Hi there.
I saw a new - for me - Sherman kit the other day. Its from Italeri and the box art shows a Sherman in winter scheme (BOB apperantly, not sure). Do you have any knowledge about this kit?
Is it a version that was used through out the war, or is it later version?
Thanks in advance
Simon
Hosted by Darren Baker
Italeri Sherman
Simon
Joined: January 16, 2005
KitMaker: 878 posts
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Posted: Friday, January 20, 2006 - 12:24 AM UTC
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
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Posted: Friday, January 20, 2006 - 12:28 AM UTC
It's a fairly old and tired re-box of a rebox of a rebox.....Jim. 
daselim
Joined: October 26, 2003
KitMaker: 212 posts
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Posted: Friday, January 20, 2006 - 01:14 AM UTC
Here's a review courtesy of the Perth Military Modeling site: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/italeri/it6440.htm
It is combination re-boxing of other Italeri Shermans; the t-23 turret from their M4A1, the upper hull from their M4A3, lower hull again from the M4A1/M7 Priest/M32 Recovery Vehicle.
Overall, it is a late war. 76mm gun armed M4A3 with some inaccuracies. But it looks like a Sherman to me and looks like a good, less expensive candidate to use with the new Formations M4A3E8 lower hull
HTH
It is combination re-boxing of other Italeri Shermans; the t-23 turret from their M4A1, the upper hull from their M4A3, lower hull again from the M4A1/M7 Priest/M32 Recovery Vehicle.
Overall, it is a late war. 76mm gun armed M4A3 with some inaccuracies. But it looks like a Sherman to me and looks like a good, less expensive candidate to use with the new Formations M4A3E8 lower hull
HTH
Simon
Joined: January 16, 2005
KitMaker: 878 posts
Armorama: 697 posts
Posted: Friday, January 20, 2006 - 02:00 AM UTC
Hi there!
Great guys. Thanks for your replies. I might have a go at it.
Thanks
Great guys. Thanks for your replies. I might have a go at it.
Thanks
Rockfall
#202
Joined: December 19, 2004
KitMaker: 884 posts
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Posted: Friday, January 20, 2006 - 02:10 AM UTC
I was looking through some of my Italeri kits the other day and its funny how empty the boxes look. :-) With these Dragon kits you can barely get the box top back on after you open it.
I still enjoy building Italeri kits. They do stuff other manufactures won't.
Enjoy trying that Sherman kit.
I still enjoy building Italeri kits. They do stuff other manufactures won't.
Enjoy trying that Sherman kit.
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Friday, January 20, 2006 - 02:34 PM UTC
To be honest, this kit is a total irrelevance if you consider that the (recent) DML M4a3 will not be that much more expensive. Italeri prices are increasing to a point where they are only worth it for subjects which only they do - see Jeff's previous comment. ..
Now mating it up with the Formations lower hull might be a good idea, however, there are some real issues with the upper hull and the turret.
IMHO, spending money on excellent conversion sets for Italeri Shermans is like buying a 'Vette and putting a lawnmower engine in it....Jim
Now mating it up with the Formations lower hull might be a good idea, however, there are some real issues with the upper hull and the turret.
IMHO, spending money on excellent conversion sets for Italeri Shermans is like buying a 'Vette and putting a lawnmower engine in it....Jim
ericadeane
Joined: October 28, 2002
KitMaker: 4,021 posts
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Posted: Friday, January 20, 2006 - 10:04 PM UTC
I concur 100% with Jim's assessment. Since we're linking PMMS reviews, look at the information about the very same subject, released by DML
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr6255.htm
You get a very good kit, more accurate turret, photo-etch, MUCH better tracks, aluminum barrel, metal tow rope, metal ammo rounds and two figure sets. I don't know what the price comparison is with the Italeri offering but consider what else you get.
It's really older generation molding versus the current generation.
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr6255.htm
You get a very good kit, more accurate turret, photo-etch, MUCH better tracks, aluminum barrel, metal tow rope, metal ammo rounds and two figure sets. I don't know what the price comparison is with the Italeri offering but consider what else you get.
It's really older generation molding versus the current generation.
Halfyank
Joined: February 01, 2003
KitMaker: 5,221 posts
Armorama: 1,245 posts
Posted: Friday, January 20, 2006 - 11:55 PM UTC
Quoted Text
To be honest, this kit is a total irrelevance if you consider that the (recent) DML M4a3 will not be that much more expensive. Italeri prices are increasing to a point where they are only worth it for subjects which only they do - see Jeff's previous comment. ..
Now mating it up with the Formations lower hull might be a good idea, however, there are some real issues with the upper hull and the turret.
IMHO, spending money on excellent conversion sets for Italeri Shermans is like buying a 'Vette and putting a lawnmower engine in it....Jim
I also totally agree with Jim here. I was at the LHS last night and they had the "new" Italeri M4A3. Price was $35! Now if it was priced at what the "old" M4A1 was at, under $25, it might have been worth a look. For a couple bucks more you could get the DML Battle of the Bulge Sherman, with two figure kits and all the other goodies.
If manufacturers are going to compete with DML, aka the 600 pound gorilla, they are going to have to do more than re-release kits. They have to either come out with new items nobody has done for a while, or come out with kits at a lower price, or include lots of goodies, or all three.
generalzod
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 3,172 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 12:09 AM UTC
In a way I do think it is a bit of a waste for Italeri to release that kit However at least Italeri has the raised weld beads on detailed back sides of the idler wheels
Now I love DML But they still can't get those two things corrected?
