1/35 scale Metal Barrel Muzzle Brake

calmo2

Hello; I am new to the Armor model kits. I usually build model car kits. I am about to build the Tamiya 1/35 Sherman M4A3 tank kit and I was wondering if the 1/35 scale Metal Barrel Muzzel Brake kit for the Tamiya Sherman M4A3E8 will fit the M4A3 kit I will be building.  Are the tracks for these two kits the same? I have also found a set of metal track links for the M4A8E8 and will they work on the M4A3 kit? Any help would be appriciated. Thanks.

Muzzle brakes were a relatively late addition to Shermans with the 76 gun, and only seen on tanks with the ovel loader's hatch. Your M4A3 may or may not have been equipped with a muzzle brake, but it's entirely possible.

And as the D Master says, the "E8" suffix meant a different, late tyoe of suspension using a centered guide horn and paired road wheels, unlike the earlier Shermans which used a narrower track with the guides outboard, the road wheel running between them. Pics show this difference clearly.

Which Sherman kit are you building?

'

M4A3

M4A3EB

One of the primary differences between M4A3 and the "E8" variant were that the latter used center-line guide teeth.  The M4 series started life with guide teeth on both outside edges of the track.

Sherman track is an entire topic unto itself.

THis is a pretty extensive link to the track, whith photos
http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/tracks/vvss_tracks.html

This becomes a bit of a rabbit hole.  The amount of information is amazing, and daunting.

It's a bit like asking about a Camaero.  You have to know the model year, and the finish level to answer many questions..