Eduard M4A1 Sherman

[Second Air Force]

Here, for review, is the Eduard Sherman:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

First step was to begin lower hull construction. Here the rear hull vertical face and one air cleaner assembly have already been fitted. This is very straightforward and the fit is excellent:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

Eduard has seen fit to include an excellent PE sheet with this kit. For the version I'm building, however, the sand shields and PE fenders will not be used....:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

And, of course, I had to test-fit the primary elements to get a feel for the project. So far, everything looks like a near-perfect fit!

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

[No.1]

This will be pleasure to watch

[draken35]

[mfg495]

 

[Second Air Force]

Thanks for the encouragement, friends! Even though my updates have been very slow in coming, it isn't a fault of the kit. This is a very enjoyable model to build, time has been lacking on my part...... Some small steps have gone forward. First is the finishing of the three-piece transmission/final drive/forward hull. Even though I'm using the bolt-together style, the kit also includes the one-piece casting used on many Sherman versions:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

Next up was to trial-fit a bogie set. This is quite a treat as it actually is articulated much like the real tank and the three small black rubber "biscuits" provide spring action. On the left, all the parts that go into one bogie set, on the right a completed unit:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

Then the turret was substantially completed. Only a few small brackets still need to be added before painting can start here:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

[No.1]

Painting started? Who say 'slow'?

[modellius]

nice, very nice

[Second Air Force]

Eduard made a great choice in using the Tasca molds for this kit, in my opinion. The bogie units are a bit complicated to assemble but everything else is simply a dream.

No.1, it seems very slow on my side--This could easily be built in a couple of days by a determined modeler!

[No.1]

Just relax, you do it best you can. When make final conclusion, note that kit is easy to build

[draken35]

Good work anyway!

[Second Air Force]

We have been "under the weather" here for the last week or so--a cold or influenza, or both, has hit our house. Nevertheless I've felt well enough to make some small progress on this machine, mostly in line with painting. First off I decided early on to paint the road wheel tires in black at the beginning so these were painted. Next step was to figure out how to paint each suspension bogie assembly. The decision was made to assemble them completely and tape them together, then paint each unit. After drying, all were disassembled so the wheels could be added. In the second photo you can see the three rubber "springs" that are inserted in each bogie to give the wheels the correct spring action and articulation. This is really quite a genius engineering device, and makes it possible to adjust the ride height by subtracting rubber sections for heavily laden tanks:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

After all six bogie assemblies were finished, it was time to fit some wheels to a partially finished track:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

[No.1]

I am always impressed with crisp look of your parts, like in catalog!!

[Second Air Force]

This kit has fantastic molding and such crisp detail! I feel almost like I'm working on the real tank at times!

[modellius]

nice !

[Second Air Force]

Back to the hull and adding of the pioneer tools stowage brackets, from the excellent PE sheet provided by Eduard:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

Then I installed each tool as test-fit, these go into place just like 1/1 scale. The kit PE even provides the leather straps with buckle to secure the tools! Also, four U.S. 5 gallon cans, two for gasoline and two for water, with correct caps and the water cans even have the embossed lettering under the handles!

Eduard M4A1 Sherman

After the PE was satisfactory it became time for some olive drab:

Eduard M4A1 Sherman