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Modeller Build Logs
El Alamein Sherman III DV with full interior |
| By Hans Haase | | Started: | Oct 2, 2005 | | Updated: | Mar 23, 2006 |
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I had been planning a Sherman III for quite a while, and buying bits and pieces over time for the build. Most of my inspiration came from a photo on British Pathe of a tank named Bacchus, with an unusually placed and unusually large name on the rear plate.
When I saw James Wechsler do his excellent Sherman III over the past few weeks, I was pushed over the edge to do my own. Thankfully, Chesapeake Models Designs made an appearance at the recent AMPS East with the hull I was looking for.
I have a feeling this will be a long and arduous process, just from the sheer count of resin sets I need to coordinate, but I really can't wait to get into it.
-Hans Haase
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| Chapter 9 - Fenders, Sand Skirts & Stowage Strips | Nov 22, 2005 |
Finally great to get the upper hull attached and call the hull interior finished. While I know there are still challenges coming up, it no longer feels like a chore and I'm happy with how the interior looks for this purpose. Other than a couple styrene strips at the very rear edge of the sponsons, the hull halves attached perfectly. Better, in fact, than most styrene kits. I don't remember if I had glued on the bogie mounting plates that came with the CMD hull or if they were molded in. Either way, I had to sand and scrape off the wrong mounting plates to put the TMD ones for the early suspension type.
Just like James's Sherman III, the sand shields and side strips were a pain in the butt this way as well. I used the sand shields from the Tamiya M4 kit, which thankfully were the perfect length. They did need some re-shaping on the edges where it meets the front fenders. I did have to make a couple replacement pieces for the inner sand shield. I forgot to take pictures of the rear hull pieces, but on the bottom left here you can see the front equivilant.
The sequence was critical here to get everything attached. I had to glue the rear half of the sand shields in place, then paint the underside of the hull and drive sprocket, attach the drive sprocket, then glue on the front of the sand shields. Not difficult, but you can't put the drive sprocket on if the front of the shields is attached.
For the side stowage strips, I just couldn't justify spending MORE money on something that in theory would be easy to scratch build. These are made of styrene strip stock. Time consuming, and not perfect, but I honestly find this result more satisfying than buying another set of brass and just following instructions.
Still waiting for a couple parts for the interior of the turret before I finish that up and show it. I need to order some flimsy cans to make the front rack. But digging through the spares box and my initial shopping spree has managed to give me most of the parts I need for the hull so far.
-Hans |
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