I have a Operation Cobra 3rd division m4a1 76w that I've had on the shelf. I notice its M1A1C gun has deformed at the muzzle from the glue I used. I have an aluminum turned M1A1 barrel, no muzzle threads or cap and was wondering if this could be an accurate gun (replacement)for this particular tank or if I should repair the original capped barrel?

tia.

Early M4A1 76 gun tanks are tricky. Using the un-threaded barrel means the tank will have specific details. I have the kit and it comes with an un-threaded metal barrel, as did many of the Cobra M4A1's.

This is a great source for M4 information:

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/manufacturer/m4a1largehatches/m4a1_largehatches.html

For a generic M4A1 76mm tank you will need the threaded barrel with the thread protector installed.

Thanks for the info. The link is especially helpful.

The vehicles deployed on Op Cobra included the very earliest 76mm tanks, shipped over to the UK in a hurry before D Day but not deployed because of the need for re-training too close to the operation.

The large loader's hatch with the smooth-ended gun are most likely on those very early vehicles. But less of those barrels were made than large-hatch turrets, so many (most?) large-hatch tanks had the barrel with the thread protector. Small-hatch turrets would certainly have had the threaded barrel.

Going off on a tangent, if you used the Dragon Op Cobra kit then it shouldn't have the rear turret wall ventilator installed - too late to change it if already built. Dragon goofed that: the first 300 or so turrets used on A1s didn't have it. Any large-hatch A1 with a smooth-ended gun would be missing the ventilator.

I noticed that about the turret ventilator, I have the old Italeri kit and have already built. The ventilator is there.

Plus an Infantry phone which I think doesn't belong.

So just to confirm I have the large turret hatches and they are reversed (left and right) A capped barrel (I fixed with filler) and the applique armor welded on the glacis. I know now that I screwed up by using a mixture of open spoke, stamped, and dished road wheels.