Pete's M4A2 Sherman Russian Army

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:06 pm

I'm going to be build this M4A2 Sherman Russian Army.

Thank you for looking
Pete

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 6:18 pm

Some history and background info.

Company: Academy
M4A2 Sherman Russian Army
Catalogue13010
Scale1-35
Contents
* A (55 parts) - VVSS suspension with early and mid-production track guards, spoked or welded-cover road wheels, and two types of drivers
* C (61 parts) - Late production ("47 degree") hull details
* D (47 parts) – .30 and .50 machine guns, ammo boxes, OVM tools
* E (32 parts) – 76mm ("T23") turret with oval loader's hatch details
* F (17 parts) - M4A2 engine deck and exhaust details
* H (216 parts) - detail sprue with casting details, jerry cans, spare tracks, wheels and shackles
* I (33 parts) - "T23" type 76mm cast turret with oval loader's hatch
The kit comes with a lot of details, such as three-part periscopes, separate sections for the late-model canvas mantlet shroud, petite hand-holds, and a nice set of machine guns.
The M4 and M4A2 shared a lot of basic hull components and fittings, and one of them was the fact that they both had an upper rear plate set at 10 degrees from vertical. The kit comes with the correct shape plate for the A2, but set at 0 degrees – dead vertical. This is correctable, but will require cutting off the entire rear plate, shimming the sides out about 1mm or so, and then filling and filing to get a good fit. Considering how difficult it is to "pull" vertical parts from an injection mold – and doing it right could have yielded a "universal" M4/M4A2 hull that would only have needed new upper rear plates, this is plain dumb.
The kit also keeps the lower wading trunk parts from the M10 GMC series with this kit; these are parts F10, F11, and F12, and can be left off. The Soviets do not appear to have ever tried to wade this tank, and as such I don't believe they ever got the trunking.
The model comes with a set of T51 irreversible rubber block tracks, but the Soviets preferred the T49 triple-cleat cast steel ones for use.
The other thing is that the Soviets really believed in kitting out the tank, and as a result Loza's photos and the jacket cover show the tanks festooned with many Soviet "Must Have" items, such as unditching logs, 200 liter (55 gallon) fuel drums, extra tracks, etc. but few boxes and tarpaulins like the Americans.
Decals are included for three different tanks: one in Berlin in May 1945, one in Germany in 1945 with the slogan "Vpered K Pobede!" (Forward to Victory!) on its side, and one from Loza's 1st Battalion, 46th Guards Tank Brigade in Vienna, April 1945 (it says Berlin but the photo and the book say otherwise.)

Lend-Lease Sherman tanks
The United States provided tens of thousands of its Medium Tank M4, also named the Sherman, to many of its Allies during the Second World War, under the terms of Lend-Lease.

USSR
The Soviet Union's nickname for the M4 medium tank was Emcha because the open-topped figure 4 resembled the Cyrillic letter che or cha . The M4A2s used by the Red Army were considered to be much less prone to blow up due to ammunition detonation than the T-34 (T-34-76), but tended to overturn in road collisions because of its much higher center of gravity.
A total of 4,102 M4A2 medium tanks were sent to the U.S.S.R. under Lend-Lease. Of these, 2,007 were equipped with the 75 mm gun, and 2,095 carried the 76 mm gun. The total number of Sherman tanks sent to the U.S.S.R. under Lend-Lease represented 18.6% of all Lend-Lease Shermans.
The first 76-mm-armed Shermans started to arrive in Soviet Union in late summer of 1944.In 1945, some units were standardized to depend mostly on them, and not on the ubiquitous T-34: 1st Guards Mechanized Corps, 3rd Guards Mechanized Corps, and 9th Guards Mechanized Corps.

The 1st Guards 'Vienna' Order of Lenin Order of Kutuzov Mechanized Corps was a Red Army armoured formation that saw service during World War II on the Eastern Front .Depending on the specific tasks allotted to the Corps, units from the Reserve of the Supreme High.
Command (Stavka reserve) could be added to help it achieve its mission. When the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps returned to the front in January 1945, its tank formations were completely equipped with American M4A2 Sherman Lend-Lease tanks.

