Glad you lke the progress.I nearly finished painting the extended end connectors tonight, but I RAN OUT OF PAINT! Also, only 1/2 of the track blocks are done, I need to get more paint for those. What's left: scratchbuild the tow cable ends. casting numbers on the final drive. paint OD parts of roadwheels, and assemble to bogies. paint aux engine exhaust pipe. attach rear air deflector marry top of hull to bottom scratchbuild .50 cal yoke add barrel clamp to TC cupola, when aftermarket one arrives Adjust roof ventilator paint turret paint hull add spare tracks/ holders add gas cap cover chains paint tow cable/attach/make top clamp part install tools,add straps/ buckles. Attach suspension add tracks There may be minor things crop up as I go along.
scratchbuild the tow cable ends. casting numbers on the final drive. paint OD parts of roadwheels, and assemble to bogies.DONE paint aux engine exhaust pipe. attach rear air deflector marry top of hull to bottom scratchbuild .50 cal yoke add barrel clamp to TC cupola, when aftermarket one arrives Adjust roof ventilator paint turret paint hull add spare tracks/ holders add gas cap cover chains paint tow cable/attach/make top clamp part install tools,add straps/ buckles. Attach suspension add tracks There may be minor things crop up as I go along.
Time to build the track runs. Son of Sherman says 79 a side, so I will start there. These act like "dead" track, no bushings to cause a curl, so I will use enough,and idler positioning, to remove excessive top run "sag". These are the steps I use to assemble them. I triple checked, to make sure the track blocks were oriented correctly. The gripper pins on the blocks MIGHT survive having to be unassembeled a few times, but, the less stress the better. First, gather the correct parts together,remembering, the extended end connector goes to the outside.
Then I click on the eec to the first set of pins: Then add the block,connecting this side first:
Then add the opposite connector, gently aligning it by "feel" and push in evenly. I had a few leftovers,as you know, there is an issue with short shots.I can make a mold from the extras, so that I will have enough for the spare track holders.
scratchbuild the tow cable ends. casting numbers on the final drive. paint OD parts of roadwheels, and assemble to bogies.DONE paint aux engine exhaust pipe. attach rear air deflector marry top of hull to bottom scratchbuild .50 cal yoke add barrel clamp to TC cupola, when aftermarket one arrives Adjust roof ventilator paint turret paint hull add spare tracks/ holders add gas cap cover chains paint tow cable/attach/make top clamp part install tools,add straps/ buckles. Attach suspension add tracks There may be minor things crop up as I go along.
Last Edit: Aug 25, 2013 14:43:44 GMT -5 by tankcarl: forgot I did something - Back to Top
Post by Allied-Eric on Aug 29, 2013 22:13:46 GMT -5
I tell ya TC every time I L@@k at this thread I say to myself "dude you need to get this" ...then its like where would I build it and display when I get it done, 15years from now AWESOME work so far and can't wait to see her finished!!
Allied-Eric
Vancouver, WA, USA
AMPS-2652
-In the Ready Rack-
Improvised Assault Sherman-M4A3DS(ETO)
Hyper-Sherman
Crispy-44
Adding some detailing, weld beads on the sand shields.Also made some quick release towing pins,added some chain to those. Siren wire, and rear sandshield mounts.Also, after careful test fitting,a prototypical 79 blocks per track run will work. So I should have enough good spare track blocks, for the rear holders.
Good news, I test assembeld one side of 79 blocks on one side, and they fit well.As there is a hexagonal mount on the idler wheel shaft,I can adjust the tension to a small degree.There is still some slack across the top,but even less than photos of the kit show.The other idler is glued on, and I am allowing it to dry overnight, before I test the tension. Then,I must take both off, and marry the top and bottom of the hull. Some filing and so on will have to be done, where the transmission bolt strip is.
Finishing up some smaller details.Mainly,straps for the tools, retainer chains for the fuel caps. The straps are made from masking tape,and I made the buckle parts from wire. Luggage rack and spare track holder
As a matter of fact, you may end up having to build a special display case JUST for this beautiful huge Sherman, aye? I'd hate to see it all dusty man.