As a new guy am I really impressed with this forum friendly very knowledgeable "Shermanites". My main niche in the Sherman world are the French Shermans why? Well their markings are quite different than anything else that I have seen and also very colourful compared to many others.
So for a while now have I been researching and "dreaming" about which ones to build.
First the kits:
Tasca: M4A2 (2) M4 A1 Late (2) M4 A3 76 W (2) M4A3E2 Jumbo (1) M4A3E8 (1) I hope to be able to convert it to M4A3 105 HVSS.
Dragon: M4A1 76 (2) M4 105 (1)
Add to that a lot of Panda tracks and metal barrels some books and decals from Bison,TL-Modellbau and Peddinghaus, and I am ready to go ahead. First about the decals. I am not sure that the Bison markings are correct always for instance. La Moskowa a M4 105 from 501 RCC has it name in green. According to the info I have should it be in blue.Luckily for me is the La Moskowa on a sheet from Peddinghaus, with the name in blue....
All these decals gives me a lot of options which ones to build. I have already made up my mind on which ones in a few cases.
M4 105 La Moskowa from 2/501 RCC. M4A1 76 St Malo from 4/2 Cuir M4A1 76 Leopard from 2/1 Cuir
The rest is "open" for discussion as they say.
The Jumbo is a special I have decided which one I want to do but I havent got the markings yet. I want to build it as Lt Falgayrac from 2/2 RCA.
Thats it for the moment.
But I must confess that I also have a few Fireflys also. But they are on backburner at the moment.
That's a VERY good plan! I have to agree that the French tanks are very colorfull and desirable. It's nice to see someone take such an interest in them such as your self.
YES! I am in, bring on the French Shermans as we all know they were in that war too. I also think the French markings will be a fresh departure from the usual star on the side... just no Beute Shermans please. (just kiddin')
As I also have other obsessions will the build have to be postponed until the beginning of November. I will cross the big pond in late September to attend the USPSA IPSC Nationals in Florida. But after that am I as they say "available". I have given some thought on which one to build first, at the moment am I leaning towards the M4 105 from 501/RCC. I dont know about you guys but I have a habit of assembling as much info as I can and save on the computer. For instance what season and where? Has it been into combat and has the "caretaking" been negleted. Is there a lot of stowage? The list can go on but you get the picture. For La Moskowa has I decided that it will be shown around the time Paris was liberated or perhaps a little later(August-September 44). The few pictures I have will I scrutiny closely to see what I can gather from them.
I have now gone through the decals and most of my references and I have made up my mind at least for the time being on which subjects(drumroll please). ”La Moskowa” 2/501 RCC M4 105, Dragon. “Tonnerre III” M4A1 75 4/2e Cuir, Tasca “St-Malo” M4A1 76 4/2e Cuir,Dragon. “Desaix II” M4A2 2/2e Cuir, Tasca. Champaubert M4A2 2/501 RCC,Tasca. Medenine II M4A3 76 1/501 RCC, Tasca.
When I look at the list is it obvious that I seem to have a weak spot for two units 501 RCC and 2e Cuir. Their markings have IMHO that little "extra" that I find so attractive and there are available photos. That show at least part of the tank. But in some cases must I do some guessing for instance as with Tonnerre III. Where I only have part of the left side of the tank to look at. Se picture below.
The decals are mostly Peddinghaus with some additions from TL and Bison. Photos of all the originals can be found here:http://www.chars-francais.net/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=732&Itemid=95
I plan to build them all more or less OOB except for Panda Tracks and metal barrels mostly Aber.Photoetch will I use what the kits supply.
Christmas came early this year.... As most of you guys now am I into the French Shermans.At the top of my wish list was the only French Jumbo from 2 RCA.I contacted Peddinghaus decals and asked would it be possible to.....? With the mail today was a small letter from "P" and in it was a 1/35 set with the markings of Lt Falgayrac. I haven't studied the sheet that close yet but it seems to be "right".... Hmm wouldn't it be nice to start my "French Collection" with a Jumbo?