Hi fellows!

I could use some help in this matter as Im more specialized in german armour.

I have the Dragon kit 6255 M4A3(76)W. I plan to make the kit as a Sherman belonging to the 761st Black Panthers as the markings supplied in the kit.

However I cant find any pictures of that tank (Cool Stud) and Im not sure about what options I should chose.

Most Shermans for that period and place show the upswept returnroller arms and disced wheels. The type of tracks seems to be an equal mix of the two styles supplied in the kit and icecleats were common even in Mars. Can anyone confirm this or perhaps direct me to pictures?
Also what kind of muzzlebreak should this kit have?

Ive been looking through the homepage of 761st but even as it is a great site I found very little, close to nothing about the vehicles.

http://www.761st.com/

Cheers

Toke, Maybe I can help you with this....

I have seen a mixture of M4A3 W 76 in use with the 761 st TK. The History channel special aired yesterday, but much of the footage is looped; showing the same tanks over and over and some of these were in other units.

Their tanks seem to have a mixture of the following...

Upswept arms, pressed and dished wheels, solid and fancy sproket (mostly solid)
late trans cover (ala Formations) mid late Wet hull- these had the lifting lugs mounted like the tamiya kit-- the later ones were mounted on the extreme edge of the front glacis.

there seem to be mixture off the t23 turret with both split hatch and oval loader's hatch- so take your pick, I WOULD , However, limit the M1AC gun (with muzzle break) to the later oval hatch.

Tracks......
I have seen T49, T48 and even T51 with and without duckbills. The later easy eights would have had T66 and T80 (in that order)

The 761 spent time refitting after BOB and I beleive that is when they received their first M4A3E8s.....

As far as markings I think the 761st used a white horizontal bar on their HQ tanks. I have also seen some tanks using bumper codes on the glacis instead of the trans. cover.

For what's its worth

Chris

Our very own Jim "Gunnie" Lewis just built the same tank.

Check his out here for more info.

Here is his detailed build thread as well.

Thanks fellows Ill think Ill give Gun Truck a PM.

Cheers