Scammell4199 Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 It may have already been mentioned, but are there any surviving M4A6s? Richard Quote
Adrian Barrell Posted March 6, 2015 Author Posted March 6, 2015 Richard, as far as is known, no. There was one on duty as a gate guard somewhere but is long gone I believe. I now stand by to be proved wrong.... Quote
jdmcm Posted March 7, 2015 Posted March 7, 2015 People have been wondering about the "Jumbo" so here is a brief update...I have to thank Don Moriarty for his help, turns out while preparing the tank for export to Canada from the USA, the serial number was is in fact #50398, making this Jumbo # 73, built June 1944. It would have carried US Reg # 3082995. So now she is nicknamed "old # 73". In January of this year we loaded her on an appropriate camo painted low loader and brought her north to Canada where she now resides. I am confident in saying that it is the only M4A3E2 Assault Tank in Canada...go figure. She now sits at the our shop awaiting her turn behind the M4A2, M4A3, M50 and the Stuart...Parts gathering continues and the Littlefield auction was a huge help in the right direction...not only did we get a ton of great Sherman parts, there were plenty of Jumbo parts that were either duplicates or cast off from Jacques Jumbo...We now have enough NOS parts to build 3 or 4 GAA's including NOS cylinder heads, carbs, magneto's etc. As well enough NOS wiring for M4A3's to sink a battleship...So as she sits and waits we collect parts and search for photos bearing the US 3082995 reg. number, how fantastic it would be to find a picture of her in the ETO. Any help from the keen eyes in the crowd would be most appreciated... Quote
Scammell4199 Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Richard, as far as is known, no. There was one on duty as a gate guard somewhere but is long gone I believe. I now stand by to be proved wrong.... Adrian, that's a shame. Would have been ace to see the full set running one day. People have been wondering about the "Jumbo" so here is a brief update...I have to thank Don Moriarty for his help, turns out while preparing the tank for export to Canada from the USA, the serial number was is in fact #50398, making this Jumbo # 73, built June 1944. It would have carried US Reg # 3082995. So now she is nicknamed "old # 73". In January of this year we loaded her on an appropriate camo painted low loader and brought her north to Canada where she now resides. I am confident in saying that it is the only M4A3E2 Assault Tank in Canada...go figure. She now sits at the our shop awaiting her turn behind the M4A2, M4A3, M50 and the Stuart...Parts gathering continues and the Littlefield auction was a huge help in the right direction...not only did we get a ton of great Sherman parts, there were plenty of Jumbo parts that were either duplicates or cast off from Jacques Jumbo...We now have enough NOS parts to build 3 or 4 GAA's including NOS cylinder heads, carbs, magneto's etc. As well enough NOS wiring for M4A3's to sink a battleship...So as she sits and waits we collect parts and search for photos bearing the US 3082995 reg. number, how fantastic it would be to find a picture of her in the ETO. Any help from the keen eyes in the crowd would be most appreciated... Talking of the full set, sounds like you're well on your way jdmcm. Have you started on your other shermans? I'm sure we'd all like to see a blog. Richard Quote
jdmcm Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 It does seem whenever you are out hunting for tank parts you invariably come across tanks! Which you should, no, must take home with you. We have been making some progress, the M4A2 is in the re-assembly stage, engines have finally gone off to the shop for complete rebuild, rads are back and all four fuel tanks acid dipped and lined...so maybe this summer she might fire up...this is the one I have been after for years so I am in no rush. The M4A3 on the other hand was a complete disaster, thrown in for parts on the jumbo deal, I could not in good conscience scrap her, but had to take a crack at fixing her up of course! We have replaced a few sections of hull that were completely destroyed in her time on the range as well as all of her suspension. Being in the Pacific Northwest, VVSS is readily available in the form of former forestry machines built on Sherman chassis post-war. I have been very fortunate as well to come up with a pair of 75mm guns, both uncut, one for the A3 and one for the Jumbo. Currently have been working hard on the Stuart as well, want to have the tracks on by months end. The M50 turret is all set, came from a chap who decided to go back to WW2 turnout, the hull is a mismatch that was cut down and used as a crane by a local company who bought tons of Sherman stuff from Israel. Not a M4A4 hull, I suspect possibly M4A3 105mm. As for the jumbo, she is going to be a full on nut and bolt restoration that would make any rivet counter proud. My hope is that once we begin that tank it will be the only ongoing project, with my attention deficit disorder, that is the only chance we have got to getting it done in this century. Pictures of all to follow soon. Quote
Shermania84 Posted September 23, 2015 Posted September 23, 2015 People have been wondering about the "Jumbo" so here is a brief update...I have to thank Don Moriarty for his help Do I sense a movie tank reference here Quote
