DPNM
GAINING SPEED
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Post by DPNM on Feb 23, 2021 10:52:22 GMT -6
I mentioned in another thread that I live near a place that has a tank. I stopped there today and got these pics. Sorry, I didn't want to track through the snow or stand on the road so I didn't get a good front view shot. At least my first two questions are: What is it? Is it available as a 1/35 kit?    |
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Ernie
SETTLING IN
Just goin' where the plastic takes me.....
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Post by Ernie on Feb 23, 2021 12:00:19 GMT -6
It is a HVSS Sherman, others will be able to pin point it better than I but looks like an "Easy Eight". Tamiya, DML, and I think Tasca / Asuka all make kits of it.
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Post by dogfish7 (R.I.P.) on Feb 23, 2021 12:58:18 GMT -6
M4A3/ 76 MM, but Beekster and Rusty are the Experts.  |
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Post by Beekster on Feb 23, 2021 13:28:11 GMT -6
This is an M4A3E8, very late production built by CDA (Chrysler Defense Arsenal) in Detroit in the first or second quarter of 1945. Notable features are the front lift rings at the edge of the hull, the late 76mm gun with muzzle brake, oval loader's hatch and TC's vision cupola on the turret roof, turret & gun shield fittings for a canvas dust cover, and torsion bars on the engine deck doors. Several manufacturers make kits; Tamiya and Asuka are probably the best. Asuka does have one problem; the smallest support rollers are too small in diameter. Tamiya has their typically irritating features like solid-molded grab handles, but that is easily dealt with. The double-pin T84 rubber block track is post-WW2 and there are aftermarket tracks for that type. The single-pin T66 was most common in WW2, and some Dragon kits have that. The T81 rubber block/steel chevron double-pin track was occasionally seen late in the war. The shape of the bottom turret sides and presence of a casting mark to the right of the ventilator on the rear face of the turret identify the turret shell as having been manufactured by CFM-W (Continental Foundry and Machine Company, Wheeling WV). I don't know if any kit has this specific style of turret, but reworking a kit turret would be straightforward. Son of Sherman Vol. 1 has excellent reference photos, including the location and appearance of casting marks. Archer Transfers makes casting symbols in their Surface Details resin decal line, and those are invaluable when building a Sherman.
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Post by JCON on Feb 23, 2021 16:01:43 GMT -6
And there you have it from our resident Shermie Experts!!! Way to go guys!!!  |
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DPNM
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 561
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Post by DPNM on Feb 23, 2021 16:38:01 GMT -6
It is a HVSS Sherman, others will be able to pin point it better than I but looks like an "Easy Eight". Tamiya, DML, and I think Tasca / Asuka all make kits of it. Thank you Ernie. I'll probably go with a Tamiya kit. |
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DPNM
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 561
Likes: 1,270
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Post by DPNM on Feb 23, 2021 16:43:54 GMT -6
M4A3/ 76 MM, but Beekster and Rusty are the Experts. Thank you Bruce. Nice looking kit. |
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DPNM
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 561
Likes: 1,270
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Post by DPNM on Feb 23, 2021 16:47:46 GMT -6
This is an M4A3E8, very late production built by CDA (Chrysler Defense Arsenal) in Detroit in the first or second quarter of 1945. Notable features are the front lift rings at the edge of the hull, the late 76mm gun with muzzle brake, oval loader's hatch and TC's vision cupola on the turret roof, turret & gun shield fittings for a canvas dust cover, and torsion bars on the engine deck doors. Several manufacturers make kits; Tamiya and Asuka are probably the best. Asuka does have one problem; the smallest support rollers are too small in diameter. Tamiya has their typically irritating features like solid-molded grab handles, but that is easily dealt with. The double-pin T84 rubber block track is post-WW2 and there are aftermarket tracks for that type. The single-pin T66 was most common in WW2, and some Dragon kits have that. The T81 rubber block/steel chevron double-pin track was occasionally seen late in the war. The shape of the bottom turret sides and presence of a casting mark to the right of the ventilator on the rear face of the turret identify the turret shell as having been manufactured by CFM-W (Continental Foundry and Machine Company, Wheeling WV). I don't know if any kit has this specific style of turret, but reworking a kit turret would be straightforward. Son of Sherman Vol. 1 has excellent reference photos, including the location and appearance of casting marks. Archer Transfers makes casting symbols in their Surface Details resin decal line, and those are invaluable when building a Sherman. Thank you for this info Beekster. It is more than I understand at this time. This may be one of my first forays into armor. If I do decide to do it I will be hoping for your expertise along the way. |
