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stuzzar · Posted: Mon 04 Aug 2008 14:05 pm Post subject: Heinkel 51's Sherman/Skink

Heinkel 51's Airfix Sherman conversion will appear here.

Chees

Stu

Heinkel51 · Posted: Mon 04 Aug 2008 23:49 pm Post subject:

The Skink was an AA derivative of the Grizzly, the Canadian Sherman based on the M4A1. The Skink like the Grizzly had a cast hull, the turret was also cast and mounted 4 Polsten 20mm cannons.
For reference there is an article in December 1977 Airfix Magazine which covers the conversion. The article is of limited use, while it does give some useful tips in a suggested approach for construction of the turret there are no drawings and for the hull makes reference to a vacuform hull from Armtec long since unavailable.

My Sherman is coming out of the LCM and Sherman offering. The LCM destined for conversion to an LCM6

The first step will be the hull. Several options here;
- either build up out of a laminate of card and sand to shape.
- make a balsa plug and attempt to vacuform, the hull shape does not lend itself to plunge moulding.
- carve a hull from balsa as above but cast in resin.

Knowing I'm better at carving balsa than plastic my I'll try first option 3.

Heinkel51 · Posted: Sat 16 Aug 2008 15:38 pm Post subject:

As previously mentioned my offering is out of the LCM Sherman Duo

The Sherman is in fairly soft plastic no flash but plenty of ejector pin marks

Since my first deliberations on how to go about the hull I have come across a series of three articles in 1976 editions of the Airfix magazine on the RAM tank. The last article in the series (May 1976) was on hoe to model the RAM. It gave a suggested method of building up the hull from formers of card and then applying some putty.
To kick of I have assembled the hull sides to the bottom hull and the rear. While giving the wheels a coat of black prior to applying some Hu66 Olive Drab.

Heinkel51 · Posted: Sun 14 Sep 2008 08:32 am Post subject:

Assembled the bottom of the hull and then trimmed of the front from the upper hull.

To achieve the cast hull I thought I would first have a shot at converting the Airfix hull.

Started with removing all moulded on detail and then taking a sanding stick and shaping the curves for the cast hull.

The edges of the hull were getting a little thin so added some slivers of card on the inside of the hull.

Still not too sure if I am arriving at an accurate shape. However will start a second hull using the build up method. The base template is from the aritcle on making a RAM.

Ratch · Posted: Sun 14 Sep 2008 15:41 pm Post subject:

I like it

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
500287

stuzzar · Posted: Wed 17 Sep 2008 19:42 pm Post subject:

Heinkel51 · Posted: Sun 21 Sep 2008 13:34 pm Post subject:

I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew !
But I am having fun.

Studing photos I noted that the front of the hull was not only curved but also tapered as per the Ram, so out with the razor saw and then some 20 thou card;

Next a liberal dash of Mr Putty.

Now sanding gently to get the cast shape.

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sun 21 Sep 2008 17:16 pm Post subject:

Great to see it emerge from the old Airfix hull.....I might have to have a pop at an M4A1 using these techniques.

All the best
Sgt.S

stuzzar · Posted: Wed 24 Sep 2008 21:53 pm Post subject:

Certainly a fair amount of work there, not sure that I would be brave enough to attempt it although it will look good when it is done, am looking forward to seeing the completed conversion

Cheers

Stu

Heinkel51 · Posted: Mon 29 Sep 2008 12:06 pm Post subject:

I'm going to miss the end date

, again.

The hull set to one side I'm now working on the turret.

The article in the Magazine says to start with the base of the Tiger tank hull cut down to the size of a 5 pence piece. I opted for some 2 mm card.

The technique is then to build up the turret with layers of card and rod.

The article is remarkably lacking in detail on dimensions. Luckily there is a good degree of information available on the Web. I can understand why I did not attempt this back in 1977.

More to follow.

stuzzar · Posted: Mon 29 Sep 2008 14:25 pm Post subject: