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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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M26 Pershing
Spuds
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 - 08:14 AM UTC
Tired of Shermans and half-tracks, so started looking at Pershing kits. Never paid much attention before, so it's a new thing for me. Looking for a general discussion covering the available 1/35th Pershing kits out there, accuracy, variations, and such. Not looking for any particular one. Anybody want to weigh in on this?
stevieneon
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Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 - 08:38 AM UTC
Hi, I've just built the Hobbyboss Pershing and it's an amazing kit. Got it for a song on eBay too. Highly recommended!
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 - 08:42 AM UTC
Tamiya's offering is easy to build and looks the part. I also have the old DML kit which was used for a Blog on Armorama which looks excellent. You also have a whole range of M26 models from HobbyBoss. Lastly RB Model have released a great turned barrel for the M26 WW2 period.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 - 08:43 AM UTC
Here is a great thread that lays out all the M26 Pershing models available. I personally think the Hobby Boss ones are best.
SdAufKla
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Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 - 09:35 AM UTC
Tom,

I've been doing the research on this one, too, planning to build a WWII Zebra mission T26E3 (M26).

I believe the Hobby Boss M26 kit is the best starting point for the WWII era version, and OOTB it will build into a very accurate Korean war version.

For the T26E3, the HB kit will easily back date, but will need the tracks replaced. The only real cutting needed is the removal of the final drive reinforcing gussets added to the "regular" production M26s and back-fitted to the earlier production vehicles. Other than that, you can get away with simply omitting the other later production bits (like the fender braces).

So, for my build I have the HB M26, the Fruil tracks, and the Eduard PE. I haven't decided if I want to replace the main gun and .30 barrels, but those are just your standard up-grades.

If you're going to build a specific vehicle from the Korean war, you should look closely at the front upper hull as there was a change in the shape of the exhaust fan bulge and the inboard driver's and co-driver's periscopes on the later and final production vehicles. These changes are different than the HB kit, but could easily be made with some epoxy putty for the fan bulge and filling the periscope mounts. There was also a late change to the M26's gun travel lock.

If you want to pilfer an old Italeri M47 for the later main gun barrel and muzzle brake, you could easily build a Korean war M26A1, too, with the HB kit. There are some other changes needed, but again, these are all pretty easy and the Hobby Boss kit would be a very good starting point.

Not surprisingly, the Hunnicutt book is the best reference, but the new Squadron M26 Walk-Around is surprising very good, as well. If you couple it with the earlier Squadron M26 - M47 Pershing book, you could live with out the Hunnicutt tome.

In any event, I beleve the Hobby Boss kit is the best starting point for a nice M26 of any varient.

Mike
Spuds
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Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 - 02:54 PM UTC
Thanks for your input, everyone. You've sold me on a HB offering for a starter. Great link, Gino. Extremely informative. Thanks also, Tom, for your knowledge and advice. BTW, I've got the Hunnicut book on the way. Will be here before Christmas. I feel rejuvenated.
ALBOWIE
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Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 - 09:25 PM UTC
As the others have said the HB is superb value and a great starting point. THe only true WW2 T26E3 available is the older DML T26E3 (I am unsure about the re release in the Orange box line as I don't know which hull they used.

The thread Gino mentions isn't as informative as it could be and their are many more changes between the WW2 T26E3 and the M26 than just the Fender buckles and tank telephone. THe WW2 hull had the small blower housing which the HB kits have. The Tamiya kit has the post war larger blower housing as does the DML M26A1 kit so are a much harder option to do a T26E3 from. Other things that need to be removed are the reinforcing ribs from the Final drive housing, remove all the fender bracing. One point on the HB Pershings is there depiction of the Armoured Radiator/Engine deck cover which is not a "T" piece on the Real vehicle and needs a line scored to sperate the panels. THe Squadron Walkaround is a usual reference for the kit but you can't beat the Hunnicut title.

