Today I received an model of Dragons kit #9009 M4A3E8, the Korean War version.
I was told it was the newer Dragon kit # 6183 , but oh well buyer beware right...
Anyway, I was wondering if kit #9009 could be built to represent a WWII E8 Sherman? if not what would have to be tweaked to make it a WWII version?

Thanks guys!
BillK.

The kit is very old and has issues. It is a variation of the old Italeri M4A3 76 and differs in the addition of HVSS suspension, a new T23 turret and individual T80 tracklinks.
Some of the issues are:
Hull, poor definition of the cast area around the drivers hatches, poor weld representation (some raised some sunk

Turret - Gun tube too short, shape issues, Mantlet had the coax and sighting holes reversed on the original releases which is hard to fix. Later kits fixed this.

Lower Hull - earlier kits still had the Italeri VVSS mounting plates which had to be shaved off. The HVSS mounts were very flimsy and the tracks a cow to assemble.

As for whether you can do this as a WWII version the answer is yes as some WW2 M4A3 HVSS 76 had T80 track. You need to lose the Tank Telephone and scratch a WW2 pattern exhaust shield.

If you just want a basic rep of an M4A3 76 HVSS then this kit will look the part but pretty soft on detail. If you want a competition model then go with the latest DML one and give that one to the spares bin.
Cheers
Al

Hi Bill,
That's awful when you try to buy a thoroughbred and you end up getting a plow horse.
DML's Imperial series Korean War M4A3E8, #9009, is one of their oldest Sherman kits based on the Italeri's M4A1 and M4A3 kits.
The upper hull has the usual weld joint issues, with trenches like most older Sherman kits have instead of welds that stand proud of the hull joints.
The mounting points on the Italeri based lower hull have to be cut and sanded off to mount the HVSS suspension, unless you're lucky to have got the #9009X with the resin replacement lower hull.
One of it's most obvious flaws is that the gun mantlet's MG port and sighting port are reversed and upside down.
The tracks are indy type T80's that were more commonly seen in the Korean War and not late WW II
I have one sitting in my stash along with DML's #9010 M4A3 [76]W HVSS WWII Sherman with applique armour.
It's too bad you didn't get the #9010 kit, it's gun mantlet was corrected and has the more common T66 tracks.
#9009 is not a great kit and it's a poor cousin to some of the more recent releases.
You could get some AM parts and use a little TLC or you could get one of the better, newer releases.
Cheers

jjumbo

p.s. Looks like Al beat me to the punch

Yep, you'll at least want to replace the suspension with the AFV Club HVSS; some T66 tracks (Friul) - but as mentioned not totally necessary; then maybe a CMD 76mm turret. I've got this kit too, 3/4 built for about, hmm 10 years or so now... very hard to go back to it.

Jim

Ugh...I was kind of preparing myself for that.

Thank you very much, Al, John and Jim. I really appreciate the fast response.

If you want a near perfect kit for a WWII E8, the Dragon/DML Thunderbolt would be the way to go. It gives you your choice of turrets (oval or round loaders hatch) and has the Magic Tracks with the T-66 style you need. There were some T-80 tracks towards the end of the war, but the T-66 was the most popular.

I have this kit too but I have the later issue with the resin lower hull and it's about half finished.

You should just go ahead and build it and stick some aftermarket tracks on it!

There is no need to use Aftermarket T80 tracks as the kit supplied ones are very good - just a pain to assemble! (No worse than a set of Fruils to assemble and they wont sag)

Al

Never said there was something wrong with the kit supplied T-80 tracks, I only suggested that because he wants to do a WWII version, thus needing aftermarket T-66 tracks which were more more popular than the T-80 tracks.

Its my understanding that the T-80 track came in rght at the very end of the war (possibly even immediately postwar) AFV club has some aftermarket "rubber band" T-66 track.

John

[quote]If you want a near perfect kit for a WWII E8, the Dragon/DML Thunderbolt would be the way to go...quote]

Ha ha! Well Jeff that is the one I was told I was buying but when the package arrived, lo and behold, it was kit #9009.

Thanks for the tip on the AFV tracks John. I just might go that direction.

Again thanks guys for all the replys!!

Bill.

Bill not to cause trouble but you should ask for some refund. The 6099 goes for $12 on eBay. The Thunderbolt kit is considerably higher.