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REVIEW
Dragon M4A3E8 Thunderbolt
Teacher
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England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: April 05, 2003
KitMaker: 4,924 posts
Armorama: 3,679 posts
Posted: Friday, August 18, 2006 - 10:54 PM UTC
An excellent review of Dragon''s new M4A3E8 from Pat McGrath, thanks Pat!

Dragon's M4A3E8 'Thunderbolt



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
pzcreations
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Georgia, United States
Joined: May 24, 2006
KitMaker: 2,106 posts
Armorama: 1,116 posts
Posted: Friday, August 18, 2006 - 11:45 PM UTC
Thanks for the review Vinnie! I just got mine in from you today for the June contest (thanks Dragon,Vinnie,and all who voted and participated).
This will actually be my first Sherman! Ever! I have very little reference on the Sherman. Can anyone name a few good ones, Besides the $800.00 Hunnicut book... Id like some similar to Achtung Panzer or Trojcas books on German armor. Is there anything as good as those for the Sherman?
AlanL
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 01:37 AM UTC
Hi Pat,

Many thanks for the review, clear and concise, and will be very useful for those building this kit.

Dragon seem to have made an excellent job of this one - enjoy the build.

Many thanks

Cheers

Al
HONEYCUT
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 4,002 posts
Armorama: 2,947 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 04:23 AM UTC

Quoted Text


This will actually be my first Sherman! Ever! I have very little reference on the Sherman. Can anyone name a few good ones, Besides the $800.00 Hunnicut book... Is there anything as good as those for the Sherman?


Gday Tim
the Concord series is good for some archive pics. I know there are a couple of your tank in 'The Sherman at war' by Zaloga...
I'd try the websites such as tanxheaven, usarmymodels, toadmans tankpictures etc.
Hope you enjoy your research!
Cheers
Brad
PantherF
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Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 05:59 AM UTC
The History Channels "Color Of War" has an episode called VICTORY where several action shots of the tank in color are shown.


Jeff
PantherF
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Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
Armorama: 5,960 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 06:19 AM UTC
CORRECTION!! The episode is called "Tankers" and it DOES show the fender support braces welded directly to the extra armor on the side of the hull.

Great write up and I can't wait to get this kit! Especially after seeing the magic tracks.


Jeff
Clanky44
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Armorama: 553 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 08:36 AM UTC
Hi Pat,

Great review, another Sherman to add to the collection, and nice box art, especially like the background subject matter. My guess is that we'll have one within the year....

Frank
Hollowpoint
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Kansas, United States
Joined: January 24, 2002
KitMaker: 2,748 posts
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Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 10:43 AM UTC
Awesome!

Now, what am I supposed to do with all my old Dragon M4A3E8 kits?
unprofor
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: February 16, 2006
KitMaker: 254 posts
Armorama: 81 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 04:07 PM UTC
Now this is the kit I'm looking for!!
Can this be build in to a korean war sherman ?
exer
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Dublin, Ireland
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 05:23 PM UTC
Thanks guys
This is certainly a good time to be a Shermanaholic with DML releasing this M4A3E8, the soon to be released DML Tarawa M4A2 plus a British version of the M4A2 and a new tooled Firefly Ic in the works. As well as that AFV Club are finally to release their M40 and Academy Europe have a new 105 mm M4A3E8 Dozer tank. Somewhere too in the distant future is the promised Tasca Sherman. Life is good if you like Shermans, and that’s not even counting Rob Ervin at Formations with all his aftermarket Sherman goodies

Quoted Text

Now this is the kit I'm looking for!!
Can this be build in to a korean war sherman ?


I think so, a telephone box on the rear plate might have been standard in the Korean M4A3E8s. This comes with one of the other DML Shermans (I can't remember which one but it's not the original Korean War one) or it may be the Academy M4A2.

There's a nice pic of an original colour scheme for Korea over on Hyperscale
daselim
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Michigan, United States
Joined: October 26, 2003
KitMaker: 212 posts
Armorama: 76 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 07:18 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Awesome!

Now, what am I supposed to do with all my old Dragon M4A3E8 kits?



Exaclty.

Luckily I only have one of the older Dragon E8's in my stash. I suppose I could still build it anyway, maybe dress it up with Formations bits and experiment with new techniques.

I've actually been more into aircraft kits lately, but this new E8 has gone directly to the top of the must buy list and looking at it has rekindled the armor modeler in me.

Cheers!
barron
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Virginia, United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 666 posts
Armorama: 598 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 07:41 PM UTC
Thanks for the review pat. I can't wait to pick one of these babys up. And also thanks to Dragon for there fine line of kits.
liberator
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Luzon, Philippines
Joined: May 15, 2004
KitMaker: 1,086 posts
Armorama: 783 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 08:45 PM UTC
there's this liiiittttle problem with the suspension assembly..i hope they fixed that one..can wait to build another M4A3E8..this time it's a walk in the park.
GunTruck
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California, United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 5,885 posts
Armorama: 3,799 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 12:47 AM UTC
Very nice review Pat - thanks for the info! I feel comfortable getting a couple of these kits now, sounds like a good build ahead...

Jim
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