Another piece for my project of 6th South African Armoured Division in Italy.
I scored this old kit for a few bucks and decided to update it with spare parts from newer kits and 3D prints. It has some well known mistakes I'd like to adress so lets see where it goes. With RFM Sherrman V late configuration on the way, it makes sense to use Dragon kit for early build rather than backdate well produced RFM late version.
Artillery observation tank of 22nd Fd Artillery unit is well documented one from 3 sides rolling throught streets of Florence (Firenze) on 16th August 1944. That's great for spotting the correct details for propper date of pruduction identification. This tank being one of an early production ones equipped with M34 gun mount, smoke dischargers on side of a turret and T54E2 tracks.
Boxart
Some of the spare parts that I'm willing to use
Little progress made throughout last week. I worked on boggies mainly, where's nothing special to show of. I also worked on other parts of this kit. I am using Dragon "modern" boggies assamblies with spacers from spare box so these needed some adjustments to fit them properly to the hull. Speaking about lower hull, I updated position of boggies according to RFM Sherman V kit. Lower hull in these first releases is a bit longer but I decided to live with that rather then try to sort it out.
FDA cover was put together, line scribed into flanges and some angles around bullet splash rectified. My plan was to use Panzer Art FDA but it was missing few milimeters in the width. Engine deck plate was updated with new 3D printed grill from my design with corrected number of bars. As I am going to build early vehicle which had machined/beveled edges of plates I applied putty on all cut marks dragon provided. Front of upper hull received under cuts below cabs and new weld joints. Additional armor plates on turret bullet splash drainages were removed too.
Sand shields strip was also removed as this vehicle haven't had one, I only need to find some photos how those early "aircraft engine cowl clasps" looked like
Let's see if I'll able to finish this up or I'll throw it in bin
