The rest of the model wa OK and a nice build otherwise. All critic and comments are welcome! 
Hosted by Darren Baker
Italeri - M4A1
Plasticbattle
#003
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 01:13 PM UTC
Finished this today. Italeriīs M4A1 (?). Built straight from the box except for the addition of some academy stowage. this started life away back with the Sherman 76mm build, but is only seeing the light of day now! Never again will I use Italeri Tracks ... on anything. They are complete rubbish and cause more problems than they are worth. No matter how much work you do ... they still look crap! The rest of the model wa OK and a nice build otherwise. All critic and comments are welcome!
The rest of the model wa OK and a nice build otherwise. All critic and comments are welcome! 
210cav
Joined: February 05, 2002
KitMaker: 6,149 posts
Armorama: 4,573 posts
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 01:16 PM UTC
Nice job. I like the way you positioned your add-on material and the placement of the fifty is thought provoking. Well done.
DJ
DJ
Kencelot
Joined: December 27, 2001
KitMaker: 4,268 posts
Armorama: 2,804 posts
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 01:51 PM UTC
Nice build there PB! I like the color you used. What is it?
A couple of things I would like to point out. The "mount" you used for the .50cal is actually a British style antenna mount. The "L" bars that protrude from the rear of the turret were used for storing the MG, broken down of course.
On the left side I can see the Star decal pulling away from the model. Perhaps a little setting solution can remedy this. Is it possible to drill the tip of the bow MG?
And at the base of the gun barrel where it meets the mantlet, it should be raw steel. This is from the recoil of the gun.
I also like the grab/grunt rail you added. Nice work overall.
A couple of things I would like to point out. The "mount" you used for the .50cal is actually a British style antenna mount. The "L" bars that protrude from the rear of the turret were used for storing the MG, broken down of course.
On the left side I can see the Star decal pulling away from the model. Perhaps a little setting solution can remedy this. Is it possible to drill the tip of the bow MG?
And at the base of the gun barrel where it meets the mantlet, it should be raw steel. This is from the recoil of the gun.
I also like the grab/grunt rail you added. Nice work overall.
ShermiesRule
Joined: December 11, 2003
KitMaker: 5,409 posts
Armorama: 3,777 posts
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 02:17 PM UTC
What issues did you have with the track? Looks fine for rubberbands
Kencelot
Joined: December 27, 2001
KitMaker: 4,268 posts
Armorama: 2,804 posts
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 02:31 PM UTC
PB, I totally know about those kit tracks. They look good. You've done nice. 
SS-74
Joined: May 13, 2002
KitMaker: 3,271 posts
Armorama: 2,388 posts
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 07:20 PM UTC
Plastic, don't be too hard on yourself, I think it looked just fine. and I like how you do the storages and all.
scoccia
Joined: September 02, 2002
KitMaker: 2,606 posts
Armorama: 1,721 posts
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 08:45 PM UTC
That's nice Plasticbattle! I just love it. From what I can see from the pics the tracks do not look bad at all! I remember havin some poblem with the Italeri tracks on the same model as yours. The Italeri M47 and the Leopard tracks are, in my view, at quite good.
Ciao
Ciao
sgtreef
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 6,043 posts
Armorama: 4,347 posts
Posted: Monday, February 16, 2004 - 11:18 PM UTC
Nice job Plasticbattle looks good to me I agree on the Tracks but not bad for Rubber type look pretty darn good.
Hollowpoint
Joined: January 24, 2002
KitMaker: 2,748 posts
Armorama: 1,797 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 12:47 AM UTC
Quoted Text
The "mount" you used for the .50cal is actually a British style antenna mount. The "L" bars that protrude from the rear of the turret were used for storing the MG, broken down of course.
Uh, Ken, he got it right.
