Another question has raised its ugly head on detailing the JUMBO and that is which side of the Bulkhead/Firewall were the air-cleaners for the JUMBO it seems that from Toadman's pictures the cleaners were in the engine compartment, from the Army TM they could have been on either side. In researching this I am amazed at how many pictures of the exterior there are on the web but so few interior pics. As builders get better kits I am sure that interior detail will be the future as time goes by and we sure could stand some plans or pics of what went on inside with some accuracy.
Post by Allied-Eric on Oct 28, 2013 17:09:20 GMT -5
Hey Bones don't panic just yet bro!!
Check out my first post on the GAA engine. At the end of it I address this vary question. There are no absolutes of course and exceptions can always be found, but the rule of thumb is this;
Dry ammo Stowage = Air Cleaners in the fighting Compartment
Wet ammo Stowage = Air Cleaners in the Engine Compartment (JUMBO is Wet Ammo Stowage)
Hope this helps out!!
Allied-Eric
Vancouver, WA, USA
AMPS-2652
-In the Ready Rack-
Improvised Assault Sherman-M4A3DS(ETO)
Hyper-Sherman
Crispy-44
I did not panic I just did not take the time to see the message you were giving me. I like it as it makes sense I felt there had to be some action feature that would key the use for which side of the wall the cleaners were placed. Thank you for your patience in getting this through my thick head. While I was trying to figure this out I have now discovered an error in the Tasca kit where the designers did not allow for the Sand Shields which I will address next.
Post by Allied-Eric on Oct 28, 2013 22:24:29 GMT -5
But I totally agree with you bones on the lack of good reference on the guts of these Shermans. I'm hoping that works like the 'Son of Sherman' will kick start a drive to correct this over sight.
A JUMBO is nothing more than an up-armored A3. Also, the M4A3E8 had the same arrangement too.
Jeff
Jeff
That is almost but not quiet true, the upper and lower hulls were basically A3 but the turrets (2 types) were exclusive to the A3E2 (pistol ports abandoned) and the gun went back to the 75mm in a specially designed mantlet. The sand shield fenders were extended for tracks with duckbills exclusively to the A3E2, they were produced without headlights, and it appears they used the 76mm Wet shell lockers which made it easy to later change over 75mm to 76mm in the field.
I am NO expert on Shermans in the slightest way but I would expect there may also be other exceptions in the building of the A3E2, 254 were made and 250 were sent to Europe. From pictures it is evident that many field modification to the running gear and main gun were made after they arrived in the battlefield. The thing I have found in my AFV experience is that while ole USA had many standards for every thing GI there were just as many exceptions along the way that will jump up and bite you just when you think you have it all figured out.