It's been a while since I had any progress, but I have been working on the tank's side fenders and fender detail.



Like most late war tanks (comet, Chaffee, JS2) and post WWII tanks (Patton, M60, Centurion, T55) the M26 has a very elaborate and complex fender / storage container design. Because of this the fenders themselves are going to be a very important focal point.

All of the fender components are scratch built and are constructed out of soldered sheet steel and brass. The parts are then mounted to the hull via steel fasteners.

The part of the fenders that was constructed first were the fender support / mount arms. The arms feature the correct "spot weld" seams that are present on the real vehicle. The arms were first attached to the hull with fasteners and glues. Epoxy was then added on top of the fasteners giving the arm more strength, and covering the fasteners with accurate weld seam detail. Small resin hex heads will be added to all of the corner extender points, but this will be after all of the sheet metal fabrication is completed.





















The sheet metal fender panels where then cut, shaped and mounted to the suspending arms. The panels themselves have the side skirt mounting holes drilled into them. The tank's functional storage boxes will be fabricated and soldered directly onto these panels once they are complete.























The next fender parts that need to be created will be the front two fenders and the front and rear mud flaps. Once they are complete it will then be off to the fender storage boxes! More info to come

Very impressive, when will we see the turret?

Thanks, The turret will be scratchbuilt after the fender work, which will be very soon

I have made some more progress on the tank's fenders and completed the mud flaps. The tank now has its width complete.





The tank's front fenders were completed first. Unlike the other panels that are simple straight panels of steel the front portions bend inward and overhang the front armored plate. The panel's corners also angle outward from the tank. These panels will also receive 3 stiffener crimps. These crimps will be created out of half round styrene and will be added later.







To mount the tank's front and rear mud flaps to the tank, I had to fabricate the mud flap mounts. The mud flap mounts were installed to the tank with small fasteners and have epoxy weld bead detail added to them





The tank's rear mud flap mount was particularly difficult to fabricate.













Like the rest of the tank's fender components the mud flaps are created out of sheet steel. the mud flaps feature real pressed stiffener crimps. The mud flaps attach to these panels via fasteners.













The tank's rear fenders were very complex to fabricate, I added the distinctive X crimp. The part of the fender that connects to the tank's hull had to be sculpted out of sheet metal. On the later M26A1 and M46, large turn buckles were added to the front and rear portions to the tank's fenders. These were not present on the early production zebra T26.











The tank's storage lockers will be next followed by the tank's turret! More info to come.

Nice metal work, I can't get some guys to do that well at the place I work. Did you use a "Shrinker-Stretcher" or did you "hand crimp" those parts?


George

You are truly an artist.

Holy Cow John this one is big and a great build you have here.

I have missed some of it but dang this does look good.

Great job on a real scratch built "Large tank".

Cannot wait to see some real paint on it.

About a gallon by the looks of it.

Keep it up will be watching.

Those wheels are killer .

Nicest scratch build I have seen.
Cheers


Edit you do not do any Jeep parts do you?

I see dragon does not make the engine no more for their released Jeep.

To join the chorus, your work is just jaw dropping! Truly wonderful work.

The ONLY thing that detracts from this amazing project to my eyes is that the "cast" sections of the hull are far too rough for the scale.
American cast steel could have some interesting textures but was generally pretty smooth compared to what was produced in other countries.

Looking forward to see more of your work, it's pretty darn well inspiring!

Mark

Thanks Guys. All of the metal work is hand crimmped and formed.




The cast texture that you see on my model are not as rough as they appear in the photographs.

Thanks guys,

As a quick update I have created the sheet metal fender boxes. The fender box interior tool posts have been created and added. The boxes are all sheet metal construction. The tool boxes have a gutter that runs around the edges of the box interior. The gutters are fabricated out of a 1/8th inch brass channel that is soldered into place. I have completed 3 of the gutters, but I ran out of brass stock and have to place the boxes on hold until I can resupply .













Once the gutters are complete, the box lids and lid details will be constructed thus finishing off the boxes and fender details.

Looking good John hard to really appreciate the size where a 300 Win Mag would be lost in these fender boxes.

Post one with a 30/06.

Kidding aside are going to do ammo in brass also?

Will keep an eye on thee rest of this.

Thanks Jeff, I will be needed to produce the 90mm shells in resin when I get to my two M36 Jacksons and need to load up the ammo racks. I don't have a 300 Win mag, or a 30/06, but here is a shot of the fenders compared with a 8mm Mauser.



I have completed 1/2 of the tank's fenders.



The storage boxes have been completed with the exception of the working latch handles which will be casted in resin shortly. The storage box lids are also all brass / steel construction and all components are soldered together.







