I was looking at my latest copy of the Unimodel catalog and noticed they are planning an early model M4 Sherman and an M4A3 version with 76mm gun sometime in 2005 - 2006. For those of you not familiar with Unimodel, they are a Ukranian manufacturer of 1/72 mostly armor kits. IMHO the quality is excellent. Although most of their vehicles are Soviet/Russian they have a very good line of Pz38t variants. I have the Ausf C version, the Marder, and the recon tank version. These kits have awesome detail for their size, etched metal parts, and plastic link tracks. Needless to say, I am very pleased with each kit.

IMHO we have not had a good 1/72 Sherman up to modern standards for quite some time. If these new Shermand are up to the same standards as the Pz38t, I will want at lease a whold platoon of them to complete my 1/72 forces.

I'm glad to see a new crop of 1/72 scale Shermans, but you must have forgotten the Eduard/ExtraTech series of Shermans and US tank destroyers. I've got the Eduard M4A3(76)W, ExtraTech M4 Early, ExtraTech M4A3E2 Jumbo and the ExtraTech M36 Jackson. I believe Eduard also does an M4A3 105mm tank as well. ExtraTech also does the M10 Wolverine/Achilles tank destroyers too.

Italeri's reissue of the old Esci Sherman keeps a decent cast hull Sherman in the mix. The Revell M4A1 is forgettable though.

Chuckster,
How did you obtain a UniModel catalog?

...Kevin

The Eduard and Extra Tech kits are very nice. However they are a bit out of my price range for 72nd scale. Also my LHS stocks UM kits so I would have a local supply. If UM is able to produce a decent kit for a reasonable price then count me in!!

I agree that the Eduard/ExtraTech kits are on the expensive side, but they include photo etched parts and normally multiple upper hulls and or turrets. This is due to the nature of the mix and match Sherman series.

Compare the $20+ price to a $10 Italeri/Esci Sherman and then toss in some PE sets. It pushes the price of the cheap kit to within the $20 range. For a few extra dollars more, you get a new tooled kit with extra parts.

To each his own, but I've done most of the available conversions for the Esci and Revell Shermans and am glad to have a new series to work with.

I look forward to the UM kits, hopefully they will produce an M4A1 75mm early kit.

Given the quality of the UM kits I already have (especially their T-70), any Shermans they do will be worth buying, and I'll buy 'em.

Kevin, I ordered a couple of UM kits from Armor in Scale, using the 'buy it now' option on e-bay. They sent me a little UM brochure along with the order, which I am refering as a catalog. Glad to see others interested in braille scale.

You bring up some good points Sabot. I guess sometimes its a mind set thing.

The main thing that has me excited is the fact that I should be able to buy the UM kits from my LHS.

Chuckster,
Thanks, I'll check it out on e-bay. I'm a recent convert from 1/35 scale armor and I really enjoy the challenge. I was most inspired by Steve Zaloga's work in Military Modelling magazine. I was suprised to find that 1/72 isn't as popular as 1/35. I was always under the impression that it was more popular as is/was the case with aircraft.


...Kevin