The last detailsSome small last parts to finalise the Sherman Crab:
Two axles, two pistons and a drive shaft to connect the flail to the tank.
The connection is definitely made now. The driveshaft, in white, will be painted. The piston in metal, will remain metal. To get a nice straight line I had to change the angle of both the cilinder and the receiving end on the flail side.
The Sherman Crab was equipped with a visual system to cooperate in echelon with other crabs to clear a minefield without forgetting strips of land. (Very wise idea). Here you see this installation on the back of a Sherman Crab.
The basic material is 0,7mm household iron wire.
A full parts layout. (So called exploded view)
All parts glued together using CA glue.
After painting and weathering.
The white "mirrors" to guide the following tank.
The system glued to the back of the hull.
Shermans had a towing cable as standard equipment. I like to make these myself from copper wire salvaged from a household electricity cable. Four wires will do for a 1/76 heavy duty towing cable.
The copper wires twisted into a cable and eyelets added.
The eyelets are made from thin iron wire (0,5mm), a piece of modelling tape and a drop of CA glue.
Towing cable painted, weathered and pre-bent.
Cable glued to the hull.
A British WW2 tank commander from Hät. This figure has a very strange pose which I don't like, so I changed the position of his head and right arm.
The commander after cosmetic surgery in dark grey primer.
Painted and weathered.
And, because of theior vulnerability always the last parts to add, two radio antenna's and an antennna base from copper wire.
Finished!!
Final pictures soon.