I fell in love with the profile of the Sherman Calliope after seeing a documentary of them last night.

Is there a kit on the market which builds in to a nice 1/35 kit of this beast?

The only one I know of off hand is by Italrei (kit # 288) which, unfortunetly is out-of-production. I saw one listed on ebay a few back...maybe.

Well, Sir, I checked my supply cabinet and there she sits Italeri Model 288. Calliope (look that one up in the dictionary) I recalll that VLS had an aftermarket for her. My assumption is that it is no longer available. I have the Osprey Sherman Book which has a mouth watering description of a completed model. Beautiful workmanship.....ah, to dream of replicating it!
DJ

Tnx DJ,

That helps now I even want to build one for sure.

#:-) #:-)

Ronny--get a copy of the Osprey Book. Has some marvelous Sherman models.
DJ

The problem (IIRC) wih Verlinden was that when mounted it was very top heavy. Obviously because it was made of a large hunk of resin. I've heard tales of the launcher breaking off the tank because of the weight.

Didn't Monogram reissue their 32nd scale version awhile back? I think it was about the same time I picked up the Panzerspahwagen........I had one half done, but think I lost it in the move....DANG!

I think so. I saw this kit at my local hobby shop a while back. I didn't get it for two reasons: 1)It wasn't the same scale as the rest of my armor models. And - 2)I didn't have enough cash for it... Ah, the missed oppurtunities.
I know now that there probably isn't a huge difference between 1/32 and 1/35, so it wouldn't have mattered. Would've been a pretty cool looking model!
The lesson here: If you see it, buy it!

YodaMan

Yes, Squadron Mail Order clearanced them out at $9.99 in the summer of 2000. I bought one to go with my Monogram M4 Sherman Hedgehog. I was surprised to see that the basic Sherman tank underneath was a different variant than the M4A1 of the Calliope. They boxed it as the "Screamin Mimi".

[quote][quote]Didn't Monogram reissue their 32nd scale version awhile back?


Rob--did you build the Monogram Screm Mini? I am curious as to how to she looks. According to the description and photos in the Osprey Book., the Calliope has a series of wires running from the back of each rocket cylinder into the turret. I am going to have to run that one to ground and see who had them in the ETO. Interetsing concept, but my bet is that it was wildly inaccurate.
DJ

Oh, the Calliope -- one of the favorites in my Sherman collection.

The Italeri kit may be out of production, but it can still be found in swap meets, etc. In your search, don't forget that Testors re-boxed many of Italeri's kits, including the Calliope. Also, many folks bought the kit just to build the M4A3 and didn't use the rocket launcher. You can pretty much put the launcher on any 75mm gunned Sherman in service in the ETO and be correct.

A couple good references are Concord's "M4 Sherman at War: The European Theater 1942-1945" and Squadron's old "D-Day to Berlin." Both books include several photos of Calliopes in action. Zaloga's Concord book also has a couple color plates, including one of "Cold Storage" of B Co., 714th Tank Bn., 12th Armored Division. Markings for "Cold Storage" come in the kit and the Squadron book has a full-page photo of the tank.

There is no reason to replace the kit's rocket launcher with Verlinden's kit. The Italeri launcher just needs a little TLC -- careful use of glue, careful alignmentr, a bit of fine sanding and it builds up fine. The M4A3 hull needs all the fixes required for any Italeri (and later Dragon/DML) M4A3 hull, including fixing the weld beads, moving the front lift eyes in-board, adding the support blocks for the engne hatches, etc., to make a proper mid-production wet-stowage hull. Modeling "Cold Storage" was fun, with a few extras added to make it match the photo references. The trickiest part is moving and modifying the elevation rod that attaches to the 75mm gun -- on this tank and many others it was repositioned to attach to the gun shield so the main gun could be fired with the rocket launcher in place.

Don't expect to find a crystal-clear photo of the wiring for the rockets. I searched and ended up making an educated guess. It looked to me like the loader's periscope was removed and the wires run into the turret there.

Hope all this info helps,

Bob--very nice run down. You got me all fired up. Probably by December of next year I'll get to it. However, your note will certainly assist. Do you have a photo of your complete model?
thanks
DJ

I built the old Monogram many years ago and remember that the rocket launcher was rather crudely done. I also remember it was quite heavy and kept the gun tube drooping to max depression until I finally glued it into place. Very basic kit, just mount the launcher on top of the turret.

