The recent DML announcement of the Sherman II got me to doing a little research on the kits that have been done of Sherman variants over the years. This is what I've found:

Achilles Mk II.c
AFV Club (35039)
Academy (1392)

Kangaroo Personnel Carrier
Italeri (204)

M3 Grant
Academy (13212)
Tamiya (35041)

M3 Lee
Academy (13206) M3 Lee
Tamiya (35039) M3 Lee Mk I

M4 Sherman
Italeri (6389) M4 Sherman USMC
Tamiya (35190) M4 Sherman (Early Production)

M4A1 (76)W Sherman
Dragon (6083) M4A1 (76)W "Operation Cobra"

M4A1 Sherman
Dragon (6048) M4A1 75mm Early Version
Italeri (225) M4A1 Sherman
Nichimo (unk) M4A1 Sherman
Tasca (35-010) M4A1 Sherman (Mid Production)
Tasca (35-012) M4A1 Sherman (Late Production)
Tasca (35012) M4A1 Sherman (Late Production)
Testors (803) M4A1 Sherman

M4A2 (76)W Sherman
Academy (13010) M4A2 (76) Red Army
Dragon (6188) M4A2 (76) Red Army

M4A2 Sherman
Academy (13203) M4A2 Sherman USMC
Dragon (6062) M4A2 "Tarawa"
Dragon (6462) M4A2 U.S.M.C. Sherman Late PTO 2-In-1

M4A3 (105) HVSS
Dragon (6354)

M4A3 (105) Sherman
Academy (13207) M4A3 Sherman 105mm w/M1 Dozer Blade
Tamiya (35251) M4A3 Sherman 105mm Howitzer (Assault Support)

M4A3 (76)W Sherman
Dragon (6255) M4A3 (76)W VVSS "Battle of the Bulge"
Italeri (6440) M4A3 76mm Sherman

M4A3 Sherman
Heller (81161) M4A3 Sherman
Italeri (288) M4A3 Sherman w/Calliope
Tamiya (35122) M4A3 Sherman w/75mm Gun
Tamiya (35250) M4A3 Sherman 75mm Gun Late

M4A3E2 Sherman "Jumbo"
Tamiya (35139)

M4A3E8 Sherman
Dragon (6183) M4A3E8 "Thunderbolt VII"
Dragon (6283) M4A3E8 Sherman "Major Albin F. Irzyk"
Dragon (6811) M4A3E8 "Easy 8" Korean War
Dragon (9009) M4A3E8 "Easy 8" Korean War

M4A4 Sherman
Dragon (6035) M4A4 Sherman
Dragon (6041) M4A4 w/60lb Rocket

M7 "Priest"
Academy (13210) M7 "Priest"
Italeri (206) M7 "Priest"

M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
AFV Club (35024) M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
AFV Club (35S07) M10 Wolverine (Late Production)
Academy (1393) M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
Academy (1397) M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
Tamiya (89554) M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer

M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriage
Academy (1394)

M32 Armored Recovery Vehicle
Italeri (6203)
Testors (806)

M35 Prime Mover
AFV Club (35S08)

M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer
AFV Club (35058)
Academy (1395)
Italeri (250)
Tamiya (MT 135)

M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage
AFV Club (35031) M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage "Big Shot"

M50 Super Sherman
Dragon (3528)

M51 Isherman
Dragon (3529)
Dragon (3539) Premium Edition

M51 Super Sherman
Academy (1373)

Sherman Firefly Ic
Dragon (6228)
Dragon (9037) Sherman Firefly Ic Hybrid-Hull

Sherman Mk. III
Dragon (6313) Sherman Mk. III
Dragon (6231) Sherman Mk. III Mid Production Sicily

Sherman Vc Firefly
Dragon (6031) Sherman Vc Firefly
Dragon (6121) Sherman Vc Firefly
Dragon (6182) Sherman Vc Firefly
Dragon (6323) Sherman Vc Firefly "Douglas Kay"
Tasca (35-009) Sherman Vc Firefly
Tasca (35-011) Sherman Vc Firefly w/Cast Cheek-armour Turret

My questions for you Shermaphiles out there:
1) the major variant names (in bold) - I'm going more or less by designations in the Hunnicutt book. Would you use something different? Are the major variant names accurate?
2) Do the kits listed belong in that major variant grouping?
3) Any kits missing?
4) Are there sub-designations that would make it easier to accurately ID what's in the box? DV, HVSS, HDTV, IEIEO.

