Alan McNeilly shows us his Italeri M7 Priest as a Canadian wader. Thanks Alan.



M7 Priest

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Interestingly done up.

Thanks for sharing your build Alan!

Interesting!
I'm familiar with the M7 without that panels... it's the first time I see it!
I guess you used other tracks... the ones provided by Italeri for the Shermans are crap, these look quite better!

Well done. I like the 2 tone diffence between the vehicle and the wading kit. The only small points i noticed are a little silvering around a couple of your decals and your tie down rope is.... huge .
Very nice to see a priest in Canadian markings. Again well done.

Doug

Very interesting subject!

Gary

An extraordinary looking vehicle. I've never seen that before.

Thanks for sharing it

Simon

Alan--- Cool. Can you describe how you built up the side boards and what ventilation system you used (I am speaking here of the manufacturer--VLS, Tank Workshop, etc)
thanks
DJ

I found this reference photo of an American M7 Priest with wading gear.



It looks like the waterproofing around the barrel has been removed. Do you have any good photos of what the waterproofing around the barrel was?

Looks like an interesting conversion.

Ted

It never stops amazing me how many different variations there are in equipment. This is certainly one I've not seen either, and you've done a great job showing it off. Very nice.

Think I have a "well worn " M7 in my scrap -yard box (in French markings)-------came with 30 other "well worn "unpainted "bang -bangs" -------thats a smart conversion ---Great stuff !!
aye
BARV
(GOSMG)

Congratulations on avery original model Alan. Never seen this before either. I like the figures as well. Cool!

Greeting all,

I'm glad you like the subject, it was a really interesting one for my first attempt at converting anything, so whilst not up there is the super league I think it didn't turn out too bad. The thread that ran with the build was one of the most interesting I've been involved in and my thanks to all those who contributed with help and information especially 'The Bear'.

There is some debate as to whether or not the V shaped bow was actually used. However, the offical diagrams show it, and as that would have been the weakest part of the waterproofing I went with that, and although now hidden there is a waterproof jacket behind it.

The top vent into the fighting compartment is perhaps not 100% accurate. I believe there should be an angle rather than a gentle bend but I never found a picture of that stack, so went with what I had. The inside of the vent into the fighting compartment was a best guess as again no pics came to light at that time.

DJ,

I have the pics of the plans if you are interested. Re the various bits, I used the Tamiya Grant, early lights, early suspension, bins and a saw to convert it to the early version. Some scratchbuilding and alterations are needed to the interior also. The tracks came from one of the M4A1s I currently attempting to build and the raised sides were cut from plastic card. The Trunking is from the Italeri M4 Marines Sherman, and the 3 piece transmission from a Tamiya M4.

It was a really fun build, I originally submitted the pictures well before last summer, but Vinnie lost them

Point noted on the decals, something I'm still not comfortable with but the rope passed inspection last time and rope is rope I suppose.!!! lol, lol. I have a home planned for it and after the build it turned out that the Canadian ML should have the grey background. If I ever find 2 I'll change them.

Thanks for the input guys and with the possible arrival of the New Academy M7 there will be other possibilities.

I have to say that I enjoy the build so much I immediately bought another one :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) , which I hope to do an an early in the Western Desert.

Cheers

Al

Alan,
I'll go along with the others. Very interesting. A unique looking vehicle, very well done. I'd go .
Joe

Hi Joe,

Many thanks, much apreciated.

Cheers

Al

Good job, Alan!

Hi Andrey,

Many thanks for you comments, glad you enjoyed it.

Cheers

Al

Very interesting build, I've never seen this before...very cool, I'll be adding this one to my Canadian build list.
Regards
Peter

Hi Peter,

If your thinking of building one PM me your email addres and I'll pass on the reference materials I gathered up for the build.

Thanks for your coments, much appreciated.

Cheers

Al