Everyone, great ideas, great posts.

The biggest What If on my model is the suspension. The deciding factor was, I had the Fruil track in hand, and wanted to see how it looked on a Sherman.

I'm thinking of making this one a factory prototype, and doing another one more "Sherman".

I haven't had this much fun with a model in a long time and now can't wait to build a "workable" tank!

To answer one thought, the Ruhr industrial zone is close to the imaginary border and will be defended at all costs.

This actually would be a good concept for a "What if?" Novel.

The Ruhr was I believe was in the British Zone of Occupation.

When its in paint we should put the Super Jumbo and your beast in a Diorama!

Another interesting twist might be some more modest conversions, the UK for instance conducted limited production runs out of captured factories in real life of some panzerjager models for testing/keep the locals busy purposes. It's not hard to imagine something like a Panzerjager IV with British trimmings and paint job if it really came down to making armor in a post war Europe to fight the Soviets.

Great 'what if' idea..... how about IR search lights...or smoke dischargers

Gentlemen, thank you.

I had to do some creative work for the suspension, but I wanted to make it look like it would work. I put the limiting springs too high, good thing you can't see in there.

It is a long stretch to think that Panther tracks would work properly. However, the 'E8 T-66 tracks had a similar pitch.

So, should I use US tools, or the German set? I plan on using the lights from the M4, so probably will use the US tool kit.

Plans are for a Panther cupola from Panzer Art, and a pop up swivel loaders hatch using the spare round hatch from the Panther F kit.

On a personal note, I think the Panther F looks cooler than the Panther II, but I have both kits.

Does anyone have the DML steel wheeled Panther G, and the Panther F? I'm wondering if I can swap out the wheels I'm using for a steel set from the Panther G.

You know...

The US Army DID test an M4A2 (56-degree Upper Hull, with the single-piece Transmission Housing), using a Torsion Bar Suspension, a la T26/M26... 24-inch Tracks, 6 "double" T-26/M26-style Road Wheels, with similarly constructed Rear Idlers, and 3 Upper Return Rollers...

There appears to be a "standard"(?) 75mm-gunned Turret mounted on this vehicle, with an M34A1 Gun Mantlet- Must be that the Army decided not to disrupt production of regular VVSS M4-series Mediums, or they might not have been very impressed by this vehicle after testing... This is merely conjecture, of course...

I don't have a copy of the Hunnicut Sherman book, so I don't know if this "one-off" M4A2 is also covered in that book. Anybody know???

I've been hankering to build an example of THIS particular vehicle for years, but have never gotten around to it because of numerous other projects always being "in a state of flux" in my workshop.

My source is the "Pictorial History Of TANKS OF THE WORLD 1915-1945" book, by Peter Chamberlain & Chris Ellis, published by Gallahad Books, by arrangement with Stackpole Books. Copyright is 1972, so I have NO IDEA if this book is even available any more. There's another "critter" in this book that I'd also like to build; a Pz.III, (early Ausf.J?, short 5cm Gun), built in 1942, with an interleaved FAMO Suspension. ONE vehicle was built, and cancelled after testing.

It always seemed to me that a an interleaved suspension was more trouble than it was worth- Mud, Ice, Snow and possibly "KIT KAT" candy bars constantly gumming/jamming the whole orchestra up. Also, having to remove surrounding Road Wheel-sets/Sprockets/and/or Rear Idlers just to replace and/or repair SINGLE Road Wheels and/or Torsion Bar assemblies...

YESSS, I'm aware of the advantages of "better"(?) weight distribution of the interleaved suspension-design, but is all the extra work REALLY worth it? If this system was SO GOOD, WHY don't any modern Tanks and AFVs use this bone-headed design?

Hello.

Here is my idea.



This is a mid to late 1944 version.

For 1947 I would add HVSS and maybe applique armour.

http://s115.photobucket.com/user/Michael_Hatch/library/Modelling%20American%20Armor/M4A1%2090mm%20Wet

Michael in Cloverdale.

Would VVSS have been strong enough to take the weight of the full M26 turret?

Quoted Text

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You know...

The US Army DID test an M4A2 (56-degree Upper Hull, with the single-piece Transmission Housing), using a Torsion Bar Suspension, a la T26/M26... 24-inch Tracks, 6 "double" T-26/M26-style Road Wheels, with similarly constructed Rear Idlers, and 3 Upper Return Rollers...

There appears to be a "standard"(?) 75mm-gunned Turret mounted on this vehicle, with an M34A1 Gun Mantlet- Must be that the Army decided not to disrupt production of regular VVSS M4-series Mediums, or they might not have been very impressed by this vehicle after testing... This is merely conjecture, of course...

I don't have a copy of the Hunnicut Sherman book, so I don't know if this "one-off" M4A2 is also covered in that book. Anybody know???

I've been hankering to build an example of THIS particular vehicle for years, but have never gotten around to it because of numerous other projects always being "in a state of flux" in my workshop.

My source is the "Pictorial History Of TANKS OF THE WORLD 1915-1945" book, by Peter Chamberlain & Chris Ellis, published by Gallahad Books, by arrangement with Stackpole Books. Copyright is 1972, so I have NO IDEA if this book is even available any more. There's another "critter" in this book that I'd also like to build; a Pz.III, (early Ausf.J?, short 5cm Gun), built in 1942, with an interleaved FAMO Suspension. ONE vehicle was built, and cancelled after testing.

It always seemed to me that a an interleaved suspension was more trouble than it was worth- Mud, Ice, Snow and possibly "KIT KAT" candy bars constantly gumming/jamming the whole orchestra up. Also, having to remove surrounding Road Wheel-sets/Sprockets/and/or Rear Idlers just to replace and/or repair SINGLE Road Wheels and/or Torsion Bar assemblies...

YESSS, I'm aware of the advantages of "better"(?) weight distribution of the interleaved suspension-design, but is all the extra work REALLY worth it? If this system was SO GOOD, WHY don't any modern Tanks and AFVs use this bone-headed design?

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The torsion bar test tank is described in the Hunnicutt book, and there is a web site with a lot more good pictures of the suspension (google M4E4). The project was dropped because of many failures.

I know all about the issue with the Panther wheels. I just could not resist the build. The next one will be more conventional.

BTW- Not criticizing your work, or trying to steal your thunder- I was just adding a little bit of trivia to your fine post.

YOU'VE DONE A VERY NICE JOB, INDEED!

Also, I wasn't referring to just the Panther's interleaved Suspension, specifically; my observation was a broad statement covering ALL vehicles with interleaved suspensions. In other words, any German Tank, AFV, or Half-track using this type of suspension, of which there were quite a few. I can't recall at the moment whether any other combatants used the interleaved suspension-design before, during, or after WWII...

PS- I AM going to Google the M4E4 as per your suggestion, THANKS!!!

Hi Randall!
Very nice "Wath If" project. My compliments.
I'm around with something that should be baptized as a Jagdpanzer Sherman or so. I put together a M4A3E8 Academy suspension with a Jagdpanzer IV A-0 and came across with this:
Thanks.

This is really cool! I love the "what if" modeling and what might have been! Keep up the good work!