This weekend I started the new Tasca Sherman II. So far, i've got the suspension units, the idlers and the drive sprockets done along with the hull interior and dry-fitted the uppper hull.

So, what's the verdict? When Pat McGrath Reviewed the kit and when the manufacturer published the images of the built model it gave me that certain 'tingling' feeling that here was going to be something pretty special. Pat's Review can be seen: HERE (LINK)

Now, this ISN'T my first Tasca model. I'd already built their (first) Firefly & U.S. M4A1 and i'll stick my neck out a bit and say, that in terms of quality, Tasca is the best manufacturer doing M4s. Even taking into account DML's M4a2s (which are superb) there's something about the Tasca models which really makes them stand out...

So, onto the first steps - the suspension units. Gone (thank all the Little Styrene gods ) are the days when an M4 suspension unit was composed of 4 pieces. Each of the six units consist of no less than 14 pieces and with care, can be articulated. One of the innovations of Tasca has been to inclide a sheet of rubber-type material to cut into rectangles as padding to futher facilitate a more realistic 'movement' of the suspension. I'm still NOT entirely convinced if this is worth it or not - but I did it anyway...

There are some (slight) mould-lines on the bogies which are easily enough to remove with medium grade wet'n'dry paper. To roughen them slightly, I gave them a touch of liquid cement and smoothed them down with my finger.

Here are the suspension units (front and back views):







Here are the Sprockets:







As to the hull is concerned, the lower 'tub' consists of eight parts which fit in a manner which is not good - it's superlative.





The transmission housing consists of eight parts and once again, the fit is absolutely perfect:



I dry-fitted the upper hull to check for fit and it just snaps in place over the sponsons and matches up to the bolted bar above the transmission:





More on the way...

It's a great kit to build but I found a few little niggles in doing mine. The 30 cal ball mount hole was a bit too tight and needed enlarging; the D Shackles/ towing rings are so delicate that they snap when you try to put them on the mounts. I feel these are a little under scale because there was no way you were ever going to get them mounted with the tow cable attached. I am not a fan of the gun barrels being two part but that is more a statement about my ability to remove the resulting seem. I'm going to cheat and use an Alloy AM one.
The Fit of the Hull and transmission were flawless and it really shows how well these are engineered. They were a huge improvement on DML's in the Sherman III and even the Sicily version (until this kit the closest to a perfect OOB Sherman to me).
One thing I have to congratulate tasca on is the attachment points for the Sprockets are done in a way that it so easy to remove them with out damaging the tooth face. I wish all manufacturers would take note of how they do it.
Now that I have had a really good look in hte flesh at the tracks I can state quite categorically they ARE T 41 and not incorrect T 51 as the learned noodle boy claims. The 50 cal is a work of art and the best Injected molded one I have ever seen.
I look forward to seeing it finished Jim
Cheers
Al

Yep - a simple thing but thoroughly annoying when other manufacturers don't even consider it. To have the attchment points horizontal (behind the face of the sprocket) rather than between the sprocket teeth is so bloody simple it makes you tear your hair out!

Gday Jim
Lovely photos mate.
Words can't decsribe the feeling when a Tasca upper hull 'snaps' onto the lower tub



Couldn't agree more Al. I snapped every single 'U' shackle on my M4A1. Seems the plastic has a certain brittleness that others don't but they did snap clean and were an easy if annoying fix. Also the plastic locking pins on the aircleaners were too brittle for my oaf-like approach...
Brad

My thoughts precisely!

Jim,

Just received my Tasca DV shermans and have been fondling them lol. Will be watching your build with interest.

Darryl

Hi Jim,

Look forward to the build. That interior is just asking to be filled lol, lol.

Al

Yep, it certainly does I get the feeling that in the future we MAY see an interior set from Tasca (or at least one of the AM manufacturers) I may be off-base here, but I reckon the engine compartment has been scaled with a view to dropping an engine in... The second bulkhead:



Looks as if it's been done with that in mind - it's certainly going to make life a lot easier for a future super-detail build...

Hi Jim,

interiors for the Shermans would be good news indeed.

Al

Attached the upper hull and added some of the detail:



Front Glacis plate also got some of the detail added:





Finally, rear hatches and air filters. Having had the same frustration with the shackles, I tried these...



More to come - all comments welcome!

Looking sweet I must say.

Nice when they actually build the kit to see if the parts go together correctly.

But does that take the fun out of it.

Or the part.

Where do these Rubber parts you mention go Jim?

Looks like I know what Santa is bringing soon.

Best place to get this in the States would be?

Or better from Overseas?

Thanks

HI

Excellent ! Looks like a sweet build.

I gave up on DML releasing theirs so I ordered two of these kits instead, glad I did. Looking fwd to seeing yours progress.

Tom

Right here:

Nice progress Jim,

thanks for posting these images for those of us that have yet to get their hands on this beauty.



This photo in particular gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside !



Thanks Tasca !

Oh, and a message for our friend in Lalaland who's following this Blog. Soon i'll be assembling the M41 Tracks that's right - the M41 Tracks and putting tgether the .50 Calibre MG which was seen on 99% of this model in this time frame. Then. i'll probably go back and check the M41 Tracks again - just to make sure there hasn't been a chemical reaction and they've changed into M41/M51 Hybrid Tracks nothing worse than putting Hybrid Tracks on m4s. Bit like putting a brain in an anonymous blogger - it'd be lonely...

Gold !!!

This is a great thread Jim, I'll be watching with great interest !

Cheers

Paul

Mine arrived yesterday. Looking at these pics is really tempting me to divert (again!) from my other ongoing projects. Curse you Tasca!

Looking at this build, I am questioning why I buy DML. Their Mark III Sherman is a nightmare.

I wouldn't go exactly that far, however, by comparison, I feel it's a bit 'clunky' - the delicacy of the Tasca M4s is absolutely sublime. Also, as we were told (by HEEROOSHEY ) that the CAD drawings are 'Gospel' I wonder if the 'step' between the transmission cover and the hull glacis is going to be as pronounced as it seems to be in the images of the DML Sherman II?

Personally, I don't have much interest in the DML M4a1 at all now, they really have got to push the envelope to make it better than THIS.

Ok Jim, stop spending your time posting and get back to building (and then post some more) . I'll be following this one, I haven't built a Sherman in about four or five years now, I think this may be my next one!

Cheers,
Mike

Thanks for the answer Jim.

Looks good and as said build more.

More Pics.
Thanks.

Looking sharp Jim, those Tasca shermans are a gem to build and to watch them getting build .
I wonder what is your method of painting the kits tracks? I have the mid production M4A1 in the works, and vallejo acrylic flakes and rubs off very easily. I haven't tried enamel yet, but I am afraid it could react with this gluable vinyl and never dry ?

Cheers
Greg

Now, i'm glad you asked that. Going back (oh, many years ) when I was working with the old Airfix polythene figures and painting them with enamel, the enamel would just flake off.. So, the technique in THOSE days, was to paint the figure with a PVA-based glue giving them a 'keyed' surface to apply paint onto. So, i'm wondering if this (or even acrylic varnish) would work.. So far, i've had no problems with the tracks on the M4a1 or the Firefly...

Here's the latest. Suspension units added, hull details being added - next step the tools...

Looks like a great kit. Where did you get it from if i may ask. Every place i have looked it is on preorder. Well went back and looked further at the parts breakdown, seen it was a demo version for first looks. Do you know when it will be available , Thanks Andy.