I haven’t built a model in a couple years and decided to start up again with this kit. It is my first dragon kit and I am very impressed with what I see in the box. Anyway, I am looking for advice on building the kit such as problems to watch for or features that need to be corrected. I may also add a hedgerow cutter so if you have any suggestions for one that works well with the kit please let me know.

Here's something for you
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr6083.htm

Also know that the spare track brackets on the rear hull are bogus. They should look like this
http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/restore_41.jpg

and not "E" shaped. But it's a very very good kit otherwise

Two things that need to be corrected are 1) the two filler caps on the rear deck next to the access hatch need to be removed- they were present on the M4A1 small hatch hull but not the large hatch M4A1.




2) The front fenders Dragin supply are the wrong type- again a carry over from their Small hatch M4A1. They should look like this:

Great info so far guys, thanks. Anyone have any ideas for an aftermarket hedgerow cutter?

Steve Zaloga's Osprey Modelling book "Modelling the US Army M4 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank" (note the British spelling of "modelling" when you search) has a whole chapter devoted to building this kit, including the necessary corrections (it's available discounted through Amazon). The turret casting needs to be backdated. The original type had a raised, figure eight shaped coaming surrounding the two openings for the cupolas, which is easy to add with epoxy putty. The small casting on the turret rear for the ventilator hadn't been added yet, so delete that and fill the opening. You can follow Steve's advice on assembling the kit's link to link tracks, or you can simplify your life by buying the Dragon soft plastic DS tracks through Cyber-Hobby. These have detail on the edges as well as top and bottom (no nasty edge seam, as seen on old-school vinyl tracks). Since Shermans had live track that shouldn't sag anyway, there is no advantage in link to link.