very good figures:-)

Mr. Ammo Naito's photograph:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoWV6TGU0AAz_5n.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoVAHLKUgAE3Tzn.jpg

https://twitter.com/ammonaitoh/status/1046407623480754177

Hello Al,

The chain link fence or expanded metal mesh may have served as a brush guard. However, I have been led to believe that it's primary purpose was to serve as an RPG screen.

I know that this is the reason most often given for tracks and M48's carrying a roll along with ground stakes. Was it different for the Sheridan?

Respectfully,

Allen

It was a field mod, to keep tree branches from smacking the driver in the face when driving through heavy bush with his hatch open.

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I've never seen the contraption at the front, it must be a field mod, since it would certainly interfere with the floatations gear, which leans out from the hull in the front.
VR, Russ

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It was a field mod, to keep tree branches from smacking the driver in the face when driving through heavy bush with his hatch open. There were variations. I scratch-built one when I did the 'ancient' Tamiya Sheridan. Never saw it hang so low though. Al

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Yep I figured that. But I have a funny story about those "tree branches". We didn't put any screening over the front of our M551s, because we never experienced a problem with tree branches in the driver's face. But one day while road marching in Germany, my driver and I (I was the TC) decided we could take a "short cut" off a paved road down a fairly steep embankment which was heavily wooded with 5"-10" diameter fir trees. My driver was avoiding the large trees, but having a great time flattening the smaller trees. About half way down the slope, the track skidded sideways and we smacked square into several larger trees, snapping off branches at about hull level. When we Lagered that night, I hopped off the track only to find several 3"-4" diameter tree branches sticking about a foot straight out of the side of the "hull". Those trees definitely got thier revenge. The M551 outer hull is actually a thin veneer of aluminum over a yellowish polystyrene foam designed to aid flotation. This encloses the thicker, inner aluminum hull. You could actually hammer a nail through the side if you wanted too. When we returned to the motor pool, my troop commander had our troop Motor Sergeant go to the mess hall and get several #10 coffee can lids. The motor Sergeant handed them to my crew with a rivet gun and said-- "you guys had lots of fun-- now fix it". We spent the rest of that afternoon riveting tin can lids over the holes and painting them.
VR, Russ

Anybody got plans for the MAASTER scheme on the M551?

MJH

Where is the turret basket though? Academy's M551 Nam version had a really nice one.

I can't understand why Tamiya has not included one. All Nam versions had them (from all the pics I have seen).

Anybody got plans for the MAASTER scheme on the M551?

MJH

I'm looking forward to scratch building the rack, can make any design found in historical photos.

The downloadable high res pics in this link of Germany based M551s in MASSTER should be good enough to re-create an accurate scheme.

David, looking closely at photos of the built-up kit it looks like there are clear parts for the headlights and the driver's periscopes. They can be seen on photos of the gray plastic or gray primered one. I think it looks like a slick little kit of an important vehicle. I do hope a Desert Storm vehicle follows this one. I also can't wait for someone to do a full review of the vehicle to see if it addresses the shortcomings in the shape of the old Tamiya and newer Academy models.

Regards,

Eric

Tamiya's new type 16 has a nice size sprue of clear item. This one should too.

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I'm looking forward to scratch building the rack, can make any design found in historical photos.

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I was in 2/11 ACR from '76-'80, when we transitioned to the M60A3. None of our M551s had anything but the standard rack, as far as I can remember. So you should check your sources, time periods and units before "cutting up" your kit. On the other hand, many of our M60A1s in the Tank Company had a "47 box" added (the cargo box from an M-47--which we had "commandeered" from a train load of French M-47s that had come in as targets at Grafenwhor). But as far as I remember, we were not allowed to mod the cargo racks on the Sheridan (one reason I remember this is because it was always a struggle to get all our gear on the tank-- and in many cases we were allowed an extra bag on the accompanying scout tracks. It had something to do with the turn-in criteria for V Corps and USAREUR. I also don't remember any mods at Fort Knox on the training M551s. Mods during VN for all units were common though.
VR, Russ

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very good figures:-)

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Very good, indeed! Thanks for the pictures, Kiyoshi. Tamiya has come a long way since the days of undersized, under-detailed, laughable figures...