Now I love DML But they still can't get those two things corrected?
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 12:18 AM UTC
Quoted Text
In a way I do think it is a bit of a waste for Italeri to release that kit However at least Italeri has the raised weld beads on detailed back sides of the idler wheels
Both the weld lines and the detail on the back of the idlers are easy to correct. We are talking '70s standard kits - good in their day, but why should that antiquated stuff be taken seriously? They want to be in the market, fine. Let them start producing products which are worthy of the modeller's attention...Jim
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
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KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 12:23 AM UTC
I echo the sentiments here. At my local shop, the "new" Italeri kit was $31.95 and the Dragon Battle of the Bulge kit was $35.95. Only a four dollar difference for a superior kit that includes a butt load of extras.
daselim
Joined: October 26, 2003
KitMaker: 212 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 12:34 AM UTC
I guess I had not seen the street price of the Italeri kit before rambling on about turning one into an M4A3E8 with the Formations and AFV Club parts. 
If costs are near equal, I have to agree with everyone's opinion that the DML BoB Sherman is a much better deal all the way around; accuracy OOB, extras, options, figures, and more.
Personally, I still may explore the M4A3E8 conversion using parts from the soon to be irrelevant (thanks again to DML) Italieri M4A1 76 (w), Italeri M4 "US Marines" (a $9.00 US purchase at a swap meet) that are in my stash, along with the Formations and other AM parts, simply because I already have the kits on hand. But that's another story.
If costs are near equal, I have to agree with everyone's opinion that the DML BoB Sherman is a much better deal all the way around; accuracy OOB, extras, options, figures, and more.
Personally, I still may explore the M4A3E8 conversion using parts from the soon to be irrelevant (thanks again to DML) Italieri M4A1 76 (w), Italeri M4 "US Marines" (a $9.00 US purchase at a swap meet) that are in my stash, along with the Formations and other AM parts, simply because I already have the kits on hand. But that's another story.
exer
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 01:16 AM UTC
Wow you really pay over the odds for Italeri.
The Sherman M4A1 goes here for €15 and the other shermans for €20 or less..
There's a lot to be said for them at that price. For a beginner or a returning modeller they are very buildable and look good. Take a look at Maxime Pidara's just posted Italeri M4A3 over on ML
http://www.network54.com/Forum/110741/thread/1137871404/Sherman+M4+A3
Don't worry Jim I'm only waiting for delivery of the new DML M4A1 to complete my Dragon sherman collection
Just out of interest what are the
Isn't it the DML M4A3 which has issues with the grouser covers?
The Sherman M4A1 goes here for €15 and the other shermans for €20 or less..
There's a lot to be said for them at that price. For a beginner or a returning modeller they are very buildable and look good. Take a look at Maxime Pidara's just posted Italeri M4A3 over on ML
http://www.network54.com/Forum/110741/thread/1137871404/Sherman+M4+A3
Don't worry Jim I'm only waiting for delivery of the new DML M4A1 to complete my Dragon sherman collection
Just out of interest what are the
Quoted Text
real issues with the upper hull
Isn't it the DML M4A3 which has issues with the grouser covers?
ericadeane
Joined: October 28, 2002
KitMaker: 4,021 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 01:43 AM UTC
Grouser covers: Yep. That's an error in the DML M4A3 kit. It's a leftover from the M4A2 kit before.
ANyone buying the DML M4A3 kit should remove this feature to make it more accurate.
ANyone buying the DML M4A3 kit should remove this feature to make it more accurate.
Grumpyoldman
ConsigliereJoined: October 17, 2003
KitMaker: 15,338 posts
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Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 04:08 AM UTC
I have to agree with the assessment of Italeri prices lately. They have gone sky high on really old kits, therefore making them not worth the price.
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 08:04 AM UTC
Again, I agree with the sentiment about the current price of Italeri kits. I remember them being carried in the PX during the late 1990s and most of them were under $20 and a couple of the bigger kits like the Tiger, Bergepanzer and HEMTTs were in the $25 range.
Today, they price of most Italeri kits in the States is just under the price of a comparable Dragon kit. This makes the Dragon kits much more attractive. Having said this, the older Italeri Sherman based kits were not terrible models and the M4A1 was one of my favorite models. It is understandable that if you have the kit, build it up.
Today, they price of most Italeri kits in the States is just under the price of a comparable Dragon kit. This makes the Dragon kits much more attractive. Having said this, the older Italeri Sherman based kits were not terrible models and the M4A1 was one of my favorite models. It is understandable that if you have the kit, build it up.
m4sherman
Joined: January 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,808 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 09:46 AM UTC
My first "starter" M4 was from Monogram! The Italeri M4A1 came on the market like mana from heaven. Now it is past its prime, and at the price asked for now, is no longer the value it once was. I'm sure there will be plenty of these old kits at the swap meets soon! Still, I have spent many happy hours building the old lady and wish her well.
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 04:41 PM UTC
Quoted Text
(a $9.00 US purchase at a swap meet) that are in my stash, along with the Formations and other AM parts, simply because I already have the kits on hand
That, is effectively the situation I have as well, i've probably got 3-4 Italeri Shermans , none of which I paid full price for - at those kinda prices they become sensible sources - $35 + , certainly not!!..Jim
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