need help! rust sherman site!
http://tomsrctanks.com/rustsherman.asp
thanks,tom
That’s too bad. It must not have been in that desert it’s whole retirement. I doubt that it’d rust that bad from sitting in the desert.
Interesting picture…I don’t think I’ve ever seen an HVSS chassis with a 75mm gun turret, if that’s indeed what I’m seeing.
This is speculation, but it could have been a product of 2 damaged or destroyed vehicles put together. Death Traps by B. Cooper describes maintenance battalions putting servicable turrets from knocked out chassis on chassis with knocked out turrets. However, hits that destroyed the turret ring would result in the write-off of the whole tank.
Call me crazy but I am not convinced that is a 1:1
I’m inclined to agree. That sure looks like the Tamiya 1/16 M4 (105) model to me. Look at the pointy teeth on the drive sprocket and the funky looking shell ejection port – the modeller forgot to fill in the gap. Both these were oddities of the big Tamiya kit.
Also note the spurious antenna and funky applique armor. Anyone ever see applique on the left side before? Also the front left HVSS unit wouldn’t just stand ajar like that.
Note also the lighting – definitely a model, in my opinion.
By the way, 75mm gun turrets on HVSS did exist, albeit rare in WW2 photos. I’ve seen some M4A3 HVSS with 75mm turrets awaiting deployment. I’d assume that the Soviets got some M4A2 HVSS 75(W) as well.
it looks way too much like a model. also the .50 cal. is still on it as well as spare parts.
I believe it might be a superimposed image, you know, a “cut and paste” job, because it really doesn’t fit in with the background equipment.
Tom T [C):-)]
Hmmm, here is a pic showing weld seems on a Sherman:
Side aplique armor, weld seem along armor plate
Front aplique armor, weld seem along armor plates
Drive sprocket with shaped ends
In serious doubt of this beeing 1:1, if it is a replica its very good [:P]
VBR
Johan
Well I guess I was fooled. Nice model from whoever built it. I’m a little embarassed[oops]
Dont be, I am in doubt [?]
Oh please…show me a 60 year old relic sitting around with the machine guns and a helmet still in place. [8]
Like the paint job and backdrop isn’t a dead give away.
Johan:
The teeth of the sprocket on the picture in question are elongated, unlike the photo of the real Sherman you cited.
I am familiar with the shape of the actual drive sprocket – the Tamiya 1/16 one had to stretch the tips to make it deal with the RC running system. Compare them closely.
Also, I am also aware that applique armor was applied to some Shermans. What I meant to point out is that all the visible applique is awkwardly placed and that I’ve never seen a slab of applique armor on the left side of the turret (it didn’t require it). I didn’t mention the hull plates because unusual repairs weren’t unheard of – but the turret slab was very noticeable.
Historically, applique was applied mid-war, to supplement “dry” ammo storage racks. Later models replaced the dry ammo racks with glycol-filled lockers. The 76mm tanks also moved the ammo to hull floor from the sponsons. No late war, HVSS tanks would have had applique armor like the earlier 75mm 60 degree hulls.
I hope this clarifies things. And again, I’m even more positive that the picture in question is a converted Tamiya 1/16 M4 (105mm) kit. Notice the secondary fan cover on the turret roof, a clear leftover from the Howitzer turret.
why the left side armor is not requred? I thought I saw a damaged sherman was shot through by tiger round on the left side? maybe left side one could help fence the shot?
could not find any image of dry racks and glycol-filled lockers. is there any site that has those info?
thanks for all info.
tom
The applique was added to six areas on the Sherman. Some units added plates in front of the drivers’ areas. The right front “cheek” of the 75mm turrets were found to be deficient because an area on the inside of that area needed to be ground away to give clearance for some internal features (turret traverse or cannon trunnion – I forget which). The added “cheek” slab was to reinforce this thinned area.
Later 75mm turrets had a cast-in thickening of this cheek. The Tamiya M4A3 and M4A3 (105) turrets are needing this correction.
The hull had applique on three areas. One on the left side and two on the right side. These were welded directly over areas that held ammo bins in the sponson. These are often seen on mid production 60 degree hulls. This was done to supposedly make up for particularly vulnerable areas for the tank. Late into the production of the M4A1, these areas were also thickened with cast in armor in lieu of welded plates.
The glycol filled lockers cut down on damage to ammo rounds (and subsequent explosions) for later 75mm tanks (like the Tamiya M4A3 – its directions that offer applique armor is completely spurious). Some later production M4A2 (mostly lend lease to USSR) had dry stowage and welded applique but I think eventually switched over to “wet” bins along the production line. All 76mm turrets had the wet lockers and also the ammo rounds moved to under the turret basket, moving them from the sponsons.
The howitzer tanks were dry storage and the Jumbo’s had wet. Hope this helps. Roy
Thank you everybody for your insightful help.
Roy, thanks a lot for the info to help improve.
I painted this tank. it is a 1/16 tamiya full option RC tank. more pictures will follow. I took the picture with a junk yard backdrop, then fixed full option “giveaway” by photo editor.
enjoy.
thanks,tom