_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Sherman Calliope (new to me)
jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 03:55 PM UTC
I just saw that Revell of Germany has re-released the old Italeri 1/35th scale Sherman Calliope. I know that the subject of the Calliope springs up here from time to time, so for those folks (and for me as well) this seems to be pretty good news.

John
17thVa
Visit this Community
Virginia, United States
Joined: April 21, 2008
KitMaker: 22 posts
Armorama: 11 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 04:25 PM UTC
Wasn't that the Monogram kit? It seemed to be a good kit "back in the day". Lets see if they update it like some other companies --Pat Jones
jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 04:48 PM UTC
Just to confirm what Gary Owsley wrote, this is based on the Italeri kit. Its an M4A3 (W) V V S hull and suspension with the T 34 rocket tube set up. The old Mongram kit was, as has been pointed out, in 1/32nd scale, and had the early M3 type suspension (and may have been based on an M4A1 hull, I can't really remember.) While I had the Monogram kit (back in the '70s I think) I don't think that anyone would be excited about seeing it back in production.

John
jjumbo
Visit this Community
British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 27, 2006
KitMaker: 2,012 posts
Armorama: 1,949 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 - 05:15 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Just to confirm what Gary Owsley wrote, this is based on the Italeri kit. Its an M4A3 (W) V V S hull and suspension with the T 34 rocket tube set up. The old Mongram kit was, as has been pointed out, in 1/32nd scale, and had the early M3 type suspension (and may have been based on an M4A1 hull, I can't really remember.) While I had the Monogram kit (back in the '70s I think) I don't think that anyone would be excited about seeing it back in production.

John


Hey John,
Yup, the old Monogram Calliope was a M4A1 with Direct Vision ports and the M3 style VVSS suspension.
The tracks were the old "magical" gravity defying links with the end connectors at the end of each link, same mistake as the ones on Tamiya's M3 Grant/Lee and M3 Stuart kits.
In their day, the old Monogram 1/32nd scale kits were nice kits and they included an insert written by Shepard Paine on "Tips on Building Dioramas".
I still have a bunch of the inserts in my collection of old instruction sheets, a bit of 1970's modelling nostalgia !!!
Cheers

jjumbo
jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 08:58 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text



Hey John,
Yup, the old Monogram Calliope was a M4A1 with Direct Vision ports and the M3 style VVSS suspension.
The tracks were the old "magical" gravity defying links with the end connectors at the end of each link, same mistake as the ones on Tamiya's M3 Grant/Lee and M3 Stuart kits.
In their day, the old Monogram 1/32nd scale kits were nice kits and they included an insert written by Shepard Paine on "Tips on Building Dioramas".
I still have a bunch of the inserts in my collection of old instruction sheets, a bit of 1970's modelling nostalgia !!!
Cheers

jjumbo


I also had a great affection for them, one was my very first conversion. I took the Sherman and added the single piece transmission cover from a wrecked Tamiya M10, covered up the DV ports with some sandbags and added the suspension from the M10. Toss in some applique armor and I was done! This was way before p/e or resin, and it was still probably incorrect as anything, but I was SOOOO Proud!

John
Hollowpoint
Visit this Community
Kansas, United States
Joined: January 24, 2002
KitMaker: 2,748 posts
Armorama: 1,797 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 05:41 PM UTC
Bsck on topic, the Italeri kit, though not perfect, can be a good base for a Calliope. It takes a bit of TLC and lots to fix or add, but has some good markings on the decal sheet.

jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 06:00 PM UTC
Nice looking Sherman. I may though build the M4A3 as a seperate kit, and use the T 34 for an M4A1 Hull that I have, I have a nice shot of an A1 Calliope. BTW, I really like your photo of the model in front of a photo of the real thing.

John
Hollowpoint
Visit this Community
Kansas, United States
Joined: January 24, 2002
KitMaker: 2,748 posts
Armorama: 1,797 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 06:49 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice looking Sherman. I may though build the M4A3 as a seperate kit, and use the T 34 for an M4A1 Hull that I have, I have a nice shot of an A1 Calliope. BTW, I really like your photo of the model in front of a photo of the real thing.

John


Good idea. The Italeri M4A3 hull is not very good, but the kit may be found cheap enough just to steal the rocket launcher and associated parts.

Thanks about the model. I wish the pic was better.

Before you ask, the wires for the laucher appear to go through the hole for the loader's periscope in the turret.

Good luck and great building!
jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 21, 2008 - 04:07 PM UTC
There is a photo in Hunnicut of the calliope that I would like to do, its an M4A1, and the crew evidently came across a bust of a certain well known German dictator and they appear to have welded it onto the front of their tank and then placed an overseas cap on it. Thanks for the heads up on the wiring,

Take care,

John
jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 21, 2008 - 05:39 PM UTC
My mistake, but are you saying that there were NO A1 Calliopes?
 _GOTOTOP