Hola chicos,

I've planned to buy for my work promotion (I will be the head of the legal department of a start up) the Dragon M4A1 76mm during Cobra operation. For the it's the best sherman in terms of shapes. Love the round angle ( ) of this tank. I know it's pretty ahrd to find it in store but I've located one. I also know he comes with some PE, a metal barrel and some goodies.
But what I don't know :
- Does the tracks comes easily together, like magictracks ? The most boring thing in a tank for me is the tracks !
- Does the overall kit is good and easy to build ?
- I've seen in a review the french did use some of them. Does anybody knows reference of this type of sherman used by french armored division ?
If anaybody have pics of the model build, I would be gratefull if he can post them.
Best regards,
Julien

For a peek of what's inside the box, there are reviews right here at armorama, and at PMMS.
Judging from those reviews (can't comment on this particular kit, I got the 'battle of the bulge' M4A3 which I still have in my stash), it's about as good as they get.
But then there's the individual link tracks, which you might want to replace with one-piece rubber bands if you don't like fiddling with separete track shoes and end connectors.

This, like the more recent DML Shermans takes them into a new league of lovely, accurate renditions of almost the current kit standard. There are a few little things with the M4A1 but I do mean LITTLE and rate this as one of my favourite DML Shermans. The tracks are the the same tracks that DML started putting in Shermans when the Did the third incarnation of the Firefly Vc (T 48 with extended end connectors and T62 pads). I positively hate these and recommend using a rubber band set from Tamiya (T 48) or using the AFV or RHPS individual T48 tracks (For a CObra period vehicle). If you can get them then a set of the new Magic track would add a lot.
You need to "shave" off the two filler caps beside the armoured radiotor cover as these were only on the earliest M4A1's. Apart from that It's pretty damn good OOB.DML are state of the Art Shermans (as is the Tasca Vc) and really are good but Shermaholics will always find something to nitpick (and thats the correct term because the faults found are general trivial and small)
I only hope that DML continue to add the wonderful Magic one piece track to the kits and I'd love it if they or CH would do sets of say 4 Magic sets in 2 - 4 different types such as T54, T54 with EEC, T48, T51.
Cheers
Al

Here's one peculiar nitpick about the DML M4A1 76W kit: the brackets that hold the spare track links on the rear of the tank are open when they should be closed. It must have been a design mistake by DML misinterpeting photos.

Here's how the brackets should look:
http://www.modellismopiu.net/m+gallerie/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=24611&g2_serialNumber=2

This tank is only good for limited reference -- it is a M4 (105) hull mated with a T23 76mm turret.

A useful thread to look at is Shonen Red's M4A1/76 work in progress
http://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/93743#777347
Do a search as there have been a few DML M4A1 76s posted as WIPs

Well, I guess you could paint me a different color.

I was disappointed in the Operation Cobra Sherman - and have spent the better part of a year working out the kinks in it. I spent the same amount of effort and time I would in working with Italeri's 'A1(76). I don't hear much about it in that light. I thought it really could have been better.

I just can't get on the "fantastic" or "best it can be" bandwagon in describing the kit. I suppose what I wanted to see didn't match the hype, or my elevated expectations of what is there.

I do like the kit, and certainly wouldn't have put that kind of effort into it if I thought it horrible.

Gunnie

Jim any chance of a feature or article along the lines of the excellent one you did on DERBY ?

Hi guys,
Really thank you for the comments you made.
I forgot to mention that I'm not a AFVholic, being mainly and firstly a figire builder. But I as wrote I love the shapes of this sherman !
From What My poor english understanding allowed me to caught, I understood the kit is a good one, not for the AFV pro, maybe excpet for the tracks.
The tracks : from what you said and what I read, the Dragon M4A1have individual link tracks, composed of three pieces. Does this mean I will have to glue each three pieces track and then each tracks together ? I won't be able to do that !
Could you please tell me which producer does T48 track link in one piece, at an affordable price, as the tnak in itself is not cheap...
Thnaks again for your help guys, much appreciated.
Best,
Julien