I don't know where you got your info, but the mount holds the MG pintle. There should be a clamp on the left L bracket to hold the front of the receiver (the part with the ventilation holes. When properly stowed, the MG barrel would be removed and fit into two clips -- one in each L bracket. This .50-cal stowage is a carry-over from the same arrangement on the back of many 75mm gun turrets.
The thing that IS a British-style antenna mount is the cone-shaped thing sticking up behind the commander's hatch. This mount is incorrect for a U.S. vehicle -- it should be a spring-type antenna mount.
PB -- Nice job out of the box! I know what you mean about those stiff tracks -- they were a little better in the older kits.
210cav
Joined: February 05, 2002
KitMaker: 6,149 posts
Armorama: 4,573 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 01:12 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextThe "mount" you used for the .50cal is actually a British style antenna mount. The "L" bars that protrude from the rear of the turret were used for storing the MG, broken down of course.
Uh, Ken, he got it right.
I don't know where you got your info, but the mount holds the MG pintle. There should be a clamp on the left L bracket to hold the front of the receiver (the part with the ventilation holes. When properly stowed, the MG barrel would be removed and fit into two clips -- one in each L bracket. This .50-cal stowage is a carry-over from the same arrangement on the back of many 75mm gun turrets.
The thing that IS a British-style antenna mount is the cone-shaped thing sticking up behind the commander's hatch. This mount is incorrect for a U.S. vehicle -- it should be a spring-type antenna mount.
PB -- Nice job out of the box! I know what you mean about those stiff tracks -- they were a little better in the older kits.
Bob-- as always, I appreciate you restoring my confidence in my hip shot responses.
thanks
DJ
Kencelot
Joined: December 27, 2001
KitMaker: 4,268 posts
Armorama: 2,804 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 01:43 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Uh, Ken, he got it right.
I don't know where you got your info, but the mount holds the MG pintle. There should be a clamp on the left L bracket to hold the front of the receiver (the part with the ventilation holes. When properly stowed, the MG barrel would be removed and fit into two clips -- one in each L bracket. This .50-cal stowage is a carry-over from the same arrangement on the back of many 75mm gun turrets.
The thing that IS a British-style antenna mount is the cone-shaped thing sticking up behind the commander's hatch. This mount is incorrect for a U.S. vehicle -- it should be a spring-type antenna mount.
Man, I better stop drinking...
thebear
Joined: November 15, 2002
KitMaker: 3,960 posts
Armorama: 3,579 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 05:55 AM UTC
Nice build on this old Sherman kit ....other than the british antennae and the other comments...,a few things I noticed were the pistol port could have used a bit more putty to blend it into the turret side and the stowage on the back ...well this isn't easy to make look right but when tying down equipement on the back anything that is soft like rolls and sleeping bags should have the rope dug into it to show it is tied tightly ...A couple of swipes with a good file and a bit of putty will help .
Good job on the color ...what OD did you use?? A little trick I use when doing OD vehicles is if I have equipement like the helmets I vary the tone a bit to create contrasts..(just a tip )
Rick
Good job on the color ...what OD did you use?? A little trick I use when doing OD vehicles is if I have equipement like the helmets I vary the tone a bit to create contrasts..(just a tip )
Rick
TreadHead
Joined: January 12, 2002
KitMaker: 5,000 posts
Armorama: 2,868 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 06:48 AM UTC
Howdy PB,
I think you've done a dandy job of it mate! The overall finish (colour) is great. But I'd scuff it up a bit, around some of the obvious places, plus the headlight guards, tow cable ends, drive sprocket teeth, etc. And since I believe (let's see what Hollowpoint says
) the most common route into the tank was right up the front across the trans cover and glacis plate, unless your crew has WW II era anti-gravity boots I'd think about some 'wear& tear' along that route (looking for obvious foot/hand holds).
I also noticed the (bow) MG right off. But that shouldn't be too hard to correct.