For ease of build the Tamiya one is tops , HB next and the T26E3 last (It is hard work). Though not cheap the best way to a great T26E3 is to bash the DML T26E3 and the HB Super Pershing.
Cheers
Al
Spuds
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Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 - 11:46 PM UTC
Thanks, Al. This is getting really good. Looks like I'm gonna have a good time in the model room this Christmas while my grandchildren systematically take down the rest of my house.
Metal_blast
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Posted: Thursday, December 09, 2010 - 02:17 AM UTC
Hello,

I too also have the HB Pershing, and if I have it correct; there are 3 things to remove from it to backdate it properly to a WWII variant:

1. Remove the fender turnbuckles (i.e. those long rods with hooks)
2. Remove the reinforcing ribs at the front of the lower hull where it meets the final-drive.
3. Remove the telephone at the rear end

Is this all

Oh, I need to buy the Fruil T81 tracks
SdAufKla
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Posted: Thursday, December 09, 2010 - 12:55 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks for your input, everyone. You've sold me on a HB offering for a starter. Great link, Gino. Extremely informative. Thanks also, Tom, for your knowledge and advice. BTW, I've got the Hunnicut book on the way. Will be here before Christmas. I feel rejuvenated.



If I recall correctly, about the only detail that Hunnicutt doesn't cover well are the reinforcing gussets on the lower rear hull and final drive joints.

You absolutely will not be disappointed with his coverage of the Zebra Mission tanks, though! I also think that he publishes just about every photo that I know of for those vehicles (along with all the serial and unit numbers for the first 20 Pershings to arrive in Europe).

Enjoy it and Happy Modeling!
Mike
SdAufKla
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Posted: Thursday, December 09, 2010 - 01:07 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hello,

I too also have the HB Pershing, and if I have it correct; there are 3 things to remove from it to backdate it properly to a WWII variant:

1. Remove the fender turnbuckles (i.e. those long rods with hooks)
2. Remove the reinforcing ribs at the front of the lower hull where it meets the final-drive.
3. Remove the telephone at the rear end

Is this all

Oh, I need to buy the Fruil T81 tracks



I think that's just about all of the changes but one - I believe the design of the spare track brackets on the turret for the T-81 links were slightly different. Also, all of the Zebra Mission tanks that I recall had the canvas cover for the mantlet.

There were also a few of the intitial batch of 20 tanks shipped to Europe that had a different design on the drive sprocket toothed rings, but the HB kit has the more common initial / early production type of rings. So, unless you're building a specific tank, that's not a problem to worry over. (The variation was for the first few tanks built with some of the T26 components. It is a bit hard to describe having a many-pointed star shape to its inner circumferance.)

Anyways, the HB kit should be easy to back-date.

Mike
sgtsauer
#065
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Posted: Thursday, December 09, 2010 - 02:17 PM UTC
The Tamiya Pershing is a great kit. I shook the box and mine fell out looking like this:







SdAufKla
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Posted: Friday, December 10, 2010 - 03:49 AM UTC
Very nice Brent!

The "Big T" never takes any short-cuts when it comes the engineering on their own molds.

For anyone else thinking about M26 choices, here's a pretty good review of the Hobby Boss kit:

http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/reviews/showReview.aspx?ID=993&Type=FB

The author, Ron Damratowski, notes a few fit and assembly issues, but none them seem too significant.

Here's another review for the HB T26E4:

http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/reviews/showReview.aspx?ID=1515&Type=FB

You'll note that this one comes with the T-81 "rubber band" tracks, appropriate for the WWII tanks. However, HB has the builder add the later fender braces and final drive reinforcing gussets which are incorrect for this version (unless built as a post-war test vehicle). It would make a good foundation for an M26A2, though.

At any rate, I had hoped that HB would release a T26E3 (WWII) version of the kit with the T-81 tracks since they have the molds already cut. But, alas, "if wishes were horses..."

There have been several good build articles that point out the detail differences between the initial production T26E3/M26 and the "standard" production vehicles. As noted by Al Bowie, the Tamiya and DML hulls have the later 1000 CFM ventilation fan bulges in the forward hull, while the Hobby Boss kit's fan bulge represents the initial/earlier production 400 CFM fans. Unfortunately, as a compromise to accuracy, Tamiya and DML also include the second hull-mounted driver/co-driver periscopes, which encroach into the area for the larger fan bulges making both less than correct.

The later fan bulges can certainly be back-dated, but that's a much more challenging modification than up-dating the earler shaped bulges to the later ones.

Anyways, just some more thoughts and observations.

