Modlling a pilot for the M4A3(76)W is my recent plan. I choosed Heller 81161 M4A3(76)W (It's reboxed Italery M4A3.... ). But my friends told me that according to Hunncutt's Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank, the pilot for the M4A3(76)W was based on a hybird upper hull!? Is this true? Please help me.

After studying the picture on pg 261 of Hunnicutt's Sherman, I agree that it is a composite/hybrid hull. However, the rear end has the angle of an A3 and it does have an A3 engine deck.

Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures

Not having the Hunnicutt book (!), I found this, which is maybe the one you are talking about?



Brad

Thank you, Chris Hughes! But I don't have Hunnictt's Sherman....Maybe I can try to convert a DML9037 with replace its rear upper hull....I hope the details of this vehicle was similar to othe composite hull or weld hull Shermans....

Thank you, Bradley J! But the photo you posted is pilot for the M4(76)W with pilot for the HVSS. This type of Sherman was never went into production.

Hi Bradley: the pic you posted is an M4 Hybrid (look at the engine deck) with an experimental suspension. On the page that Chris cites, there are four unusual pilot/study models. There's a) the M4 (105) which is an M4 Hybrid hull (and the real one sits near my town -- I photographed details of it for Formations update set), b) the M4A2 76W pilot which shows what seems to be a modified sloped glacis -- it looks like there was an add-on to make the single piece 47 degree glacis (it appears to be some sort of transitional/experimental piece), c) the M4A3 75W with a similar added on 47 degree glacis as the M4A2, and finally d) the M4A3 76W pilot that curiously doesn't have the 47 degree glacis hull as b) and c) but instead has the rounded cast glacis like other "hybrids".

Man, I wish I had access to the Detroit Tank Ar senal archives -- they're just a few miles from my house!