Hi. This is my first post here so I hope I put it in the correct place. I had been fascinated by the Sherman Calliope ever since first learning of it. Recently I bought a 1/35 scale Verlinden Calliope resin mod. I'm now trying to find a recommendation on which brand of kit and which Sherman revision would be the best basis for this build and historically correct as to revision.

I typically like building German WWII AFVs because they had so much variety and so many unusual vehicles. But the Calliope definitely falls into the unusual category.

I appreciate any suggestions.

And from what I have seen so far, this is quite the site! BTW: researching a DML Maus build led me here.

Hi James

This may involve some Shermaholism

The two Sherman variants I've seen equipped with the T34 Calliope are the plain M4 (small hatch) and the M4A3 (big hatch). There's also at least one tank so heavily sandbagged that it could conceivably be an M4A1 (small hatch). All are armed with the 75mm gun. Below is the M4 version



Tamiya make both the M4 and M4A3, though neither is wonderful. Italeri have also offered a late M4A3 though this isn't as accurate as the others. Some improvements for the Tamiya kits can be found here:

http://www.usarmymodels.com/ARTICLES/articles.html

Dragon makes an appropriate late M4A3 hull, but you'll need a replacement 75mm turret from someone like Formations as at the moment Dragon only offer the 76mm turret (though this may well change). For an M4 you'll need a replacement upper hull and turret.

Best to decide which version you are going to model then work through the changes from there.

David

Gday James and welcome first and foremost to the site!
The T34Calliope seemed (at least to me) to be mounted on the M4A3 75(W). I have seen photos of it mounted on later model M4s also. This leaves you with the options of Tamiya M4A3 75(W) #35250 (Front line breakthrough) or the earlier kit #35122, or their M4 mid production #35190 (they call it an early, but it ain't)
Have you thought of adding sandbag armour to the turret and hull sides? These were often used in conjunction.
You mentioned historical correctness, but does this mean just the right Sherman mark for the T34 mount, or do you want the whole hog of accuratising the Sherman also?
There are plenty of Shermaniacs here to help you on your way if so...
Cheers
Brad

Hi James,
Welcome to the site.
I've found a photo in Hunnicutt's "Sherman - A History of the American Medium Tank" of what appears to be a M4 Hybrid cast/welded hull Sherman firing it's Calliope.
Here's a video on YouTube of what appears to be that sandbagged M4A1 that David mentioned:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9r4hDjGf4jQ&feature=related

I guess it's also possible that the earlier "small hatched" dry stowage hull M4A3 Sherman may have been fitted with the T34 or T34E1 rocket launcher.
Hope that helps.
Cheers

jjumbo

That was quick! No, I hadn't though about the sandbag armor. Interesting thought! I'm still mastering the art of weathering and appropriate highlighting/detailing. My problem is I don't know when to stop! That would be my one hesitation on doing a sandbag treatment. I'm looking for the historically correct mark more than detailed historical accuracy to make a miniaturized clone of the original. Being in my early 50s I doubt I'll be an inhabitant of the planet long enough to complete the number of kits I have stashed so I build to please myself rather than pursue the accuracy. Not that here's anything wrong with that approach!!!!!! I certainly appreciate and respect the research and dedication that is required for such projects! That had to be one tough thing before the internet!

Many thanks! I wasn't sure what point in the war the Calliope came along in. That was why I was curious as to what Sherman it would have been fitted to. If it was first produced in say 1944 I didn't want to build it on a Sherman that was a 1942 model.

I am interested in WWII but more in the history of how and why the Nazis came to power and the consequences of their actions and the party inner workings. I have a more casual interest in the military campaigns and strategies. I have always liked machines be it cars, airplanes, motorcycles, what have you. Military hardware just always brought out the kid in me. When I was in the Army I spent some time at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and spent many hours wandering around the base enthralled by the huge collection of hardware on display there, especially the WWII stuff. I trained as a Recovery Specialist and crewed on an M88 Recovery Vehicle and had many a grand adventure while doing so.

Great video! I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit my first awareness of the Sherman Calliope came from playing Company of Heros on my computer. It was quite devastating to use! I found some photos on another site that had a Calliope installed on a German half-track and raised and lowered with the PAK. It was rotated 90 degrees firing from the passenger side. Apparently it was something the US military had done for some reason. The photos said the vehicle didn't run and from one photo I could see the tracks were not on it.

For an easier correct M4 it, get the Dragon "Sherman III" (6313), and the Formations M4 conversion set for the Dragon kit.

hey,Ive seen afew mounted on M4A1's.



Joe

Joe: that one you pictured is a testing prototype with shortened rocket tubes. I've not seen an operational pic of an M4A1 w/them but it's certainly possible

That looks like the Verlinden kit I bought. I didn't notice the shorter rocket tubes. I wonder if they make both the short tube and the regular tube set? Any chance you'd have the number of the pictured kit?

Speaking of rockets, my 1/35 Cyber-Hobby Raketenwerfer auf Fahrgestell Pz.Kpfw.IV just arrived and after my palms quit sweating I will attempt to open the box and ogle the contents. My AFV Sturmtiger arrived as well. So many models, so little time.....

After looking at the Verlinden conversion I bought I thought it was a 1/35 mod but it was indeed 1/48. It was advertised as a 1/35th scale so I'm feeling a bit peeved. I have a 1/48 T34/76 under construction and much of it was just too small for my aging eyes and sausage fingers. Not the areas I appreciate a challenge in. The many grab rails are so fragile that I damaged or broke quite a few of them just trying to clean tiny sprue remnants from them. Now I am waiting for my GrabHandler to come off back order so I can fabricate brass ones to complete the build. I'm still happy with what I've done wit it so far, but I like 1/35th scale better. I'm not sure I even want to try the 1/48 GAZ 67B field car waiting in the unbuilt kit mountain....

Revel Germany have a Sherman Caliope listed for release this year, check the usual suspects for when, IMO it is highly likely to be an Italeri re-box, but welcome nonetheless
Jon a

It certainly looks like the old Italeri kit:

http://www.revell.de/en/products/model_kits/model_kits/military_figures/?id=204&KOKANR=01&KOSCHL=07&KGSCHL=01&L=1&page=3&sort=0&nc=1&searchactive=&q=&SWO=&ARMAS4=&PHPSESSID=25c443bf218d3637cd54d0a8363b6d0b&KZSLPG=%23NH%23&offset=22&cmd=show&ARARTN=03074&sp=1

Cheers

jjumbo