Hey Guys,
I have quick question do the Tamiya Shermans really need the sponsons available from Formations or scratch built ones?I talked to Jon Tamkin from Mission Models and he said its not really need unless you have the hatches openand the tracks will cover them up any way.So I want to ask for some more opinions.Also those of you ahve purchased from Formations how fast do they get your order out to you.I live In Los Angeles.]

Thanx
Aj

Hi Jackalone,

Its not absolutely necessary unless your going to have hatches open, in which case you'll see the track tops, also if you're fiting sand shields this will also help to hide the gap.

But otherwise the gap is obvious especially if you're looking at the model at eye level or simulated ground level.

You could simply display your model on the lower shelves of your cabinet or display case so that your looking down at it

Formations are pretty quick, I live in the UK and my first order was received about 7/10 days after placing it online.

Happy modelling
ant

Archer Fine Transfers has a free, downloadable Tamiya sponson template on their website. All it takes is to have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer (most folks have this) and a piece of sheet styrene. Click here: Sherman Fix.

Not really - there are a number of kits that have open sponsons - usually a strip of 10mm wide plasticard cut off a larger sheet 'covers' the problem nicely. A mix of model rail turf and an acrylic brown like Humbrol 5029 makes a good way to cover the joins where the plasticard is glued on.

I just added a picture to my gallery of my Tamiya Sherman with sponsons filled in by styrene sheets cut from this template: http://www.archertransfers.com/WEB%20pictures/ShermanFix.pdf

Here's the pic:


It was very easy. I don't think the template was really all that necessary, but it was nice to have just to get started

If you don't have the hatches open, especially the driver's hatch, you probably don't need to do this. However, when you do have the hatches open and nothing blocking off the sponsons, you'll get this:



You can see the desktop and tread right through the tank. It may be in the gray area between gotta-fix and nitpicky, but it's really not hard to do with scrap material you might already have lying around the house.

Jackalone:

Whether or not you block the sponsons is a matter of detail.

I'm happy to block them with sheet styrene (had my own template long before Archer -- most old Shermaholics do). Those Formations parts are very nicely detailed, but if you are building pretty much out of the box, they are a waste of money -- why add a largely un-viewable detail part to a box-stock vehicle?

If, on the other hand, you are going full detail with PE, adding the turret bulge, aftermarket barrel, link tracks, etc, it may be worth it to add those aftermarket sponsons.

If you plan on entering the model in a contest, cover the sponsons. Open sponson tanks do not win medals -- judges look at models from table-level and will surely notice that you have not made this easy fix.

Thanx for the replys.
First I like my models to be top notch, I do add after market products.I am building the M4A3 75mm Tamiya tank( I should say I am going to).I have the tank of course the barrel is from fine molds,tracks fruil T-48 rubber chevron and just waiting to get the PE and the sponsons now.

Hollowpoint-what did you mean by turret bulge? I have only built one Sherman (Italeri's M4A1 76mm OOB)after that I was stuck on Allied tanks.So bare with me for the already answered questions.

Everybody-so the Sponson template from Archer is scaled to 1/35 scale .So its pretty easy to use then right.


Thanx again

Here you go: http://www.usarmymodels.com/ARTICLES/Sherman%20Corner/turretcheekarmor.jpg




Yeah it's good. Cut the piece a tad large and sand it down to fit.

If you really want to do a super job on you M4A3 wait a little bit because Formations is supposed to be working on an update kit ...might be worth the wait ...I just received my order last week and I must say the service was first rate and from what I have test fitted so far ..his stuff fits better than alot of plastic kits...I'm amazed!! Can you tell I will be buying more of his stuff!

Rick