Sherman Crab

Steven Van Dyck
The build has begun. I started with the wheels, as in probably te most of Sherman topics. Only the rivet idea of the last picture I don't really care for... 144 rivets to shave from the sprue and aim to the wheel inside without locator holes.

Steven Van Dyck
The rivets are done anyway and the bogies are finished and remain workable. Only last minute I discovered an error and had to switch each wheelpair.

Steven Van Dyck
The hull is assembled, but I once let my vigilance drop and mixed up the steps. I had to pry the hull open again and squeeze the exhaust module in.

Steven Van Dyck
The first resin parts are emerging. Some small parts are for periscope protection. Removing the original periscope hatches was not easy.

Steven Van Dyck
Cutting the tracklinks and cleaning them. The ice cream cup is the most critical instrument.

Steven Van Dyck
The tracks are ready and fitted to the wheels. There are 8 extra links per side required due to the longer M4A4 hull, luckily Bronco provided 26 extra's.

Steven Van Dyck
The flail arm connections are made. One piece of resin had to be thermoformed with a heated metal rod. I replaced the plastic rod with tube so it's shaped smooth. The last picture shows a difference in the real Crab, I'll probably adapt that.

Steven Van Dyck
The chains are also thermoformed and glued to the rotor.

Steven Van Dyck
The rotor and the spare chain racks are finished.

Steven Van Dyck
Humbrol Tank Grey has been applied as the primer.