Mike
Spuds
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Posted: Friday, December 10, 2010 - 04:01 AM UTC
Just shook the box, huh, Brent. If I did that, I'd have to sweep it all up.
sgtsauer
#065
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Posted: Friday, December 10, 2010 - 02:10 PM UTC
Sprue Brothers have the Hobby Boss Pershings on sale in their 'Bargain Bin'.

M26A1 Pershing Heavy Tank $28.80



T26E4 Pershing Late Production $28.80



Dragon T26E3 Heavy Tank

$27.30

Cyber-Hobby M26A1/T26E3 Pershing 2 in 1 Value Pack

$24.00


M26 Pershing

$28.80

Tamiya M26 Pershing Medium Tank

$31.80

lukiftian
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Posted: Friday, December 10, 2010 - 04:34 PM UTC
The best M-26 is the HobbyBoss kit, although the tracks are poor. The Tamiya offering is all right, but in my opinion the workable suspension is a bust, as well as having problems like screws showing in unfortunate places if you plan to have a wheel off.
The Dragon kits have an inaccurate turret.

The HB kit has a serviceable engine compartment and transmission.
Yes, for a T-26E3 the Dragon hull and the HB turret would be a good idea, although the HB hull is exceptional and could be backdated. The phone box was on a couple of T-26E3s, but this could have been a post-VE day addition?
ALBOWIE
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Posted: Friday, December 10, 2010 - 10:26 PM UTC
[quote
Yes, for a T-26E3 the Dragon hull and the HB turret would be a good idea, although the HB hull is exceptional and could be backdated. The phone box was on a couple of T-26E3s, but this could have been a post-VE day addition? [/quote]

The HB Pershings already have the smalll blower housing required for a T26E3 so you don't need the DML one for the Hull, It does offer a lot of detail parts and individual tracks. I think DML got the Armoured Radiotr / engine deck panel better than HB who have the armoured parts as a "T" shaped single item rather than two Rectangles. A scriber can sort of fix this.
At those prices combining the HB M26 ((82424) and Super Pershing #1 (82426) will give you quite good Pershing with lovely Individual links. Why HB haven't offered a T26E3 yet is puzzling.
Cheers
Al
SdAufKla
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Posted: Saturday, December 11, 2010 - 09:51 AM UTC

Quoted Text

[quote
... Why HB haven't offered a T26E3 yet is puzzling.
Cheers
Al



I gotta agree, this absence of an initial production version from Hobby Boss makes no sense to me either. I waited and waited for them to release one, and finally bought their M26 with the intention of back-dating it. I probably would have added the Fruil tracks anyways, so this hasn't held up my project plans. Still...?!

I guess they might have assessed that the T26E3 would be the most desirable version, and so thought to maximize their investment by holding it back to encourage modelers to purchase one of the other versions first. But if this was their strategy, I have to say it failed with me. I won't be buying another one of their M26 versions unless and until I have another specific project in mind. I've just found it anoying and incomprehensible - not an inducement to buy more kits. But then, I'm not one of those modelers who has to have (or even wants to have) one or more of every kit pressed out of styrene.

At any rate, at least Hobby Boss gave us the early production 400 CFM blower bulge, along with the engine and tranny details. Altogether their kit is a much better foundation to work with, I think

Mike
ALBOWIE
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Posted: Saturday, December 11, 2010 - 09:55 AM UTC

Quoted Text



At any rate, at least Hobby Boss gave us the early production 400 CFM blower bulge, along with the engine and tranny details. Altogether their kit is a much better foundation to work with, I think

Mike



Got to agree about a good foundation. One thing I never added is that all those DML sherman Spares in the form of persicopes etc really come in handy for the HB kits and jazz them up quite a bit.
Al
Railspltr
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Posted: Sunday, January 09, 2011 - 11:00 PM UTC
The Hobby Boss M26 has raised numbers on the top of the gun mantel and the top of the glacis (area between driver's hatch and M.G. gunner's hatch) should any of them be removed? I have seen raised numbers like these on photos of original tanks.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Monday, January 10, 2011 - 02:29 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The Hobby Boss M26 has raised numbers on the top of the gun mantel and the top of the glacis (area between driver's hatch and M.G. gunner's hatch) should any of them be removed? I have seen raised numbers like these on photos of original tanks.



No, do not remove them. These are casting numbers from the foundry and should be there.
 _GOTOTOP