Hi all,

Here are a couple of shots of my now complete (I think) M4A1 76w....this'll be done up as Lafayette Pool's "In the Mood". I used the Italeri kit with many additions/subtractions. Suspension is Dragon (with Italeri wheels, arms, and springs), idlers are Formations, tools are mostly Tamiya or scratch, gun barrel and mantlet are Dragon (mantlet from the OLD HVSS kit), open periscopes by Formations. Scratched the sandshield attachment strips. Texturing done with squadron putty mixed with liquid cement stipled on, then sanded when dry.

I'll post pics when it's done. I've been in more of a building rather than painting mood of late, so not sure when it'll be done.

Thanks for looking. Feel free to comment on errors, as now's the time to correct them.

Rob

I know the feeling... "In the painting mood" huh!
Looks good from here Rob. I love building to this stage of variety in colours and textures.
How about~
~Headlight plug and holder on the front brushguards
~Bolt holes on front face of bogey housings (too dark to tell if you've already done this)
~Tie-downs for the tools
Have you considered adding welds to the pioneer tool holders? Easy to do, and makes them look like part of the tank and not the tool, if you know what I mean...
Did 'In the Mood' have the round airvent cover on the turret rear?
This is a personal preference, but the plastic periscope guards always appear too thick, as does the barrel clamp on the turret rear.
Have you seen the Yosci figure of Lafayette Pool? Been considering buying him for a while, as I've heard he is well sculpted. Should compliment this nicely!

Brad

Good work so far Rob. The Italeri M4A1/76 is probably my favourite kit. I have the same relationship with it that Mel Gibson's Charachter has with "Catcher in the Rye" in the movie Conspiracy Theory - If I see it I have to buy it and I immediately feel better I should probably see someone about it.

Apart frpom all the excellent work you've done take a look at the pistol port door, you've built the port itself up but the door still looks to be recessed whereas it should be proud of the port nothing a bit of work with some putty can't fix.

Hey guys,

Thanks for the comments. A few of the fixes I won't bother with (like the holes on the bogey faces).

I will add tool straps, forgot to mention them in my original message.

From the photos I've seen, plus Zaloga's build in the Osprey book on the 76mm Shermans, it appeared that Pool's lacked the vent cover in the back. I may be wrong, but it's too late now. I'm also going to replace the antenna mount with an Academy one that is bent back, per the side shot I have a photo of.

This was a true Frankensherman for me. The turret I got from a guy over on ML probably 2 years ago in a trade. I had no use for it, until I just picked up an Italeri M32. With the M32 parts useless with the hull it came with, I used the upper and lower hull from the M32 with the turret I already had, then various dragon and Tamiya parts. The M32 recovery parts will go on a Tamiya M4. Oh, the joy of Shermans!

Rob

Hi Robert,

Nice work so far.

Cheers

Al