The 9th Guards Motor Rifle Division was a Soviet Army unit initially formed as a tank corps in April 1942. In the same year, it was then formed as a mechanized corps in November 1942. This unit then became a Guards mechanized corps in September 1944 .The 9th Guards Mechanized Corps was notable for its use of U.S. lend-lease M4 Sherman tanks during 1944-45

The Soviet Union received three American Medium tank types in large numbers. They received the Lee, and M4A2 75 and 76 tanks. Only the UK would use more M4A2 tanks, though they received only five armed with the 76mm gun, they got far more of the 75mm armed M4A2s. The Soviets also received a pair of M4A4 tanks for evaluation, but rejected them because of the motor. My impression from the things I’ve read says, they liked the all of them, well not the A4, but liked the Shermans more than the Lee.

The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most numerous battle tank used by the United States and some of the other Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce and available in great numbers. Thousands were distributed through the Lend-Lease program to the British Commonwealth and Soviet Union. The tank was named by the British for the American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman.
The M4 Sherman evolved from the interim M3 Medium Tank,[ which had its main armament in a side sponson mount. The M4 retained much of the previous mechanical design, but put the main 75 mm gun in a fully traversing turret. One feature, a one-axis gyrostabilizer, was not precise enough to allow firing when moving but did help keep the reticle on target, so that when the tank did stop to fire, the gun would be aimed in roughly the right direction.[The designers stressed mechanical reliability, ease of production and maintenance, durability, standardization of parts and ammunition in a limited number of variants, and moderate size and weight. These factors, combined with the Sherman's then-superior armor and armament, outclassed German light and medium tanks of 1939–42. The M4 went on to be produced in large numbers. It spearheaded many offensives by the Western Allies after 1942.
When the M4 tank went into combat in North Africa with the British Army at El Alamein in the autumn of 1942, it increased the advantage of Allied armor over German armor and was superior to the lighter German long-barrel 50 mm-gunned Panzer III and the short-barrel 75 mm-gunned Panzer IV then in service. For this reason, the US Army believed that the M4 would be adequate to win the war, and no pressure was exerted for further tank development. Logistical and transport restrictions, such as limitations imposed by roads, ports, and bridges, also complicated the introduction of a more capable but heavier tank.Tank destroyer battalions using vehicles built on the M4 hull and chassis, but with open-topped turrets and more potent high-velocity guns, also entered widespread use in the Allied armies. Even by 1944, most M4 Shermans kept their dual purpose 75 mm M3. By 1944, the M4 was inferior to German heavy tanks, but was able to fight on with mutual support from numerical superiority and with support from growing numbers of fighter-bombers and artillery pieces.
The relative ease of production allowed huge numbers of the M4 to be manufactured, and significant investment in tank recovery and repair units allowed disabled vehicles to be repaired and returned to service. These factors combined to give the Allies numerical superiority in most battles, and many infantry divisions were provided with M4s and tank destroyers.A M4A3E8 variant was introduced, with improved suspension and a high-velocity 76 mm gun as used on the tank destroyers.

After World War II, the Sherman, often in updated versions, saw combat in many conflicts, including the Korean War, the Arab-Israeli Wars, and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

