Engine for theTamiya 1/35 M4 Sherman Tank Early

Rye Field Model is about to release the Ford GAA Sherman tank engine as a stand alone plastic kit but it comes without the engine compartment.  These are only proper for M4A3.

As others have said, you need the Miniart Radial -- but you'll need to build up the engine compartment around it

Well, yes, the "A-designation" of a Sherman tells you what engine it used. Unlike many other tanks, Shermans were produced in parallel lines because of engine availability not because they were more modern versions.

So the M4 and M4A1 only used the radial engine.

The M4A2 used the twin diesel engines and were used by the Marines and lend lease to Soviet Union.

The M4A3 used the Ford GAA engine and became the standard US tank in the later stages of the war.

And the M4A4 used the Chrysler multibank engine. It went to the UK, but they called it the Sherman V (or Roman numeral 5).

The Brits called the M4 the Sherman I, M4A1 Sherman II, M4A2 Sherman III, M4A3 Sherman IV and the M4A4 the Sherman V.

So the Tamiya M4 Sherman early can only use the radial engine. None of the Shermans are "pre-war" because they all came after the start of the war.

The radial engine Sherman was used during D-Day in the M4A1 Duplex Drive amphibious Sherman.

The M4A1 was also used Post War in the US, by Allies and many other nations. The Radial engine was used in the latest M4A1E8 (76) tank.

Thanks guys: I realy apprciate all the info on this question. The info I got on the radial is that it was pre war. Then I found that there was also 3 other engines put in the Sherman. They were the "GM 6046 "twin" Diesel, the A57 Multibank, and the Ford GAA48 gas engine. I was hoping I could find the Ford GAA48, or the GM6046 Diesel.  I am thinking that one of these would fit in the engine compartment without a bunch of alterations. Maybe I am biteing off more than I can chew.LOL. Maybe I will just stick with just building the tank and let it go at that unless I can find a 1/35 scale of either one of the above engines. Thanks again guys for helping out a newbee to the model armor world.

The radial is a repourposed aircraft engine, so, you might have to look for aircraft model aftermarket--which will be complicated by those bing in 1/32 rather than 1/35.

Luckily refernce photos abound

The TWS version is available on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203703691390?hash=item2f6dafa87e:g:KnQAAOSwDy5hlXIJ

Once upon a time, Verlinden made the resin engine for the M4. It came in just the engine and entire compartment for the Tamiya M4 early. You might still be able to find it on eBay or other old stock.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/verlinden-productions-1120-sherman-m4-engine-and-compartment-m4-tamiya--155911

Tank Workshop did one as well. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/tank-workshop-tws0035-radial-engine-and-engine-compartment--220200

I think they were not a lot of money back in the day.

Hello!

Sherman engine is not something you see done often in scale - so if you take it on it will be very interesting to see. Now did you try a google search? I did and here's what I found:

This kit would probably be the easiest to buy and then build:

35321 CONTINENTAL R975 ENGINE – Miniart (miniart-models.com)

Then there are resin kits from CMK, Tank Workshop and Verlinden (Verlinden kits are hardest to get - no longer made - and also sometimes not very accurate).

Anyway, showing off this engine probably won't be a drop-in - would have to look up the instructions to see if you have to cut out at least some of the hatches/doors and you would probably have to scratchbuild some features of the open engine compartment like engine mounts and whatever else is installed there. Take a look at scalemates.com - this site will tell you all the possible accessories, many even have downloadable instructions and reviews to help you. Good luck with your project and have a nice day

Paweł