1:72 Periscopes – US Sherman

Vision periscopes for the Sherman in a small size

The crew of the American medium tank watched their surroundings through a set of periscopes arranged across the roof of the turret and the hull. The driver, his assistant, the loader, the gunner and the commander each had an instrument of their own. It is exactly these small prisms that strongly affect how a model looks, because they catch the light and draw the eye to a roof that is otherwise empty and dull.

Two positions in one package

Inside there are five pieces raised into the working position and five pulled in, the way they were handled out of combat or when the crew rode with the hatches open. You can therefore build one machine in the combat configuration and another in the resting one, or combine both variants according to the period photograph you are working from.

Practical notes

• five raised and five retracted parts
• for American medium tanks in 1:72 scale
• sharp edges of the guard that the original casting lacks
• the quantity covers several models at once

Clean up the openings in the roof first so that the part sits with no gap. Imitate the glass face with a drop of gloss varnish or a piece of glossy film; matte paint would kill the whole effect. Fit them only once spraying of the upper surfaces is finished, otherwise the gun of the airbrush is hard to get to them.

What is interesting is that this detail is one of those that work even at a distance. While a fine grab handle or a rivet is lost at half a meter, the glossy face of the instrument reflects the light and draws the eye even from the other side of the display case. For the short while the swap takes, the ratio of effort to result is exceptionally good.