I would like to detail my upcoming project of a M32 arv with driving compartment. Can anyone reccomend a manufacturer. I will be doing it on a welded hull. thanks.

Joshua Weingarten
IDF Armour Group
www.homestead.com/shiryon/index.html

Italeri's M32 TRV comes with everything to make a decent kit OOB. Purists say the use of the M4A1 large hatch hull is either rare or non-existant in the M32 format. Knowng what I know about Shermans, I don't think it is safe to say anything didn't exist. Too many combinations were done throughout the Sherman's lifespan.

You can always use the welded hull of the Italeri USMC M4 as the basis for your conversion as the parts will be a drop fit and you can then use the M32's cast hull with the 75mm turret and still have a complete kit.

As far as the interior, have you thought about the Verlinden interior for the M4 Early? The Kangaroo and M7 Priest kit comes with a rudimentary driver's compartment and transmission, but no assistant driver fittings.

I'd recommend Verlinden's M4 Early Interior too. I used it on my M4 (remanufactured). It comes in components - so you can choose to use or delete equipment/fittings not appropriate for the M32.

Gunnie

I don't really want to get into a debate about this, but I really think you ought to consider replacing the Italeri kit hull with a small-hatched M4A1 or M4 if you want to build a somewhat accurate M32. Lots of opinions and tips about building the M32 can be found on Missing Links, and great reference is available at the AFV Interiors website.

About the interior: you may want to consider getting one of Academy's M10 variants or M12. You can pick up one of these for the same or less than a resin interior set -- and considering that you only need the forward part of the interior, you could build the M12 with the hatches closed and still have a dandy, buildable kit left over. Go the M10 route and you have all kinds of great parts for other Sherman variant projects (or build an M10 and add a field-mod turret roof). Also, the bogies in the Academy kits are more correct for the M32 than the upswept return roller bogies in the Italeri kit.

thanks for all the help fellas. AFter you mentioned the verlinden set I checked the great models site. $28 is a bit steep for somthing I won't use most of so I bought 2 of the verlinden transmission housings. I can scratch everything else. I plan on building 2 ARVs, one on a DML M4a1 early hull and a second on m4 hull. both having been used by the IDF. the M4 will be the later version with Hvss, the M4a1 will actually have vvs and duckbill track. thanks again for the heads up as to which company had the interior(which I'll get for another conversion next year).

Joshua Weingarten
IDF armour group JAnitor
www.homestead.com/shiryon/index.html

Shiryon

Check out this site!

http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/m32/m32a.html

shiryon

Resicast are (or have just) released a complete interior for the M4A1 (I think - not really a shermany guy) - I saw this at Euro and it looks to be one of the best interiors I have ever seen - dont know if is what you are after but I am sure there are a number of interchangeable parts that could be used.

http://www.resicast.com/

Lee

thanks everyone , I've actually gotten quite a bit of info . I am surprised however that most if not all books on the sherman either almost puposely leave it out or give it little attention. Even Hunnicutts tome has barely two pages. Does anyone know if there is a TM available in the M32 series?

thanks

Joshua weingarten
Idf armour group

The AFV Interiors site that Savage suggests is about the best refernce on the interior you will find. Most of the photos and drawings on the site are from TM 9-738. Getting the actual manual will add little, if any more information, from what I understand.

You may want to try doing a search on Missing Links -- there have been several good threads discussing the M32 and its interior.