210CAV piqued my interest in what a Calliope is:
"The Greek Muse of heroic poetry," OR "a keyboard musical instrument resembling an organ and consisting of a series of whistles sounded by steam or compressed air."
Man, I'm a dork.

Nate
Wisc. USA

Nate--well done. I had to look up "piqued."
DJ
Wow! You must have done well on your SAT verbals.

I think your best bet is the Italeri kit and see if there is some sort of Eduard PE (or any PE set) set for the rocket launcher. I'd get some good photos of the back end and the mounting arms for the launcher. Supposedly, the launcher is "jettisonable" {to get rid of as superfluous or encumbering} so the tank can engage in tank-to-tank combat without being "emcumbered" {to impede or hamper the function or activity of : hinder} by the launcher.

Looked up the tough {difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with} words for you guys.

Rob: It is clear that you attened a school with much higer standards than my alma matter (how do you spell that word? I'm not looking it up) of Mankato State University.....

DJ: Ain't it grand when an M-4 Sherman can teach us new words....

Nate (a mass communications major)
Wisc. USA

This popped up after reading this thread:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?set_albumName=album55&id=aae&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

What kid (or aging model builder) could pass up a chance at that....

Nate

Yes, in the site's infancy I posted some boxtop photos of the Screamin Mimi, Hedge Hog, and the first M1 kit available from Tamiya. I think I posted some pictures of the Shep Paine diorama inserts too.

P.S. growing up in New England requires one to be properly schooled in English grammar.

You guys are embarassing me with your command of the English language. Impressive display of literary talent. I am perplexed by other challenges. If I can just figure out how to take a photo of the M4 USMC Sherman I will be a happy trooper. I can not figure out to position the Eduard front fenders. Everytime I super glue them into position they fall right off. Leads me to another point on PE parts in general. As Rob stated the Eduard PE add something that the injection mold never conveys.. Against all logic (valid reasoning) and previous experience, I bought the set for this Sherman. The .50 cal PE is superb. Wow! The remainder has numerous parts that you have to say "why would I do that?" The PE is more expensive than the model. So, if you are contemplating (to look at, ponder, or consider) Eduard PE ask some folks how many parts do you really put on the vehicle. If someone can advise me on the fender, I'd appreciate it.
DJ
Ps--I typed this slowly so any of the infantry guys can read it.

DJ:

One of these days I'll have to borrow the digital from work and spend an afternoon snapping pics of my models -- especially the Shermans. Then I'll have to figure out how to post them ... maybe I should print out Jim's instructions. Perhaps I can start my own little Sherm gallery here on Armorama.

I just finished my Dragon T26E3 and have a few in-progress digital snaps of it on the 'puter at work. Maybe I should send a few to Jim and he can see if they are usable. I can adjust fire from there.

Right now I'm working on a bunch of figures: a crew for the Pershing and another crew for my unfinished Firefly. Gotta paint those figures while I'm still in the mood

Hey Nate! Mass communications at Mankato State, eh? I used my GI Bill to get me one a dem dare journalism degrees at UW-Oshkosh, you know dare, eh. (I may not live in Wisconsin anymore, but I can still speak the language. Oofda, I even know a bit of Minnesotan.) #:-)

Bob--ditto on the photos. I will borrow the camera and shoot something to post.
DJ

The monogram kit was the first armour kit i built!! Brings back memories.

Revell has released a copy of the old Italeri kit.

http://www.revell.de/en/products/model_kits/model_kits/military_figures/?id=204&KOKANR=01&KOSCHL=07&KGSCHL=02&L=1&page=5&sort=0&nc=1&searchactive=&q=&SWO=&ARMAS4=&PHPSESSID=faf444523bfc6c4235830cdfa6464762&KZSLPG=0701&offset=35&cmd=show&ARARTN=03074&sp=1e

I just got mine free of charge for subscribing to Miitary modelling int.

John

Revell has just re-released the Italeri Calliope in Europe.
HTH

Hi
I've just bought the revell 1/35th Kit.
It's a nice looking kit havn't started to build it yet so cant say much more.
Its always on ebay lately.