Michał,

Do I see RUDY 102 on the second and sixth pictures of your models? Where is the dog??

Andrzej

Yes, it's RUDY 102 , but it's waiting for correct markings, decals you can see are too large, only eagle and hands stamps are quite good. Of course there is the dog (Tamiya) and all crew , only I have to do is leather jacket of Grigorij, because in the film he had "Ramoneska" jacket . But dog and crew are not painting yet...

Burned the midnight oil last night to get caught up, hadn't done much since my last picture. Finished the upper hull minus the tools, assembled the turret and gun assembly and threw some white paint on it.



I don't know why I bothered ... no one is going to look inside it anyway.



I just realized the campaign ends in 2 months so another late night again should get things back on track.

Martin that was another gem of information, what were the Dutch Marines doing in 1947-48 with all of the armor and amphibians?

ROBERT

Here's my progress so far on a Sherman Firefly 1c. Using the color plate on page 40 of Concord's British Sherman tanks book, I'm attempting to approximate the tank of the 1st Armoured Coldstream Guards in Germany 1945. The illustration depicts a different rocket bracket arrangement but not having any photos of the actual vehicle I can neither confirm or deny the accuracy of the drawing. So I have Verlinden's Hybrid upper hull with Tamiya's M4 early lower. Formations straight return roller conversion was used on the Tamiya suspension, a metal barrel from someone, ther rocket assemblies from 2 Firefly kits (1 unused set included in each kit) and Italeri M4A1 bits as the resin upper was designed to be used with the Italeri M4A1.

Hi all sherman campaigners,

This will be my entry, Dragon 6062 M4A2 Sherman (Tarawa) kit.



The finish product will be the "Cannonball" sherman tank. Picture below is the actual Cannonball destroyed in the first day of fighting. "Cannoball" is the the tank leader of the 3rd platoon, C. Co., 2nd Light Tank Battlion, 2nd Marine.

This is my progress in day one. Sorry for the quality of the picture, these shots were taken using a sony ericson K800i phone without enough lighting.

Lower hull and road wheel pieces



VVS Bogie unit





Completed VVS Bogie and lower hull



Some dry fitting of lower and upper hull

Hi Joseph,

I'm building the same kit - my tank is Colorado (you can see current status at page 9).
Are you planning to make it as on a picture (already damaged)?

Andrzej

I think the pictures are fine Buffalo and a nice choice on the build!

I need to work on my photos.

Hi Andrzej,

Yup like yours, this is also my first Sherman. I choose this kit because its easy and does not need a lot of work. Sherman tanks used at Tarawa does not have a lot of extra baggage (they wont need it, it is just a 2 mile long island) except for the rear rack for jerry cans.

I really like to built a damage/burnt Sherman, it needs a tweak on its left lower hull (to imitate a knockout cannonball) and I don't know if it was totally charred. Besides my skills is not enough for a diorama project.

I think I'm gonna built the tank before it was destroyed.

Anyway, you guys can check this link for Tarawa sherman tanks http://www.tarawaontheweb.org/usmctank.htm.

Great link! Thanks Joseph!

From 1946 - 1950 there was a 'decolonialisation-war'. Indonesia had been a Dutch colony for many years, and after the Japanese occupation the Dutch tried to get in control again. However in the chaos just after the war nationalists formed the Republic of Indonesia and claimed an independant Indonesia. The Dutch government didn't wanted to give up it's old colony though and after failed diplomacy talks military action was used.

The Indonesian forces were mostly well organized, but were built up with a large variation of manpower (students, police forces, gangs, old KNIL soldiers, and sometimes Japanese or British-Indian soldiers). Most were equipped with Japanese equipment, although sometimes also captured British and Dutch weapons were used. The Indonesian forces also had a small airforce which was used only once (and missed target), and a small number of armoured (captured) vehicles like old KNIL Vickers light tanks.

Dutch forces were much smaller in numbers, but much better equipped. In general, three main landforces were in action:
- Army (British equipment, including M3A1 and M3A3 Stuart tanks)
- Marines (US equipment, including the Sherman 105's and Amtracks)
- KNIL (Dutch East Indies Army, mainly British equipment)

Support was given by naval and airforces, using various vessels and aircraft like the P-51 Mustang, Fairley Firefly and B-25 Mitchell.

