Jakko’s Sherman BARV

[Guest]

It was pointed out to me that I had forgotten a thingie on the left-hand side, under the catwalk:



And indeed, I had noticed that it wasn’t in the conversion set, but it had completely slipped my mind to make it — whatever it is. It looks like a hydraulic cylinder, but what is it for? And how was it operated? Anyway, I’ve started making what I see in the photos. Here’s the basic shape that still needs the details added:

[ATTACH]515865[/ATTACH]

It’s a piece of sprue from the Sherman kit, with a rounded end to it, and bits of very thin plastic card glued around it, to bits of strip and a punched disc on the non-flat end. Now I need to finish it

I also began painting the ropes:

[ATTACH]515866[/ATTACH]

Even before I added the ropes, I decided it would be best to do that before painting, because as you can see, I’ve got trouble getting the paint only on thin details like these. By painting them now, after putting the base colour on the tank but before I continue work on that, I can easily touch up the grey without it being apparent later on.

[Jim R]

Looking a treat Jakko. Surprised that you don't know what the thingie is. It's an hydraulic whatsit for lifting the gubbins into it's sprocket when going in reverse on Thursdays :smiling3:
Although I've not used MrS 1000 as a primer I've read good reviews. Good idea to paint the ropes in situ. Painting problems would be less than problems fitting already painted ropes.
Definitely heading to be another great model.

[Jim R]

Is Mr S 1200 and 1500. The same as the 1000 except for it being thinner??

[Tim Marlow]

Is Mr S 1200 and 1500. The same as the 1000 except for it being thinner??

As far as I know they are the same with just finer particles making up the paint…..higher number, finer particles….

[Guest]

Surprised that you don't know what the thingie is. It's an hydraulic whatsit for lifting the gubbins into it's sprocket when going in reverse on Thursdays :smiling3:

It looks very much like it’s the cradle of a 6-pounder antitank gun — but why on earth they would be carrying that on a BARV, I have no clue …

Definitely heading to be another great model.

Thanks

[Andy T]

Is Mr S 1200 and 1500. The same as the 1000 except for it being thinner??

Essentially yes, but Mr Primer Surfacer (as used here) is a different animal to the regular Mr Surfacer and Mr Finishing Surfacers, of whatever number.

If you think the latter two pong a bit, wait until you try the former! Whatever they have added or changed to increase adhesion even makes me cough if I catch a wiff without my mask, and I'm pretty much immune to regular lacquer smells!

[Guest]

The names are confusing, I have to say. I had to look at the Mr. Hobby web site to make sense of the different primers, surfacers, etc. I could order from the web store I got the can from.

[adt70hk]

Coming on nicely Jakko!

[stillp]

:smiling3:

It looks very much like it’s the cradle of a 6-pounder antitank gun — but why on earth they would be carrying that on a BARV, I have no clue …


Thanks :smiling3:

Isn't it a tow bar for pulling a tank?
Pete

[Guest]

I’ve posted about this model on a couple of forums, and nobody seems to know what to make of it Towing gear of some sort is commonly speculated, but I can’t see how you would tow anything with this. It has those plates with a pin through them at one end, but nothing to hook to on the other end. It most definitely is part of a 6-pounder AT gun, but it also looks in photos like it’s been welded to the hull. However, all of the photos that show those welds are modern ones (I know of no photos at all from during the war that show this thing as more than an elongated blob), so it could just be an anti-theft weld. Or maybe it was indeed welded down, but then, what are those plates with the pin for?

[stillp]

The end with 2 plates fits a towing bracket and the pin locks it in place. The plate at the other end has a hole in it that fits over a towing hook.
Pete

[Mickc1440]

More nice work Jakko

[Guest]

The end with 2 plates fits a towing bracket and the pin locks it in place. The plate at the other end has a hole in it that fits over a towing hook.

Yes, except that the other end is that of a 6-pounder gun, with the bits and bobs that are on there:



(The rails the barrel slides in are different here than on the BARV thing, mainly in having all those webs under them, but earlier 6-pounders are more like the thing on the BARV.)

The end with the two plates is massive, should be able to take a lot of force, while the other end doesn’t appear to have anything like as strong. That alone speaks against this being for towing to me. But I have no plausible other function for the thing either

[Waspie]

Isn't it a tow bar for pulling a tank?
Pete

That was my initial thought. (OK - only thought).

[Tim Marlow]

Just out of interest, they aren’t the tow bars for Porpoise ammo skid trailers are they? Failing that, how about sheer legs for a lifting Derrick ?