"Another Firefly" Topic

A hybrid conversion of the PSC kits, method is here:
PDF link
this refers to standard 75mm Sherman but basically same proces just using different parts.
Painted in the usual way with enamels, pastels and washes. Decals are the excellent set from Dan Taylor, barrel camo is a decal from PSC.

So very nice…

A model hybrid is a brilliant idea. I honestly thought how can he join the two invisibly without sanding off all the other detail?

Now of course I realise that, if you cut both halves accurately enough, the join actually becomes a feature, when you reproduce the weld seams as well as done here.

Was the cast hull ballistically superior to the welded one? I had never appreciated that the idea here was to employ manufacturers that could only cast smaller segments.

What a great post this is. (I must get those b…..y Prussian Hussars finished today and get back to 2eme DB Shermans etc)

Originally all Shermans were to be cast hull. The cast hull was cost and time efficient. The problem was that there was not enough foundry capacity to turn out the large castings in the numbers needed. Indeed only 3 facilities were capable of producing the M4A1 75, Lima Locomotive, Pacific Car & Foundry and the Pressed Steel Car Company. Only the latter produced the the M4A1 76. The idea to convert other factories to providing the castings was explored but not feasible. The alternative was the welded hull.

The welded hull was practical and turned out the lion's share of Shermans. The welded hull had several drawbacks. First was the welds themselves. Even non-penetrating rounds, or HE rounds, could cause the armor to fail along the welds. Fortunately US manufacturers developed much improved welding techniques which greatly decreased this problem. The next issue was time. It took appreciably longer to produce a welded hull Sherman. US mass production techniques helped here. And another big problem was the need for skilled welders who were very much in demand.

The composite Sherman was a partial solution. Smaller castings could be turned out by a number of foundries witness the turret was a casting. The cast front end sped up the production process, was cheaper, and it greatly helped with the need for skilled welders. Most of the time in welding was involved with the front end. The composite partially solved this and also less skilled welders could handle much of the remaining welds.

One drawback to cast hulls were the fact unlike today where x-ray and other technology allows us to check for possible internal faults in a casting such diagnostics were not nearly as effective back then.

I have yet to come across any first hand accounts from crews which showed a preference for either hull type. I believe the rounded edges of the cast hull were believed to make armor protection slightly better on the M4A1 but am sure someone more knowledgeable than I can fill that part in

Great work.

Thanks for that Marc33594. A really interesting topic I think. Great work above too

Nicely painted model, well done!