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Modeller Build Logs
Formations Sherman V DV (M4A4 Direct Vision) |
| By James Wechsler | | Started: | May 21, 2007 | | Updated: | Jul 14, 2007 |
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This blog could easily be subtitled ‘the easy way to do well at model contests’. Having just wrapped up a blog using the Tasca Firefly, I couldn’t believe there was anyway to make an even better Sherman. Then I remembered the Formations has now expanded their line to allow a complete ‘Formations’ Sherman minus only a couple of small parts.
So for this blog I’ll be building a Sherman V with direct vision ports as used by the British in the Burma campaign.
The Formations set that I’ll use are:
F067 Direct Vision M4A4 Hull
F080 Early VVSS Suspension
F018 Sherman Pioneer Tools
F050 Sherman Headlights
F003 Early M4 Dry Stowage Turret
F016 M34A1 Mantlet and M3 75mm Gun
In addition, I’ll be using tracks, sprockets and left over photoetch light guards from the Tasca Firefly.
I’ll also include in this blog a few chapters on ground work and a special ‘Burmese transportation vehicle’ for the base.
Up next: The Hull – major assembly
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| The Hull – small parts | May 24, 2007 |
The Formations set is pretty complete for the small parts that get added to the hull. Things like the lifting rings, rear exhausts, tow cable brackets, etc are all nicely rendered and require little more that removing the pour block and attaching.
However, it seems that this set was intended as a replacement set for a Dragon kit and a few items are not included such as the front headlights and the siren. I used Formations excellent headlight set F050 which come with MV lenses and look really great and their equally great siren set F046. But you can also just scrounge a set from the spares bin.
Also not included are the light guards for the head lights and tail lights. I seriously doubt there’s a way to render these in resin. I happened to have a left over set from the Tasca Firefly kit which worked great. But if you don’t have any in the spares box, Eduard makes set TP028 Light Guards which is contains the guards for both the headlights and taillights. It costs about $4 USD at the time of this writing.
I did add a few extra items to fully detail the set. There are a couple of handles that you need to make from wire and the fuel filler cap handles can be made from wire or plastic as I did. Also, there a small tubes mounted to the side of each headlight guard to hold the light cap when the lights are mounted. There’s a small chain that runs from the top to the bottom of this part too. It’s simple enough to make out of plastic rod and I used a photoetch set from Aber for the chain. I also scavenged the two small pull rings that go on the inside of the hull hatches from the Tasca photoetch set.
Lastly, I added the hull appliqué armor. The Formations set comes with a nice set of the side appliqué armor and they are easy enough to use. But by this late in the war, most DVs also carried the appliqué armor over the driver’s and co-driver’s hoods as well. This blocked the direct vision slots so the periscopes on the hatches had to be used. I had a left over set from the Tasca Firefly kit which fit quite well. With a little fidgeting and adding the welding, they went on smoothly. But if you don’t have these, a set can be made out of sheet plastic almost as easily.
Up next: The Hull – exhaust deflector |
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