1/72 Esci M4A1 Sherman Calliope British use

[phat trev]

I am wanting to start my 1/72 esci M4A1 Sherman Calliope tank kit over Christmas but wanting to construct a British Army Sherman. Can this type be used as a basis for the build? Minus the rocket tubes!

[Orso]

Probably not. It seems that the old Esci M4A1 only can be used for a Duplex drive tank.

https://www.onthewaymodels.com/articles/shermandebacle.htm

[sandsmodels]

the only late m4a1 75mm used by the british in nwe seems to be a dd, although most were earlier ones.

there are pics of a few of them in normandy.

no calliope were used by the british.

[phat trev]

Thanks both. The model is the Calliope version of the ESCI kit but not looking to make this type.  So is this type (sans launchers) a late model m4a1 then? I am looking to see what conversion scratch building I would need to replicate a British Army Sherman of this type

Edited December 21, 2019 by phat trev

[Orso]

No, the Esci kit has the wrong turret for its hull .  That combination was apparently only used on a few DD-tanks so either a new hull or a new turret is needed to build the Esci kit if one can't find a DD conversion.

[phat trev]

Will have to look at changing the turret then or scratching it to create the versions I am after, a Sherman II or IIII (75mm gun) 

[Orso]

I just added my early Sherman II conversion to my home page:

https://www.baecklund.eu/scalemodels/72/sherman2.html

 

[phat trev]

That is a great looking model conversion Orso and a good indication of some of the changes needed, thanks for posting! 

[sandsmodels]

great conversion

[Kingsman]

You essentially have 2 British choices for your Esci Calliope kit.

 

Option 1 - replace the upper hull with a small hatch type in order to make a 75mm Sherman II.  If the turret has a loader's hatch this will need to be filled in.

 

Option 2 - replace the turret with a T23 type with 76mm gun to make a Sherman IIA as used in Italy (and by the Poles under British command in NWE).

 

However, both of these suggest buying a more appropriate kit as the necessary after-market parts will cost more than the original kit.  For a Sherman III you definitely need a new starting point as you need new upper and rear lower hull.

 

I don't model in Braille scale so my knowledge of who kits what in that scale is very limited.  I do like the fact that UM offer just about every service configuration of Sherman and many of their kits include optional parts including drivers' hoods eg DV and non-DV.  Their Sherman III kit has cast, welded and DV hoods included, for example.