DML M4A3 E8 Progress Pics

Modeling Subjects Armor
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Here’s a couple of pics of the DML M4A3 E8 kit that I’ve been working on at the same time as the Academy M4A2 kit.

This is one of DML’s older Shermans and suffers from a few problems.
It is a cross breed kit using a large amount of Italeri parts with DML supplying the E8 suspension and a new tooled turret. In this lies the problems. The Italeri lower hull needs to be modified to accept the new suspension, the 76 gun is too short, and the mantlet is molded upside down. Since this kit was originally released, it went through a couple of retools that corrected these errors and DML has anounced another for this year. In order to correct the mantlet, I filled the holes and redrilled them in the proper location. The barrel was an easy fix, Jordi Rubio has the perfect replacement. I swapped upper hulls with another Italeri Sherman I had due to some serious sink holes in the plastic.The dust cover is made with tissue paper and white glue.

Here’s a couple of pics of the M4A3 E8 as of now.

Here’s a couple of pics showing both the DML M4A3 E8 and the Academy M4A2 converted to an E8.

Hope you enjoy … I’ll keep you posted as to further progress.

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Looking good Robert! I think if I even need plastic surgery I’ll be contacting you. Calling doctor Rob… [;)]

Eric

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Nice work, Robert!

That nutty Dragon kit was my first foray into glue (i.e., non-workable) link tracks…oh, the sinkholes!
I was lucky, though…my mantlet was OK! The lower hull was still the old one that needed all the sus mounts shaved off…fun!

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Great looking builds, Robert!

Will you be posing these in dioramas?

Regards, Dan

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Coming along nicely. Do you add texture to the side armor at all? I added some pits and dings to mine assuming that it was similiar to German armor. I not sure if that’s accurate though (if the M4 Armor was rolled or not).
Thanks for sharing the pics.

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They’ll make into a nice pair when completed Robert. As always, an oustanding eye for detail.

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AWESOME!!!

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Thanks all for your kind words.

Brian - yes, these tracks were just the same … sink holes like you wouldn’t believe !!!

Nope I don’t add any texture during the construction, i find in most cases it looks out of scale in 1/35.

And yes, the M4 armour was rolled except for the M4A1 and M4 Composite of course which was cast.

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Wow, an awesome looking twin Shermie. Great job on the surgery. Of course I don’t want to ask why you needed two of them. He-he-he.

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(singing) Kit bashing maaaaaaaaaaaan. Lookin good cant wait for the camo…opps I mean OD…hehehe

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Because one’s an A2 and the other an A3 of course !!!

You’ll see when they are done Dwight.

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Boy that A3 looks like some of the local rednecks pieced togetehr camaros around here with every section a different color.

Nice job on the cosmetic work. I’m sure both will make that other sherman on the shelf feel less lonely.

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As usual Robert Awesome work. You keep building Shermies at this rate Robert and you wont have any to build for Sherman Group Build 2005. Hint hint [;)][;)]

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I find myself damp and quivering.

No wait…I spilled some Diet Coke!!

Wondrous pics, Mister ShermanGuru

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Nice job, Sherm ! [tup]

Great piece of “creative armor remodeling”

And again thanks for the scope on the kit.

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Robert,
very impressive!

i think what Feldgrau meant is that if you keep building Shermans at this rate,
there will be NONE LEFT for a 2005 group build!

i see you are quickly approaching 5000 posts.
(Postmaster General, indeed!)
congratulations, and thanks for your many contributions.

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Hey maybe for the 2005 build you can do the Tamiya 1/16 Sherman with the Elite Armor ‘Easy Eight’ conversion!

Now that would be AWESOME![8D]

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Nice looking builds you have going there Robert.

Of course, I’m still waiting for you to show us some progress on a Tiger build [;)]

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Looking Great Robert.

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Nice work Robert. Those r looking great. So how many of the ±50 000 hav u got left to do.[;)] Thanx for showing us.

Keep well.