Hi All

I asked a couple of days ago about an early M4A3 hull. One with cast driver and co driver hoods.

I got a reply and although it answered the question, I think I asked the wrong question and should have asked can anyone explain how to change a existing 1/35 manufacturers M4?? to such a best, in the end I would like to model both a direct vision version and a later version with the periscopes.

Regards Bob.

Rob,

In 1:35 scale you could look for an OOP kit by MP Authen-I-Kit, which they sold as an M4/M4A3 conversion. It offered a new upper hull with all the early A3 features.

Or, you could start with Tamiya's "Early M4" kit, which has the hoods typical of the A3 and A4 variants. You'd need to find an A3-style rear deck, rear hull plate, and rear lower hull plate with correct access door and exhausts, but maybe if you crossed it with one of their M4A3 kits for those parts? The only thing on the hull front that is A4 rather than A3 is the radio pot - the A4 had a distinct cast pot with a big flared base, while the A3 had a more cylindrical one.

Or, you could wait for me to start a kit-bash, thus triggering both Tasca and Dragon to simultaneously release "shake the box" kits of the early M4A3!

Tom

Hi Rob, I have a resin upper hull of a early M4A3 (maker unknown). I would send you pictures of it, if I can get them downloaded on here. Or, you can email me at [email protected] and then I can send them to you.

BILL

Hi Tom

Many thanks for the reply, on the subjects of radio pots, I found this url in the last few days, does this information apply?

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1115633322/Sherman+glacis+antenna+pots

Regards Bob.

Or you can go with this:

http://www.mcssl.com/store/formations/catalog/product/61e270ae7e004df9a574bbb39c7dc2b8

Indeed, I hadn't even thought of the Formations hull - it'd sure make a painless conversion! And that thread is great. Tamiya's "M4" comes with the hoods and "type O4" pot typical of the M4A4 for some odd reason.

Tom