Tom,,
I just want to thank you for all the infos you are sharing with us with your built. I am waiting for my M7 and I am following your tips and exchanges with other modellers with keen interest.

Alright Tom you're back on the right path again. Good progress I might add too.
Tony the Mutt

HI Tom. I'm new to modelling, and just finished a DML FLAK 88. I really like best building. I think my rookie efforts at painting and weathering, have come out well so far, but the focus needed for a complex build, is what i like. During that time i am so involved, none of my problems can haunt me. Was looking to build something open top, Maurder 3, but after seeing your blog the M7 it is. Really, thanks for taking the time to post. It really is not only of great help, but inspirational for less experienced modelers. My 4 builds so far have all been OOB. I'm going to do more on this kit. RONNY.

Ronny,

Glad it inspires you! I am overdue a new progress update - hopefully I can get it posted here this weekend.

Tom

It’s been another long wait, but I’ve managed some progress finally. I added the kit details to the front and the insides of the hull, and the only deviation from the norm was to glue the fire extinguishers to the ammo bins rather than the sponson floors so I could paint up the bin assemblies separate. I found the fit of the bins was tight so I carefully shaved & filed the back faces to thin them enough to allow a slip-fit. Then I scribed a mark around the edges where they touched the sides so I could mask the area before painting – that way I won’t need to scrape paint before gluing them in.



In the pulpit I added the MG travel lock and the skate, but to be different I placed mine far from the “MG at the front, ready for action” position that most others will use! The MG itself is nice enough, but the cocking handle is way too small so I plan to make a new one from 0.030” rod. Then there’s that big unnatural hole in the back of the ammo can that needs filled…

Going back to earlier stages I finally got round to carving off the breach operating handle so I could rebuild it in the “open” position. First I carefully shaved the upright grip off the top corner of the breach so I could reuse it. I then used a knife blade to scribe open the groove where the levers fit. These were made from evergreen strip, and are very wobbly until the glue sets!



The one thing every M7 needs is lots of stowage, inside and out. Dragon has let us down there, so I need to do something about those missing small-arms. I’ve scrounged enough M1 carbines from the Italeri & Tamiya small-arms sets, and plan to make the scabbards from 0.010” plastic strip glued to the guns. I gather there is a PE set out there that can offer the scabbards, but instead I’ll make the ten nearly identical side parts the hard way. The scariest part is bringing myself to carve off the nice magazines since stowed guns would have been unloaded. While I’m at it the ammo shelf in the pulpit will get a .50cal ammo box, and that empty space opposite the driver’s seat will get some rucksacks, again from the spares box.





Outside I added simple brackets to hold a couple of fuel cans on each rear fender based on a photo I found on the web. These were recycled from the edges of the kit’s PE fret, filed smooth before trimming and bending. The cans themselves are from the venerable Italeri fuel cans set – well worth its cost. I’ll pile the back deck with a mix of home-rolled sleeping bags, tarpaulins, MG ammo, and other junk after basic painting – at least that’ll cover up the poor tool clasps. Up front I have some spare road wheels (from an Academy kit), an oil drum (from Tamiya), and I’ll add more soft stuff as well as some spare track links.



Next up I built the suspension. There are no options here, so if you’ve ever built a Sherman by Italeri, Academy, or Dragon you’ll be on familiar ground. The only tricky part here is getting the two halves of the main bogie casting to fit tightly – I resorted to clamping them overnight. And as usual I cut the axles down to stubs so I can snap the wheels in later.

Looks like it’s off to the paint shop next!

Tom

Still following, Tom. Sure looks like a marked improvement over the Italeri kit... Thanks for the tweaks. I seem to notice some seams on the suspension arms?

Cheers!
Stefan

Stefan,

That's a mighty sharp eye you've got! Yes, there are seams that will be dealt with... (The curse of all the Italeri-inspired copies of the "rocking horse" design!) It's these close-up pictures that give away all the flaws - now I know why actors are so scared of Hi-Definition filming!

Tom

Is this build still going on?

Hi Tim,

It is, but in truth it has sat in a box for several months now while I dealt with other things and worked up the energy to tackle some extra stowage! I'm hoping to get back onto it shortly, but will definitely post more progress when I do.

(Too many campaigns, and not enough time...)

Tom

Tom, I've been following your build, as I'm also building a M7 for the Strictly Out of the Box campaign, Without your help I would have made several serious building errors.

I know that you've put this build down for a while, but I, along with everyone whose followed it, would sure like to see it finished. Any chance that you'll be picking it up soon?

Hi Tom
Thanks to share, M7 will be my next production. I need such detailed information.

Thanks again
Blackwater

Wish I'd have waited for the Dragon offering before I built my M7, but who knew ? I wound up using the Italeri kit and added an Academy transmission and suspension. The main gun was Dragon's towed behind 105mm modified to fit the fighting compartment just like they did on the real ones.

I also added PE from Royal and Eduard plus a resin engine from Verlinden. Put a total of about 500 hours into it. Dragon has saved you a lot of building time with this kit. I wish you all the best and hope you complete it.

Pat.

Hi all,

Yes, I've been dragging my heels on this one!

Looks like I definitely need to get it moving again, with the aim of finishing by Christmas.

Pat, your build sounds like it was a real fun kitbash - are there any photos on line? (I've got both the Italeri and Academy versions still in the stash...)

Tom

Tom, here are some shots of my junkyard M7.













Maybe this will help with some detailing ideas. All the best.

Pat.

Pat,

That's some beautiful work you did! I like it a lot. Can't see that the DML kit has anything to offer that would improve on it, other than saving a little surgery time.

Thanks for showing it off!

Regards,

Tom

Holy crap,that's unbelivable work,truly impressive

I think that Dragon kit would have saved a LOT of surgery and pieces parting together. Looking forward to your take on this thing!

Pat.