Commemorating D Day with Heroefigures

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Nap

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Hi everyone

Thought I’d share this

New available from the 6 June 2024 !!!
For info and order:
Mail [email protected]
Messanger
Whatsapp +39 345/4491232
Website https://www.heroefigures.com/project-05


AC79538A-A62C-4750-BACB-74A6090B5BC6.jpeg

8F8C58DB-0724-4F53-AA35-5B82CE1C5595.jpeg
0637712A-1CDD-4E20-B113-817DD4C40A7A.jpeg 8DF90C7D-34CA-428B-BB4A-4119B94F1112.jpeg D3F81704-735F-4605-9E48-39021C8C198A.jpeg

Enjoy

Nap
 
Very nice sculpts but that turret hatch looks a bit small for 2 guys! Not sure that would work in reality.

- Steve
 
Suppose it is possible to fit two crew in the commander`s hatch, just depends on their size. Initially Sherman turrets just had the one hatch and was probably made the size they were to facilitate quick egress since there were three crew members in the turret. By late 1943 a loader's hatch was added as combat experience had revealed a single exit did not allow a quick enough escape.

Taking a measurement from a model kit and scaling it 1:1 results in a 23.42 inch diameter opening. Google gave a cross section drawing of an average male torso - am not sure if it includes the shoulders.

sherman-hatch-two-crew.jpg
 
Very nice sculpts but that turret hatch looks a bit small for 2 guys! Not sure that would work in reality.

- Steve


My immediate thought too and I have never seen two blokes in the same hatch (of any tank) when most M4 Shermans, I believe, had 2 turret hatches on the turret roof. Having been inside more modern tanks (Chieftain, M60, Leopard 1 and M1A1) and all of which are MUCH bigger than M4's in the turret area but still amazingly compact, then I just don't know why anyone would feel a need to cram two tankers into a small space like this..?

Perhaps an ex-tanker can elaborate and confirm..?

Otherwise, very nice figure sculpts indeed especially the one with the binoculars.

Gary
 
Looking at the pics Kevin, none of these (subjectively) and definitively confirm two crew members crammed in the one opening like this kit and some (from the angles) are distinctly suggestive of people standing behind and / or to the sides giving the visual suggestion or appearance of two men crammed in as the piece suggests. I am happy to be corrected on this, but these references are in no way definitive as depicted. Looking again at the piece, I cannot envisage a scenario where such a 'snug' fit whilst operating a tank would be necessary or even advisable. Even relaxing, you wouldn't be 'rubbing up' like this and I spent enough years on exercise in vehicles and including AFVs with other blokes to deduce that.

Happy to have a conclusive WW2 or Korea era (and not a re-enactment picture) of two crew members in a single M4 turret opening as depicted provided to put the conundrum to rest.

Gary
 
Looking at the pics Kevin, none of these (subjectively) and definitively confirm two crew members crammed in the one opening like this kit and some (from the angles) are distinctly suggestive of people standing behind and / or to the sides giving the visual suggestion or appearance of two men crammed in as the piece suggests. I am happy to be corrected on this, but these references are in no way definitive as depicted. Looking again at the piece, I cannot envisage a scenario where such a 'snug' fit whilst operating a tank would be necessary or even advisable. Even relaxing, you wouldn't be 'rubbing up' like this and I spent enough years on exercise in vehicles and including AFVs with other blokes to deduce that.

Happy to have a conclusive WW2 or Korea era (and not a re-enactment picture) of two crew members in a single M4 turret opening as depicted provided to put the conundrum to rest.

Gary

How about these? It wasn't that uncommon

kpfbflf8tqc91.png


630px-British_Sherman_tank_Italy_Dec_1943_IWM_NA_9992-1.jpg


m4a1pcf_51.jpg


They could even fit in the single piece hatch, and it was a bit smaller.

wwii1359-1600x1271.jpg
 
How about these? It wasn't that uncommon.

The fourth one clearly shows 2 guys in the hatch. But in the other 3 (especially #2 and #3) it's not so clear whether they're in the hatch or behind the turret. To my eye anyway, it looks more like behind.

So possible - yes indeed, apparently so (subject to the cupola diameter being big enough and the crewmen slight enough). Common - who knows?

Any idea where/when that 4th photo was taken?

- Steve
 
Thanks Jason. Pic 4 I acknowledge even though the cupola is a different design but the other 3 though are still as per Steve's comments.

Pic 4 is full of character isn't it and I imagine it is the PTO as that looks like USMC camo helmets..? I'm sure someone will know for certain.

Bottom line, everything is in the eye of the beholder and they are certainly excellently sculpted figures that's for sure.


Gary
 
I think there is enough photo evidence to indicate it did happen. The other difficulty would be their foot placement as there is just one small seat for both to perch on.
Scan_Pic0014.jpg




Probably a bit more doable when the forward person is standing on the turret floor and the second person is using the seat to stand on . . .

Early-sherman-turret-interior-flat.png
 
Pic 4 is Okinawa.
I thought it was pretty clear that the pics (except #3 perhaps) are all of tanks on the move and not sitting still with guys standing around. Pic2 especially since both are in contact with parts of the cupola.As far as placement or "rubbing together", the gunner virtually sat in the commanders lap when in the tank, so sitting together in the hatch wouldn't be that much different. Then again like most things, confirmation bias tends to determine either way, so if you thought it unusual or unrealistic before, none of these will change your mind.
 
Absolutely agree...a nice piece and bound to be popular. Some fascinating reference
stuff too, which I think always adds to the appeal. The view of the tank carrying all
those 'passengers' is glorious....reminds me of my student days when, before we were
old enough to know better, we used to hold toilet cubicle cramming competitions,
and we once filled one with twenty-seven undergraduates :eek:.

Mike
 
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