My girlfreind just bought me the Tamiya Sherman M4 A3 late production with 75mm gun for valentines day!


I usually model German armour, so i've gotta get my act together for this one!
Basically i'm hoping that you guys can help me out with any tips, weakneses, strengths or anything else you know about this model, plus some suggestions for a few AM upgrades.
Now I don't want to go overboard as it was a present, and the girlfreind will get a bit miffed If I replace 50% of the kit with new parts. Also i'm not a 'rivet counter' and so don't mind about tiny technical inaccuracies with the kit, though on the other hand i'm not afraid of a little bit of scratch building to significantly inprove the quality of something. I'm basically thinking along the lines of.....

- An aluminium barrel to replace the plastic one.
- Some suggestions on detailling the inside of the hatches which I would like to show open, without going to mad with PE.
- Early or late cupola suggested? (I like the late but periscope slots don't look very convincing)
- Instructions suggest joining the track first, then fitting it. - Will this work ok? Ive had so much trouble in the past when this refuses to fit, and no side skirts to hide the join behind if it goes wrong!
- Any decent reference pics/sites for this model.

Aside from that it seems a nice (if a little basic) kit and i'm looking forward to it. Just get those tips and suggestions in!

Cheers,

James

Last of the true romantics? :-) :-) :-)

Just DON'T marry her, AFV kits have a nasty habit of turning into 'useful' items such as socks when the banns are read...

lol :-) :-) :-)

In her own words:


To which my answer is: a lot more!

Hopefully Ive got a few years before the Sherman turns into a pair of socks!

James

Lucky bXXXXXX I would go for the kit any day over a box of chocolates.

Does she have a sister? :-) :-)

Yep, two of them but they're taken too! Unlucky Jesper! :-) :-) :-)

Now, does anyone have any suggestions on the kit? I'm getting pretty tempted by the Eduard photo etch set!

James

Well, I guess it is the 1/35 kit right?

There are a couple of barrels here that should work alright:
Eduard barrel

Eduard barrel #2

This might help you with your track problems:
workable tracks

Here are some PE parts that might be helpful if you want to really go the all the way with PE.
Aber PE set

Hope you can use it and the gift is a 1/35 kit However, I have not tried any of these myself as I am also a German armour modeller for the most part

Thanks Jesper,

Yes it is a 1/35th scale kit (I rarely do anything else these days!)

I've got my eye on that Eduard barrel too, and the more I think about it the more likely I am to go for a full PE set. The Aber one looks good but is more expensive that the Eduard and the Eduard is designed specifically for that Tamiya kit and so even includes rifle slings and helmet straps for the figures. Plus even a shoulder holster for the commander! Pretty crazy and very tempting!

James

Here's templates for filling up the empty sponsons: http://www.archertransfers.com/WEB%20pictures/ShermanFix.pdf

Resicast do a 75mm gun complete with breech that should go someway towards filling the hatch. With the sponsons closed and a figure in the hatch you won't see much anyway. If you do want to go for an interior have a look through this thread
http://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/92687#767826
It's about the M4A1 but might offer some pointers

The venerable Tamiya M4A3 is one of my favorite kits. It has been surpassed in terms of accuracy by some DML offerings but I still love the old girl!

Here are some articles that can assist your build:
http://www.usarmymodels.com/ARTICLES/articles.html

Specifically:
[url]http://www.usarmymodels.com/MANUFACTURERS/Tamiya/tamiya35122.html[/url}

The main items to fix are the 1) fill the empty sponson floors, 2) add the thickened cheek, 3) fill the idler wheel's backside, 4) add bolts to the suspension bogie front bottoms, 5) fill the seam where the shell ejection port meets the turret sidewall

The most accurate barrel is probably the Formations offering (not Eduard)

PE can help the hatches or you can get nice replacement ones from Tiger Model Designs (www.tigermodels.com)

HTH. Even if you ignore the above suggestions, it's a typical Tamiya high quality, easy to assemble kit that is a good representation of the real thing

[quote]In her own words:



That's why I bought Tomcat31 a Seil model kit of a sniper for Valentines day. Thought he'd appriciate more in the long run and last year for Valentines day he bought me a model kit and i was more than happy with it.

I think the Eduard etch set looks pretty good I know someone that has used this on their Sherman and they said they were very impressed with it.

Formations make a great update set for the M4A3 which addresses all the things you mentioned. You might check that out.

