I was thinking about building a 35th M4A2 named Adder on this Bison sheet http://picasaweb.google.com/bisondecals/Instructions135#5242160953191919874 Which Dragon M4A2 would be appropriate, the Tarawa boxing or the PTO. I have no idea what degree the hull is. Thanks

It looks like Adder was an Iwo tank. That would be the Tarawa boxing of the M4A2.

Sweet- that happens to be the kit I have. Thanks!

Jason, jump over to the Campaign in the Pacific forum and see what Bob Card has done with the M4A2 he is building for Iwo. Join the campaing as well. It would be great to have you aboard.

If it has projecting drivers' hoods, and a separate radio pot on the right front, its a 56-degree hull. The 47-degree hull (as seen in the M4A2 PTO kit) was a smooth plate. The vehicles on the decal sheet are all 56 degree hull variants, so the Dragon M4A2 Tarawa kit would work. If it's an original boxing, the front of the drivers' hoods needs to be thickened with a layer of .040" Styrene sheet, and the engine grill hatches need to be replaced with 24 bar grills, instead of the 12 bar grills in the first version (not difficult--these improved grill doors are included as "not for use" parts in all the other recent Dragon Sherman kits). I am told Dragon has since produced another batch of Tarawa Sherman kits that already have these updates, which were introduced on the Sicily Sherman III kit (essentially the same kit with different tracks and sand shields). Apparently there is no way to tell from the boxtop whether the kit is new or old stock, though.

Jason just to make it interesting for you;




And from Tank Warfare on Iwo Jima;


The color changes depend on which dvd you are looking at, they change between the 3 I have that show Adder.

Main things to notice are the markings, the added on armor looks to be added on the way over to Iwo then painted, seems to have a bit of rust in various spots. No lights or siren. The tank is painted OD, it's just been beat up and welded on which requires a paint covering to prevent rust, color matching is going to be fun if you give it a go.

The general items on the rest of the tank;
Right side;


And Top;
Notice the different stacks and all the weather proofing that was done


All of these are 3rd Tank Battalion tanks on Iwo.

Would be great to have you in our campaign,
Hope this helps a bit,
Bob

Thanks for the info on the different hulls, Gerald. That really helps!


Great pictures Bob, thank you. I will check out the campaign but I am usually just aweful at group build type set ups!