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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Sherman CDL "E" tank - 1/35 scale
panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 - 01:21 AM UTC
Good morning, Gentlemen ...

Enjoying my vacation, I decided to build this rare machine to almost complete my collection of CDL vehicles.

A Sherman M4A1 "E" CDL tank


After research and discussion (thanks Mike and Brian...)
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1309770619/CDL+tanks+-+doubts+about+Sherman+CDL+%26quot%3BE%26quot%3B++tank...

... I drew a profile of the prototype of Sherman, to guide me in building my model.


I had this project in my mind for a long time and I decided to build this conversion after finding (and buying..) on eBay, this oddball !!!


When I got the kit home and opened the box, a great disappointment befell me. The turret, as well as very rustic and simple, was bent and twisted, beyond repair.

The walls of the turret was slanted and not perpendicular to each other, like a cake that collapsed ...



Studying the pictures of the Sherman CDL turret, I noticed that the details of the resin turret were all wrong.




In summary, the turret was completely useless ...

But as always we make lemonade when life gives us lemons, I decided to put the brain and hands to work, since I had already planned to build an American Shermie CDL!


Surgery time !!!!

I installed the turret on my mini-lathe and grind the walls and ceiling ...No mercy !!!



I removed almost 2mm of resin in the circumference of the turret, rectifying its walls and smoothing the ceiling, removing the wrong details.
Here is the result of radical surgery, with an old Italeri hull of M4A1 , a scrapped tank, the ideal victim of my crazy projects ...


The idea is "to insert" the resin turret in the original tank turret, usiing the original cast base of the Italeri´s turret:


Voiláá..

The heresy was completed!

As I removed material from the turret sides, I'll add plasticard blades to reach the desired diameter


Using a dental tool to do this...


Testing the turret on the hull ...


A tricky part was making the front portion of the turret "flattened" and inclined, as seen in real photos ...





Phew!

For now, this is ...

Please feel free to provide feedback and suggestions ...

I am enjoying this project ...


Dutchy3RTR
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: June 28, 2009
KitMaker: 340 posts
Armorama: 337 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 - 03:08 AM UTC
You're a dark horse Marcos. Wasn't it only yesterday you were asking questions on the turret? And now you've got the main shape down already!

I love watching your builds, especially when you get into altering existing bits.

Bravo amigo.
panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 - 06:12 AM UTC

Quoted Text

You're a dark horse Marcos. Wasn't it only yesterday you were asking questions on the turret? And now you've got the main shape down already!
I love watching your builds, especially when you get into altering existing bits.
Bravo amigo.


Hi, Ken...

ehehehehehehehehe

Total dedication !!! My vacation starts in this weekend and...Model Kits !!!!

Stay tunning, meu amigo...

Um grande abraço !!!!

AlanL
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 - 06:32 AM UTC
Hi Marcos,

I'd ask for my money back . Nice work on the fix so far.

Al
panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 05, 2011 - 07:08 AM UTC
Thanks, Alan !!!

Resting a bit of British armor, peeling this pineapple ....

Big hug !!!

panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 12:22 AM UTC
More steps in this saga, please, visit my Blogspot:

The Panzerserra Bunker.

It´s in portuguese, but the Google Chrome Translator is amazing...and a picture is worth a thousand words!!!

http://panzerserra.blogspot.com/

Some pics:





Be my guest !!!!
AlanL
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
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Posted: Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 02:15 AM UTC
Hi Marcos,

Beautiful work on the Turret, another real gem in the making

Cheers

Al
panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 02:44 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Marcos,

Beautiful work on the Turret, another real gem in the making

Cheers

Al


Thanks, Alan...The British tower is the next victim...

Dutchy3RTR
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: June 28, 2009
KitMaker: 340 posts
Armorama: 337 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 04:37 AM UTC
Lovely work once again Marcos.

You should definitely put this turret into production, or at least cast a few spares to sell to people like me.
I can't see any (c) problems as it's completely different to the piece of you had to replace.

Wonderful.
AgentG
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Nevada, United States
Joined: December 21, 2008
KitMaker: 1,109 posts
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Posted: Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 04:54 AM UTC
Lovely work!

I for one would buy that turret of yours. I like oddball Shermans.

G
Dutchy3RTR
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: June 28, 2009
KitMaker: 340 posts
Armorama: 337 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 12:00 PM UTC
One thing to add to your turret Marcos - from your pic of the real thing, it looks like the sight has a brush guard over it as per the driver and co-driver sights.

Cheers,
Ken
panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 09:33 PM UTC
Thanks, Gents...

