551 can run like a scalded cat. The other motto we made up was, " Dance like a butterfly, and kick like a mule!" Just glad I wasn't a turret mechanic on one. I never really wanted to go into a duel with a tank in a vehicle with "Made by Alcoa", stamped on top. Glad you survived.

Jeff

Friends--I have been away on business for the last week plus, so I may be entering this discussion late. Regardless, I made the big "I just have to have that model" plea for Xmas. Got it (love that Woman). I immediately took her down to the basement and started work. The hull is two separate pieces. Took forever to get them to mate. Next challenge, the instruction sheet. Who ever made it used a black background and a cheap camera. Awful. I sought ever reference I could find. Sorta figured out where everything should go. Ensure you have a large well marked container to place each piece and then place slips of paper with the parts number in the slot once you figure it out. Moving on. The turret is damn near impossible. The Commander's cupola is a tight fit. The .50 was designed to drive you crazy. The bustle rack is a delicate piece that requires absolute concentration and an extremely sharp knive to complete. I must have put her aside twenty times and moved onto to other projects. I still have the track to put together. It certainly looks fairly nice, but for the price and time....it is a loser. My thoughts.
DJ

Good to see you back DJ! Those are my sentiments too - I just refrained from articulating them all. I really don't know what to make of it, but I do know the outcome won't convey the effort it took to get there.

A promising subject that is really taxing in the end...

Gunnie

Gunnie--how far along are you with the kit?
DJ

Just short of basic painting - minus a couple of little detail changes here and there. I haven't touched the individual track links yet - as I was still miffed with the road wheels. Everything else is ready to go.

Right now, I take it outta it's Garage (the tupperware container I keep it in) and lob a few curses when I look at it. There seems to always be something else to do to it. I futz with it because all the initial excitement is gone, and it isn't sparking any new thrills yet.

Interestingly, when I put it away, I find new inspiration to work on a different model kit so things aren't that bad! I'm just not making much headway on this one...

Gunnie

Gunnie,
I pulled my Sheri out last night and was pleased to see that I had no warpage AND the turret fit like it should. I guess I got lucky. I did notice that my "Bag-o-resin-parts" though looked a little scary. Some very delicate looking pieces like the headlight guards etc.. The biggest drawback was what I have mentioned prior, that being the underside. Everyting is going to have to be ground away and rescribed in the proper location and demension. I guess it finally paid off to have tons of pics and to have worked on the thing for 4 years.
My box art was jacked up too. Shows the DS version onthe box and has the Vietnam version inside. I'm not going to do either. I'll finish mine as my ride while assigned to the 82nd. Swapping the M44 Passive sight for the M60A3 TTS and adding a LRF, plus the RT for it in the commander tub. I did notice some more things that weren't molded on, but should be easy to fix. The Eduard set should dress it up pretty well too. Anyway, just thought I'd share with you. "Q"

ps. If you want to experience warpage, let me send you one of the old AEF kits I have... heh heh Yeah I know I bagged on AEF already... heh heh, but its so easy sometimes....

Red4 - you know that reminds me of Rebel Alliance Pilot Red4 - anyway, I'd almost be willing to take you up on the AEF offer - only to see what it looks like. You got lucky with no warpage. Even my upper hull - rear at the flotation screen - was short-cast. I'm having a fun time attempting to create the detail there.

I have the same funny photo on my box too. I'm intending to do a Vietnam War version - "Body Count" since I don't presently have a lot of miniatures from that time period in my collection. It'll be interesting just to see you're finished - maybe Armorama will have TWO Sheridans in its photo gallery...

Gunnie

Gunnie,
Red4 is my current call sign here at my unit so it just kinda came naturally. I got a couple of AEF conversions. Let me sort throgh them and see what I might get rid of, trust me I wouldn't be out much. Do you need any ref pics of the missing detail on your Sheri? I got lots of good pics and TM's for it, both -10 and -20. I'm also doing another Sheri on the old Academy rip off of the Tamiya kit. This one is complete with interir and engine compartment and ground hopped engine. I remember reaading Cookie Sewells article on his scratch build of his. I'm not a bolt counter,(not saying Cookie is either) so even if the injection molded kits are a little large, I'm still building it. I did build one some years back in my 82nd markings and it looks good to me. I'm going to try and get some pics of it and I'll send them your way.
A lot of people slam the Sheri for whatever reasons they have. Granted is wasn't meant to slug it out head to head with ANY MBT, it could damn sure put a hurtin' on ya out to 3000 meters. "The little gun that could". The four years I spent commanding one was without a dout my favorite time spent on any vehicle. Anyway I'm beginning to rant... lol. "Q"

Thanks - I have the TM on CD at home, but any pics of modeling the interior and engine compartment would be very useful! I'm a lover of all American Armor - so I wouldn't slam it because of someone else's read-opinion on the vehicle. I built the M60A2 because I met tankers who either commanded or crewed on. They sure were proud of their mount. I'm not terribly fond of the Jaguar kit, but I'll finish it. Then I'd probably go back like you and flesh-out a Tamiya kit with all the goodies since it is better suited to do that with that kit.

Anything you'd care to share would go to excellent use on "Body Count"...

Gunnie

Gunnie--your words inspired me to engage the Sheridan and finish the damn thing. Let's see who finishes first.
DJ

I am currently building the Jaguar M551 and making it a M551A1.
(I was on them in the 82nd)
The kit is not bad.
you just have to be careful removing parts and flash. I have a good Xacto and a dremel tool and have not had any problems so far.
If you want to make it a M551A1, you will need the Academy Desert Storm Sheridan and take the LRF off and mod it to the Jaguar.
Other than that...I think it is a good kit with very minor issues.
Will post a pic when finished... Uploaded work so far...

I have built both Jaguar and Academy's M551 Sheridans. I have to agree with gunnie. Both my versions from Jaguar were warped and filled with bubble holes. I spent more time fixing warped parts and filling holes than I did everything else. I built both Academy versions and preferred them even if I had to scratch build some items. Just My two cents worth.

C'mon, it's only 15 year old

H.P.