I was wondering how accuarate the Tamiya M4A3 Sherman kit is? I found one dirt cheap.

This is model # MM222A.

That's the older kit. I think there were some inaccuracies that were corrected in the newer ones. Seems I heard something about roadwheels and shapes of suspension parts, I'm sure the Sherman expert club will be able to give you chapter and verse aboubt it. THere is a guy who used to hang out among us called Sherman Freak, think he spends all his time over on the Fine Scale Modeler web now.

It is reasonably accurate but don't add the extra armour to the sides. Fill in the sponsons if you want. There are some templates on the Archer Transfers site for these. The newer M4A3 is better #35250 though. There's a thread about Sherman kits on TL right now:

http://www.track-link.net/forum/news_general/7298

Paul.

Here's an article going over some of the issues with the kit:

http://www.usarmymodels.com/MANUFACTURERS/Tamiya/tamiya35122.html

Granted, most of them are rather nitpicky as it's a pretty darn good kit out of the box. At the very least the sponsons need to be filled in as they're really obvious if any of the hatches are open.

Edit - Whoops, didn't see that it was the older kit. Doh.

Thanks guys, I will skip the older model and get the newer kit. Appreciate the help. TL site was a big help.

There is nothing "wrong" with the old kit that isn't also "wrong" on the new issue. If you can get an old one for a good price, get it.

The biggest difference between the two kits is that the old one has the loader's hatch molded shut -- the new one has the loader's hatch as a separate peice so you can model it open. The new issue also has a pile of accessories and extra figures -- the basic tank kit is the same except for the loader's hatch. The old one has metal chevron tracks with extended end connectors; the new issue has rubber chevron tracks (like in the Tamiya M4 kit).

EDIT: Oops, almost forgot -- the new issue also has a set of dished roadwheels.