Nahuel DL 43, Argentinean "Sherman"

[Mig Eater]

I've started on my next project, the Nahuel DL 43 in 1/35 scale. The Nahuel was an Argentinean medium tank produced in 1943 and heavily inspired by the American Sherman. Only 12 were built in total, for several years they were used for training and the occasional parade. In 1947 they were given an upgrade with new crew hatches, radios, machine guns and tool storage. Soon after Argentina acquired several hundred Sherman tanks tho making the Nahuel redundant so they were put into storage until 1959 when they were all scraped. Most of the Nahuel's documentation was also destroyed, meaning that some of the details of this tank remain a mystery, even the basic dimensions are unknown and historians have had to take their best guess based on the available photographs. 





Your choices for building the Nahuel are limited to either a resin kit from Aconcagua Resin Models (out of production and extremely rare) or a 3D printed kit by FC Model. Why buy an expensive 3D printed kit tho when I can just design and print my own one...

Thus far I've made the basic shape of the hull and turret, I'll make the running gear next and then add all the smaller details to the hull and turret later.

[apophenia]

Excellent subject choice. This is gonna be fun to watch 

[Buzzbomb]

Never heard of it.. but always interested in scratch builds

[Kerick]

It looks like they acquired some Sherman suspension parts.

[Claymore]

Hmm, more likely early M3 or even M2 VVSS… 🤔

[Mig Eater]

I spent some time trying to see if the Nahuel's suspension was copied from any American tanks in hopes of finding some more reference material but couldn't find an exact match, so it was obviously inspired by American VVSS suspension but it wasn't a direct copy.

Speaking of which I'm about half way though making the suspension units.

[Claymore]

I spent some time trying to see if the Nahuel's suspension was copied from any American tanks in hopes of finding some more reference material but could find an exact match, so it was obviously inspired by American VVSS suspension but it wasn't a direct copy.

Speaking of which I'm about half way though making the suspension units.

Yes, they do have that home-grown feel although obviously inspired by quite an early US model. 

The front opening crew hatches on the main hull also seem like a novel approach and not exactly helpful for the driver when he is operating with his head out of said hatch!

[Mig Eater]

During trials they also discovered that if you rotate the turret to face the rear it will block the hatches leaving the driver stuck inside It was later fixed with a new type of hatch but I cant find any photos showing the new hatch design.

[Mig Eater]

Slowly making some progress with the 3D model, the suspension units are now done.

[Frank3k]

Looks great! Are you making the track link and length? Or using an aftermarket track?

[Mig Eater]

The Nahuel's tracks are (like the suspension) similar to the ones used on the Sherman but are a unique design only used on the Nahuel.

I'll print the tracks in upper and lower sections and then join them together after painting, the same as the Laupen that I made last year. I still need the finish that build

 

[robunos]

Probably a bit late, given your progress, but here are a couple of linkys about the Nahuel . . .


https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/nahuel-argentine-tank-design.9503/#post-579640

https://reportedebatalla.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/todos-contra-nahuel-parte-i-cono-sur-contra-argentina/


cheers,
Robin.

[Mig Eater]

Thanks for the links but I've already seen then, the images from my first post are actually from reportedebatalla.

[Claymore]

Slowly making some progress with the 3D model, the suspension units are now done.

Looking great!     

[Mig Eater]

I've finished making the running gear, I had to guesstimate a bit with the details of the track tensioning device as there is only 1 bad quality photo of the rear of the tank to work from. I'm glad that there is at least one photo tho as the drawing that are available just show a simple box shape.

Next up I'll add some details to the hull, starting with the crew hatches and engine deck.

[Mig Eater]

Progress update, I've nearly finished adding the details to the hull, just the tools on the sides of the hull and towing shackles on the front and back remain. The hull has been hollowed out and some extra internal bracing added to help with printing. I also made the crew hatches a separate part so they can be positioned open or closed, I dont plan on putting any crew in the hatches on this build but I might print/build another one in the future with some figures.

The more I work on the model the more inaccuracies I'm finding with the drawings that are available. The wheels in the drawing are six spoked when they should be five, the bottom of the crew hatches having rounded corners when they should be straight, there are metal rods that go over the engine deck but I cant see then in any photos, etc, etc. I have to double check every single part of the model against the few photographs that are available, which is slowing me down a bit.

[Buzzbomb]

Rather impressive 3D design work...

[Frank3k]

That is just fantastic work!

[Claymore]

 Truly impressive work! 

[GTX_Admin]

You could sell your work online

[Mig Eater]

Thanks all

I have a long term goal/dream of making YouTube videos about my projects and then offering the 3D models on Patreon. I can only find the energy to finish 1 or 2 builds a year tho, if I add all the extra time and effort needed for the recording and editing then it will probably take me years get a single build done