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Hi there,
I have an idea for a project that I was thinking about doing but I need to know if what I have in the stash is appropriate for the Battle of the Bulge.
Can anyone tell me if the Italeri M4A1 kit, no. 224 I think, represents a Sherman that would have been used by the 10th Armored Division in and around Bastogne?
One day a couple months ago before I went on vacation, I stopped and talked to the owner of the company I work for. We talked about various subjects, then he told me about his father being a tank commander in the 10th Armored Division. I asked him if he knew what type of tank his father was in and all he said was it would have been the main type used at Bastogne. He has a German last name, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking if he was in a Panzer IV, Panther, or Tiger.
Anyway, was just wondering about that kit as it would also get me back in gear on the stash.
Thanks.
JD
One of the decal options for this kit includes those for "Bonnie", a M4A1 76(W) of the 11th Tank Bn., 10th Armored Div., B Co., in the Ardennes. As for problems concerning this vintage kit, I'll leave that to someone else...the tracks and barrel in particular are known issues.
I would only echo the comment that this isn't the kit to start from. Too many things to fix.
Dragon M4A1(76) or M4A3(76) are much better and both appropriate to the Ardennes period. Having said that, the Academy M4A3(76) isn't bad: better than Italeri but not as good as Dragon. All cheaper than putting the Italeri kit "right".
A couple:
https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/m4a3-76-w-battle-of-bulge/ACD00013500/product.php
https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/m4a3-sherman-battle-of-the-bulge/DML00006255/product.php?
https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Military_Vehicles/us-army-m36-b36b2-battle-of-the-bulge/ACD00013501/product.php?s=0&t=2&u=10&pg=1&ppp=48&sb=stocknumber&so=a&era=6&ct=1
Thanks everyone,
That's what happens when I post at 2:02am, when I could've just gone downstairs and looked. While I know that ancient kit has problems, it's more of a symbolic gesture than shooting for nailing it dead on. Plus, yesterday he announced that he was selling the company to our neighbors across the street.
The big boss didn't know for sure what type of tank his father was in. The day we got onto the subject of his father being a tank commander, he also showed my the Browning Hipower his father brought home, complete with engraved swastika.
Yes, the kit has been bypassed by more recent releases, but still can build into a good enough model to the casual observer. One item that needs to be addressed is to make sure you glue the bogies of the suspension. If you do not, the tension of the tank make the suspension rock towards the sprocket or idler.
If it's just for a friend, it's probably good enough. The tracks may be more appropriate for a post war tank, but okay for a gift.
Thanks for the heads up. I built this kit, when it came in a Testors box, a long time ago when I was a kid.
Did the spoked idler wheels have rubber on them?
http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/suspension/vvss_suspension.html
Thanks Ixion. Have to admit, it was a nice feeling actually touching plastic, cleaning up the road wheels. It's been too long.
Davja Thanks for the heads up. I built this kit, when it came in a Testors box, a long time ago when I was a kid.
They were the best armor model kits of my youth.
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