Upgraded M4A1 Sherman

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Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 11:19 AM UTC

Italeri has improved their M4A1 Sherman kit adding new gluable rubber tracks and 10 figures.

The M4 Sherman medium tank was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. It has been produced in a significant number of units and it formed the backbone of United Stated armoured forces during at those time. It has been produced in several variants and versions.

The first version to be produced on wide scale was the Sherman M4A1 characterised by the rounded edges of the fully casted upper hull. Even the turret had a rounded appearance.

The Sherman would entered combat in armoured corps of United States Army in 1942 during the first months of the war. It was armed with the 75 mm gun that was replaced in the latest A1 version with the high-speed 76 mm gun. Thanks to its Continental R975 gasoline engine the tank was able to obtain good performances on all type of terrains. However the most important strength of the tank was its project. The Sherman was reliable, cheap and easy to produce in great numbers.

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Comments

Bravo1102

The US infantry figures don't have any canteens, bayonets or entrenching tools. Even the airborne typically carried more gear. And just to make 100% certain: these figures are wearing double buckle boots and the 1944 combat uniform as worn by the US airborne in Operation Market Garden. So with very little modification they can also be standard US infantry. Mostly get rid of the thigh pockets. But you don't have to. BTW, if you have any of the Academy M3 Lee or Grant kits you will have a full set of solid road wheels left over. Every Academy Sherman kit has many of the bits left over that can be used to update and detail one of these. The joy of spare parts and generous companies putting similar parts on multiple sprues over the succeeding generations of kits.

JUN 15, 2019 - 10:09 PM

RECON22

Yep, I just wish a manufacturer would get it right....if you make a kit with decals for a certain time frame....make the right infantry (paratroopers) wearing the appropriate uniform to suit the early/ late war time frame.

JUN 16, 2019 - 03:24 PM

Bravo1102

If this kit had Battle of the Bulge markings the figures would be perfect.

JUN 16, 2019 - 08:03 PM

M4A1Sherman

Hi, All! I have several of these kits in ITALERI and TESTORS guises. I find ALL of them wanting. I also have two of the DRAGON M4A1 76mm (Wet) "OPERATION COBRA" kits, and they aren't very much better. All are still un-built. I'm going to wait for ASUKA's rendering of same, and then I'll go from there. (LUCKY MODELS has them up for "PRE-ORDER") If you guys know me, I'll have to "improve on everything" even IF the upcoming ASUKA kit will be "as good as it gets" in plastic... That's what after-market "goodies" are for; i.e, PE, resin and good ol' kit-bashing and scratch-building. You guys want PERFECT Sherman kits? Dig out your "elbow grease" and your wallets... PS- It's pretty doubtful that we'll EVER see Shermans with Interiors. For me, it's all the same because even if you build one of the "Big Hatch" 47-degree Hull Shermans, the views through the various Hatches are minimal, at best...

JUN 16, 2019 - 11:53 PM

M4A1Sherman

HEAR, HEAR!!!

JUN 17, 2019 - 12:01 AM

M4A1Sherman

As Steve just said, you can get rid of the Cargo Pockets ("Thigh Pockets") with some care, i.e, sanding and re-sculpting as needed. I just wish that SOMEONE would make proper US Tank Riders wearing the more common "1942" Uniforms, which were worn till way past VE and VJ Days, 1945... I've already said this countless times, so I AM NOT going to go into detail AGAIN...

JUN 17, 2019 - 12:08 AM

M4A1Sherman

Hi, NATE! You can get the same Airborne Infantry made by MASTERBOX "for a song" on Ebay, and save the left-over bucks for the ASUKA kit, as Steve and Gerald have already mentioned. LUCKY MODELS has the ASUKA M4A1 76mm (Wet) on "PRE-ORDER", so get your dibs in early...

JUN 17, 2019 - 12:15 AM

Bravo1102

you know what's really ironic is that a third of the US airborne divisions wore what you call the "1942" uniform of short jacket and leggings: the glider infantry. I've seen pictures of them tank riding and you think; oh US regular infantry but they all have 101 ABN patches. It's the glider infantry. Can't win. Still will get the set for a Battle of the Bulge or Spring of '45 tank. Oh and they're PERFECT as is for Korean War infantry even with to the thigh pockets.

JUN 17, 2019 - 12:15 AM

M4A1Sherman

Hi, Steve! I have NO issues with the "Thigh Pockets"- MANY GIs wore their two-piece HBT Fatigue Suits well past the 6, June Invasion. The HBT Trousers in this Fatigue Suit did have "Thigh Pockets", and these were mostly worn with the M1938 Leggings as often as not... Completely agree with you about the AIRBORNE Glider Infantry AND Regular Infantry wearing the "1942"-style Uniform, i.e, the short "Parsons" Jackets, a variety of OD Wool Trousers and the two-piece HBT Suits that I mentioned above, all with the Leggings. I wish the figure-makers would take this into consideration, instead of constantly molding GIs wearing the M1943 (Two-buckle) Combat Boots...

JUN 17, 2019 - 01:02 AM

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