My goal is to build a web page that would allow a user to drill down to a group of kits based on chassis (Sherman, Tiger, T-34), major variant (M4, M4A1, M4A2, etc), then see a list of the kits, notes, reviews, etc. This, plus learn more about a critter I don't know much about. You'd think an ex-US-tanker would know more about them, but to me a Sherman is a Sherman. Or was.

Any additional info or corrections are welcome.

The Academy Sherman dozer is also an HVSS version. It should be grouped with the Dragon M4A3 105 HVSS.
The Italeri US Marines Sherman is an M4A3, not an M4, and includes an optional M4A2 engine deck (but not the M4A2 tail plate or exhausts). The only straight M4 now available in 1/35th is the Tamiya kit, and it has the incorrect glacis plate castings for an M4A4. The Dragon Sherman III can be converted easily enough to a correct early M4 using the Formations resin parts (or the relevent engine deck and tail plate parts of the Tamiya M4, if you have it lying around). Undoubtedly Dragon will eventually favor us with a proper early or mid production M4, as they have all the parts available already in other existing kits.
Dragon now offers two Sherman III (British M4A2), which should be grouped with the M4A2 (Sherman III was just a paper designation used by the British).
The Testors M4A1 is a rebox of Italeri, as are all the Heller Shermans. The Italeri M4A1 is a 76 mm wet stowage model and depicts the same variant as the Dragon Operation Cobra kit.
The Dragon and Academy M51 Israeli Shermans depict the same variant (Isherman and Super Sherman were both nicknames, and neither is really correct).
The Testors M32 (really an M32B1), is the Italeri kit.

My dream is to collect all Sherman tank. Now I have collected even all M4A3 that are commonly seen, including HVSS suspension system.

Thanks for Hobbyboss, I can get some 1/48 scale ones for which the 1/35 can not be bought here in Beijing, China.

I like M4A1 late version the best, but Tamiya's kit all run out and I can not find Tasca's kit. The best choice is Tamiya's 1/48 scale, but it is simplified too much.

Maybe one day I can use resin to create a original M4A1, but that is just a assumption till now.

Nice list and I have 30 of the kits listed either in boxes or semi built. the Italeri M4A1 is the an M4A1 76. All the Testors kits are the same as Italeri so you could list them as Testors/Italeri.

You should group the M4A2 75s with the Mk IIIs as they are the same tank- some have welded hoods and some cast but both variants were reffered to as Mk IIIs by the Brits and M4A2s by the U.S.

The Heller M4A3 is the Italeri kit with an extra turret in the box.

hey,

I know it's fairly old,and don't know if it's worth mentioning ,but Nichimo made the M4A1-early,I believe it was a bit undersized,but still listed as 1/35,I believe ,for quite sometime,it was the only game in town.

Joe

Thanks for the info; every little bit helps. I'm trying to make my kit list as complete as possible.

The MP Models kit of the Israeli M50 Sherman can still be found on E-bay and the like.

Doug

The Italeri M4 USMC Sherman (Kit 6389) is actually an M4A3.

Since you're considering adding the Nitto M4A1, how about these oldie moldies?

Tamiya 1/32 M4A3E8
Monogram 1/32 M4 Hedgehog
Monogram 1/32 M4A1 w/Calliope
Monogram 1/32 M3 Grant
Monogram 1/32 M3 Lee

And then there's also the Academy ripoffs of Tamiya kits
M4A3E8
M10 GMC
M36 Jackson

I also advise combining M4A2 with Sherman III.

Was that a full kit, or a conversion set?

Right now, the database is only on 1/35-scale vehicles. With over 1300 entries on those alone, I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle any other scales!




Did Tamiya do an M4A3E8? Do you have kit numbers for the Academy versions?

Thanks - Dan

Mp Models also did an M4 hull (issues with the angle of the rear plate, which they acknowledged in the instructions and showed a work-around) and an M4A4 hull.

Now that you seem to have all the kits nailed, how about about referencing all the Sherman accessories available..?
See Sisyphus.

acav out

Thanks for the list as now I can use it to buy more armor models Bob

You ain't kidding. Methinks I shall leave that task for others

A dated collection of kits and accessories is in the MMIR Guide to the Sherman universe. I assume that it'll be updated in the future "Son of Sherman" by MMIR as well.

