Fifer54 Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 I had this kit in my stash. I bought it some time ago, to add to my little 1/72 WWII tanks collection, and chose it over other kits because, as a cast hull variant it was a little "different". Italeri's 1/72 "M4A1 Sherman" comes in an end-opening box, with a nice portrait of a somewhat anonymous cast-hull Sherman on the front, and a 4-view colour scheme and decalling drawing on the back. 3 colour and decal options are shown on the foldout instruction sheet, but the one on the box is only one with any description of an identity, although US Army, Normandy campaign, 1944 is, to say the least, a bit vague! Tracks are provided as polystyrene "link & length" and also as continuous vinyl strips as the modeller prefers. Apart from the tracks sprues, the kit's parts are presented on 2 sprues. I didn't take a pic of the decal sheet, it is simply a selection of white stars, with or without circles around, and some numbers! I'm looking forward to this, I realise the GB has already started, but I won't stat building until after Hogmanay . . . 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Nice looking kit Gaz, is that an engine I can see on the bottom sprue? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Sure looks like a radial to my eyes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer54 Posted January 2, 2018 Author Share Posted January 2, 2018 On 12/31/2017 at 5:05 PM, Ozzy said: Nice looking kit Gaz, is that an engine I can see on the bottom sprue? On 12/31/2017 at 5:49 PM, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Sure looks like a radial to my eyes. Sure is! Italeri give you an engine, a propshaft that runs under the fighting compartment floor, and a gearbox/transaxle to sit in the nose! It's all a bit basic, but then it is in 1/72, and it's more than a lot of kits give you! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 The Italeri kit (ex-ESCI) is very good, but the precise variant that it depicts OOTB existed only as a Duplex-Drive tank (and thus the kit is missing a few bits).....The 'wet-stowage', 'big-hatch' hull in the kit is very good, but it was much more commonly (ie: almost always) mated with the 76mm turret. You can modify the kit (it's utterly trivial work) to make an exceedingly rare (but substantiated) 75mm equipped, 'dry-stowage', 'big-hatch' variant, or if you prefer, PM me with your address, I've still got one 76mm turret in my spares box (Trumpeter), you would still need to source a gun and scratchbuild a new mantlet (the trickiest bit). PS - It's one of these 76mm equipped ESCI/Italeri M4A1s that I was going to chuck in at the painting stage in my own thread, I've also got two of the 'dry-stowage' modifications part painted: As you can see the modifications to make the 'dry-stowage', 'big-hatch' hull merely involves adding three armour patches (one on the left, two on the right) to the existing part and then blending them in (these were incorporated at the casting stage unlike the applique armour seen in similar locations on other Shermans). 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer54 Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 Thanks for that, Sarge! As I don't really want to be building an imaginary tank (there's a place for those, but it's not in this GB!), I'll do my homework, and convert the hull to a "dry-stowage" "big-hatch" hull. I've already done enough homework to understand what those terms mean! It's possible that the anonymity of the colour schemes offered in the kit will allow their use for the modified article. If not, these are documented so should be findable (I hope) . . . I'll actually make a start after a visit to my local paint stockist in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer54 Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 A start has been made . . . Just a bit of parts painting on the sprues, more to follow as parts dry, then some actual assembly . . . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Blimey Gaz, I remember building the matchbox firefly years ago and It never had that many bits in it. As well as 1/48, I'm must have a look at 1/72 as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer54 Posted January 12, 2018 Author Share Posted January 12, 2018 A bit more has been done on this, more painting and the applique patches on the hull sides. The engine and transaxle have been installed on the chassis, All those road wheels are at the painting stage, then it's on to assembly! Also, I've managed to acquire (well, it's on its way!) a Mirage Hobby M3A1 Lee in 1/72, so when it arrives I'll add a second entry to this GB. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Looking good.....Have to confess I've never used the engine parts from this kit, in this kit, the outside of a tank is more than enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer54 Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 Thanks, Sarge! This is now beginning to look (a bit) like a Sherman . . . Details to add, and a bit of light weathering, I think . . . As mentioned in a previous post, I now have a M3A1 Lee to enter for this as well. Time to make a start, methinks. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer54 Posted January 24, 2018 Author Share Posted January 24, 2018 Parade Ground Tank! Nearly there! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Shiny Sherman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Just catching up Gaz, she's looking good. Can you see the engine at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer54 Posted February 7, 2018 Author Share Posted February 7, 2018 Thanks, Ozzy & Sgt. Squarehead. Ozzy, the engine is completely concealed! It would be possible to build this with open engine hatches, but then the prospect of extra detailing, and/or diorama building (to give context) enters the picture . . . This build is coming towards the end. I am primarily an aircraft modeller, and as I've got to where these photos show, I've decided I rather like the look of a clean tank. So I'll take some good pix of her for the gallery and call her done! Once the M3A1 is finished, I'll have a break from GBs until later in the year . . . I only have 1 tank in the stash now- an Emhar Mk.IV Male in 1/72, which I'll build in the "box art" scheme, 'cos that's the tank I sat in at Bovington . . . 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Nice going Gaz, glad we could cokes you away from the winggy things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Here you go Gaz, I finally found a picture of a (probable) Big Hatch M4A1 75mm Dry (although it just might be a M4 hybrid): Slightly rarer than rocking-horse dung.....Apparently 100 were made before production shifted to the M4A1(76)W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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