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Post by Beekster on Feb 23, 2021 17:36:19 GMT -6
This is an M4A3E8, very late production built by CDA (Chrysler Defense Arsenal) in Detroit in the first or second quarter of 1945. Notable features are the front lift rings at the edge of the hull, the late 76mm gun with muzzle brake, oval loader's hatch and TC's vision cupola on the turret roof, turret & gun shield fittings for a canvas dust cover, and torsion bars on the engine deck doors. Several manufacturers make kits; Tamiya and Asuka are probably the best. Asuka does have one problem; the smallest support rollers are too small in diameter. Tamiya has their typically irritating features like solid-molded grab handles, but that is easily dealt with. The double-pin T84 rubber block track is post-WW2 and there are aftermarket tracks for that type. The single-pin T66 was most common in WW2, and some Dragon kits have that. The T81 rubber block/steel chevron double-pin track was occasionally seen late in the war. The shape of the bottom turret sides and presence of a casting mark to the right of the ventilator on the rear face of the turret identify the turret shell as having been manufactured by CFM-W (Continental Foundry and Machine Company, Wheeling WV). I don't know if any kit has this specific style of turret, but reworking a kit turret would be straightforward. Son of Sherman Vol. 1 has excellent reference photos, including the location and appearance of casting marks. Archer Transfers makes casting symbols in their Surface Details resin decal line, and those are invaluable when building a Sherman. Thank you for this info Beekster. It is more than I understand at this time. This may be one of my first forays into armor. If I do decide to do it I will be hoping for your expertise along the way. When you have questions, just ask. I'll be happy to explain. The first rule about Shermans is that variation among them is immense. During the war there were five major variants, powered by four different engines. Many features were dictated by what engine was installed, and a dizzying array of other features can be used to identify which factory built a particular tank and when. That's what I've done here. Trust me, you have barely poked your nose below the surface of this rabbit hole. It goes very deep, and branches off in many directions. The bunny tunnel that winds through the Israeli variants is particularly convoluted. If modeling what you see in those images is your objective, then the Tamiya kit #35359 looks like the one to get since it has most of the features seen in your images. The first aid box on the left side isn't shown in the image Tamiya provides of a completed model, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was included in the kit. In fact, it ought to be, for a Korean War tank. This Tamiya kit will be an excellent start for a Korean War Sherman, and can be done as a late WW2 example as well. Decide what time period you want to do, and we can help you figure out what features are appropriate for the era. And if you succumb to Shermania, as I did two decades ago, know that the condition is eminently survivable...but the courses of treatment can be hard on the wallet! |
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DPNM
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 561
Likes: 1,270
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Post by DPNM on Feb 23, 2021 17:39:28 GMT -6
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Post by Beekster on Feb 23, 2021 17:46:26 GMT -6
Yeah, it's currently out of print. Don't worry, I have it and many more references besides and can coach you through things. For me, "Sherman" is a very broad term that encompasses much more than the M4 Medium Tank series, as the US Army called them. I include the previous M3 Medium series, which shared engines and suspensions with the later M4; the M10 and M36 tank destroyers (shared drivetrains and suspension), the M7 and Sexton SP howitzers and Canadian Ram tanks (shared drivetrains and suspension), post-war derivatives from many nations, and even logging equipment. Look for my threads in the Completed Armor section for examples and inspiration. For proof of how far gone I am, check out my Madill 071 yarder thread in the All Things White Stuff section.
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DPNM
GAINING SPEED
Posts: 561
Likes: 1,270
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Post by DPNM on Feb 23, 2021 19:35:22 GMT -6
Thank you again Beekster. That Tamiya kit will be the one I will look for. And you can be sure I will be asking you questions when I decide to build it.
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