I would like to build an M51 in service with Chile in the 1980`s shortly after delivery and before the engine update in the 1990`s were done. I was able to found a few pictures of this vehicle with the green, sand and black camo which I`ll build.





My idea is to start with the Tamiya kit and the Legend Update set 1251 but without the searchlight over the main gun.
Any ideas if I need something else for a proper model? Does someone have more pictures of the Chilean M51 during the 80`s? Any color suggestion for the camo?

TIA
Igor

Did you see this build ? Even though it's a Continental Diesel-converted M51, it may help with your project...

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/222241&ord=&page=1

H.P.

I might have some. Will check when back home...

Hello Igor;

Below are a few photos of a pre-modified Chilean M51. I got these from a locale Shermanholic.







Hope these help out with your build.

The vehicle in the last pic is a M32(B1?),not a M51.

Color and camouflage example as it's painted in the same colors as the M51 but in obviously better light.

Notice the mix of road wheel types and that the hull between the bogies appears not to have been repainted and may even be original postwar olive drab. So the bottom hull behind the bogies on the M51 could still be the original Israeli color.

And in that first picture that Chaffee still has the World War 2 steel track! I thought that disappeared after Korea. Wow. The old stuff that is out there never ceases to amaze.

Yes that is correct. I was assuming that everyone would understand that and that I didn't need to state that the last picture was in fact M32....sorry for the confusion.

Here"s the completed M51 as mentioned above. An earlier version would be an easier build. The exhaust shield was fun to make. Had to scratch from brass sheet and individually drill each hole!!! There was a full feature in SMMI a while back - Sept '14 IIRC.

Gary

http://plasticarmour.com/sherman-m51.html

Link might help

@ H.P. and Gary:
Yes I already saw these modified M51. From there a got the idea doing a early version.

@ Eric:
Your pictures will help for sure! This is what I was looking for. So the Tamiya kit with the legend set 1251 should be a good start. Star decals has a set for chilean AMX-30 so I going to partly use it and color info is included.

Thank you very much!
What a helpfull community

Good luck with the build. Look forward to seeing pics at some stage.

Gary

You might be interested in this set of decals from AK Interactive

SOUTH AMERICAN TANKS AND AFVS CHILE, PARAGUAY AND CUBA

Not M51's, but 60mm HVMS equipped ex-Israeli M50's.

M51's in sand camouflage.

The Reich strikes back: ex-Israeli-ex-Chilean M51 in Wehrmacht service...

You have no idea how close you are. Did you know that someone in the Argentine armor corps translated the Panzerwagenleid into Spanish and did a recruiting video? South American tankers all secretly dream of being in the Panzer waffe.

Do you mean the Panzerlied? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPzTGx96P6U

How unimaginative Girls und Panzer is so much better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9c8C2K-TtE

And far worse the Chilean army itself uses the Panzerlied themselves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RJjBGa_2bU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltmuarE-wY0

The second video has the Panzerlied played for a solid nine minutes as Chilean armor rolls by Marders, Leopards and M109.

:D

Don't know if he still has the gun available, but Greg Buechler did have the 60mm HVMS turned aluminum barrel made, of which I have one. He also produced a very nice resin kit for the modified engine deck on the Chilean M51 Sherman (also in the stash). Depending on availability Bison/Star Decals have South American decal sets for numerous South American countries that used the Sherman, M41 and M24.