On another normally good site I've found a reference to a Sherman IIc. This would make it a 17pdr armed M4A1, but there are no pics or any records that I can find to prove that this version was built, even as a trial.
Can anyone enlighten me further on this please?

It would certainly make a good subject for a backwards conversion I have in hand from an M51(left over from my Sherman IIIAY conversion).

Dave,
the only "IIC" that anyone can prove existed is a Grizzly (Canadian Manufactured M4A1) with CDP track and drive sprocket along with a Firefly turret on it. It lives at Canadain Forces Base Borden here in Canada. IT is believed that the turret was one of Two sent to Canada during the war for trials to see what Hulls could be used for the conversion. According to Mark Hayward in his book "Firefly" it was recently opened up and inside they found that it did have Firefly stowage. It is believed that this tank was used as the evaluation vehicle to find out if it was feasible. THere are NO reported Sherman IIC's in combat . Many IC hybrids have been mislabled as IIC's but to this day none have been proved. Also NO supporting documentaion exists. So I guess this model you have seen is in fact a "what if" or "paper Panzer" . HTH
cheers,
Bryan
P.S Dave can you give us a link to this interesting model. thanks

Here's the link to the reference:

http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/unitedkingdom/sherman.html

The reference to being used in Normandy is obviously incorrect as I'd have known about this before now!

Bryan, it wasn't a model that I saw, just the reference.

Just worked out that I couldn't build one anyway - my spare 75mm turret is the late type with cupola and built in cheek armour, plus dumbo here had totally forgotten that the Academy M51 hull is the late 'large hatch' type. Guess the thought of building another tank with the spare Dragon 17pdr barrel in my spares box was just too tempting!

Lesson: engage brain before posting on the forum!

Just in case any else is interested in this, I've found a document relating to the conversion of "17pdr armed Shermans" for US trials. The M4A1 was discarded for this conversion due to the cast hull having 'infererior interior space' to the welded hull versions.

So if any existed, then as Bryan stated they were for trials only.

Dave,
here is alink to a site that has info about US trials with the 17lb sherman...
hope it helps
MC

http://freespace.virgin.net/shermanic.firefly/usnew.html

Thanks for the link MC, that was the document that I got the last bit of info from!
What a subject for a model - M4A3 17lber in US colours - bet you'd get a lot of people shoot you down for building it!

Doh!




Go on. Go on Go on Go on Go on...
It's agotta be the one version that nobody's done yet!
(Ha! Never say never!)
MC