Guys--great material. I appreciate your assistance and will let you know how she goes. I placed the side boards on last night and have it drying. Going to grab the camera from work and take a few shots for posting.
thanks again
DJ

ABSOLUTELY ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Like Jeff say's ..........." get this book " ( ISBN # 1 84176 450 7 ).
I have this book also, and it contains some great historical info, and guide lines
to building the 3 different PTO Marine Battalion M4 variants plus other versions of the
Sherman including the M4A3 Calliope, M4A4 Firefly, M4A1, T1E3 Sherman Mineroller, "walk-arounds " and "scale drawing's ".
................and also historical info and assembly guides on the German Tiger I ( mid & late version's ) from sPz.Abt 507 & 508 ........and the Sturmtiger .
These have "walk-around's " & "scale drawing's " also, and info on marking's & camouflage.

- ralph

Ralph--thank you for the information. I just ordered the book.
thanks again
DJ

DJ - upload photo's if you can when your finished with
your project - I know everyone would like to see it !
I give you alot of credit ...........you certainly took on a challenge
in a tank that recquire's alot of work - ALL THE BEST TO YOU !
Jeff really deserves the thanks. If it wasn't for his reply, I wouldn't
have given thought to adding to his recommendation.

- ralph

I must add my two cents on the Osprey modeling manual. Good book overall, but beware the section on the M4A4 Firefly. Yes, the model looks nice but in a word it is wrong. The guy used an M4 upper hull and lengthened the lower hull to sace out the bogies. While this makes the suspension look right, the upper hull is then too short. Take a close look at pictures of the M4A4 and the M4/M4 Hybrid from the rear or side. The M4A4 has a longer upper hull and a different rear plate, and the difference isn't hard to discern. Like i said, a very pretty model but to follow this fellow's approach to the hull isn't the right thing to do. Get the DML #6121 kit and fix the hull.

That said, the stuff on USMC Shermans is awesome, except perhaps for the very English use of paper cardstock for the wading trunk and not .020 styrene. Those Brits; they seem to love paper!

The rest of the book is great inspiration, and even with errors it is well worth having.

Greg

DJ,

Have you seen the concret used to cover the glacis on certain vehicles yet? Very interesting.

I hope you get some photos that show the dirt, snad, etc that was used between the planks and the hull.

Oh, I think the magnetic mine was a Type 99.

Steve

Steve---I secured the planking to the side of the vehicle last night. I love it. Should have left more space between it and the tank's side to simulated the area for cement. Live and learn. I am not mounting the headlights since most of the references indicate they were not mounted. I will paint her in the 4th Tank Battalion scheme as shown in the Osprey book. More to follow...
DJ