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys,
The US army models site was real helpful so thanks Roy, and those templates will come in useful Eetu.
I think the Formations stuff, although nice is a bit overboard for me, and while i've considered it, I don't think i'll be going for an interior. Hatches that are open will be filled by figures so it's just the hatch interior that will need detailing.
So far i'm thinking the Eduard PE kit and an aluinium barrel (still open to suggestions as to which) to be the main purchases.
Anyone know whether the tracks are going to cause me hastle or not? And I was thinking the engine doors look a little basic, any suggestions as to how these could be improved?

James

The kit tracks are fine, IMHO. The engine grille is only available in a more detailed form in resin, from Blast Models, as far as I recall. Given that in reality, those were closely spaced rods welded to a frame, i think the grille section is fine -- just redo the handles and add the rectangular props (as noted in the USArmymodels.com article). HTH

Thanks again Roy,
I'll stick with the kit tracks as they look pretty good. Does this mean I should fix the tracks together and then fit them over the wheels as suggested in the instructions? This sounds like the better option providing they will fit.
I'll just add a dark pin-wash over the engine grille and it should look ok, i'll be following those USArmymodels.com tips as they're pretty comprehensive for the kit.
Any tips for filling the rear of the idler wheels? I was thinking of just filling them with putty and then sanding them smooth.
Also is there a good technique that allows me to add the cast surface texture to the thickened cheek?

Cheers,

James

The kit tracks fit better if you shorten them by one link before joining. If you're modelling Caballero (as on the boxart) then you really need the older Tamiya vinyl tracks with duckbills.

The soft styrene tracks are nicely stretchy, and even if they weren't Tamiya's suspension is tough enough to take even Italeri's tracks (I know, I've done it). So there's not much danger of it folding under pressure.

David

Thanks a lot David,

The only kits Ive modeled recently with vinyl tracks havn't fitted the kit at all, leaving me with hours of heart ache and even having to move and replace idler wheels to get them to fit. Iv'e been spoilt on posh, individual link tracks too much, meaning I have built up a inner fear/hatred of having to fit them!
As I said, much appreciated, I can learn to love them again!

Cheers,

James

Gday James
I'm a bit late wading in here, but as stated, the kit is pretty good...
You won't have a problem with the tracks one jot, although as David said the tracks needed for Caballero need the extended end connectors...
I think it was Dave O'Meara (Grumpyoldman) who did a SBS of a M4A3 build, and he did some research with pics of his cheek arnour add on. Why not drop him a PM?
Have a couple of pics of Caballero if interested, drop me a PM if you want...
Cheers
Brad

Dave O'Meara's article is here

Classy Peg

Though a later thread here showed Tamiya hadn't got the markings quite right.

Back to Caballero for a moment, the 5th roadwheel from the front on the LHS is spoked, all the rest are concave like the boxart shows.

David

Thanks again,
I'll take you up on that offer Brad thankyou.
And thanks for the link to Dave's article David, makes me feel lazy for wanting to get the PE set! I love the idea of the different road wheel, its details like that that really bring a kit to life.

Cheers Guys,

James

Started work on this last night!
Only minor stuff so far, but mixed reactions to the kit. With some filing to remove mould seams things have fitted together well......except behind where the drive cogs will be fitted, there are two gaps between the front hull and the base of the kit (sorry cant remember the pasrt numbers!) I doubt these will be that visible once the drive sprocket and bogies for the road wheels are fitted but i'm tempted to fill tham anyway. Any thoughts? Or am I jumping the gun and a later part will cover the gaps (I cant see how) or have I fitted the parts incorrectly???
Time will tell but i'm looking forward to getting stuck into the kit. However, my budget is non-existent at the mo (all the bills have savagely attacked me at once !) so it'll be a week or two before I purchase my aftermarket bits, which could force me to finish my Pak 40 diorama i've been working on for so long!

James

Naughty Tamiya fiddled with their original lower hull mould when they brought out the M4 (sort of) Early with the 3-piece nose. So there are substantial gaps when you use the 1-piece nose. And they are visible even with the sprockets on. Your choice on whether or not to fill.....

David

Thankyou AGAIN David.

I thought something wasn't right there!
I'll be filling those gaps then if they are going to be visible. Can't have visible gaps can we! Appreciate all these tips mate, hopefully one day i'll be able to shine down all this new found Sherman wisdom on some other lucky modeller!

Cheers,

James

Ok guys,
Just ordered the Eduard PE set so i'll be looking forward to the postman bringing me that one! Have a great weekend as I will building my Sherman!

James

Dont forget to raise your weld beads and add the holes in the front of your bogies

Brian