Hi folks.
The idea for this had come from a photo of a bogged Sherman I had viewed recently, and the fact that I can't recall having seen anything similar been constructed. (Maybe a bogged M4 on Omaha beach only)
Excuse the 2 min. sketch, but I think it lays out how basic I want this to appear, but not any less real than it would have been. Want the turret set on the accute traverse to accentuate the predicament it's in (ie. the gun barrel will be pointing downward to the grass.) figure on having the crew on the bogged side, hands on hips, resting etc. as this will be a recent bogging down in the soaked field. They have exhausted all attempts themselves to get their tank out, and are possibly waiting for a recovery vehicle...
There will be a lot of grassed area at the front and sides, and maybe the growth at the left of the tank could be small evergreens? Any input or ideas heartily welcomed

How about having some logs under the tracks where they tried to unditch they tank?

Quite possibly a stoopid question Alan, but you would position them parallel with the tank, wedged under the front tracks? Or rear if possible?
Brad

Well you can jam short logs under the front of the track, along the same direction as the tracks. It's is attempt to let the tank drive up onto the wood and out of the mud.

You can also put a log that is long enough to go under both tracks. That would be perpendicular to the track.

If I understand your description you are going to really bog down one side more than the other so that the gun can be depressed enough to touch the ground. Therefore I would suggest the short log on the deep side as an attempt to let that side ride up the log and out of the mud.

Nice idea. For some reason, your sketch reminded me of some actual WWII footage i saw the other day when they were showing how General Patton tank division raced to Bastogne to join up with the 101st Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge. In the doco there were alot of scenes showing the M4s racing through on dirt tracks like the one you sketched. Where im going with this is perhaps you could have another M4 infront trying to tow the bogged down M4 out of the ditch? During the war, tanks typically move in divisions so its unlikely that a single one would be stranded without another one nearby.

Another addition would be armed figures guarding the area during the recovery operation. Thats assuming if you are trying to portray this on hostile ground or not.

Resins would certainly help you in getting the watery effect on the base.

nice idea, the drawing's fine.
Is there a reason the ground is soft? Is it a creek bed, or is it a very well used path suffering from lots of rain?

Open space, the bottom two corners need attention, bushes, infantry, un-ditching gear, a curious squirrel.

All good ideas thanks lads. Here is the pic from Zalogas' The Sherman at War pt 2 which
I want to base my dio on. It appears to be a grassy field after heavy rains, and although there is a recovery vehicle shown I want to portray the M4 as only just having been bogged... Maybe one of the crew untying the shovel?
What Jazza touched on re M4s travelling together, would it be so if it was from a tank battalion supporting infantry?
Like the idea of some doughboys covering the area if hostile...
Thanks

I like the idea i think you're on a good direction there!

keep it going and keep us updated

Mirko

Plan ahead how much you want to bury it into mud. The reason I say this is because, in a sort of obvious statement, the more you show of the Sherman, the more work you would need to do to the tracks, suspension, etc. The way I see it you can do on of two things, both with advantages and disadvantages.

The first is that you could essentally cut the bottom of the Sherman off. This would allow for a smaller, flatter dio. However, it really limits how much you show of the Sherman.

Second option would be to basically make a "grave" to fit a fully complete Sherman and "bury" it as necessary. The problem with this is that the dio would be bulky, as you would have a deep "block" of mud with the sherman essentially poking out the top.

It is a great idea with different approaches. I definitely think you are able to do it.

So keep us updated.

Jeff

It appears from the photo that the tank went off-road possibly crossing a farmers field. You could add fencing post or two. You could also raise the area where the you've drawn the 2 trees giving the dio more depth and to emphasize the "sunk in" effect of the tank.

I guess the trick would be keeping the composition tight avoiding too much space at the front left and right of the dio. You could also have part of a dirt road running at and angle to the front right corner showing the tank trying to make it to the road before it got stuck and add a farmer with a horse or bicycle looking on which would solve the space to the front right. The front left could be filled in with figures of tank crew or soldiers trying to figure out how to dig it out.

Great dio idea. I would build the tanks lower hull - minus the tracks. Then sand it all down at an angle so the hull bottom will sit flat on the dio, yet the upper hull will be tilted. I would also shrink the base, less empty space to try to fill with interest!

From the stuff that i read and saw in WWII documentaries, General Patton was well aware of the concept of strength in numbers so it was highly unlikely that you would find an M4 stranded by itself. The only reasons you would find an M4 on its own its when its been damaged beyond repair or the crew has been killed.

Would really love to see your finished dio when its done.

Knowing Patton, however, if you can't keep up you get left behind. However that would eliminate the guard idea as Patton's forces would have clear the enemy in front of them.

Thanks for the feedback!
Jeff CK and John, all good ideas... Think I'll take the best out of all of these.
CK I like the ' A dirt track too far' idea :-) Gives the dio more 'purpose'...
Maybe a 'just bogged' scenario, with accompanying infantry first on scene...
Brad