First, let me congratulate everyone who posts here on the fabulous jobs they do on their various armor models. Wow! The quality of the builds is more than I can ever hope to match. But, how do you have to time for all this and post so often to this forum?
Second, I now have 3 different builds going on with not much progress on any of them: Tamiya M-10, Bronco M-24 and Tamiya M4A3. So much to do and so little time. Also, I’d like to say here that I REALLY hate PE and don’t like resin much better.
Third and lastly, the point of this post. Does anyone (I’m sure there’s someone) know how the extra bogie wheels on the front glacis, seen in all the WWII pics, were attached to the vehicles? Were they wired, roped welded? Was a post welded on the front and the bogie slipped over them? Any info would be appreciated.
You are right to study period photos, they usually have the best possible answers. I think there was a publication of some kind done concerning various ways gear was stowed on Shermans, but can’t recall where I had seen that.
When I had modeled a Canadian Firefly, the welded post was the method of choice based on this photo:
Am sure others, more versed with the Sherman tank, will drop by with their valued observances.
You ask an important question – sadly one that’s overlooked by some modellers. The spare wheels were extremely heavy and unless wedged in amongst a bunch of sad bags holding it in place, could be jarred loose through the normal moving and jarring of the tanks. US maintenance vehicles had welded posts. You can assume normal gun tanks did the same – some pictures show a welded bracket. Wire could be used if the spare rested on a more horizontal surface.
My rule of thumb with any and all stowage: does it make sense – in a physical sense and in a user-friendly sense. Would it interfere with the tank’s mission? aiming interference? blocking traversing turret or vision lines for the crew, prohibit climbing on/off the vehicle? added flammability risk? easily stolen, liable to be scrapped or jarred off? etc.
Thanks, thats one of the better pictures I’ve seen. I figure it has to be something fairly simple that they can do in the field. I appreciate the response.
Thanks for the info. The “does it make sense” rule is probably the best one could use. I’m trying to use my photo references as best I can, since I’m sure the crews made sure they didn’t have one of the possible problems you mention. I probably wouldn’t have thought of this kind of stuff years ago, but all of “You” on this forum make me think a little harder about what I’m doing.
Great post! Glad I came across this, never even thought of the plate or bags around that wheel to hold it in place. Thought it would have been something under the wheel to hold it intact but these posts make perfect sence. I’ll be putting one of these into affect on my tank asap. Thanks fellow modelers!