Large scale actions were limited during the conflict. Most actions were local, or i.e. engagements during patrols. In 1947 en 1948 there were 2 major Dutch offensive operations though, the so-called 'Politionele acties'. These actions were aimed at enlarging the areas controlled by Dutch forces and were really succesfull. These actions were daring and fast, aimed at bridges, cross-roads and important locations such as power plants and factories. Indonesian forces mostly fought hard and brave (there are stories known of Indonesians attacking Dutch armour with only spears and handgrenades) but were not able to keep up a fight against the well armed Dutch. Instead they fled into the mountain areas and started an effective guerilla.

Hostile activities continued to 1949/1950 when the Dutch government was forced to accept the Indonesian independance because of international pressure. It's a very interesting part of history for both the Netherlands and Indonesia I think. Also very interesting for modellers with the great variation in used equipment.

Back to those Shermans now

Ok ok, one more pic of Duch Shermans then

Martin: again that was great information, I will have to research the era to enlighten myself.

Joseph: that was also a great site on the Tarawa Shermas.

ROBERT

Here’s my entry to the campaign: a M4A3E4 76mm. The E4 means that it’s a 76mm gun fitted into a M34A1 combination gun mount. The Danish Army received 8 of these Sherman in 1952 as part of the MDAP program. They were all rebuild M4A3 that beside the gun also included reworked engine hatches and deflector screens. This particular tank was no. 2, which today is preserved at Jydske Dragon Regiment in Holstebro.

The base for this tank is Dragon’s M4A3. I’ve reworked the engine hatches, made a new deflector and put the 76mm gun into the turret. The correct casting numbers have been added in various places on the turret and the hull. Finally the model was detail with different kind of PE.
Since there is no record of these tanks have been repainted, I painted it in dark olive green from Tamiya

well I've been looking at some of you guy's work, and I am going to have to "step it up " with painting and finishing my M32

@ Martin, bedankt voor de klare uitleg, zal je nog wat uitbreiden op benelux? over deze acties ect
For the English speaking

Thanks for clearing out that part of history, I will also look into it, looks like great fun for a campaign.

Greetz Tha Pit

Sure Pit, I can do that. Almost finished reading my first book on this subject with hopefully many to follow. I also have gathered quite some pics by now, mostly from private collections and few websites. Maybe I can post some of those (after asking permission of course)

Martin

Hello all Sherman campaigners,

This is my entry, M4A2 Sherman (Academy) 1/35 Scale kit.






Cheers

Christer

Christer,

It seems that this is first model built by you that I see in one piece .
Very nice (as usual).

Andrzej

Thanks Andrzej,

I ran out if "cut up" ideas. I have vacation now, but I still have a sharp saw.

Cheers
Christer

Latest update on my verey slow crab project.

Nice work Keith! Does that use chain on the flail? That looks like a lot of work there and something not seen too often.

wow very nice work on the crab tank. i just won of of eveil bay vp 1/35 mineroller. what sherman would have uesd it a early mid or late production and which kit should get for it.

Whoa, Nice Shermans guys.
Martin, any ideas on markings for those HVSS 105s? Like to do one someday.
Keith, Crab looking good, got one one shelf. Maybe one day.

Heres my Brazilian M4A1 circa 1965. Real mish/mash of parts. Decals from Decalmaniacs, painted with Tamiya and weathered with oils & pigments.
Hope the pics download!!







Just something different,

Doug

OK, lets try again (got to be an easier way to do this)

Hey Doug, that is an interesting marking scheme mate. Nice choice for the campaign!

My M4 late production is coming along slowly but surely.
I have altered the drivers hoods on the DML MkIII kit Sicily to welded hoods as needed, and have a Formations conversion being sent over from the US. Sculpted a new antenna pot, added applique armour plate, and am ready to u se the Formations general update set to spruce up the hull fittings and pioneer tools...

One hood finished..



Shaped the sides of the hood, showing the inwards curve.



Bulked out the area rear of the hatches...












Cheers
Brad