I am in need of assistance, I have my M32 ready for painting but I am having a heck of a time coming up with interior reference material (both colors and layout). I could really use some help if any of you know where I can look.......... Many thanks in advance!

Check out Shirion's web shots album
http://community.webshots.com/album/98400748jjLObb
i took these pictures of an IDF m32 but i think the interior is almost the same

Eran

It's white.

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

Much appreciated gentlemen. The AFV interior site was outstanding material. While I was there I printed off info for a couple of other models that I have sitting on the shelf. Thanks again!

I've found the AFV Interiors stuff to be very valuable for both of my M32 projects. Also consider adding Gannon's book Israeli Sherman to your library. There are many good photos of Israeli M32 variants in the chapter on ARVs, and close examination will also reveal several other helpful ones in other chapters as well. These pictures are captioned to highlight some other aspect of Israeli modification of Sherman family vehicles, and are certainly great for that, but an eagle eye will spot that the vehicle photographed is actually an M32 series. Perhaps I'm not explaining this well, but those other photos when combined with the other sources you have provide additional clarity about interior fittings and placement--an unintended benefit. Also, the MMiR book on engineering and recovery vehicles has a really nice article on an M32--Squadron carries it.

Your post doesn't say if you made any changes or corrections to the kit. No big deal; the model is impressive OOB. But just in case you weren't aware, allow me to note the following:
1. The upper hull is wrong; should be a small-hatch variety with protruding driver's hoods.
Tank Workshop makes a nice resin hull for this, or you could use a Dragon M4A1if you can find one...
2. The fitting of accessories (sprockets, spare wheels, etc.) is generally wrong. Looks like Italeri based the stowage arrangement on photos of the first prototype. Service photos show all these things and others in different places on the tank. Also be aware that other, later users ALSO moved things around.
3. The suspension is wrong; should have straight return roller brackets, not upswept ones. Replace with Academy or AFV Club bogies.
4. The interior of the fighting compartment is to say the least inadequate. The stepped floor should be two separate levels, and the lower level extends all the way forward under the upper one. The lower floor is in four sections with a cut-out forward for the winch. For my Tamiya/Italeri/AFV Club/DML Israeli welded-hull M32 kitbash I'm working on I scratchbuilt the lower floor panels from sheet styrene and both narrowed and thinned the kit upper floor section after sawing it off. Both sections are supported by styrene beams.
5. The kit A-frame boom is too small in the diameter of the tubes. Jury's out on this one. My first one has the kit boom; my next one I'm trying to scratchbuild a more accurate one but it is proving to be REALLY difficult. I'm on version two already and while I haven't tossed it aside I'm still not satisfied with it.

Please don't consider this criticism of your project--far from it. My first M32 doesn't have a proper floor either although I made the other changes noted above. But I've gotten a kick out of these engineering vehicles and done some research that any M32 modeler should have to make a really accurate one. HTH,
Greg

I had posted questions on the M32 topic a while back and found that the corrections were available. However, I chose to build this one straight OOB. If I like the way it turns out then I think that I will seek another and apply the corrections and then see what happens. I have to say that I have enjoyed this one so far. I have just about everything put together and I'm preparing it to paint now. It's a neat vehicle, the one thing that I'd like to do is put it in a diorama with a M48 series Patton but as of yet, I have no experience with dioramas.

Your reply was in no way taken as criticism, I really appreciate the information!!!

StJohn, we think alike. My Israeli project will eventually reside in a simple diorama, circa 1973, towing a busticated M60.... :-)

Greg