Confusion is going to abound about this release. The original two T26E4 pilot models were built up in 1944. These had external recuperator springs atop the turret. One was sent to Europe for field trials and it rec'd a field up-armor job -- with the slabs on the nose and mantlet. This is the one that saw combat, is the subject of the Hobby Boss kit and happens to be my avatar.
Meanwhile, the 500 T26E4s were ordered. The production tank included modifications such as a reduced turret bustle counterweight and the removal of the recuperator springs from atop the turret. As the war was ending, the large order was cancelled after only fifty were produced. All but one eventually ended up in scrap heaps or target ranges. The single survivor is in
Catigny, Illinois.
From N'berg photos, it seems Tamiya has chosen to add a sprue to their older M26/T26E3 Pershing kit in order to make it a production T26E4 -- one of the fifty made but which never saw any action.
Hope this makes sense. I love Allied subjects but if initial impressions prove to be correct, will a let down, in my opinion.