Great list Dan, I have taken the liberty to copy it and regroup it with some notes against the listed kits. It may make an interesting exercise for others to add notes etc to this and continue it. By no means complete:

M4 Sherman (Sherman I, 1c)
Italeri (6389) M4 Sherman USMC (Actually an M4A3 with some – not all – parts for an M4A2 Late Has Wading gear)
Tamiya (35190) M4 Sherman (Early Production) (Incorrect Hull glacis – actually an M4A4 one; not early more remanufactured mid)
Dragon (6228) (Announced three years ago – still waiting)
Dragon (9037) Sherman Firefly Ic Hybrid-Hull (Came in two kit variants – one as a 2-1 with alternate excellent late High Bustle 75mm turret. Re releaeased in 2007 without 2-1 option)
Dragon (tba) PTO 75mm M4Composite (Announced for later this year)

M4A1 Sherman (Sherman II, IIa)
Dragon (6083) M4A1 (76)W "Operation Cobra"
Italeri (225) M4A1 (76) W Sherman
Nichimo (unk) M4A1 Sherman ((Also released by Minicraft)
Tasca (35-010) M4A1 Sherman (Mid Production)
Tasca (35-012) M4A1 Sherman (Late Production) (Actually Mid with some late features also released as ltd ED with Brit Stowage, Figure and 4AB markings which are really wrong))
Testors (803) M4A1 Sherman (Actually Italeri M4A1 (76) W kit number 225)
Dragon(6447) M4A1 DV (Announced)
Matchbox (???) M4A1 (76) W (Rebox of italeri 225)
Revell (???)M4A1 (76) W (Rebox of italeri 225)

M4A2 Sherman (Sherman III, IIIa)
Academy (13010) M4A2 (76) Red Army (Incorrect rear hull angle on EARLY kits – later corrected)
Dragon (6188) M4A2 (76) Red Army
Academy (13203) M4A2 Sherman USMC (47 deg late dry hull with Wading gear & T48 tracks with EEC)
Dragon (6062) M4A2 "Tarawa" (Mid/Early Welded Hoods)
Dragon (6462) M4A2 U.S.M.C. Sherman Late PTO 2-In-1 (Late 47 deg dry hull with wooden appliqué and T54 tracks with and without EEC)
Dragon (6313) Sherman Mk. III (Cast Hood variant with 3 piece transmission and T54 tracks)
Dragon (6231) Sherman Mk. III Mid Production Sicily (Welded hoods with Brit acc from kit 6313 and WE 210 tracks)

M4A3 Sherman (Sherman IV, IVb, IV,by, IVa, IVay)
Dragon (6354) M4A3 105 HVSS (incorrect mantlet Size)
Dragon (???) POA Flamethrower variant (Old Italeri Lower Hull with excellent new turret, individual links)
Academy (13207) M4A3 105mm w/M1 Dozer Blade (Blade width incorrect – half way between M1 and M1A1)
Tamiya (35251) M4A3 Sherman 105mm Howitzer (Assault Support) (Comes with Winter US Infantry figures)
Dragon (6255) M4A3 (76)W VVSS "Battle of the Bulge" (Comes with DML US Tank Crew and 101st AB Bastogne Figure sets)
Italeri (6440) M4A3 76mm Sherman (Labelled as M4A2 Jumbo!)
Heller (81161) M4A3 Sherman (Re Release of Italeri 6440 with new markings)
Italeri (288) M4A3 Late Sherman w/Calliope (First Sherman Kit with double sided detail on Roadwheels)
Tamiya (35122) M4A3 Sherman w/75mm Gun (With T54 track and large EEC)
Tamiya (35250) M4A3 Sherman 75mm Gun Late (as for 35122 with t48 track and figures – US Inf Winter)
Tamiya (35139) M4A3E2 Sherman "Jumbo" (No armoured transmission cover – turret undersize)
Dragon (6183) M4A3E8 "Thunderbolt VII"
Dragon (6283) M4A3E8 Sherman "Major Albin F. Irzyk" (Bad Hybrid of 6255 and earlier HVSS gear)
Dragon (6811) M4A3E8 HVSS WW2(Based on Italeri M4A3 late with T66 track individual link and appliqué armour – expedient Jumbo)
Dragon (9009) M4A3E8 "Easy 8" Korean War (Based on Italeri M4A3 late with T80 track individual link)

M4A4 Sherman (Sherman V, Vc)
Dragon (6035) M4A4 Sherman (Original had incorrect length lower hull - Re released in 2007 with corrected Lower Hull – 6 marking options)
Dragon (6041) M4A4 w/60lb Rocket
Dragon (6031) Sherman Vc Firefly (Incorrect Lower hull length and poor mantlet height in turret face, incorrect late Bogies – superceded by 6121)
Dragon (6121) Sherman Vc Firefly (Still has Incorrect Lower hull length and poor mantlet height in turret face, correct Mid M4 bogies and 60lb rocket options – superceded by 6182)
Dragon (6182) Sherman Vc Firefly (Corrected Hull and turret , but IMHO still wrong in small ways such as radio pot)
Dragon (6323) Sherman Vc Firefly "Douglas Kay" (Ltd Ed kit of 6182 for DX 07 Euro)
Tasca (35-009) Sherman Vc Firefly
Tasca (35-011) Sherman Vc Firefly w/Cast Cheek-armour Turret