Shermania84 Posted September 23, 2015 Posted September 23, 2015 When you have time could I ask for a picture of the rearmost part of both sponson plates? Looking for the presence or absence of a weld seam running perpendicular to the vertical hull plate and a small round cover. I am fortunate to have one of the surviving Jumbo Shermans, it is need of total restoration but has been identified as #77 of the 254 built and carries serial # 50402 and according to Don Moriarty would have had USA registration # 3082999. It is featured on page 139 of Pat Ware's M4 Sherman workshop manual. She is in tough shape but after seeing what Roger Condron has been able to do with #254, I have hope that one day she will roll again. I have simply been aquiring parts for her for about 3 years including a low mile and running GAA,[ATTACH=CONFIG]82953[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]82954[/ATTACH] all NOS suspension as well as lots of internal and external parts. If anyone has info on the whereabouts of any "Jumbo" specific parts I would really appreciate the assistance. Quote
David Herbert Posted September 23, 2015 Posted September 23, 2015 The small round cover is the access to the fuel tank drain. David Quote
jdmcm Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 I will get some detailed pictures of the jumbo sponsons next time I get it uncovered Shermania Quote
Russell Glen Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 En route to visit friends, I always stop off at the town of Phalsbourg in the Ardennes This tank sits just off the roundabout can you tell me a little about the model ? I did notice the hatches underneath were open and it looks like local kids have climbed inside, not me I consider that bad manners Quote
Adrian Barrell Posted January 16, 2016 Author Posted January 16, 2016 It's an M4A3(75)W. Wet stowage for the ammo, hence no applique armour, late hull but still 75mm gun, though later high bustle turret. Bustle was raised to clear the larger hatches in the 56 degree hull. Mantlet is missing though! Quote
Jeeps_Guns_Tanks Posted January 17, 2016 Posted January 17, 2016 En route to visit friends, I always stop off at the town of Phalsbourg in the ArdennesThis tank sits just off the roundabout can you tell me a little about the model ? I did notice the hatches underneath were open and it looks like local kids have climbed inside, not me I consider that bad manners [ATTACH=CONFIG]111966[/ATTACH] Well, if kids got it, that means anything not firmly attached is long gone. Probably wasn't much left inside anyway, so hope they had current tetanus shots. Quote
John Comber Posted January 17, 2016 Posted January 17, 2016 Adrian, many thanks for taking the time to set this thread rolling , very informative, I have defiantly learned a great deal from this, well done. Quote
Old_ROF Posted January 18, 2016 Posted January 18, 2016 Adrian This is a picture of ten Sherman's at ROF Nottingham lined up outside the Admin building. We assume they were there having been converted with the 17 Pdr. ordnance. The number of the first vehicle here appears to be T255024. Another one of the vehicles seems to be T212519 from a picture taken inside the workshop itself. Unfortunately neither image we have is really sharp so the other numbers can't be read. These were scanned from various sources, including glass plate negatives, when the factory was closed down in 2000. You may be able to identify which variant they are. Quote
Jeeps_Guns_Tanks Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 The wheel spacing is close, so they are not A4s, the M4 is the only other Sherman converted to the Firefly so Firefly IC. Quote
Maurice Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 They are for sure Sherman VC , so converted M4A4`s 3 piece transmission housing also points in that direction , wheels on a IC are very close to each other. Quote
Adrian Barrell Posted January 19, 2016 Author Posted January 19, 2016 Maurice is correct, M4A4, Sherman VC. The first vehicle at least is an earlier production tank rebuilt by Chrysler with all later mods before being issued to Britain. It's likely most of those in the picture were the same. Nice picture, could you post any more? Quote
Packhow75 Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Mmm.... very nice picture... yes... more please! Must remember to add the wing mirror mount to mine when restored. Tim Edited January 19, 2016 by Packhow75 Quote
Adrian Barrell Posted January 19, 2016 Author Posted January 19, 2016 The wing mirror mount should be on yours Tim, it was a standard fit on all British Shermans. It is only a piece of flat with a 3/8 stud sticking out though so easy to sort! Quote
Maurice Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 Yes all wing mirror blocks are taken off Belgian Firefly`s , On mine I could also still see the stainless weld for it , Centurion`s have the same mount for that mirror , just shorter arm, so look for a wreck . Quote
Old_ROF Posted January 19, 2016 Posted January 19, 2016 OK here is the only other image we have of the vehicles, this time inside the main factory workshop. These were scans from old glass plate negs from what I remember so not of the best quality. Obviously long exposure time due to the light (lack of) from the blurred figures of the craftsmen. Quote
Adrian Barrell Posted January 20, 2016 Author Posted January 20, 2016 These tanks are likely from existing British stocks as they have no applique armour. Quote
jdmcm Posted June 8, 2016 Posted June 8, 2016 (edited) Jumbo #73 update...mocked together with standard differential and M62 mantlet to stand guard until restoration begins Edited June 9, 2016 by jdmcm Quote
Lauren Child Posted June 8, 2016 Posted June 8, 2016 (edited) Jumbo #73 update...mocked together with standard differential and T23 mantlet to stand guard until restoration begins [ATTACH=CONFIG]115910[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]115911[/ATTACH] If you dont mind me going off topic for a moment, what sort of low loader is that? The trailer looks very handy indeed. Edited June 8, 2016 by Lauren Child Quote
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