U.S. production history
The first production began with the Lima Locomotive Works on the assembly line set for tanks for British use. The first production Sherman was given over to the US Army for evaluation and it was the second tank of the British order that went to London. Named Michael probably after Michael Dewar, head of the British tank mission in the U.S., it was displayed in London and is now an exhibit at The Tank Museum, Bovington, UK.
In World War II, the U.S. Army ultimately fielded 16 armored divisions, along with 70 independent tank battalions, while the U.S. Marine Corps fielded six independent Sherman tank battalions. A third of all Army tank battalions, and all six Marine tank battalions, were deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO).Prior to September 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had announced a production program calling for 120,000 tanks for the Allied war effort, which would have created 61 armored divisions.[citation needed] Although the American industrial complex was not affected by enemy aerial bombing nor submarine warfare as was Japan, Germany and, to a lesser degree, Great Britain, an enormous amount of steel for tank production had been diverted to the construction of warships and other naval vessels.[21] Steel used in naval construction amounted to the equivalent of approximately 67,000 tanks; and consequently only about 53,500 tanks were produced during 1942 and 1943.
The Army had seven main sub-designations for M4 variants during production: M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A3, M4A4, M4A5, and M4A6. These designations did not necessarily indicate linear improvement. For example, A4 did not indicate it was better than an A3. These sub-types indicated standardized production variations, which were in fact often manufactured concurrently at different locations. The sub-types differed mainly in engines, although the M4A1 differed from the other variants by its fully cast upper hull, with a distinctive rounded appearance. The M4A4 had a longer engine system that required a longer hull and more track blocks, and thus the most distinguishing feature of the A4 was the wider longitudinal spacing between the bogies. M4A5 was an administrative placeholder designation for Canadian production. The M4A6 had a diesel engine and elongated chassis, but fewer than 100 of these were ever produced.

While most Shermans ran on gasoline, the M4A2 and M4A6 had diesel engines. The M4A2 was powered by a pair of GMC 6–71 two-stroke straight six engines,[23] the M4A6 using a Caterpillar D-200 radial producing some 450 hp (340 kW) at 2,000 rpm, adapted from the "RD-1820" experimental diesel version of Wright Aeronautical's mass-produced Cyclone 9 aviation radial.These, plus the M4A4, which used the Chrysler A57 multibank engine, were mostly supplied to other Allied countries under Lend-Lease. "M4" can refer specifically to the initial sub-type with its Continental radial engine (R-975), or generically, to the entire family of seven Sherman sub-types, depending on context. Many details of production, shape, strength, and performance improved while in production, without a change to the tank's basic model number. These included more durable suspension units, safer "wet" (W) ammunition stowage, and stronger armor arrangements, such as the M4 Composite, which had a cast front hull section mated to a welded rear hull. British nomenclature differed from that employed by the U.S.
A 24-volt electrical system was used in the M4
Early Shermans mounted a 75mm medium-velocity general-purpose gun. Although Ordnance began work on the Medium Tank T20 as a Sherman replacement, ultimately the Army decided to minimize production disruption by incorporating elements of other tank designs into the Sherman. Later M4A1, M4A2, and M4A3 models received the larger T23 turret with a high-velocity 76 mm M1 gun, which reduced the number of high-explosive and smoke rounds carried and increased the number of anti-tank rounds. Later, the M4 and M4A3 were factory-produced with a 105 mm howitzer and a distinctive mantlet, which surrounded the main gun, on the turret. The first standard-production 76 mm gun Sherman was an M4A1, accepted in January 1944, which first saw combat in July 1944.during Operation Cobra. The first standard-production 105 mm howitzer Sherman was an M4 accepted in February 1944.
In June–July 1944, the Army accepted a limited run of 254 M4A3E2 Jumbo Shermans, which had very thick hull armor and the 75 mm gun in a new, heavier T23-style turret, in order to assault fortifications. The M4A3 was the first to be factory-produced with the option of the horizontal volute spring suspension (HVSS) system, with wider tracks to distribute weight, and the smooth ride of the HVSS. Its experimental E8 designation led to the nickname "Easy Eight" for Shermans so equipped. Both the Americans and the British developed a wide array of special attachments for the Sherman, although few saw combat, remaining experimental. Those that saw action included the bulldozer blade for the Sherman dozer tanks, Duplex Drive for amphibious Sherman tanks, R3 flamethrower for Zippo flame tanks, and the T34 60-tube Calliope 4.5" rocket launcher mountable atop the Sherman's turret. The British variants (DDs and mine flails) formed part of the group of specialized vehicles collectively known as "Hobart's Funnies" (after Percy Hobart, commander of the 79th Armoured Division).
The M4 Sherman's basic chassis was used for all the sundry roles of a modern mechanized force: roughly 50,000 Sherman tanks, plus thousands more derivative vehicles under different model numbers. These included the M10 Wolverine and M36 tank destroyers; M7B1, M12, M40, and M43 self-propelled artillery; the M32 and M74 "tow truck"-style recovery tanks with winches, booms, and an 81 mm mortar for smoke screens; and the M34 (from M32B1) and M35 (from M10A1) artillery prime movers
The Sherman was extensively supplied through Lend-Lease to Britain, the Soviet Union and the Free French. Britain received 17,287 Shermans of various models. The Soviet Union received 4,035 M4A2 Shermans. The Free French was the third largest recipient, taking 657 Shermans 1943-1944. 57 Shermans were delivered to other nations

