Hi all
I thought I'd posts some progress shots of my latest project.

I got my hot little hands on this kit...

Sherman MkIII Mid production (Sicily)

It is basically the welded hood version of the earlier early Sherman MkIII kit (cast hoods) with a couple of other minor changes, mostly to do with the glacis and associated fittings.

I have included a photo of the box so people will know at a glance which kit to avoid attempting what I'm doing with it...



Overflowing with goodies!



A close up of the tracks and markings which won't be used



I am awaiting a delivery from Formations of their excellent M4 conversion kit for the MkIII Sherman.(I've used one before)
An extract from their website...

M4 Conversion for Dragon's Sherman III Kit

Kit F079

* Converts Dragon's British Sherman III to an Accurate Radial Engined M4
* Includes Highly Detailed Upper Deck and Armored Intake Cover
* Includes Lower Hull Rear Plate with Exhausts and our Round Air Cleaners
* Includes Grouser Vent Covers and Armored Fuel Caps

Here is the BOG's hood having been altered, and the driver's position still untouched.





You can see how box-like the welded hood looks, and I had to carefully trim back after marking out the curve around the fixed periscope position at the top front. I used a sharp #11 blade.

There is a minor change in the 'straight' side walls of the hoods. There is a discernable curve inwards approx. halfway down the glacis before straightening again for the front of the hood. This was a little more taxing and required some careful trim-work...

Noticeable here~



I have since removed the weld from around the bow mg mount (it also was cast) and the antenna pot (on the outside the right hand side hood) as it needs a specific version not dissimilar to those found on M4A4s and Fireflys from memory...

Well here is some more progress. As can be seen, I added the bulked out hood area above and around the hatch opening, which incorporates some changes in angle which are slight but noticeable. To these I will add some teeny casting numbers to finish the alteration. I carved out the BOGs fixed periscope position (compare left and right hoods) and will need to add some styrene sheet to glue the periscope flap to. This side will have neither the hatch or flap open, so the little nicks and scrape marks inside won't be seen...





Gotten some fiddly things done, all part of the "What the hell am I doing converting this?!" technique...

I have sculpted from scratch the glacis antenna pot and added some bolt heads from spare track link pins... A simple drilling out with a pinvice and insertion or these...



The Applique plate was scaled down off ordinance measurements provided in a great Kurt Laughlin article in MilMod a couple of years ago. Added out of styrene to approx. 1" scale thickness. The article also went into good detail about the precise positioning of these plates, in regards to turret centre lines etc.



The turret cheek armour was added not because of ammunition stowage protection but actually because part of the inside armour was cut out to clear the gunners controls thus being thinner than the rest of the cast turret.



Also did some little things like drilling out the drainage holes on the splash rings for the fuel filler caps, the air vents and the spare antenna mount on the bustle etc.

Still sweating on the conversion set, but have decided to use the early cast transmission housing sent in an order mix up. One big chunk of resin! I have the general update set from Formations also, which with replacement pioneer tools will spruce this kit up nicely!
Oh, forgot to add that there are some brass casting numbers on the hood, but they are the smallest I have but still aren't small enough, and will probably be removed...
Brad

Looking good so far Brad, so serious work on those hoods there.
Forgive the ignorant question, what is the BOG referring to? (and don't say the toilet... )

Cheers
Henk

Ah, looking good here Brad! I'll be following this one, closely...

Remind me not to buy this kit...seems like a lot of work.

Looking good, I could have saved you the effort and traded a Sher III with the cast hoods but I feel yours will look a lot more realistic when done.
If you have no use for the WE 210 track I'd happily discuss a swap for a set of DS T54's or anything else
Cheers
Al

It's only a lot of Work because Brad chose to use that variant and turn it into another. The Original DML Sherman III (6313) has that type of hood (I think Brads will be closer to the real thing) already.
Cheers
Al

Nice build log Brad, looks like you've got some work ahead of you. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Thanks!

