introduction

The AFV Club M-36 kit includes the basics of an interior, but much of it is left over from the earlier M-10 and Achilles kits. The Eduard photo-etch set attempts to correct some of the parts and enhance many other details. The lit includes two metal frets and a glossy rendition of the driver’s control panel to be sandwiched between the kit panel and a PE face.

the set

The first step in the set’s instructions have you cutting and sanding to remove the ammo racks from the sponson floors and replacing them with PE parts. The instructions would have the new parts placed exactly where the old ones came out. This cannot be correct because the 90mm ammo used in the M-36 was considerably larger and longer than the 3-inch ammo used in the M-10 or even the 17-pounder ammo used in the Achilles. I could not find a good shot of the sponson racks in any of my references, but I suspect that getting a set of 90mm ammo in tubes will provide the proper spacing for the racks. The PE set also includes some nice straps and other parts to dress up the ammo stowage.

Some strange hooks are provided for attaching canteens to the side of the hull interior. If these are used, they will not look right. Better to use the tie-downs (parts 56) and omit the hooks (parts 58), simply attaching the canteens over the tie-downs. On the real thing, wire hooks on the backs of the canteen’s canvas carrier attached to a loop on the hull wall.

The next step is detailing the driver and co-driver seats with parts that include seatbelts – a detail often ignored in interior detail sets.

The second page of the instructions details the driver’s control panel and the kit radio (which is not an SCR 610 as should be found in this vehicle). Other PE details in the front include interior periscope details, extra periscope stowage for the top of the transmission, the first of three fire extinguisher brackets and a detail for the turret traverse wheel.

Page 3 of the instructions is devoted to adding detail to the partial turret basket of the M-36. It also includes some parts for the gun breech and clips to hold rounds in the ready-rack at the rear of the turret. These clips (parts 64) are tiny, but nicely shaped. The kit provides about 20 of them, but you’ll only need 11 of them.

The final page of the instructions covers the rest of the interior bits for the turret. Everything is pretty straight-forward, but note that the turret side parts are shown upside-down and all the parts are subsequently installed upside down. It helps to have reference here, or you may get confused.

This is more than a mere “stick on” PE set. You will need to cut several parts, remove small detail from many parts, and grind or drill a few holes. Also, use photo references to determine the correct placement of interior accessories.

in conclusion

I’ll categorize this PE set as “moderate” in both complexity and level of detail. After adding all that detail to the inside of the M-36, it pays to also use the Eduard M-36 Jackson exterior set. I would have rated this kit higher if Eduard had offered dimensions for placing the sponson ammo racks. Recommended, with references.

My Thanks to Eduard for the review sample.

References

:“SHERMAN: A History of the American Medium Tank,” R.P.Hunnicutt., Presidio Books
“U.S. Tank Destroyers in Combat 1941-1945,” Steven J. Zaloga, Concord Publications

“U.S. Tank Destroyers of World War Two,” Steven J. Zaloga, Tanks Illustrated No. 19

“U.S. Tank Destroyers in Action,” Squadron Signal Publications