sherman tank

I have only one Sherman tank in my "Contents Menu", it's a Dragon's
M4A3 Flamethrower just recently shown in my MM Page 16 B(http://www.falconbbs.com/model16b.htm). That's not the only Sherman
in house though. On recent count, I have 8 or 9 of them in showcases
plus one Tamiya Sherman w/ 4 figures in box. I'm thinking of showing
all of them in one go, and call it "The Sherman Family". ;-)

Just to continue this thread about the Sherman. I would agree that early Tamiya Shermans were in fact trash, their Jumbo....well it just isn't well done at all. But when it comes to shaking the box and building a Sherman nothing beats Tamiya's M4, M4A3 or their M4A3 (105). I'm not knocking Dragon's product in the least bit, all I'm saying is that it requires a lot more patience to build a Dragon kit because of the individual track links. Italeri on the other hand has not had a good record of providing accurate W.W.II Shermans. Of the ones that I have built the M32 TRV is a post W.W.II variant as is actually an M32 B1, the M36 B1 has one of the worst turret interiors produced, their Jumbo well it just isn't a Jumbo at all it's a M4A3 (76) W and this list goes on and on. Italeri produces kits that are low cost and not as well engineered as Tamiya. Remember also that a large number of Dragon kits are cross kitted with Italeri (ie: bottom hulls, road wheels). I've built my fair share off Italeri, Dragon, Tamiya and Academy Kits. So here's my breakdown of Sherman kits based on 3 key points.

Accuracy: Tamiya, Academy, Dragon, Italeri
Price: Italeri, Dragon, Academy, Tamiya
Ease of Build: Tamiya, Academy, Dragon, Italeri

All of these companies do have their stinkers. Academy has only come around in the last couple of years in producing good kits. These of course are just my opinions of the various Shermans that are out there. Being a self confessed Sherman Freak, I build them all and it doesn't matter to me who really makes them.

Yup, they're all good, but the Dragon kits are definitely more labor intensive and at times downright difficult to get together. Don't get me wrong, I love 'em! I've built the ISherman, the JSDF M4A3E8, the M46, the Panther II, and am working on the E-100 right now. Great kits, all of them, but they don't quite fall together like the Tamiya kits, and aren't as cheap as the Italeri kits. But any of them will make a great tank!
Good luck with whichever kit you choose.

I do not agree, the DML Shermans are far superior to Tamiya`s and really not all that difficult to build. Also, Italeri marktes a number of Shermans that build into much more realistic models than early Tamiya`s and...a lot cheaper!

ok, ill go with the tamiya

It of course depends on your tastes and abilites...Dragon has some fine Sherman kits too but they have indy tracks and require a higher skill level. That's something you'll have to decide.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Tamiya's Sherman M4 Aftermarket parts - maybe some PE but the kit builds really nice without adding to it Just close in the bottom of the sponsons with plastic card..typical Tamiya Sherman shortfall.

i guess ill listen to u, after all u are a sherman freak

Tamiya's Sherman M4
Aftermarket parts - maybe some PE but the kit builds really nice without adding to it
Just close in the bottom of the sponsons with plastic card..typical Tamiya Sherman shortfall.