Oh, and 'thebear' makes some very good points. I see a lot of stowage portrayed with the tie-down rope looking more like lay-over rope! Since the rope is usually cinched nice and tight, as thebear said, it should 'dig' into soft stowage, and be almost drum tight across 'open' spce between bundles. Colour diversity is also important. Subtle mixes of colour difference between bed rolls, knapsacks, etc is a very good point. Same goes for the Gerry cans. The only time I've ever seen Gerry cans the exact same colour was in a parade. Most times they're almost completely different colours to easily identify what it contains at a glance.
Oh, and that rear .50 cal British MG mount .................nah, won't touch that! #:-)
Just kidding PB......really nice job. I really like your hand-applied decals, and art work!
Tread.
I think you've done a dandy job of it mate! The overall finish (colour) is great. But I'd scuff it up a bit, around some of the obvious places, plus the headlight guards, tow cable ends, drive sprocket teeth, etc. And since I believe (let's see what Hollowpoint says
) the most common route into the tank was right up the front across the trans cover and glacis plate, unless your crew has WW II era anti-gravity boots I'd think about some 'wear& tear' along that route (looking for obvious foot/hand holds).I also noticed the (bow) MG right off. But that shouldn't be too hard to correct.
Oh, and 'thebear' makes some very good points. I see a lot of stowage portrayed with the tie-down rope looking more like lay-over rope!
Since the rope is usually cinched nice and tight, as thebear said, it should 'dig' into soft stowage, and be almost drum tight across 'open' spce between bundles. Colour diversity is also important. Subtle mixes of colour difference between bed rolls, knapsacks, etc is a very good point. Same goes for the Gerry cans. The only time I've ever seen Gerry cans the exact same colour was in a parade. Most times they're almost completely different colours to easily identify what it contains at a glance.Oh, and that rear .50 cal British MG mount .................nah, won't touch that!
#:-) Just kidding PB......really nice job. I really like your hand-applied decals, and art work!
Tread.
Ranger74
Joined: April 04, 2002
KitMaker: 1,290 posts
Armorama: 658 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 08:55 AM UTC
PB,
I congratulate you on completing the kit. All I have finished are the suspension bogies
You have made a possible tactical error in the placement of the crew gear hanging from the hatch hinge on the commander's cupola. The cupola was designed to rotate. I verifiied it in my Hunnicutt book, just to be sure, before opening my mouth and inserting foot. It will not be able to rotate with the gear hanging from the hinge.
Again, congrats on completing a good looking M4A1
Jeff
I congratulate you on completing the kit. All I have finished are the suspension bogies
You have made a possible tactical error in the placement of the crew gear hanging from the hatch hinge on the commander's cupola. The cupola was designed to rotate. I verifiied it in my Hunnicutt book, just to be sure, before opening my mouth and inserting foot. It will not be able to rotate with the gear hanging from the hinge.
Again, congrats on completing a good looking M4A1
Jeff
csch
Joined: December 27, 2002
KitMaker: 1,941 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 09:20 AM UTC
Very nice job PB. The tracks looks very good. I know what your talking about because I also hate them.
What paint did you use for the olive drab ?
Just two little coments:
The antena mount you are using is the british one, you can easily replace it with a little piece of brass tubbing, this is not the ideal but it helps.
May be itīs necesary a little sanding in the seam of the base of the turret, or are simulating a welded joint ?
Very nice job.
Iīm working in the same kit, my second Italeri M4A1, I like them (not the tracks).
What paint did you use for the olive drab ?
Just two little coments:
The antena mount you are using is the british one, you can easily replace it with a little piece of brass tubbing, this is not the ideal but it helps.
May be itīs necesary a little sanding in the seam of the base of the turret, or are simulating a welded joint ?
Very nice job.
Iīm working in the same kit, my second Italeri M4A1, I like them (not the tracks).
