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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration > fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration > fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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 66)
March 2004.
Work started on the turret with the first thing being the removal of the gun mount. It is held in with 3/4" countersunk screws, the lower run of which are into tapped holes. These are not easy to undo! However, I did get them all out. |
 67)
This shows the turret just about ready
for blasting. I had to renew quite a few internal fittings but in general, it was in excellent condition with no damage. |
 68)
Although hard to make out, I found a name on both sides of the turret:
"Gainsborough". Actually, my friend James found this! I haven't discovered
which unit this signifies, if any, so if anyone has any ideas, please let
me know. |
 69)
Here is the turret after sand blasting. I had already blasted and primed
the insides and undersides previously. The bracket on the side of the turret
is for the 4" smoke dischargers. The small horizontal lug in front of the
cupola opening is for a sun compass. |
 70)
This is the turret after painting inside and out. The stand it sits on
is one I made to enable me to move heavy parts, up to 5 tons, with a 2.5
ton forklift. |
 71)
With the turret finished, I started on the gun itself. I had acquired a
spare gun some time before and although it was badly damaged by shrapnel,
I decided to use it in preference to the gun that came in the turret. The
main reason for this is it still had a breech ring fitted. Here it is after
removal from the cradle. |
 62)
The chance came to fit the turret so this is what we did. It is of course
much easier to do this without the gun in place. |
 73)
Normally the gun is stamped in the top of the breech ring and tube. I was
unable to locate any numbers at all until after I blast cleaned it. Then
we found them on the breech face. |
74) This is the gun mount complete with mantlet, after painting and assembly.
As can be seen, it is the first type of M34 mount without the 'ears' on
the mantlet. |
 75)
Here is the gun assembly all ready for fitting. This is the last major
part to go in and hopefully transform the look of the tank. |
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M4A4 s/n 5271 as found > engine restoration > engine ready > dismantling > hull restoration > fitting engine & track > hull finishing > turret and gun restoration > finished! |
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Created 16 July 2004 | Latest revision 16 July 2004 | Copyright © 1988-2004 H.L. Spoelstra - All Rights Reserved |