ford 369 Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 now I have seen how to do it all I have got to do is find a tank and away we go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antony Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Here are a couple of pictures of the finished article! Antony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Amazing work. Looks awesome and I bet it sounds it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted December 31, 2008 Author Share Posted December 31, 2008 The finishing touches are of course all the stowage, markings and such. I enjoy making the vehicle as complete as possible and the challenge of finding all of the correct stowage items makes it an ongoing task. The British Army published very comprehensive stowage charts and lists, what today would be known as CES. Finding these items 60 years on is interesting to say the least. Some things are almost impossible to find and I resorted to making them. Things like stowage bins and particularly the 4" bomb throwers on the side of the turret. These used a .303 balistite blank to project a smoke bomb and were fitted to early Shermans before the 2" bomb thrower became a standard fit in the turret. The stowage bins consisted of a turret bin for greatcoats and blankets, the rear bin for mainly track tools and the box for the 'First aid box, small'. These were all copied from original boxes, except the turret bin which was partly interpolated from the existing mountings and partly from photographs. There is a lot in a tank, some of which can be seen in the following pics. Since these were taken, I have managed to fill a few more of the obvious gaps. The 75mm rounds are all wooden projectiles in original cases. The total compliment is 97 rounds but not all are readily visible so I will restrict it to about 35. As an illustration as to the difficulties of finding some parts, the Sherman has two 4lb extinguishers fitted internally. They are a distinctive Kidde design with a pistol grip and are very hard to find now, when you do, they can be very expensive. I found my first one in Australia and had to post it home as I couldn't get it on an aircraft and the second came from the USA via ebay. The seller woudn't post it out of the US so it had to go to my sister who then sent it DHL, the US post office refusing to send it! Finally, she made her first rally, Debach 2004. Driving around the remaining perimeter tracks made all the hard work worthwhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Adrian, did you have to make the rubber pads fro the tracks or are they readily available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Adrian ! No doubt about it ! Your Sherman is indeed a "mighty fine thing" thanks for sharing the restoration process with us ! I'm looking forward to your next one ! :bow::bow::bow: Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Adrian, I remember you in 2004 chasing me up the perimeter track in the Sherman while I was hanging out of the back of the car carrying my P-47 back from the runway. My driver didn't see you rapidly approaching and continued to plod along carefully so as not to damage the plane. I was hoping you were familiar with the controls!!! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abn deuce Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Wasn't there also on the rear of the Sherman's , perhaps not all ? a box containing a phone hand set for infantry to talk with the tank crew , to direct them , while they stay button up while under fire ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Wasn't there also on the rear of the Sherman's , perhaps not all ? a box containing a phone hand set for infantry to talk with the tank crew , to direct them , while they stay button up while under fire ? Not initially, it was an addition after the difficulties of communication in action came to be realised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Not initially, it was an addition after the difficulties of communication in action came to be realised. In the Bocage I believe Degsy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Yes I think you're right there Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share Posted January 1, 2009 Mark, the tracks are original nos. When I bought them, in about 1992, they were easy to find, not so now! Nobody is currently making T51 flat rubber track afaik. Joop Stamen has commisioned some new T47 rubber chevron though I imagine it is a lot of money. I am intending to put my Sherman on to steel chevron in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Does that mean you cannot drive on public highways in case of damage to the surface ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share Posted January 1, 2009 Rubber can do more harm than steel if it's warm. In theory, you would be liable to pay for any damage done but unless you do aggressive or neutral turns, tanks generally only seem to mark the road surface and it soon weathers away. On a hot day, rubber will grip the surface and tear it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazungumagic Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 (edited) Wasn't there also on the rear of the Sherman's , perhaps not all ? a box containing a phone hand set for infantry to talk with the tank crew , to direct them , while they stay button up while under fire ? This is a pic of the one in the USMC Museum at Quantico. Once you've finished looking at the tank telephone, have a look at the front RH track. I found the exhibits in this newish museum to be just a little different - the curator here has put some thought/life into the displays. Jack Edited January 1, 2009 by mazungumagic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share Posted January 1, 2009 That's an early M4A3 rebuilt with a later turret. Not uncommon in the US but very rare in Europe. Nice display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Adrian, Do you have any photos of the Cromwell listed in your signature? Is it currently in a similar condition to the Sherman when you first brought it home, or is it 'on the way' to being completed? It would be nice to see a photo.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 Alastair, I'll scan a pic in to show you it's current state but at the moment she is waiting her turn! It's not in too bad a condition, certainly nothing like the Sherman was but still needs full restoration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoelH Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 (edited) Have passed this link around (alot) and everyone I showed was amazed at the work that went into restoring the Sherman, I believe my best bits of your posts was the posts concerning the engine. Cannot wait to see what you can do with you final project. Edited January 24, 2009 by JoelH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Not suew what has happened but this thread is been viewed but hundreds today! Will check in the morning as somewhere a link has been put to this thread somewhere in the world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 That was me Jack! A chap on the Allied group on Missing Lynx was asking for interior shots of M4A4, never one to hide in the shadows, I thought I would direct him here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 (edited) That was me Jack! A chap on the Allied group on Missing Lynx was asking for interior shots of M4A4, never one to hide in the shadows, I thought I would direct him here! Extra mug of Cocoa for you tonight Adrian Edited January 10, 2010 by Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 Extra mug of Coco for you tonight Adrian Blimey, entry into the elite clubhouse and now extra cocoa.......what a week this has been! I hope it doesn't go to my head.....:angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bedford Boys Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Just read this entire thread from start to finish. :bow::bow::bow::bow::bow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphibi boy Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 i've also just read it all, :wow: amazing work and huge congratulations on a beautiful job! also, i know here in belgium at the tank museum they have a multibank sherman, and it runs, they brought it to "wings and wheels" show, at ursel airfield, last year. thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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