(Editor's Note 2: "Degem Alef" means "Type A", which was the first batch of M50s off the production line. The series was continually improved and modified over time, but this article is about how to build the very first M50s that saw action.)

M50 Degem Alef

Most of the early M50 Shermans were based on ex-French M4A4(T) tanks, however some appear to have been built on M4 and M4 Hybrids; M4A3 as well may have been used, although numbers are not known. It is suspected there were only a few of each conversion done. Some M50s may have retained the original M4A4 engine decks and engine. This is looking highly unlikely as the M4A4s supplied to Israel from either France or Italy would have already been converted into the T (Transforme) version. Most of the early M50 fleet where built using the M4A4(T) engine deck layout, with the M4 or M4A1 style engine air intake and modified decks.

A few Egyptian M4A4/A2 Shermans (see additonal notes on Egyptian Shermans at the end of this article), both with and with out the AMX 13 turrets, were captured by the IDF. These have the M4A4/A2 engine decks. They where quickly converted to M50 standards with the new M50 turret and M4/M4A1 style engine decks. The easiest way to identify ex-Egyptian hulls is with the three appliqué armour panels.

Prior to the M4A4(T) M50, the IDF also used the standard 75mm Sherman turret possibly during the 1956 campaign. More research is required to confirm the type of turrets fitted.

To Produce an M50 Degem Alef on the M4A4(T) hull

Modelling modifications to the DML M4A4 Firefly kit:

Upper Hull

• Remove all tools and fittings including the location for the front lifting rings that are in the wrong place.
• Re-shape the front drivers housing and re pair any damage to the weld seems.
• Remove the moulded on side skirt mounting rails, some have these some did not, when modelling a tank with them replace the kit moulded parts with either scratch built or photo etch ones, the DML ones moulded onto the kit has the location holes as raised rivets rather than drilled out and would be a real pain to correct.
• New Engine deck, needs to be made using a M4 engine deck for the front part and two scratch built plain flat plate parts for the rear with a new fuel cap fitting. As per a late M4 or M4A1 style engine deck. Leave off the Firefly gun crutch. The M50 gun crutch is mounted in the centre of the rear hull plate of the engine deck
• Also leave of the armour plate that covers hull mg, and fit the supplied ball mounted mg in place.

Final Drive Assembly

• The Final Drive Assembly (transmission housing) is of the three section bolted type seen on most M4A4 hulls.
• Alternatively use WFM72096 M4A4(T) hull and turret conversion set.

Lower Hull

• Road wheels are solid pressed spoke types.
• Suspension bogie trucks are of the VVSS heavy duty (M4) type with the horizontal return roller arm. There are four location holes for the bolts on the front face of the bogie housing for the return roller arm that can be mounted on either side of the bogie housing. Some bogie trucks have two thin vertical strips, some just the plain bolt holes either filled or empty.
• Construct the DML M4A4 lower hull.

Turret

• The Wee Friends M50 turret this is a standard low bustle one, with the choice of either the split hatch gun mount cupola or the all-round commanders vision cupola, with cast in cheek re in forcing armour.
• Replace the Firefly turret with the M50 turret. Choose either the Split ring or all round vision hatch. Fit the oval loaders hatch. Add the four smoke grenade launchers two per side.
• On the turret rear bustle at the top edge are tiny location pin marks. Drill these out and fit suitable 0.3mm wire around the turret, by first fitting 1mm arms in the holes (depth should be 0.5mm) then carefully add the surround wire by gluing the wire onto the end of the arms. I find it easier to temporarily use 0.5mm plastic card spacers to help get a uniform gap between the turret and rail.
• Due to the difficulty in obtaining the DML M4A4 kit we produce a M4A4 Upper hull and Lower hull sets which allow you to do the conversion if you can not find a DML M4A4 kit. UM Models also do a M4A4 kit, which could also be used to do the M50 M4A4 (T) Conversion.

Since I originally penned this article I have released both the M4A4(T) Early M50, and the M4A4/A2 Egyptian version kits in my Wee Wargames Friendly range of modeling Edition.

AIRFIX has released an M4A4 Firefly, a simplified basic model that can be built onto a detailed model with a little bit if work. HELLER also released excellent M4 and M4A2 kits, which can be used as a basis for these conversions in place of the older kits.

Suggested parts required to make other M50 Degem Alef Shermans

Please note all these tanks retained their original engine decks, suspension systems and Final Drive Assembles.

M4 M50 (Large Hatch)

At the start of the IDF M50 program, some of the older M4 wet stowage 105mm howitzer hulls were also converted to the M50 program by basically converting the turret to the M50 type.

To produce a M50 based on the large hatch wet stowage M4 hull use Wee Friends WVC72004 M4 (105mm) upper hull and WVC72049 M50 turret mated to the Heller M4 Sherman kit.

