"An M4 In Paris" Topic

Well it will be eventually. I did not know that the 2e DB had any M4 75s but Cherbourg was one. Three photos of it in Paris but minutes later it was destroyed by a panzerfaust.

Anyway, now that I had markings for it, I had to get the Heller model, leaving off all the wading kit. I was so confident that I posted some pics on a well known 2e DB enthusiasts site. The experts got back to me immediately and said look again, this tank had direct vision hatches for the driver and assistant………much filing and drilling and sanding, desperately trying not to damage the brasswork and it is done!

The original;

Starting to remove with heart in mouth;

Got there!

It looks very good so far, deadhead!

It does take a skilled doctor/surgeon to carry this off. Well done my friend.

He is retired now mind you. Three years of leisure but not quite the travel plans intended. Plenty of time for cuirassiers whether 1815 or 1944!

Thanks both!

Liam

Great project my good friend!…

Can't wait to see it finished…

Armand

Decals on today. They look great, but I expect that from Braille Strike. Wish I knew why the black rectangle in the right side star.

My first direct vision "Sherman" (in italics as the US, and so the French, did not use the term until post war) Weathering to tone down the white markings, then the matt varnish, then the kit to swamp the model (but I must not disguise the M4 engine cover), then the crew, then the tracks (I have ordered two more M4A2s on eBay to get at least one set of the rubber block tracks) then the photos. Then the rest in the attic, plus the two M4A2s in the post currently. I am hoping that either Montmirail or Romilly had chevron tracks in August 1944.

Finally got it done. Poor Cherbourg never did get as far as Notre Dame on the big day alas. Seems to have been destroyed South of the river, stress "seems" as a relatively minor fire on the rear deck maybe rendered it U/S. Certainly there is no further record of what was an unusual model of "Sherman" in 2e DB

Braille Strike decals/transfers, Millicast crew and Dan Taylor brasswork;

Excellent job!….

Congrats….

Armand

@deadhead – I always enjoy looking at and reading your posts. Although I am a wargamer rather than a modeler, and often stop short of the fine level of detail you use, or use visual shortcuts, I really appreciate your attention to detail. The rolled French flag resting in front of the tank commander is a wonderful touch that makes this a truly unique work. Please keep posting. (Do you have a blog?)

I am so grateful for your response (Grateful, not Dead ..yet anyway, It has been A Long Strange Trip tho')

The forum seems so quiet (late Jan early Feb maybe) and I did tag this onto a moribund message thread anyway. So this reply is welcome

I have seen wargaming models here that beat anything I can do. Seriously. I add tiny brass details (like the mount for the barrel of the 50 cal that you can just see in front of the tank CO in the top pic. It looks like a tripod) but I see painting onto the most bog standard "easy assembly" kits that amaze me.

The flag is based on 2 of the only 3 photos of the tank and it proved massively controversial. Mrs F and the younger two lads hated it, so I toned it down massively. It got washes on Red and Blue and White became Sky Grey, but they still said it was too vivid and they were right. Eventually I prised it carefully off, but it remains in that shape to reappear, when I want it to.

What blew my mind was the French folk,who told me it was a Direct vision Sherman M4 (in French). Sacre Bleu I cried…or something more Irish but can you see the join now?

It looks excellent, deadhead! Great attention to the various details on that model as well as your others.

Superb!…

Chapeaux pour vous mon cher ami…!

Armand