The storage container inner lids feature the ridgidity straps and the condensation vent details.











The remaining fender details were added. These would include the rear armored first aid kit container, front fender rigidity crimps, and fender tip hex bolt head details













I will now focus on the fender details on the tank’s other side. Once that is wrapped up I can finally start on the turret

Looking dam good John and the MM is lost there.

Close as 7.92 or 8 MM

Nice hell great job on this right here.

Where do you keep these big bad boys at?

Modeling at it's best.

House,garage?

Man you do Great Work!
I'd love to see you do this in about 35% scale! Because the only thing that would make this even better would be to put an engine in it and drive it around. People would go nuts over it.

Thanks Guys,

Just a quick update, I completed the tank's right side fenders. With these out of the way





The tank's sheet metal work is now complete. Now that the tin work is completed I can say that this tank has had the most complex and intricate sheet metal work of any of the 1/6th scale tanks that I have built second only to the BRA Jag (which is all sheet metal construction).





The right hand fender boxes were completed and mounted to the fenders. The right hand side boxes and fenders have numerous foot loops soldered to the boxes and to the fenders.













The tank's front horn and brush were also added to the tank. The horn's power cord will be added along with the head lights later.







It is now off to the tank's 90mm turret! More progress to come

I have some progress on the tank's turret.



The tank's turret is fabricated out of a 1/4 inch plywood skeleton. The plywood is then thoroughly coated and soaked with fiberglass resin. The fiberglass resin transforms the wood to plastic.



















The turret's basic body work and shape has been completed. The casted in details for the copula, loaders hatch, and other fittings have been "casted" into the turret's surface.













Currently the turret's surface is far too rough and sanding and filling will be required to finish the turret. The sanding will be the next procedure that I will perform on the model. More info to follow shortly!!

Dang this sweet John.

Good work on that sucker.

Will watch this.

Dang that is good.

Still think I might get the Tow hitch as dragon lacks a bunch have to think about it.

But most likely.

To bad you do not do Jeeps.

Okay would you mind sending those sizes of Metric or standard size bolts you use again I seem to not be able to find them again.

Thanks

Just use a message if you can or you have my email address.

Cheers

Thanks Jeff, The metric hex bolts that I use are listed below. Microfasteners.com

M3 X 6mm
M3 X 12mm
M3 X 16mm


I have finished up the turret body work, and I added cast texture to the surface.







I also built and mounted the armored mantet drum top covering. The mantlet, when installed will then go over this plate. The plate is secured to the tank via slot screws as per the real vehicle.













I'm now fabricating the tank's gun mantlet and gun barrel. more progress to come.

mouthwatering! can't wait to see more

Wow, that is coming along very nicely.

Coming along great John.

Really nice work there.

Thanks for the info on the Bolts.

So you think you might do a Pyrene Fire Extinguisher in 1/6 scale soon?

I know a jeep that needs one.

Thanks guys, as for the fire extinguisher I have way to many parts on my to do list to fabricate that one . For my fire extinguisher I will be using the armorpax one which should be out very soon.

I fabricated the mantlet and the tank's gun barrel. All that is needed to complete the mantlet will be some casting / foundry numbers. The gun barrel is constructed out of turned PVC. The gun barrel also has a retention spring that prevents the heavy barrel from drooping.



















I will now be fabricating the tank's 90mm muzzle brake.

Looking good John.

Getting closer to the painting.

Which is something I am waiting on.

Any ideas on what color you will use?

Think I might repaint the Jeep as to me way to dark.

Good deal on the Pyrene fellow.

Will wait also.

Thanks Jeff, I have made some more progress on the tank's turret.


I have also completed the tank's turret loaders hatch and added it to the product line. The hatch will work for many US tanks of the period including the M4 Sherman, the M4A3E2 Jumbo Sherman, 76mm turreted shamans, and M46 / M47 Pattons.

http://www.eastcoastarmory.com/ustankparts.htm











I have also completed many of the turret details. including the
commanders copula









Retracting 50.cal pintle mount.





Rear turret bustle 50.cal storage racks and pintle.









On the turret's front the gunner's scope, range finder, search light, lift hooks, and loader hatch retaining hatch was added.







The last piece of detail that I added was the foul weather driving hood rack. The rack is all scratch built out of sheet steel and brass.







The Muzzle brake master is completed and is currently in molding. More info to come!

Looking good John getting better every time.

Good to see some many new parts made.

Will keep watching on this bad boy.

Great work,
I'm amazed at how fast you can make these parts.
To bad you don't give classes because I would love to attend one.

George

Hello John, Incredible work, as always. I never stop being amazed at the quality of the work that you do. I just have one question, where the heck do you keep them all? I have no doubt that they should be in a Museum on display. Al