Some final thoughts on this build.

Pros.
#1 Relatively good fit on the parts.
#2 Tracks are workable.
#3 The Pe. Screens fit.
#4 Front Hatches open & Close, Turret Hatches can be made operable
#5 If you'r careful with the glue Periscopes can rotate.
#6 Nice detail including Foundry Markings
#7 Nice Radio & Turret interior.
#8 Plastic is a medium soft & easy to work.
#9 Option for Sand Skirting & Hedgerow Cutter.
#10 Not too bad a price for a 1/16th. Scale kit.
#11 a lot of extra tie down parts for future Allied kits.

Cons.
#1 No backs on the road wheels.
#2 Engine compartment detail is useless, and can't be seen without making the engine deck removable.
#3 Commanders hatch hits on Ammo Box for Mg.
#4 Pe. belt for shovel on front fender is too short.
#5 Lousy detail & sink marks on 30cal Mgs. (Replaced Them)
#6 No Radio Antenna.
#7 No spent shell catch bag on main gun.

Other thoughts.
#A If engine was to be used in this kit, you would have to make the engine deck removable as on the real one. It all had to be removed to service the engine.

#B Rubber Block Track was more common on these tanks.
#C Extra parts in the box indicate other versions may be coming.
#D I know that the Grousers on the sides of the turret wouldn't be used with this track, just say extra armor protection.
Hey the track could always be changed to the Rubber Block track.


I'm all finished here, let me know if you'll like it or not.
Regards.
Donald


Here's a link to all the pics. if you want them.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!ArouE_A-TfGGgbFAZr2itGXcWb_5gA?e=HDI8h2

These two Pics. are from the Squadron walk Around Book.
The Grousers were usually hung with the bolt end down to keep water from collecting on the ends and rusting the bolts in place. I have pics. with them both ways, so either could be ok.

Extra parts.

Now for some Detail Shots.

Ok , I'm finally finished with this build.
I'll be posting the Pics. so please be patient with me.
Donald

I'm getting tired.
Donald

Here are the Turret interior Pics. it didn't come out really good, but keep in mind, except for the radio you'll not see much of it.

What? A 1/16 Sherman? Please have you any other details about? I never heard anything about.

I don't like these Shapeways MGs. Lot of layering as usual for SW resin print and the barrel (the most visible part) is not better then the kit's ones. I think the new LED 3d printer could do a better job for the MG'sbody.
Aber barrels are still the best choise.

Thanks again for your pictures and comments about this nice kit.
Bye
Pierantonio

Interior was previously painted white, now it's masked to paint the outside.



I have a lot of little parts to add to the inside.
Finished for now.
Donald

Here's the Gun painted with Model Master Gunmetal.


The other side

Mounted coaxialy , I only glued it at the back end to allow for movement when installing the Mantlet.

I just received the Mg.s from Shape Ways, It's kind of hard to tell how good they are , with them being made in a translucent material.
Hopefully they will be better than the kit Mg.s

I ordered a set of 5 Three for this build with 2 left over for the 1/16th. Sherman that RFM is working on.


Still working on it.
Donald

finished for now.
Donald

Now for some Turret and Gun work.
I hinged the Turret Hatches.

This was fairly easy as the hinge parts that go on the turret top are separate parts, and it's just drilling through the centers of the hinges and the centers of the hinge area on the hatches.


Be shure to place the hatches on the turret top before gluing the free part of the hinge to the turret top.

There's no keying, the track should be assembled with the inside down, there's a small recess where you put the glue, and it's up to you using the Mk.1 Eye-Ball to get them all facind in the same direction.
See Pic. #115 above, this is from Squadrons Walk Around Book, it shows the top of the idler with the track going over it. If you look closely you can see the double cleat leading the large one so that when they touch the ground the small ones will touch first.
I just went by this pic. I don't know if this is correct or if it really mattered.

Do the tracks have any keying to keep the pattern running in the same direction? I could see finishing a run, sitting back, and noticing the grousers pointing in different directions.

The most common tracks, by far, were the T16 rubber blocks with the T36E6 a low second. The rubber chevron T44 and all-steel chevron T55 appear mainly on M5 tractors.

Other three-bar-grouser tracks are designed to be installed so that as the tank moves forward, the single bar hits the ground first.

KL

The following Pic. is from the Squadron Walk-Around book showing the double cleat on the shoe leading the single larger one.
I'm not shure if this is correct or if it really mattered.
The book states that this track type was not really common and that the Stuarts usually used a rubber block or chevron type of track.

I'm finished for a while.
Donald

This should be self-explanatory

Now on to the Track, and how I assembled it.
I don't say this is the only way, it's just how I did it'

First off you need 65 Track Shoes for each side with 5 pieces for each Shoe, That's a lot of parts to clean up.


I glued the Guide Horns to the connectors , this eliminates the chance of getting glue on the shoes.

The Aber Gun barrels look nice, but I have the Shape-ways guns ordered and expect delivery in the coming days.I'll post a pic. when I get them.
Donald