U.S M4A1 DV

[Vincent Power]

You love these rusted vehicles Vincent.

Looks like you also had a fast build.

Shawn

I sure do Shawn. I like all the different textures and finishes you get on a rusty abandoned vehicle as well as all the different techniques you can use to model them.
More importantly though, I reckon it's fun!

Vincent

[Vincent Power]

I got a nice surprise when I got home from work

Skeleton tracks!!

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I had to have a look

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and of course I couldn't resist trying them out. The plastic is soft so clean up is simple.
A couple of swipes with a sanding stick and you are done. The fit of the track bars into the connectors is positive
and once they are together they are workable. Delicate for sure, but workable. This section took about 5 mins.
and here is how they look around the sprocket. Nice fit I reckon.

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Overall I'm very happy with them. Well done Panda Plastics.

Cheers,
Vincent

[Mark Aldrich]

Vincent,
I only met one Sherman I did not like. The old Nichimo kit!

[Gary Boxall]

Interesting way to mount the tracks

Gary

[Vincent Power]

Thanks Gary. Now it's become really obvious that I don't know anything about Shermans

Vincent

[Vincent Power]

Vincent,
I only met one Sherman I did not like. The old Nichimo kit!

I'll steer clear of that one if I see it Mark

Vincent

[Gary Boxall]

Thanks Gary. Now it's become really obvious that I don't know anything about Shermans

Vincent

Gary

[Vincent Power]

Take 2

This is what the tracks look like around the sprocket

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Got it right this time

Now I need some help........No, not that sort of help.
At the risk of showing my Sherman ignorance once again, can anybody tell me what these little bar-bell type things are (labeled MA17) and what they do?

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The instructions show these in place along with the straps around the tools but they are not clear how they are supposed to fit.

instructions not clear

whats this 2.jpg (78.51 KiB) Viewed 601 times

Can anyone shed some light on how the straps and these things go together?

Cheers,
Vincent

[Philipp Gross]

Ah, our all-time favourite when it comes to instructions...and fiddly photoetch....

On the real thing these little metal straps would be welded onto the hull to hold the letather straps in place which in turn hold the tools. There is absolutely no sane reason for Dragon to provide these as separate parts, unless you really want to have a stripped down tank with no fittings left. Or, in your case, a burned tank, where they would be very helpful if lead wire weren't so much easier to use

Here's one photo of an empty shovel bracket, I hope that makes it somewhat clear...

Philipp

[John Everett]

I'm with Phillipp. Ditch the brass; go with lead wire or even paper or tape.