JimF
Joined: July 05, 2002
KitMaker: 717 posts
Armorama: 621 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 10:16 AM UTC
Nice job, PB. I have one of these going, but I was spared the problem of the tracks by one of my cats -- he managed to chew one of the ends off one of the treads so I got out one my sets of AFV tracks. I have saved the chewed-up track for any future occasion when I need some pre-damaged parts. I would be extremely happy if mine looks a fraction as good as yours does, if and when it gets built up enough and run though the paint shop, etc. Thanks for sharing yours! 
ambrose82
Joined: November 15, 2003
KitMaker: 249 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 12:00 PM UTC
Wow! A lot of people here have this kit currently in production. I'm another. I'm still working on adding texture to the hull and have not even got to the tracks. But I'm sure I'll hate them as well . I really like the look of the finished product and it gives me hope. The info about the British antenna helps too. Thanks all!
I do have one question on this... When British tankers mounted boxes to the back of their tanks they would have had to remove this thing right?
Also, what technique did you use for the weld seam. It looks great!
. I really like the look of the finished product and it gives me hope. The info about the British antenna helps too. Thanks all! I do have one question on this... When British tankers mounted boxes to the back of their tanks they would have had to remove this thing right?
Also, what technique did you use for the weld seam. It looks great!
thebear
Joined: November 15, 2002
KitMaker: 3,960 posts
Armorama: 3,579 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 12:35 PM UTC
I must say that I have never seen a stowage box added to the back of a T23 turret ..if you are doing a british version ..I'd use more of the wide long one seen on the fireflies hull,but I must admit I haven't seen that either....
Rick
Rick
barron
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 666 posts
Armorama: 598 posts
Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 01:35 PM UTC
I think that you did an outstanding job on the model. I built one of these 18 years ago so I know how the model builds. Keep up the good work.
greatbrit
Joined: May 14, 2003
KitMaker: 2,127 posts
Armorama: 1,217 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 02:57 AM UTC
ambrose,
whilst im not sure about that version in particular, as we didnt use many of them,
almost all stowage boxes you see on ww2 shots are welded on. you will see almost any kind of british or US stowage or ammo box welded onto the vehicles often on the glasis or rear plate.
that means the brackets would have to be removed to weld the boxes on
cheers
joe
whilst im not sure about that version in particular, as we didnt use many of them,
almost all stowage boxes you see on ww2 shots are welded on. you will see almost any kind of british or US stowage or ammo box welded onto the vehicles often on the glasis or rear plate.
that means the brackets would have to be removed to weld the boxes on
cheers
joe
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 04:13 AM UTC
Nice job, I still think of the Italeri M4A1 as my favorite Sherman tank kit. Nicely done. I am impressed that you were able to deal with the stiff "Hersey Bar" tracks and make them look as good as you have. You may spur me on to build my Italeri Sherman kit.
ShermiesRule
Joined: December 11, 2003
KitMaker: 5,409 posts
Armorama: 3,777 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 04:25 AM UTC
I am still unclear on the issues with the suspension. It looks good to me but that's perhaps the results of your fine effort to make them realistic
SFC_StJohn
Joined: January 03, 2004
KitMaker: 128 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 04:34 AM UTC
This looks absolutely fantastic. I love the paint job & detailing. The only thing that I have to say about the machine gun mount is that I'd hate to be the guy operating the .50 cal under fire...
GREAT JOB!
GREAT JOB!
ambrose82
Joined: November 15, 2003
KitMaker: 249 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 04:36 AM UTC
I don't mean to hijack the thread with regard to the British Sherman IIA's. There were a number of them (not a big number by any means) used by the 10th Royal Hussars (PWO) in Italy. I saw an illustration of one in "Sherman Tanks in British Service" and it had camo hooks welded onto the hull and turret and the stowage box welded on the back of the turret between the L brackets. I'm speculating they would have to have removed the MG mount in order to properly fit the stowage box. Any other ideas? There are very few (read: No) references for this particular tank in British service, so it's difficult to say with any certainty how any of this was done... I guess that should make my burden lighter as nobody will be able to really challenge what I do with it , but I'd much prefer it to be accurate.
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