M50 Isreali Sherman
Dragon (3528)
MP Models (???) (OOP limited run injection kit with individual links)

M51 Israeli Sherman (aka Isherman/Super Sherman)
Dragon (3529)
Dragon (3539) Premium Edition
Academy (1373)

Achilles Mk II.c (M10 17 pdr)
AFV Club (35039)
Academy (1392)

Kangaroo Personnel Carrier (Defrocked Priest)
Italeri (204)

M3 Grant
Academy (13212)
Tamiya (35041)

M3 Lee
Academy (13206) M3 Lee
Tamiya (35039) M3 Lee Mk I

M7 "Priest"
Academy (13210) M7 "Priest"
Italeri (206) M7 "Priest"

M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
AFV Club (35024) M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
AFV Club (35S07) M10 Wolverine (Late Production)
Academy (1393) M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
Academy (1397) M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
Tamiya (89554) M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer ) (Actually in mixed scales of 35th & 32nd Tracks are woefull – old 70’s motorised kit )

M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriage
Academy (1394)

M32 Armored Recovery Vehicle
Italeri (6203)
Testors (806) (Rebox of Italeri)

M35 Prime Mover
AFV Club (35S08) (Hopeless attempt to rehash has wrong engine decking for M35)

M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer
AFV Club (35058) (Wrong Engine deck type for M36, bad gun tube is post war M3 minus the Extractor)
Academy (1395) (Postwar parts included)
Italeri (250) (Actually an M36B1 on M4A3 lower Hull)
Tamiya (MT 135) (Actually in mixed scales of 35th & 32nd Tracks are woefull – old 70’s motorised kit )

M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage
AFV Club (35031) M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage "Big Shot"

Al - great info. I'll incorporate it with my info and build a web page here in the next couple of days, will post a link when done.

If anyone has any more info, feel free to jump in.

Thank you guys . I appreciate the effort you are putting in as I'm sure a lot of other modelers will be .This list will be very helpful , thanks again Bob

As I get the chance I'll write up some notes against the individual entries and get pics of the boxtops.
Cheers
Al

This was a full kit. They did sell several Sherman conversions (small hatch M4/M4A3 hull, M4A4 hull and HVSS), but the MP M50 was a complete model. Revell did a Frankenstein M4A1 with HVSS in about 1/36 scale too.

Here's a link to a similar list that was created a decade ago on RMS.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.models.scale/browse_thread/thread/bbab519a3031eb7d/5370559a6d8f7fe0?lnk=gst&q=mp+model#5370559a6d8f7fe0

The Academy M10s are rip offs of the Tamiya one? Wow, for copies Academy sure improved them.

The MP conversion was for an M4 or early M4A3 hull and was designed for use with the old Tamiya M4A3 and Italeri M4A1.
There were 2 different upper hull rear plates, engine deck plates and rear hull and mufflers for the M4 and M4A3
The kit instructions had a template to make spacers made out of plastic sheeting and modelling putty for the early M4A3 rear hull.
MP also made an HVSS suspension set that was part of their M50 kit.
IIRC, the plan was to also do conversion kits for a Firefly/75mm Dry Stowage turret and an SU-100.
Apparently the guys involved with the company moved over to Chesapeake Model Designs when MP went belly up and took the designs for the turret and other projects.
Cheers

jjumbo

Different M10 kits, Academy has an older line of kits that feature a built up model as the box art. Those old kits are direct clones of Tamiya kits. The newer M10 Academy released within the past few years is an entirely new and different kit than the old Tamiya copy they issued in the 80s.

No the ORIGINAL Academy M10, M36, M4A3E8, Sheridan,PZ IV H, Centurian and others were knockoffs of the old Tamiya ones from the early 70's. These were released in the 80's and most had motorization. The first three I listed were shockers and a real mix and match of scales.
The Later release M10, M10 Late, M10 Duckbill and M36 are ALL new kittings and owe nothing to the Tamiya kits.
Al

Fantastic project and one which will have a large audience. Letr us know where and how to access. Great work!

That's interesting...was there ever a DML #9010 (to go along with the 9101X)?