M4 M50 Dry Stowage (Small Hatch)

Use the Heller M4 kit and replace the turret with WVC72049 M50 turret. With both the Heller M4 and M4A2 kits you are given a choice of drivers hood opening. Select which one you require according to your preferences and references.

M4 Hybrid (Composite) M50. Wet Stowage (Large Hatch)

As above but use WVC72001 M4 Composite upper hull.

M4 Hybrid (Composite) M50 Wet Stowage (Small Hatch)

It is highly unlikely that any M50 where built with the small hatch composite hull as only around 50 of these were produced during 1943/44 and it is believed that only a few of these left the USA. If however it does come to light that these existed then use WVC72099 M4 Sherman early small hatch composite hull, and the Heller kit as the base.

M4A1 Dry Stowage (Small Hatch)

Use the Heller M4 kit and replace the upper hull with WVC 72003 Mid Production M4A1 small hatch (dry stowage) Upper hull. Along with WVC72049 IDF M50 turret. Add any Appliqué Armour as required.

M4A1 Wet Stowage (Large Hatch)

As above using WFV72002 M4A1 (W) Sherman, "Early Production" large hatch upper hull. Or WVC72037 M4A1 Sherman Large Hatch "First Type" Upper Hull with cast in appliqué armour.

M4A2 M50 Dry Stowage (Small Hatch)

For this type it would depend on the type of hull used. Again start of with the Heller M4A2 Sherman kit. And decide which type of drivers hatches to use. Then swap the turret of the kit with WVC720049 M50 turret set. You could also use the Italeri Quickbuild M4A2 wargames models as the basis for the cast small hoods hull type. Simply carve out the opening for the turret.

M4A2 M50 Wet Stowage (Large Hatch)

I am not 100% sure that the M4A2 47 degree hulls with the large hatch and wet stowage were used in the early M50 program. If they were, use the Heller kit with WVC72006 M4A2 (W) Sherman Large Hatch upper hull. If indeed any were used they may have had their engines changed along with their engine decks making them all but indistinguishable from the M4 Wet Stowage hulls. However if the hull has welded on Applique Armour panels on a large hatch hull then these are likely to be M4A2 hulls built by Fisher.

M4A4/A2 M50 Hybrid (Captured Egyptian Tanks converted to M50)

This is a interesting one. Egypt converted their M4A4 hulls with the M4A2 engines and AMX 13 FL10 turret (some retained the 75mm turret and M3 gun). They also added extra appliqué armour to the hull sides three panels on each side. Check photos as some of the 75mm M3 armed versions do not have the appliqué armour or only their original panels. To make this you would need to convert the M4A4 with the M4A2 engine deck and altered rear lower hull plate. Once captured the IDF swapped out the engines to use in their M10 (M50) program, and fitted the M4 style engine deck like the M4A4(T).

It is not known if the IDF retained the AMX 13 FL10 turrets on the M50 hull ?? possibly as dug in bunkers. Most photos I have seen seem to show the M50 turret on the ex-Egyptian hulls. Alternatively use WVC72097 Egyptian M4A4/A2 Hull and WVC72098 French FL10 Turret.

M4A3 M50 Dry Stowage (Small Hatch).

Use any of the DML M4A3 kits that have the VVSS suspension with WVC72007 M4A3 Sherman "Small hatch" Upper hull, and WVC72049 M50 turret.

M4A3 M50 Wet Stowage (Large Hatch)

As above use any DML M4A3 with VVSS and simply swap the turret over.

M4A5

This is the US designation for the Canadian RAM tanks. These were not used by the IDF.

M4A6 Composite

Cast hull front on the longer M4A4 hull. Again these are believed not to have left the USA and therefore would not have been available to the IDF.

I am not sure if the large hatch wet stowage M4A2 or M4A3 were used in the early M50 program before they started to swap the engines and engine decks to the IDF pattern. And added the HVSS suspension system.

These are just some of the suggestion for what can be done with the M50 series Degem Alef models. You can also swap over the engine decks and HVSS suspension parts to make the later versions of the M50.

Egyptian M4A4/A2 Shermans.

Like the IDF the Egyptian army used an earlier version of the sherman before fitting of the FL10 turrets from the AMX13 series of light tanks. At least four M4A4/A2 shermans have been seen in photographs on the website link via the Sherman Minutia site on the M4A4.

1. M4A4/A2 original applique armour on hull sides, ie two on the right hand side and one on the left. The low bustle 75mm turret appears to have the cast in reinforced check armour. And is fitted with the square blanket box.

2. M4A4/A2 The tank appears to have been captured by the IDF and is now on display at YAD LA-SHIRON Museum in Israel. Original appliqués armour on hull, two on the right, one on the left. Low bustle, no reinforced 75mm turret. Square blanket box.