I would like to know if the engine deck from the Tamiya Sherman (Early) kit can be swapped with the engine deck from the Italeri US Marines kit in order to accept the wading trunks from the Italeri kit?
Also, can or do I need to swap the rear plates, again in order to accept Italeri's wading trunk? Or is there a way I can modify the trunk to the Tamiya kit?
TIA

Since the Italeri engine decks are for the M4A2 and M4A3 you really couldn't just swap the deck. You need to adapt the intake to the existing M4 engine deck. You would just end up with another M4A2 or M4A3 instead of an M4.

The exhaust truck from the Italeri is meant for an A3 exhaust congifuration. You could simply use sheet plastic to make sure the rear truck fitted snug up to the rear wall.

I have never seen it in person but TWS is supposed to sell a wader set for the M4. No need to convert and scratch the Italeri set.

I was just about to post a never-mind to the above post when I realized that it is an A2 deck. Dohh! my brain hurts today.
Hmm, I certainly do not want to purchase another kit for this particluar tank I'm building. Any chance that anyone has picture of the M4's engine and rear plate with the wading trunks mounted?

Ohh, thanks for the reply Shermies!

Ken check your PM I have some pics of the engine deck,but poor ones of the rear hull exhaust area

Ken:

If you want to do an A2, the whole rear end is different. I guess I'm a little confused about what you want and where (what theater) you want it.

I don't have the Italeri kit, but from what I understand, if you put the wading stacks on, it makes a pretty good M4A2 with wading trunks -- it covers up most of the M4A3-style rear end.

I gotta get this kit just to see what can be made from what. Then I'll probably part it out to two or three projects. #:-)

Hey Bob, believe me, I'm confused too. And all by my own doing. It's been a very long weekend.
What I'm after is an M4 Sherman on D-Day with the wading gear. I'm using the Tamiya Early kit as the base and have the Italeri kit to steal the wading trunks from.
I figured out how to mount the upper deck trunk but, am still looking for some more close-ups of the rear trunk. The Italeri kit's rear trunk is molded for an A2 or A3 rear plate. Since the M4 used the early, Italeri's trunk needs to be modified.
I'm almost there.

Maybe you could have the arse -end still sumerged as a last resort... Maybe?

I thought about that but, the water itself would produce a whole new set of problems.
I've never worked with making water before and just don't have the time now. Thanks for idea though.

OK, Ken. Now I see what you are up to.

With all your links and pics, you can't find a pic of the rear end of a D-Day Sherman? Don't forget that the M4A1 would have the exact same arrangement because it has the same engine, exhaust, etc., as the M4. This page might help: http://www.britannica.com/normandy/week3/onormay238a4.html

I would think that the rear end would be relatively easy. Basically, the shroud should be full width to the lower rear hull, joining the lower hull somewhere above the idler mounts. You might have to do a bit of back engineering from photos of tanks missing the upper stack, but still carrying the lower part on the rear end.

OOOOOOh, Ken ... check this out over on Missing Links!

http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/usa/ddaysherman_cheehongahn.html