Thank you for looking.
Pete

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:28 pm

Just a few pictures of Russian Sherman's

Thank you for looking.
Pete

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:44 pm

Started with roadwheels and bogies

I'm going to add the missing rivets to the inner rims of the roadwheels.

Thinned down the track skids

Ready for assembly

Thank you for looking.
Pete

Kevthemodeller · Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:14 pm

Looking forward to this one Pete

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 5:40 am

Kevthemodeller wrote:Looking forward to this one Pete

Thanks Kev.
Pete

Post by **Tomcat64** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 3:16 pm

Another unusual subject for your collection Pete

Will be following this one with interest

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 4:10 pm

Tomcat64 wrote:Another unusual subject for your collection Pete

Will be following this one with interest

Hi Tom, I think your beginning to know me and my builds.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 4:47 pm

Started work on the lower hull

I'v added some lead weights.

A lot of the tank the Russian got had the rear wading exhaust stack extension still fit.

Thank you for looking.

chief5437 · Post by **chief5437** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:47 am

Blimey Pete, you've got a lot going on at the moment! Enjoy the builds buddy

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 5:43 am

chief5437 wrote:Blimey Pete, you've got a lot going on at the moment! Enjoy the builds buddy

Hi chief, yes I have got one or two thing going at the minute I seem'to have got my mojo back thing have kinder improved lately

,was in a bit of a dark place a while back

Nev · Post by **Nev** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 9:10 am

You're a star Pete and it's great seeing you build again

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Thu Jan 05, 2017 9:50 am

Nev wrote:You're a star Pete and it's great seeing you build again

That's a bit strong old boy

but thanks.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Fri Jan 06, 2017 12:57 pm

Started on the upper hull/engine deck.

Thank you for looking.

pourquoi61 · Post by **pourquoi61** » Fri Jan 06, 2017 11:10 pm

That's a shame.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Mon Jan 09, 2017 3:30 pm

Finish off the upper hull.

Added the tool, light and missing bolts/rivets etc

Removd this part as shown in white & skribed the front arrmor plate line thats missing

Made a start on the missing rivets on the wheel rims 144 to go

Thank you for looking.

Tiger213 · Post by **Tiger213** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 11:09 am

Very interesting topic, indeed, Pete.

I love the upgrades, keep posting... btw, the info you provided is excellent

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 4:15 pm

Tiger213 wrote:Very interesting topic, indeed, Pete.

I love the upgrades, keep posting... btw, the info you provided is excellent

Thank you very much, something a little bit different .

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 4:41 pm

Finish the wheel rivets

Made up the suspension, add some missing bolts that hole the track skids down and drilled the 4 holes

And it all works

Thank you for looking.

Bissyboat · Post by **Bissyboat** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 2:14 pm

Looking good.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:33 pm

Bissyboat wrote:Looking good.

Thank you

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:39 pm

Started work on the turret.

Fitted a metal barrel used the original muzzle brake.

The turret

Fitted a canvas cover between turret and mantel .

Thanks for looking.

Stokesy44 · Post by **Stokesy44** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 9:33 am

Looking good Squire.

Liking all the little extra greeblies.

Post by **Tomcat64** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 2:52 pm

That's coming together really well Pete - nice work, and like Stokesy said I really like the additions like the canvas cover for the mantle.

