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M4A1 Duplex Drive
gastec
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 08:45 AM UTC
Last year, I was lucky enough for my wife to buy me Resicast's M4A1 DD kit. It sat in the stash for a while until constant reminders from the wife as to whether I was going to build it saw it move to the workbench last month.

I'm not a huge fan of resin, I have to confess (give me PE any day!), so there was a certain amount of trepidation with the build. I ended up making a lot of changes due to the hull and turret being copied from an inaccurate original (possible an older DML kit) - especially the hull.
I had a Eduard (Tasca/Asuka) M4A1 kit in the stash so decided to use that along with Bronco T54E1 workable track links, an assortment of spare PE, brass rod and Evergreen styrene etc.
The flotation screen needed a fair bit of filler as it was designed around a larger hull, but nothing too major. I redid the nose and bow parts to include better detail. The .30 cal barrels are from Aber while RB Model provided the 75mm gun tube.
Some resin parts were rebuilt from scratch or replaced with brass rod/wire. A tricky build in places, but worth the extra effort IMHO. Painting will need to wait a while as we're due to move house in a few months but here are some pics in the meantime. Any comments on what I've missed or could be improved upon are welcomed...































For anyone wanting more details, you can see the full build blog here - http://www.plasticarmour.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=664

Gary
ppawlak1
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: March 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,973 posts
Armorama: 1,843 posts
Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 08:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Last year, I was lucky enough for my wife to buy me Resicast's M4A1 DD kit. It sat in the stash for a while until constant reminders from the wife as to whether I was going to build it saw it move to the workbench last month.

I'm not a huge fan of resin, I have to confess (give me PE any day!), so there was a certain amount of trepidation with the build. I ended up making a lot of changes due to the hull and turret being copied from an inaccurate original (possible an older DML kit) - especially the hull.
I had a Eduard (Tasca/Asuka) M4A1 kit in the stash so decided to use that along with Bronco T54E1 workable track links, an assortment of spare PE, brass rod and Evergreen styrene etc.
The flotation screen needed a fair bit of filler as it was designed around a larger hull, but nothing too major. I redid the nose and bow parts to include better detail. The .30 cal barrels are from Aber while RB Model provided the 75mm gun tube.
Some resin parts were rebuilt from scratch or replaced with brass rod/wire. A tricky build in places, but worth the extra effort IMHO. Painting will need to wait a while as we're due to move house in a few months but here are some pics in the meantime. Any comments on what I've missed or could be improved upon are welcomed...































For anyone wanting more details, you can see the full build blog here - http://www.plasticarmour.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=664

Gary



Great work Gary,

I was thinking about a project along these lines too.

You've done very well.

I wish a AM company produced the conversion for a tasca kit, or even better, we got a plastic DD Sherman.

I've subscribed to your thread, good luck !
OddBall84
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Netherlands
Joined: May 20, 2015
KitMaker: 335 posts
Armorama: 266 posts
Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 11:26 AM UTC
Absolutely great work, looks good. Funny seeing that you glued the end links to the pivots first because after struggling for most of yesterday to assemble my T54E1's that is what I am deciding to do for the remainder as well as putting them on a length of square something. Did you glue all of them in place or are both track lengths fully workable?
gastec
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 12:27 PM UTC
Thanks gents

Willem - both sides are fully workable. I always glue the end connectors on first with the Bronco sets. Makes life much easier. I use a piece of square wood as a jig...



Gary
lancew
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: April 15, 2006
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 9 posts
Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 01:47 PM UTC
Hi Gary

Another inspirational build of an extremely attractive subject which I hope I can see in the flesh one day.

You asked for comment and the Shermanoholic in me raised its ugly head. The only thing that I would want to change is the drive sprocket. You appear to have used a Chrysler sprocket which is typical of DD’s based on an M4A4/Sherman V. The thing is that Chrysler never built M4A1's so the only way they would be fitted to one would be in a repair shop.

Tasca give 3 sprocket options of which the plain type is the most commonly seen on M4A1’s. I have seen at least one photo of M4A1 DD fitted with the original 'frilly' sprocket which is another option but I have yet to see a photo that clearly shows the Chrysler type fitted.

Cheers Lance
gastec
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Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: February 03, 2014
KitMaker: 1,042 posts
Armorama: 871 posts
Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 02:51 PM UTC
Hi Lance

Glad you could drop by The sprocket is an easy fix and I have several spares so not an issue....



Coincidentally, I'm about to embark on an M4A4 based version so the redundant drive sprockets will be used there

Gary
iakarch
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Louisiana, United States
Joined: May 19, 2007
KitMaker: 459 posts
Armorama: 421 posts
Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 03:17 PM UTC
Gary,

Beautiful build! I'm looking at your build log now, i've been interested in getting the conversion for some time and now i just have to get it.
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