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USMC M4A3 Sherman?

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  • Member since
    September 2013
USMC M4A3 Sherman?
Posted by cvsaylr on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 12:06 PM

Hello Folks,

I am thinking about purchasing Tamiya's M4A3 (75mm) Sherman tank. I'd like to build an accurate marine corps tank such as was used at Guam, Iwo Jima or Okinawa and I was wondering if the Tamiya kit would suit my purpose OOB or would I have to make modifications? If so, are there aftermarket parts available? The reason I ask is that I have seen several photographs of marine M4's identified as M4A3 tanks but the back end looks different (a flat plate vs. a sloped profile). Is this a different model Sherman or was it a modification made after delivery? Hope you can help, this will be my first foray into armor.

Thanks, cvsaylr

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 2:31 PM

Yes the Marines used the late hull 75mm M4A3s on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Tamiya kit would work. As would the Academy or Dragon kits of the same version. Each Marine Tank Battalion added their own particular type of modification such as wooden planks, sandbags, etc. Check companies like Tank Workshop and Eduard for Aftermarket items.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    September 2013
Posted by cvsaylr on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 2:51 PM

Thanks for the info. I will also check the other manufactuers you mentioned.

cvsaylr

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by T26E4 on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 5:24 PM

With some tweaks, the classic Tamiya M4A3 can be pretty accurate:

 

http://www.usarmymodels.com/MANUFACTURERS/Tamiya/tamiya35122.html

 

Biggest two issues -- fix the open sponsons and DON'T use the side hull applique armor patches!

Roy Chow 

Join AMPS!

http://www.amps-armor.org

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2015
Posted by OldGoat on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 10:41 PM

As the war progressed you see the Corps tankers modifying their vehicles to counter each new and deadly threat. 

By the time of Iwo Jima and Okinawa the only thing recognizable between these and their ETO counterparts was the basic M4 shape.

Tamiya's kit makes a fine M4A3 from that era. Any "issues" can be readliy covered with wood armor, chicken wire, track links and sandbags. 

This Iwo Jima combatant started life as a Tamiya M4A3.

  • Member since
    September 2015
Posted by Terry Murphy on Thursday, November 5, 2015 12:52 AM

SmileNicely done.

 

Terry

Its all fun!

Terry

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, November 5, 2015 2:30 AM

I highly recommend this book

and you may want to look for this kit. It can be made as an A2 or A3 and has many of the Marine peculair modification parts.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    December 2015
Posted by Mustang gt on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 6:05 PM

Wow thats great work 

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