Nice job

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 4:26 pm

Stokesy44 wrote:Looking good Squire.

Liking all the little extra greeblies.

Thank you very much old boy

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 4:29 pm

Tomcat64 wrote:That's coming together really well Pete - nice work, and like Stokesy said I really like the additions like the canvas cover for the mantle.

Nice job

Thanks Tom,I'm trying my best

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 6:02 pm

Finish off the turret

Fitted canvas cover clips to the turret and the mantle.

Made straps for the rucksacks, and add some PE tie down.

Glued top and bottom hulls together.

Made up toe cable and added some stowage to front and rear.

Thank you for looking.

gaz45 · Post by **gaz45** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 2:25 pm

Great work there mate and a fast build

Kevthemodeller · Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 4:35 pm

[quote="privatepete"]Finish off the turret

Hi Pete can I ask where you got those little welded on handles the pack is hanging off from please, I struggled like buggery with the PE one on my kit

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 6:13 pm

Kevthemodeller wrote:
privatepete wrote:Finish off the turret

Hi Pete can I ask where you got those little welded on handles the pack is hanging off from please, I struggled like buggery with the PE one on my kit

Hi Kev , they are ABER 1/35 PE PHOTO-ETCHED TIE DOWN CLEATS.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ABER-1-35-PE- ... MBE%26ao%3

Kevthemodeller · Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 9:58 pm

Many thanks Pete

The ones in the Aber set I have don't have the flat ends to them real pain getting them to stick in place.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 10:32 pm

Kevthemodeller wrote:Many thanks Pete
The ones in the Aber set I have don't have the flat ends to them real pain getting them to stick in place.

Your

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 17, 2017 4:12 pm

Now on to the paint stage which I apologise in advance for Yes I use hairy sticks sorry.

Got the primer coat on.

Primered the tracks

Thank you for looking.

Bissyboat · Post by **Bissyboat** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 11:21 am

Nice progress on the Ronson mate.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 12:30 pm

Bissyboat wrote:Nice progress on the Ronson mate.

Thanks getting there slowly

spock1701 · Post by **spock1701** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 4:09 pm

Looks awesome, Pete! I hope my Sherman for this build ends up looking this good

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 4:55 pm

spock1701 wrote:Looks awesome, Pete! I hope my Sherman for this build ends up looking this good

Thanks I'm getting there slow, your one is coming together very nicely, the 105 mm is one of the variants I've still got to make so I'm watching your progress with interest , I like the scratch built tarpaulin came out really nice, I've got to make one too

Good luck with the rest of your build.

SergioSolo · Post by **SergioSolo** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 2:09 am

I think you're doing a great job. Keep it up!

OliveDrab · Post by **OliveDrab** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 3:05 am

Lovely work as usual

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:34 am

Sergiotron wrote:I think you're doing a great job. Keep it up!

Then you very much

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:39 am

OliveDrab wrote:Lovely work as usual

Hi Curt, thanks nice of you to say so

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Thu Jan 19, 2017 5:43 pm

Got the main colour on.

I apologise Yes I use hairy sticks sorry.

The you for looking.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 4:49 pm

Hi got wheels, details, decal done.

Thank you for looking.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 4:51 pm

Got the first wash on.

Rough mockup

Thank you for looking.

Bissyboat · Post by **Bissyboat** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 4:54 pm

Nice look with the writing on the side.

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 5:23 pm

Bissyboat wrote:Nice look with the writing on the side.

Thank you

gaz45 · Post by **gaz45** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 11:19 am

looks great mate and a good job on the paintwork even with an hairy stick

privatepete · Post by **privatepete** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 11:47 am

gaz45 wrote:looks great mate and a good job on the paintwork even with an hairy stick

Thank you kind sir, how is your one coming a long?

Nev · Post by **Nev** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 1:04 pm

Love Ruskie Sherman's great job mate

StarFar · Post by **StarFar** » Wed Jan 25, 2017 1:18 pm

Your Sherman looks great, and fortunately decal manufacturer didn't make any errors in the russian words