The project is almost done...Yesterday, I finished the build of th CDL:


...and :


See all steps in my Bunker:
http://panzerserra.blogspot.com/

Regards and all the best !!!

Panzerserra
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 01:43 AM UTC
Your job is simply amazing Marcos. This is not my period of interest but you definitely caught my attention !

By the way, what was the use of a tank with the main gun replaced by a simple MG ?

Olivier
Totalize
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2009
KitMaker: 743 posts
Armorama: 549 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 02:08 AM UTC
Marcos,

Very nice fix you did here for an unusual tank. Looks great.
Your casting skills are excellent. Looking forward to seeing this completed.

David.
HONEYCUT
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 4,002 posts
Armorama: 2,947 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 02:31 AM UTC
Hey Marcos
A great tweak of a little modelled version mate. The resin job was plain nasty...



Quoted Text



By the way, what was the use of a tank with the main gun replaced by a simple MG ?

Olivier


Hi Olivier, I'm sure Marcos can elaborate, but the main intention of the CDLs was to blind and illuminate the enemy in battle, but was never deployed as such? I did not know of this M4 chassis version, only the M3A1 cast hull version with the one light, which were used sparingly for night works and sentry duty at Rhine crossing bridge heads... This hull had the 75mm gun in the side sponson, so offered up better defence capabilities than the above version.

Brad
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
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New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 02:47 AM UTC
Marcos, I'm speechless. What a fantastic build of such an obscure subject matter. Your modeling skills are light years ahead of mine, and I can only marvel at work like yours.
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 07:00 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Hi Olivier, I'm sure Marcos can elaborate, but the main intention of the CDLs was to blind and illuminate the enemy in battle, but was never deployed as such? I did not know of this M4 chassis version, only the M3A1 cast hull version with the one light, which were used sparingly for night works and sentry duty at Rhine crossing bridge heads... This hull had the 75mm gun in the side sponson, so offered up better defence capabilities than the above version.

Brad


Thanks for taking the time to give some explanations to a Sherman noob

Olivier
AlanL
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 07:48 AM UTC
Hi Marcus,

Looking Cool, excellent.

Al
panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 09:22 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Your job is simply amazing Marcos. This is not my period of interest but you definitely caught my attention !
By the way, what was the use of a tank with the main gun replaced by a simple MG ?
Olivier


Olivier, Brad answered correctly on the CDL tanks.

The use of the M4 chassis It was a natural evolution of the chassis M3 to M4.

But the M3 CDL was still warfighting capability, with its 75mm gun in the hull.
Although the Sherman CDL double projector turret would be better, the project was abandoned because of lack of gun in the M4 CDL version.
panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 09:23 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Marcos,
Very nice fix you did here for an unusual tank. Looks great.
Your casting skills are excellent. Looking forward to seeing this completed.
David.


Thanks, David...

Stay tunning !!!

panzerserra
Visit this Community
Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 09:26 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hey Marcos
A great tweak of a little modelled version mate. The resin job was plain nasty...

Quoted Text


By the way, what was the use of a tank with the main gun replaced by a simple MG ?
Olivier

Hi Olivier, I'm sure Marcos can elaborate, but the main intention of the CDLs was to blind and illuminate the enemy in battle, but was never deployed as such? I did not know of this M4 chassis version, only the M3A1 cast hull version with the one light, which were used sparingly for night works and sentry duty at Rhine crossing bridge heads... This hull had the 75mm gun in the side sponson, so offered up better defence capabilities than the above version.
Brad


Thanks for your help , Bradley !!!

All the best and good modeling...

panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 09:27 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Marcos, I'm speechless. What a fantastic build of such an obscure subject matter. Your modeling skills are light years ahead of mine, and I can only marvel at work like yours.


Thanks for the words, Joel !!!!

Cheers and take care !!!

panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 09:28 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Marcus,
Looking Cool, excellent.
Al


Thanks, Alan...

Another crazy stuff...

regards

panzerserra
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Goias, Brazil
Joined: March 29, 2002
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 688 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 09:29 PM UTC
Gents, good news:

After I published the Sherman CDL photos in the Missing-Lynx and Armorama, I received many emails asking for copies of this turret.

The problem is the lack of time for this activity...

But to help addicts like me in model kits, I offered the master turret to Chris Meddings (from Inside the Armour) and he will cast the turrets with all the technology of the ITA.

I am sending out the turret for him, today.

You can contact him and reserve your copy...here:

http://www.insidethearmour.com/


Cheers and all the best
Dutchy3RTR
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: June 28, 2009
KitMaker: 340 posts
Armorama: 337 posts
Posted: Monday, July 18, 2011 - 10:20 PM UTC
Nice idea Marcos. Chris should do a great job for you.
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