Tim

Thanks Henk.
The BOG was slang for the BOw Gunner position AFAIK... no toilet humour when it comes to Shermans mate. Serious stuff...
Al, sing out if you want the track. So long as I see a M3 wearing them I'll be happy mate!
Per-Erik, as Al said it is only difficult for the changes I wanted to make to it... The kit built as is, is finely detailed mate.
Tim, thanks but the hard work is kind of nearly done... The hardest thing I foresee from here is the weld beads for the applique plates...
Brad

woah there Brad !!! Whats all this !!?!

I am obviously walking round with my eyes wide shut to have missed this one... why no post on SMW !?!

This looks superb! First time Ive seen work done on the hooded front Shermans so very interesting to see what you've done. Well done on squeezing this in alongside that great sculpt you've done as well.

looking forward to more

cheers
Jon

Cheers Jon! It's good to juggle a couple of differing projects; keeps the creative jooces flowing....
How's your M4a1 coming along?
Brad

Looks great, Brad! Keep after it. Best wishes for successful completion. Dave

Thanks a lot Dave
Here is some stuff done tonight. Added welds out of Magicsculpt to both the applique armour plates over the drivers boxes (top and bottom) and also around the antenna pot.





Cheers
Brad

Really good work there Brad. You really have Shermanitis bad, let's hope there's no cure

Brad-- DML has made constructing this latest series of M4s a challenge. Putting the running gear together is time consuming, but looks so good when done. You are doing a marvelous job. Your add on armor and welding is very impressive.
DJ

That explains the rash, Pat
Cheers mate.



Yeah, I know what you mean DJ, but have you tried the Tasca versions? Phwoar... At least the Tasca bogey arms are independent...
Cheers
Brad

Brad, that plate over the co-driver's position is perfect! What paint scheme are you planning for your Sherman? Keep after it, buddy! Dave

Hi Brad,

Keep up the good work

The men in white coats should be along anythime!!



Al

There are bruises on your heels from where they dragged you off long ago Alan!

Hey all
Another update. Nothing earth shattering here, just the making of the siren guard and the cable running from it through the hull. I have also added welds to all the applique plates now, but have no photos to show as yet. I simply copied the dimensions of the Formations resin version and made it out of brass bar . Simple enough, and the end result will be exactly 26.3 times tougher than the resin piece.




The horizontal piece has yet to be added here, on which the siren itself is mounted.



This one shows a close up of the cable running from the rear of the yet to be mounted siren, across the glacis and into a socket just outside and below the left headlight guard. There is a loop of wire to hold it in place running through the hull in two small holes. I saw an archive photo showing this looped effect on the cable up to the rear of the siren, and thought it looked effective and decided to do a similar thing for this build.



This is an overview showing the added foul weather attachment strip made from wire. I have added the pins from minute wire before when using a plastic strip, but thought I'd do without for this one. Also the crew step between the boxes. I made this out of flat brass bar, as I haven't a PE folder and keep buggering the darn kit ones up... The ca can easily be scraped off later...




Cheers
Brad

Excellent work Brad. It will be almost a shame to cover all the extra work you've done with a coat of OD.

Yeah thanks Pat. Glad you like it thus far. I think this same thought every time
What are you working on at the moment?
Brad

Too many things.
2 jeeps, my streetfighters dio, a Polish M4A1/76, The Tasca Firefly and a Universal Carrier.

Looking good Brad!

Can't wait to see more photos.

Thanks fledermaus. Well here you go!

There's been a little more work done. I have finished the welds to the turret cheek applique plate now, as well as added the base for the commanders sight out of flat brass bar. (Formations supply the whole sight, but I find that this will give me more of a solid base to attach the sight to.) I added the periscope lids where required, and have shown the gunners periscope in position. The drivers hatch will have a periscope in place, as well as the commanders hatch. For those familiar with the kit, you may have noticed that I have removed the rear plate ready for the resin conversion. This was carefully done so as to leave the weld intact around the plate.



A close up of some details, showing the welds added from Magicsculpt and drainholes drilled into the splash guards around the fuel filler cap and the turret ring.



A shot of the turret details thus far, with the old blade sight reconstructed out of styrene. The kit has this in photoetch, but it isn't accurate as it comes in two identical (opposite) halves to be joined, whereas the real thing is actually attached to one side, thus not symmetrical.




Cheers
Brad

Hi Brad,

Looking the business, excellent work as always.

Al