Proud Kraut Posted October 23, 2010 Share #1 Posted October 23, 2010 Hi, folks! Need a little help from the Sherman experts again. Next modeling project could be a 1:35 ETO diorama with a Sherman with Dozer Blade. ACADEMY offers a M4A4 HVSS in 1:35. Description reads: "The M4A3 Sherman tank was used in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations, during World War II. It also served in the Korean War. It was designed to support the infantry, giving them additional firepower when advancing. In the Pacific, it was also used with a bulldozer blade mounted on the front to cut a path through the thick jungle. The bulldozer blade was a valuable, new battlefield tool. A 1943 field modification added the hydraulic dozer blade from a Caterpillar D8 bulldozer to an M4 Sherman. The later M1 dozer blade was standardized to fit any Sherman with VVSS suspension." Tons of pics of Shermans with dozer blade in the ETO online, as far as I found out always with M 4 Sherman. My questions: I can't use this ACADEMY model for an ETO diorama, right? If so, does anybody knows a 1:35 VVSS Sherman model with dozer blade? Thanks in advance! Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 23, 2010 Share #2 Posted October 23, 2010 Do you have a box photo? As far as VVSS, I think the blade conversion had to utilize the center truck of the suspension for mounting. I'll have to dig for better photos, but just a quick glance found this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted October 23, 2010 Great pic Jim! This is the photo of the box. M4A3 HVSS chassis with dozer blade, not used in the ETO, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 23, 2010 Share #4 Posted October 23, 2010 Great pic Jim! This is the photo of the box. M4A3 HVSS chassis with dozer blade, not used in the ETO, right? Hi Lars...more appropriate for Korea, as per the box art?! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 23, 2010 Share #5 Posted October 23, 2010 Lars, I'll dig around for a photo. I don't recall seeing a blade mounted on HVSS before. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 23, 2010 Share #6 Posted October 23, 2010 When in doubt, go to Hunnicutt. Yep, found one right away in the section on engineer's vehicles. I don't know why your vehicle couldn't be used in the ETO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted October 23, 2010 Thanks Ian and Jim! @Jim, I was referring to the models describtion that I quoted in the first post. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted October 23, 2010 When in doubt, go to Hunnicutt. Yep, found one right away in the section on engineer's vehicles. I don't know why your vehicle couldn't be used in the ETO. Can you post that link? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted October 23, 2010 Share #9 Posted October 23, 2010 IIRC HVSS Shermans were introduced very late in the ETO in 1945... I've only seen that suspension on the M4A3E8 versions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 23, 2010 Share #10 Posted October 23, 2010 Chrysler was building M4A3's with HVSS in August 1944. Looking at the box art for Lars model, it definitely looks like KW era and that would make better sense. Found a photo in Hunnicutt's book with several KW M4A3E8's fitted for the dozer blades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted October 23, 2010 Thank you both! So it is my understanding that a VVSS Sherman dozer model has to be used for an ETO diorama. Any 1:35 models out there or do I have to use the Verlinden conversion kit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 23, 2010 Share #12 Posted October 23, 2010 Can you post that link? Thank you! Lars, I was referring to R.P. Hunnicutt's book, "Sherman, A history of the American Medium Tank". It's been called the Bible of the Sherman. There was no date on the photo in the book, but after waking up a bit, I'm thinking an M4A3E8 with a dozer blade is probably best suited for the KW. If you are looking for a model with an M4, M4A1, or an M4A3 with a dozer blade you should be able to Google Sherman tank models and find one someplace. Or at least a conversion kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 23, 2010 Share #13 Posted October 23, 2010 Thank you both! So it is my understanding that a VVSS Sherman dozer model has to be used for an ETO diorama. Any 1:35 models out there or do I have to use the Verlinden conversion kit? ETO or PTO. Seen many photos of Marine tanks with dozer blades burying pill boxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share #14 Posted October 23, 2010 If you are looking for a model with an M4, M4A1, or an M4A3 with a dozer blade you should be able to Google Sherman tank models and find one someplace. Or at least a conversion kit. Yes, the only one I found as yet on the net was the Verlinden conversion kit (w/o Sherman). So I have to get me another VVSS Sherman additionally Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 23, 2010 Share #15 Posted October 23, 2010 IIRC HVSS Shermans were introduced very late in the ETO in 1945... I've only seen that suspension on the M4A3E8 versions The E8 designation refers to the HVSS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted October 23, 2010 Share #16 Posted October 23, 2010 Been looking through my archives and books and couldn't find a Tankdozer of the type you mentioned in use during WWII in the ETO. That type might have been put in use right after WWII. Like others here, I only found the earlier types fitted with a dozer blade. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmuranyi Posted October 24, 2010 Share #17 Posted October 24, 2010 HI! I just bought the same kit with the intentions of using it in a late post, war clean up scene in the ETO. I looked on line and the only way you are going to get a safe early late war dozer on a tank is going for the Verlinden conversion on the Tamiya 1/35 35190 U.S. Medium Tank M4 Sherman Early or the 1/35 TAMIYA US WWII M4A3 SHERMAN #3622 late. The #3622 is the recommended tank on the verlinden box. Both are on ebay. I checked the photo here against the kit photo and it matches I believe. I have seen the easy eight in WWII film clips. So, with my reference I would say it was used in WWII but way late in the ETO. Just my two cents to confuse you even more................. Caio for now! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmuranyi Posted October 24, 2010 Share #18 Posted October 24, 2010 After re re re checking..... The 3622 kit is an old number and maybe it has been re-released as number 35250 with three figures. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmuranyi Posted October 24, 2010 Share #19 Posted October 24, 2010 Although very small I found this in my modelers guide to the sherman. I quote... "On March 21st 1945 the crew of the flat foot floogie poses for the camera to celebrate that they are the first tank in the 41st tank battalion 11th armor to each the Rhine river at the point of Patton's 3rd army". It goes on to say that on late 1944 1,598 VVS had been constructed. The final 2617 tanks built had the new suspension and tracks. So, there ya go as far as the tank in service in WWII. I would think that one or two would have a dozer blade at that time. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share #20 Posted October 24, 2010 Thanks Erwin and thank you very much, Paul for taking the time for all these Sherman investigations. There are indeed some Dragon Kits out there. Surfing for hours I have noticed there seems to be a little cunfusion about "Sherman Jumbos" Sherman Thunderbolts" etc in the www. I think I'll have to take the Verlinden conversion tank finally. Thanks again! Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmuranyi Posted October 24, 2010 Share #21 Posted October 24, 2010 What type of Sherman is that? Any other photos would help. Is it an early M4A3? Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 24, 2010 Share #22 Posted October 24, 2010 What type of Sherman is that? Any other photos would help. Is it an early M4A3?Paul Which Sherman specifically? What post # are you talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmuranyi Posted October 25, 2010 Share #23 Posted October 25, 2010 Post # two! The Sherman photo with the soldiers. The one that put up. Thanks! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted October 25, 2010 Share #24 Posted October 25, 2010 That is an M4A3 mid production with the 75mm main gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted October 25, 2010 Share #25 Posted October 25, 2010 Jim's right. Until I get a photographic proof of it, I keep believing "HVSS Tankdozers" (let's call them this way to avoid misunderstandings) were put in use right after WWII in the ETO. They were used extensively in the Korean War. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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