Empty turrets!

[fsn]

I'm just getting round to painting my American M10s and M8s. The turrets look empty.  What have others done?

Is the only option a hacksaw and body-ectomy for some poor GI? 

[fred.]

That kind of thing.

I think I used some drivers (from another manufacturer) so they were quite narrow figures, but yes they had the very big snip.

A pair of cutters is much easier than a hacksaw for this size of figure, then a bit of filing.

[fsn]

Indeed. I feared this would be the case.

Thank you.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

There are tank commanders.

IanS

[Sunray]

There are tank commanders.

IanS

From images I have seen,the crew of  M10s and open turret AFVs wore the standard infantry helmet - for obvious protection from bullet and shell. I have even seen images of the crew/driver of the M8 AC also in steel hemet. Whereas the tank commander/crew  had their armour overhead and could afford to use the US leather tank helmet which was designed to protect the head from knocks inside the tank.   

So the correct visual effect would be to cut down GIs in steel helmets to fit the open turrets.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Correct Sunray - some of the tank crew are wearing tin hats I think - cant check as packed for move

[Sunray]

Yes, seems common for US  tank commanders as late as Korea to wear the "battle bowler" in action.  The early campaigns like Operation Torch shows them in tank helmet, so was it perhaps  a late war practice after D -day to wear the steel helmet ?