Hey Matthew,
You can use your kit as planned, all you need is the correct tracks and markings.
The M4A4 aka Sherman V was the primary type used by the British and the Allied armies that they supplied.
The only thing wrong with the Orange Box M4A4 is the type of track supplied with the kit,
It's the T48 rubber chevron type rather than the T62 type more commonly seen on British M4A4's.
The Sherman Register track types
FYI, the Sherman used in BOB was a Canadian produced Grizzly, a variant of the M4A1.
188 built in were built in Montreal with dry pin tracks and the majority were kept in Canada for training.
Some were sent to the U.K. and, AFAIK, were sold or given to Portugal.
Cheers

jjumbo

Thanks John. I had a feeling I would have to replace the tracks but not because of authenticity. They don't fit nicely under the front fender. I had to do some squeezing and cursing just to test fit them. Thanks for that tip it now gives me a more credable reason to change them.

Finding the decals is proving a challenged. Archer has the numbers but doesn't have any of the bull unit symbol markings... Any help?

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Finding the decals is proving a challenged. Archer has the numbers but doesn't have any of the bull unit symbol markings... Any help?

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Hey Matthew,
The decal set from Tamiya's old Churchill Crocodile kit had the "bull's head in the triangle" marking.
I think I have some in my spares box but maybe someone a little closer to NC can help you out.
Failing that, PM me your address and I'll see if I can find and mail them to you.
Cheers

jjumbo

That's not the same decal. But thanks anyway. Would you be willing to send me a set of the tracks? Squadron says they (AFV) are Out of Stock and they are the only producers that appear with a set of them.

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That's not the same decal. But thanks anyway. Would you be willing to send me a set of the tracks? Squadron says they (AFV) are Out of Stock and they are the only producers that appear with a set of them.

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Hey Matthew,
Sorry, I got the wrong "bull" !!!
Tamiya's Cromwell kit comes with a couple of those insignia.
Same offer stands if you can't find any closer to home.
And sorry but it's taken me several years to find those tracks and I've got plans and kits for all four !!!
Cheers

jjumbo

FYI, at least one of the Shermans used in BOB was a Canadian produced Grizzly, a variant of the M4A1.

Matthew,

I liked your original concept well, I think you should keep the figs on top of the tank. Looking forward to this coming together.

BTW: Something prompted me to look at this post, because initially I thought "Great, another StuG... "

Cheerio!

looks good. Quite a few little bits of spue still attached to the parts though, are you going to get rid of those?

Hey Matt,
Looks like a good start.
I think you may want to shim up that gap between the transmisson cover and the hull, it should be tighter.
You can also lose the .50 cal, most British and Canadian units got rid of them or replaced them with .30 cal Brownings. Academy's U.S. Machine Gun Set, kit #1384 has some nice .30 cals and is a cheap solution.
Cheers

jjumbo

Which peice is the transmission cover? I don't know my tank parts I assume it's the second picture. Should I shave off the lip and fill in the gap or what?

Since these photos I have shaved off and filed down all of the extra bits of flash and sprue and filled in the holes with joint compound. And I poped the left front hatch clean off on accident. I took the right one off too and glued both shut. Now I only need one tanker . Tomorrow I'll spray everything black and put on a base coat while I await John's package (or rather envelope) of decals.

Should there be a rib going through the middle of the bolts conecting the sides to the bottom? (barely visible in the first photo) Or should it be filed away?

Thanks again.
Matt

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Which peice is the transmission cover? I don't know my tank parts I assume it's the second picture. Should I shave off the lip and fill in the gap or what?

Since these photos I have shaved off and filed down all of the extra bits of flash and sprue and filled in the holes with joint compound. And I poped the left front hatch clean off on accident. I took the right one off too and glued both shut. Now I only need one tanker . Tomorrow I'll spray everything black and put on a base coat while I await John's package (or rather envelope) of decals.

Should there be a rib going through the middle of the bolts conecting the sides to the bottom? (barely visible in the first photo) Or should it be filed away?

Thanks again.
Matt

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Hey Matt,
Here's what the Formation's replacement 3 piece transmission cover looks.



There shouldn't be a gap between the top of the cover and the front hull or glacis plate.
The covers bolted flanges should be snugged up tighter to the glacis, you can see that there's 2 small slots there.
Not sure of what you mean by a rib going through the middle of the bolts, can you give us a picture ?
Cheers

jjumbo

p.s. You need to add the fire extinguishers on the upper rear hull that were present on British Commonwealth Shermans.
I'll check my kit for the part's number.
You also need to add weld beads to the applique cheek armour on the turret.

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Matthew,

I liked your original concept well, I think you should keep the figs on top of the tank. Looking forward to this coming together.

BTW: Something prompted me to look at this post, because initially I thought "Great, another StuG... "

Cheerio!

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Not quite what you expected but glad you like it. I am leaning more towards the initial idea. It all depends on the amount of hacking and chopping I'll have to do.

Pictures to come in a few minutes.