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An Epic M4A4 Sherman Tank Restoration in the UK


Charlie Flick
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Charlie Flick

This just blew me away. Having gone through a frame off restoration of a Dodge Carryall myself I came to realize that an armor restoration is a completely different ballgame. Just getting the multibank engines apart and back together was a huge effort.

 

Owner Adrian Barrell spent 4000 hours on this project. The tank came from a firing range where it had sat as a target for decades. This series is in 13 parts and will take a while to get through but if you have an interest in the M4 or are just a gearhead you will enjoy this, and will marvel at the skill and fortitude of the owner as he goes about this very involved project.

 

Here is the link for Part 1. http://www.warhistoryonline.com/articles/shermn-m4a4-restoration.html

 

Just to give you a little preview below are the before and after shots.

 

After reading all 13 parts I felt as if I should salute the owner. I'd like to shake his hand sometime. What a project.

 

Regards,

Charlie

 

 

M4 on 6-6-91 Adrian Barrell restoration.jpg

 

M4 after shot in 2004.jpg

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Simply breathtaking! Calling it a labour of love doesn't even come close! The time...the dedication...the expense...the engineering expertise...un-be-lievable! :o

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YankeeSpirit76

Awesome...just awesome! Mr. Barrell, you sir are one in a million to take on such a project.

Without men like you, this would be a much sadder and boring world. I'd like to meet you in the Pub of your choosing and buy you a dozen or so pints just to pick your brain.

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As I'm finishing up a WWII 1942 WLA Harley restoration most people look at this as scrap iron or a war machine that should go away! As a military collector and restorer I look at it as having a sole??? weird? not!


The people who built it in the plant in a uncertain world? that the Grand parents, Mother, father, wife, brother,daughter and son built this to aid their loved one in war time to come home back to them safe and fast put their love, blood, sweat, tears and soles to create it into a tool and to win the war.


The GI's that used this as their tool to get the job done win the war and come back home. It became part of them like a old friend and they gave it a sole with name and or other markings as who they are and part of them! and that is why any of this stuff should deserved better than just be forgotten and called junk.


This is what drives to do my best on a restoration!


Craig

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