Ok here's my start on my version of the USMC's sherman Flail tank or Sherman Crab.

I did n't know the USMC used these?

I thought it was only the British 79th Armoured Division ......

I'm with Dave. This is a decidely British contraption. Some were passed to US units in NWE but I know of nothing with the USMC. Can you tell us about your information?

USMC did use one for Iwo Jima but it was a one of a kind build one and not the standard issue type.



Bob

I have subscribed to this one! I believe it's my first time too.









~ Jeff

The Marines never used M4A4's in combat.

G

The US version.


The British version.


Well I may be rong with which U.S. service group: Marine Corps or Army used the Flail and I can't change the heading at this point. So I'm going to go on and finish this build any way.
http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/48/crab48sz_1.html

we learn everyday. very nice editing, I'm impatient to see more. steph

Well for your impatient ness here some more...


I tryed making periscope gards and I made them way to big and with the help of a clube member I rebuilt them smaller.


Here's the rebuild.




I need to take some new full body photos.

Looking good so far! That's some FANTASTIC work on the fiddly chain mounts on the flail drum!

May I make 3 comments? The "US Version" in your post is actually one of the those given to US units to operate in Normandy by the British. You can see the empty smoke launcher mounting bracket on the right side of the turret,further attesting its UK heritage.

There was a Mk 1 and a Mk 2. I don't remember how to differentiate btn the two. Also most Mk 2s ones had a bicycle chain type flail vs. the earlier chain & ball flail that Legends supplies.

That Crab was strictly of UK design and manufacture. Also, your .30cal MG barrel is protruding too far out. Even with the canvas mantlet cover, the barrel end would be sticking out about 3-4 mm only.

Also your commander hatches are on inside out. You need to flip them.

Hope this helps.

From a google search:

The US obtained 20 Sherman Crabs from the British in November 1944, and a further 15 on loan from the British 21st Army group.
A further order for 45 was placed in January 1945, and then increased to 105. This oprder was later cancelled, so the US Army in Europe received a total of 35.

Your first 'photo (US version) shows one of these.


The Crab mk11 differed in that the drum rose and fell according to the terain whereas the Mk1 was a fixed height. I don't know how to tell the difference in a photo, but all those supplied to the US were Mk1s

All I can say is that you're the man and those chains. If PE isn't my arch nemesis, it's the chains and especially in 1/35th.

I've always wanted to build one of these, but those chains!

Keep it up as I really like what I see!







~ Jeff

First I'll try to fix items that may be missing or on rong., but I'm not going to pull this project apart. To make it in to an M1. ((NOT!!))

@PantherF the chains are not PE. It took me two day to glue all the parts in place and then make hook loops for each chain.

Now the ends of the flail drum has plastic styrene shims glued to the flail arms and the drum sides. This gave me the ability to move the full drum assembly around till I got it in the right spot.

@ericadeane the 30 cal mount is just as it is in the DML kit. Do you have a photo showing just were the MG should be mounted on that hatch ring??

Yes the 30cal barrel is a bit to long. The hatch covers are mounted as the sheet showed. If I can flip them I will.

Edit: Thanks Panther, ericadeane and DaveCox for looking in and liking what I'm working on.

I know that! I was just stating that if PE wasn't a pain, then those chains certainly would be. I've worked with both and the chains even in 1/16th are terrible, I can't imagine them in 1/35th!

I may have to get one of these kits and make a 1/16th version because I won't be tackling them chains in this scale!








~ Jeff

My take on this from a few years ago - Resicast conversion with resin 'bicycle' chains in this one, and they were a real pain. Had to glue them all in place and then use a hair-dryer to get them to droop correctly from the drum.

Look forward to seeing your's finished - whatever markings it carries!

Caveman: I think your hatch ring mounted .50cal MG is fine. Looking at the Legends mantlet cover and the .30cal barrel -- I think all you need to do is to remove the grey plastic piece. I think Legend compensated for the thickness of the canvas shroud with the correct length .30cal coax barrel stub. Just snip it off and I think you'll be fine.

Ok I have fixed the 50 cal mount and cut the 30 cal down., Fliped the hach covers. and I can't see any smoke launcher tubs in the photo of the US version.




Here's a photo before I moved the 50.


Now after the 50 move.


After the new mount is dry I'll add the gun.


Oh and before any one comes up with something moren for me to add I'm going on and start the paint work!

A little paint work to night.

caveman,i think your build is looking good/

Thanks more coming to day.

The starting color cote...

Fantastic, I was going to use the CyberHobby M4A4 and Verlinden Crab Conversion for my D-Day group build. Will be interesting to see the differences (besides price).

I love most of the DML kits and when I noticed that the CH-Cyber Hobby kits were apart of the DML lable. An that they had really reard and cooler kits as the mane company name of DML. I jumped head first in to buying CH kits.

Now about the prive for the Legend Sherman Crab kit. When Great Models held there going out of business sale. I got the crab for $16.00. That was a big drop for the close to 40.00 see at mini online shops or stores.

Now I must warn you that most of the crab's resin parts are really warped. So you will have to fix most of the long parts, now the over all width of the crab is to short for the DML/Cyber Hobby kits. So you will have the lengthen your width parts.

To see this look back at my first post. All the parts that i had to replace, I used white Styrene from Everygreen.

Edit: Sorry I left out that I'm working on the rubber track and I'll post photos a little later to day.

Some rust work...

Man... the last photo looks so real!

Had my sights set on one of these but DML came out with one I just had to have!

What did you use for the rust work? Would "Rustall" work and can it be painted over?








~ Jeff