SLA M50 APC

[Sherman 18]

I sat at my bench a couple weeks ago with the intent to work some of the stuff I started for group builds but was not feeling it. So I then was going to start cleaning up the hobby and while moving items around and putting things away I got the bright idea to dig this out :idonno

One of my long running projects an AEF Designs conversion for Academy M51 to a SLA M50 APC. I thought i had posted it at one time here but on a search just could not find it so I'm going to start this over. If I have an open thread oops The album has been on here for ever that I do know.

Started this many years ago and as I remember it was to be a "quick fun" weekend type build :laugh: but since I just can't leave stuff alone the project grew.

this is place where the project was boxed from the move from Denver to Northwest Kansas basic conversion of an upper hull and some basic interior parts

from that point I decided to try scratch building some new engine exhaust and intake covers. I also tried some PE welds from On The Mark Models for the armor structure build up along with a scratch build machine gun mount.

from there I thought I would try scratching better engine air filters

at this time I added bolts to the fighting compartment from the suspension mounts and cover over the radio

that is where I started having problems with the PE wlds coming back off and some A+B putty welds coming off. I rewashed the hull in 409 and thinner. Still having problems in the same spots. I put the project up before I took a hammer to it

 

[Sherman 18]

A couple weeks ago I made the decision to replace the upper hull and scratch what I needed instead of fighting the kit. The upper hull is from Tamiya M4 kit.

I first added some casting texture where needed

then plugged the tool mount locations with stretched sprue after drilling them out

I then added welds to the upper hull with first .30 half round and ended up finishing with .20 round rod as I ran out of the half round. I'm not happy with some of it so I may order some more half round and try to dig out the rod.

I tore out the drivers and co-drivers seats to try and improve the drivers area with parts from an Academy M10. While I was at it tore out the ammo rack and radio.

I added the escape hatch with some extra detailing after removing some of the molded on parts. I ended up scratching some floor pieces for the co-drivers area

Scratched a new radio box and it should look better than I had before

Then I started to detail some of the other interior parts taken from the M10 kit

the seat on the left I took a file to it compared to the stock seat on the right

A numbers things I forgot to add from the above post is I scratched a passenger seat from parts of a M113 seats Israeli style

added Verlinden PE fenders

added some detail to the suspension

I think I'm back on track with this :drinks

 

[moon puppy]

Cool, seems to me I remember seeing this, maybe while cruising over the gallery.

One thing to remember about the Forum Search, it defaults to searching just the last year. You have to change it to search all dates to see everything. And don't confuse the forum search with the Website search.

 

[MrT]

 

[jknaus]

Now that is cool. Some impressive scratching there too. Watching with interest
James

 

[ij001]

Wow, that's not something I've ever seen before. Thinking outside the box on a number of levels, Jeff.

Ian.

 

[lupanzer]

Great project!....the way that I like

Luiz

 

[Sherman 18]

Cool, seems to me I remember seeing this, maybe while cruising over the gallery.

One thing to remember about the Forum Search, it defaults to searching just the last year. You have to change it to search all dates to see everything. And don't confuse the forum search with the Website search.

Thanks MP

handy information on the search too

 

[Sherman 18]

Thanks MrT

 

[Sherman 18]

Now that is cool. Some impressive scratching there too. Watching with interest
James

Thanks James

Hoping it can keep my interest to finish this year :cheer:

 

[Sherman 18]

Wow, that's not something I've ever seen before. Thinking outside the box on a number of levels, Jeff.

Ian.

Thanks Ian

 

[Sherman 18]

Great project!....the way that I like

Luiz

Thanks Luiz

 

[Sherman 18]

Fiddled more with this project. I ditched the Academy M10 seats and scratched some seats that look more like the ones in a M50 Sherman. Not perfect by any means but should look alright once in place and you guys will be looking at the third go around hyeah

not sure what these are really called but I called them mounts two for each seat. One to the floor and the other to the seat bottom. C channel, .10 sheet and some rectangle styrene

once the length was figured they started to come to shape

I scratched the seat backs and bottoms out of .20 styrene sheet, added .30 rod and Grandt line bolt heads

For the seat back I used solder and brass tube (I need a better photo, but look how good the focus is on the tweezers)

Added some suspension bolts to the co-drivers compartment

Added some bolts on the drivers side also, and this made placing the floor parts in soooooooo easy
I then installed some of the drivers controls and details

marked the upper hole for some holes that would have bolted the turret race in

 

[moon puppy]

DAmn good work Jeff!

 

[jknaus]

Fantastic. Love the scratchbuilding.
James

 

[Sherman 18]

DAmn good work Jeff!

Thanks MP

 

[Sherman 18]

Fantastic. Love the scratchbuilding.
James

Thanks James

 

[Sherman 18]

Wow, that's not something I've ever seen before. Thinking outside the box on a number of levels, Jeff.

Ian.

Ian here some photos of the real things. They were made out of M50 Shermans, (something happened to the turret or gun would be my guess)

 

[Sherman 18]

Did a little more last night,

added more welds

added more detailing

scratch built some ammo holders

 

[reconron]

That looks great in my eyes,looking forward to the next steps Jeff!


Gr,Ron.