Post by rbaer on Oct 2, 2014 11:17:35 GMT -5
From the Tamiya M51, M4 "early" and Academy M4A2/76, an IDF M4A1E8/76, Six Days War.
I began last night by assembling the M51 lower hull and, after removing the VVSS idler mount bases, sliding in the M4 rear plate. This was a drop-in fit, very nice. I then removed the HVSS idler bases from the M51 rear plate and installed them on the M4 rear plate. Gravy so far. I then took a little bit off the top edges of the M4 rear plate and attached the M51 rear upper sides pieces. If I had made a more careful cut here this would have been a "no-filler needed" join, but I had to use a teeny bit, all my fault. So far this has been a simple procedure. I took an old Italeri M4A1 upper hull, clamped it back to back on the M51 upper, and traced the edge with a sharpie, but didn't make the cut because I was thinking that the later cast hull might have been straight here, and the weld line Tamiya has molded here seems to support this. I'll check with Son of Sherman before I go any further. I've also started fitting the M4 engine deck pieces to the M51 hull, width is EXACT, only needing clearancing at the very front of the air intake, but, once again, need to check with SoS before cementing anything, as the M4 has a three piece cover, and I may need a two piece cover.
Only one pic so far, I'll get more later, but this is the M51 upper hull just laid on the lower. You can barely see the M4 rear plate and M51 idler mounts, but it's almost like Tamiya thought this might happen one day.
Now I've got to go take a look at what's been going on over here during my rather long absence.
I began last night by assembling the M51 lower hull and, after removing the VVSS idler mount bases, sliding in the M4 rear plate. This was a drop-in fit, very nice. I then removed the HVSS idler bases from the M51 rear plate and installed them on the M4 rear plate. Gravy so far. I then took a little bit off the top edges of the M4 rear plate and attached the M51 rear upper sides pieces. If I had made a more careful cut here this would have been a "no-filler needed" join, but I had to use a teeny bit, all my fault. So far this has been a simple procedure. I took an old Italeri M4A1 upper hull, clamped it back to back on the M51 upper, and traced the edge with a sharpie, but didn't make the cut because I was thinking that the later cast hull might have been straight here, and the weld line Tamiya has molded here seems to support this. I'll check with Son of Sherman before I go any further. I've also started fitting the M4 engine deck pieces to the M51 hull, width is EXACT, only needing clearancing at the very front of the air intake, but, once again, need to check with SoS before cementing anything, as the M4 has a three piece cover, and I may need a two piece cover.
Only one pic so far, I'll get more later, but this is the M51 upper hull just laid on the lower. You can barely see the M4 rear plate and M51 idler mounts, but it's almost like Tamiya thought this might happen one day.
Now I've got to go take a look at what's been going on over here during my rather long absence.
