Academy or DML M-51 Which is better?

From what I've read online :

none is right for a war-time machine.

But, to reproduce OOB a batch 4 vehicle, used after 73, your best choice is the academy kit !

I just started the Academy as a mostly OOB build (only using some AFV club tracks I got for cheap) for the "One of our tanks...." campaign. So far, so good. Just a little more flash and mold mis-match than I would like to see, but otherwise it looks like it goes together pretty well.

HTH,
Dave S.

hey there Matt,

I dont know the DML kit but I'm currently working (on and off) on the Academy kit with the Eduard PE set.

I'm backdating the kit to Batch 2 standard with the help of the following site:
http://hjem.get2net.dk/t_anton/idf_m51/m51articel.htm

if you dont feel this site is comprehensive and reliable enough and you have the dough you can purchase the Tom Gannon book.

my Academy Sherman in progress pics can be seen in my photo gallery.
if you wish so I can tell you what are the strong and weak points of this kit, just send me a PM.

Matt, when it comes to the M51 all modellers will show bias (and rightly so!). What you are looking for are these three articles by Tom Gannon:

Tom Gannon reviews the DML Dragon M51 Kit

Tom Gannon reviews the Academy M51 Kit

Model the ultimate M51 by Tom Gannon

If you still aren’t sure, it’s easy Academy’s M51 with the Accurate Armour set to enhance it!

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Matt
AFV has a good kit for a decent price Id get better
tracks though
ponysoldier

Haven't built my Academy kit yet looks good in the box, but I have built the DML kit and all and all it builds into a pretty nice kit OTB. I like the tracks no need to replace them. The muzzle brake is a little tricky but manageable with some patience. The fender extensions on the sides be careful of putting the brackets on the marks on the side don't line up where their suppose to. Nice cast texture on the hull and the cast nose. Like any Sherman a little PE is a nice touch but not necessarily need if you want to go OTB. One other nice thing about the DML kit, it gives you pretty much everything to build a M50 so lots of spare bits for the spares box.