Quoted Text

---

Has some clairvoyant member devined a release date?

---

Seriously, that's the million $ question - when is the release date? I may buy a couple to get the first batch metal barrels.

Sure we're all a fine gang of francophobes but the markings are cool. Hopefully Meng will put French markings in a kit.

Quoted Text

---

Sure we're all a fine gang of francophobes but the markings are cool. Hopefully Meng will put French markings in a kit.

---

Some are available from Star Decals

H.P.

the Asuka kits are starting to age causing poor quality parts (especially for their price). Sink marks, flash, mismatched and short-shot parts.... I'm very excited for this release.

Quoted Text

---

Hence I said almost exclusively used by the U.S.

---

Nothing wrong with that... The British liked Shermans enough to mount their excellent 17-pounders in them, did they not..?

Looks like a Sherman "arms race" has started.

https://www.track-link.com/forums/news_industry
/37819

Looks like a Sherman "arms race" has started.

https://www.track-link.com/forums/news_industry
/37819

Quoted Text

---

Quoted Text

---

Hence I said almost exclusively used by the U.S.

---

Nothing wrong with that... The British liked Shermans enough to mount their excellent 17-pounders in them, did they not..?

---

Not M4A3, or M4A2, we didn't. Fireflies were only converted from M4, M4 hybrid, or M4A4.

I LIKE Shermans. My current build happens to be a M4A3 75(W) and I have 3 others in the stash to build, including a M4A2 76. I agree the more the merrier, and would welcome , particularly the earlier small hatch versions, which offer far more possibilities for time periods etc, as they were in front line service from 1942 onwards, rather than the 76's which were only reluctantly allocated from July 44. I was merely asking why someone had a preference for M4A2, rather than one of the other versions.

Looks like a Sherman "arms race" has started.

https://www.track-link.com/forums/news_industry
/37819

I wish that some would do better FMTV truck to replace the mediocre Trumpeter kits.

Quoted Text

---

the Asuka kits are starting to age causing poor quality parts (especially for their price). Sink marks, flash, mismatched and short-shot parts.... I'm very excited for this release.

---

Can't say I've had any flash, sink marks or short shots, but then most of mine are the older Tasca boxings. I've read other complaints about the Asuka kits that makes me wonder if the company changeover affected QC as well as the soaring prices.

https://www.track-link.com/forums/news_industry/37819/flat

The M4A1 76W HVSS was used by the French and some 3rd world countries.

Quoted Text

---

The M4A1 76W HVSS was used by the French and some 3rd world countries.

---

The M4A1 76mm HVSS was also widely used by the US Army National Guard. Ever see the original War of the Worlds from the 1950s? California National Guard M4A1E8.

In fact I'm doing a NJ Guard vehicle right now in tandem with a M4A3E8. Huge armored triangle insignia on front and sides.

And I'm on board with putting less effort into working suspension with huge parts count and putting in interior. You know that turret double hatch is huge and a figure rarely fills it adequately. Gun breech, a couple of seats and a radio at the very least.

When it comes to interior bits among kits, the Sherman is among the least well served. How many T-34, pzkpfw IV have full machine guns? Yet Sherman (other than the ancient Italeri kits) all have stub barrels. I think the only large scale Sherman with a 75mm gun breach was the Monogram kit from the 1970s.

When it comes to interior bits among kits, the Sherman is among the least well served. How many T-34, pzkpfw IV have full machine guns? Yet Sherman (other than the ancient Italeri kits) all have stub barrels. I think the only large scale Sherman with a 75mm gun breach was the Monogram kit from the 1970s.

They also all did panthers and tigers. It is about opportunity to sell a product. If they can do it better than the others, or hit the next generation of modelers, the kit will sell. If they offer a few extra bits, like stowage or a figure, or include casting marks, it would add to the appeal of the kit. At the very least, it would be expected the kit would offer better detail than Academy or Italeri at a better price than Dragon.

These new releases highlight the problem of maintaining a stash. You buy kits that at the time are the best (or only) available of the subject and then a better offering comes along. What do you do with the old kits?

Quoted Text

---

When it comes to interior bits among kits, the Sherman is among the least well served. How many T-34, pzkpfw IV have full machine guns? Yet Sherman (other than the ancient Italeri kits) all have stub barrels. I think the only large scale Sherman with a 75mm gun breach was the Monogram kit from the 1970s.

---

Actually, the now old Tamiya early M4 kit (35190) comes with a 75mm gun breach, guard, and radio. Rather basic parts though. Many newer German armor models come with much of the turret interior, even if they are not interior kits. We need the same for our Shermans.

I am curious about the part of the description that states "High strength workable tracks with duckbill end connectors". Are they some super plastic? Metal? It will be interesting to find out.

Not sure about those "torsion bars" on a Sherman, but my guess about the track is they could be using an engineering plastic like Tamiya used on its Mk IV WWI tank so they aren't as breakable as styrene. Time will tell...

Quoted Text

---

Looks like a Sherman "arms race" has started.

https://www.track-link.com/forums/news_industry
/37819

---

I am aware of track link. However, your link leads to nothing.