Hey Guys&Gals.
I managed to secure myself the M4 Sherman w/ 105mm howitzer off ebay for a mere £10. It'll only be my second sherman (The first being a VC Firefly from dragon, total disaster ) and i was wondering if there is anything i should know about this kit before i start up?
Cheers.
Scott.

I assume you mean the M4A3 105. Pretty solid kit. I have one but have not built it yet. Not sure about turret issues, if there are any, as 105 Shermans are not my strength.

The hull is good but could use some tweaks. This would include adding the engine door rests, adding a tow cable, adding the sandshield attachment strips, filling in the open sponsons, maybe adding some texture to the "cast" parts (turret, trans. housing, etc.)., and adding weldseams around the upper hull. The wheels of open backs, a bit of a cramp.

These issues are all pretty minor in nature, and it's mainly the shermaholics that would notice their absence. I guess it depends on how much of a stickler for accuracy you are.

Overall, a good kit.

Rob

Yep a lot!

There are a fair few fixes that need doing but it builds up into a great kit and gives you a real sense of satisfaction once you've finished.
The US army models site is a must:

The link dealing with the bulk of fixes for the M4A3 can be found HERE

And the one specifically for the 105mm howitzer HERE

I've just built the Tamiya 75mm gun version and this site was so much help. (plus Brad (honeycut) and Roy Chow thanks guys!)

I also used the Eduard PE set and found it really helped with adding detail to the kit.
The thread for my Sherman can be found HERE which you may find helpful as they are the same kit with different guns!

Also my 90% finished kit is HERE
hopefully be some inspiration.

Hope that little lot helps ya!

Best of luck,

James

An annoying ommission of the otherwise very nice Tamiya M4A3 (105) kit is the lack of a cleaning rod rack which goes on the left rear corner of the engine deck. Formations makes one in resin -- or you can fabricate one for yourself. If you want to go this route, email me as I have photos of that fixture (which Rob Ervin used to make his part).

roy.chow(AT)aya.yale.edu

Cheers guys for the replies. I've bought myself the aber PE kit off the net, should be here soon.
I have another question though, I'm not too fond of the tracks in this kit, i hate trying to put together tamiya tracks. Anyone recommend better tracks?

As for ease of assembly, I guess you could get some T49s from Academy (found in their M12 and M10(?) kits).

I thnk the Tamiya vinyls aren't that bad, personally.

Hey Scott
The kit is good as far as I'm concerned, and only includes the usual gripes which Rob has mentioned, but which you get so used to when purchasing Shermans from Tamiya...
I have to agree with Roy and say that the Tamiya kit tracks will add years to your life compared to individual links...
I have a bit of a stockpile of them as it seems I get as far as the running gear of a kit build and then look for other inspiration, be it figures or a diorama
As James kindly linked the USarmy models site is a boon for anything OD, even as far as figure reviews...
Cheers
Brad

Aber stuff arrived today, talk about fast delivery!

I have now managed to superglue the index finger&thumb of my left hand together. Started on the kit, will post pictures up at the weekend.

My budgets low at the moment, so i think i'll just stick with the tamiya tracks.

I'll be painting and fixing mine this week scott so i'll let you know how I get on, am assured by the shermanaholics that they are pretty good as vinyl tracks go. You might have noticed that they are of a softer rubber than some other tracks and so should behave better. Have fun with the Aber set and let us know how you find it. I'd be interested to see how it compares with the Eduard set.
How did you find the tips on the US army models website?
I'd suggest doing things like filing the sponsons and raising the weld beads first if you're going to tackle them.

Cheers,

James

If you use the rubber band tracks, you have to glue the front and rear bogies in position, as the tension of the tracks will pull the first and last wheel up.

A little bit of inspiration..



Cheers
Henk

Roy, I thought the cleaning rods are stowed under the stowage rack on the rear? There are some poles there on my kit...

Cheers
Henk

Cheers James.
I don't think i'll use the figures, So if anyone wants them i'll gladly send them out.

Gday Henk
Being the Tamiya kit, aren't the bogeys fixed in place, meaning this won't be an issue?

As for the Aber M4A3 set, it is TOO comprehensive, and I still have parts that will never be used...
Cheers
Brad

Hmm, good point Bradley, I can't remember... I build this kit many moons ago, and I'm not sure if the Tamiya bogies are workable.. I must have been thinking of the Academy bogies.
See, to much confussion with Shermans. Join the light side, and start building Pzr IV's...

-running for cover-

Henk

Update:

Okay, so i took a big leap of faith and stayed up all night working on the sherman.
I've tried to replicate the bulge on the cheek, got a lot of sanding to do, but i'm satisfied with the end product.
Pretty much used up most of the PE, and i'm modifying the crew to fit what i want at the moment.
I'll get pictures up once i get my camera back. (Left it at my uncles )