Hi, As per usual I've started a dio without any real planning and things are coming unstuck. So far I have a (Tamiya) Sherman crossing a bridge escorted by some Indian Infantry (Tamiya infatry with Dragons turbaned heads from their Cassino set). Can anyone help with suitable markings for the tank (M4) - Would it be Canadian or British? Thanks for the help.

Which Tamiya Sherman? When did you want the diorama to be set? Where?

Paul

Hi, it's the M4 - Here are some basic photos of the layout with the Sherman in place. I'm happy to have it as any nationality as long as it fits in with the battles around Monte Cassino with the Indian division.
Obviously there's still a lot to do, finishing the groundwork, adding water etc but the overall shape of the dio can be seen.
(And I also realize that I should have done the markings before the mud but I got carried away. Oh well, I'm sure I can clean it up!)

Well, the Kiwi armour worked nearby the Indians during the 3rd battle so this combination might be possible IF the Kiwis used this variant of the Sherman. The Kiwi 18th and 19th Armd Regts worked with the Indians up the Liri Valley after the fall of Cassino as well.

The Canadians took over from the Indians on the south side of the Liri Valley so this could depict part of the relief if you have the Indian going the other way and IF the Canadians used this variant!

Brit tanks supported Indian units in this southern sector just after the river crossings, so that could also provide the combo IF the variant is right.

For any of these combos the bridge isn't right for the area if you want to get that picky. Maybe one in the upper Liri but certainly not in the lower. Sadly I know more about Liri bridges than Sherman variants...

It's not an M4 it's a Tamiya M4A3 which despite the instructions shouldn't have the side applique armour. The M4A3 was used by the US army and the Free French but not sure if they were used around Cassino- it might be too early for them.

Yeah, Pat is right. This is an M4A3 75W (and, as he says, shouldn't have the applique plates as it is a wet stowage version). These were not used by any Commonwealth army and I'm pretty sure that were not even in service in US forces in Italy. I'm afraid that the Sikh soldier and the M4A3 simply don't go together.

If I can make a suggestion, the mud shouldn't be in between the road wheels or on the outer track surface unless the tank is actually in deep, deep mud. Once it is on a road, as you have shown it, even a gravel road, the road wheels squish the mud out of the inside surface of the track and throw most of it off the external surface. There would be mud in the crevases of the end connectors and, if there are gripping surfaces on the track pads, in the corners of those grippers as well. The mud up the sides of the vehicle and in the road whels is well represented.

Also give a thought to the width and strength of the bridge. As it is shown it isn't wide enough to have both a tank and infantry on it at the same time. It simply wouldn't be done. At the same time, the bridge itself isn't actually strong enough for a Sherman. If the bridge is a kit you bought or even if you made it yourself, consider adding at least three more beams the same size as the ones already there. That way it won't look like the Sherman is about to fall through the bridge (which it would if this was real).

HTH

Paul

Thanks for the info. As I said, I didn't plan this at all. I built a base and then stuck the tank on top as it was already built and had nowhere to go.
So, if I loose the tank and the infantry - any ideas where the base could work for? It isn't painted yet, only blocked in and only a fraction of the ground cover has been added so I could still make quite a few changes. I copied the bridge structure from an old photo I saw on the net but guessed at what was happening on the underside so left it at 2 large girders. All it said was it was an Italian rural bridge.
Thanks again.
Paul