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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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Building the Meng Sherman
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, October 12, 2019 - 09:51 AM UTC
Here's my build of Mengs M4A3 76W Sherman.
I intend to do a build similar to My RFM Sherman build.
This is going to take some time as I'm quite Busy lately.
Here's the Box Art.


Regards.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, October 12, 2019 - 11:13 AM UTC
I just found this on Squadron's Web Site.
It looks like there's another Sherman with Sand Bag Armor coming.
ctkwok
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Posted: Saturday, October 12, 2019 - 02:07 PM UTC
That's a resin sandbag add on for your Sherman, no tank included.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, October 12, 2019 - 09:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text

That's a resin sandbag add on for your Sherman, no tank included.


I just checked closer, With a price of slightly over $104 U.S. Dollars, I wonder if anyone will buy it. Not me for shure.
Donald
ctkwok
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Posted: Sunday, October 13, 2019 - 02:34 AM UTC
Checking scalenates it looks like it should be around $60 or so. It still costs more than the tank itself being resin and all, but not as outrageous as Squadron's.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Sunday, October 13, 2019 - 11:45 AM UTC
I have started construction.
First off you should check all your parts bags, I found the mounting shaft for the Drive Sprocket broken off. Luckily it was still in the bag. The bags were just stapled close, and it could have been last.

The Fronts, and Backs for the 2 types of wheels in the kit.

There are some fine lettering on the edge of the tires, this goes to the outside.

OldWarloke
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Posted: Sunday, October 13, 2019 - 11:50 AM UTC
Some of the Bogie parts.

I don't particulary like the springs, they work but aren't really
useful on a static model.


OldWarloke
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Posted: Sunday, October 13, 2019 - 11:57 AM UTC
I super Glued them to their mounts.

I'm shure that most of you know this, but make shure that the arms attached to the Springs go like so. otherwise they won't contact the swing arms with the wheels.


This is all I have for now.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 04:30 AM UTC
Here's how I assembled the Bogie Units.

You will need these pre- assembled sub assemblies .

You might have to trim slightly the ends of the shaft on the spring assembly to get the Front and backs to close tightly.




OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 04:40 AM UTC
Fit the first Wheel Unit (Note the direction of the tabs where it hinges )

Fit the other Wheel Unit.

The tabs on the units fit together.

Clamp and Glue Front and Back together.



Next to fill the seams and add the other details.
Finished for now.
Donald
russamotto
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 05:02 AM UTC
Thank you for the detail shots. It is always good to see how each manufacturer goes together.
rfbaer
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 05:56 AM UTC
Great shots, descriptions. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
barkingdigger
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ARMORAMA
#013
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 06:28 AM UTC
Those metal springs are an interesting twist on the Tasca-style suspension! How well do they perform?

(Great weathering on those clothes-pegs, by the way... )
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 09:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Those metal springs are an interesting twist on the Tasca-style suspension! How well do they perform?

(Great weathering on those clothes-pegs, by the way... )


They work ok as far as articulating the suspension goes, they are a pain to get super glued to their mounts as the opening in their small end is larger than the post they glue to.
Donald
TankManNick
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 09:32 AM UTC
Suspension sure is a different twist, though somewhat fiddly for a static model. Good to have choices though. I'm thinking a repair dio might benefit from that spring detail.
m4sherman
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 10:31 AM UTC
I left the springs loose, no glue. I also found the rods to the road wheels would separate and ended up carefully gluing the ends. This was only after a spring test caused the ends to slip out.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, October 14, 2019 - 12:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I left the springs loose, no glue. I also found the rods to the road wheels would separate and ended up carefully gluing the ends. This was only after a spring test caused the ends to slip out.


Thanks, I forgot to mention this for assembling the Wheel units.
I glued the Springs to their mounts to ease the assembly that much less loose pieces to fall out during assembly.
It works either way.
Regards.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 12:50 AM UTC
Now to finish up the assembly.
There are some small Bolt Heads on sprue. B

I used some of them to detail the inside of the Track Skids.

Here's a Pic. from the Son of Sherman Book showing the Mounting Holes that are on the sides of the Bogies.

OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 12:56 AM UTC
I marked the sides and partialy drilled them out.

The holes looked a little big, but after clean up look better.

Here's what the Track Skid looks like from the inside, this can be seen from the outside when viewed at the right angle.

Next to start on the lower hull.
Donald
tangodown
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Posted: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 02:17 AM UTC
I have this kit in the pipeline, I'll be following your progress. Great work so far.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 09:28 PM UTC
I have the basic Hull parts assembled.
I removed the sponson bottoms from the lower hull and attached them to the upper hull.

Of course I did that before adding all the other parts.
Here they are test fitted together.
I left out the Firewall it's slightly detailed but not needed unless you have an interior.

There's a slight seam that will be behind the Track and won't be seen.

OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 09:36 PM UTC

I always do this on Sherman kits as getting the Track on is a lot easier.
Test fitting one of the Bogies.


That's all for now.
Donald
TopSmith
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Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 - 05:36 AM UTC
At least to this point in the build, do you find RFM or Meng to be the better kit or is more apples and oranges?
OldWarloke
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Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 - 08:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

At least to this point in the build, do you find RFM or Meng to be the better kit or is more apples and oranges?


So far I think the Meng kit has a little better detailing and I didn't have to cut the Sponson Floors off of the lower Hull. Hey it's just the easier way for me to install the track when I get to it.
Regards.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 - 08:47 AM UTC
A few more fidely bits installed.

There are 2 different outer tow lugs that go on the lower front Hull which one you use depends on if you are using the small step that's on some Shermans



They aren't mentioned in the instructions, They are Parts C49 & C50
They go as shown below.
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