M4A3E8 76mm

[Sherman 18]

I dug out this old project, maybe I can get something going on it.

The base kit is the old DML M4A3E8 with the single pin track.

I started it years ago when I first got it and the turret did not look right. So I put it up. A couple years ago I started to mess around with it. I did a little reshaping of the turret and a started to put new cast texture to it, but it still did not look right. The hull I made some plastic boxes for the sides and front. Then covered them with A+B putty for cement armor. I like how the hull is turning out, I even started to add welds to it. On Sunday I was looking at my for gotten projects shelf and pull it out. I still don't like the turret, I found an old Italeri T23 turret in the parts box as I'm thinking of going with it.

I took some pictures of the where the project stalled as a start point.

Compairing the DML T23 turret verus Italeri one, To me the Italeri looks right

As the the two halfs the turret were drying I started to play with reshaping the DML turret again.
I'm not out anything if it does not go right, but if it does work, I have a couple more I can do and maybe save me some $

This is a shot of what the early released DML T23 turrets look like from the top

best shot I could do with my reshaped turret on the left

Not sure but still needs work to look right to me

Back to the parts box T23 turret, thought I would add the odd lift ring next to the loaders hatch (yeah I stuck it in the wrong place )

Then I got the bright idea of trying some casting numbers/marks :pinch:
I used the plastic ones that you get in the Academy M36 kit

 

[SA Dave]

DAMN :woohoo:

 

[moon puppy]

You having fun Jeff???

Shot man, it all looks good to me, not sure what you see wrong with that first turret but what do I know about armor stuff?

 

[jknaus]

James

 

[MrT]

Terry B)

 

[Sherman 18]

Thanks guys

Hope to get some more work done on it tomorrow.

 

[agentg]

Watching, waiting...........................

G

 

[Brokeneagle]

 

[Sherman 18]

You having fun Jeff???

Shot man, it all looks good to me, not sure what you see wrong with that first turret but what do I know about armor stuff?

You bet MP I'm having fun.

On the turret I thought it was too thick on the sides, worse on the right than on the left. I think they got the shape confused with the Jumbo shape turret. Anyways with all the new turrets out now that are correct I just thought why not mess around with it.

 

[Iron Mike]

Great progress, Jeff!

 

[Tojo72]

Wow,lotsa details on this one,looking good

 

[Sherman 18]

Thanks guys.

I messed with the turret some again last night. I think I'm getting close with it. I need to put some plastic sheet on the inside co I can thin it down some more. Pictures coming soon!

 

[Sherman 18]

Photos of the DML turret
I had to drill out the bottom, so I could add some filler to the inside.

Compare shot with the new DML turret on the right

Here you can see I had it so thin when I glued on the styrene it ate away part of the outside

Got to let it sit so I can carve on it some more

 

[Iron Mike]

 

[Bagge]

//Mats

 

[moon puppy]

That's some major surgery.

 

[Sherman 18]

You know if I would quit being cheap I would get myself some of those Tasca Shermans :gogo

 

[agentg]

Oh treat yourself and build one. I built the M4A1 mid production, or I should say I watched as it built itself.

Sweet stuff.

G

 

[Sherman 18]

Did some more shaping of the T23 turret

 

[Sherman 18]

Small update, while I was waiting on the decal issue with the Type 87,

I'll start with the old Dragon T23 turret reshaping

started putting the casting texture back on

also marked the locations for casting numbers

On the old Italeri T23 turret I ended up cutting out the shell ejector hatch on the side and adding one from another old Dragon T23 turret. I also added some Archer casting numbers to the turret and upper Dragon hull.