tamiya's M-553 sheridan

Hi,

I had one a while back and the hull details were definitely lacking! I also had the gunner's shields kit from Verlinden (don't know if it's still available). Unfortunately, I sold both on Ebay, however...

I have an old, old issue of FSM with the build-up of the Tamiya Sheridan (have to dig it up) and I have a large 2-page picture from a Newsweek article on the Gulf war (when it was in process) with a nice Sheridan center stage. I know where the FSM magazine is, but I'm not sure if I remember where the Newsweek pic is.

If you're not in a rush, I'll see if I can find them and email you the stuff after next week (going away for training for a week).

Ken
P.S. - The Sheridan is one of my favorite tanks! :)

I think the old FSM issue is july 1997. Good luck!

AEF Designs had a very nice resin turret upgrade, which I used on mine. They also had an upper hull, but I haven't seen it. Now for the bad news, the last time I was on their website they weren't listing it anymore. They may have some left in stock so maybe you could contact them. I don't know.

Eduard did a photo-etched set for the old Academy kit(think it was the Tamiya kit), number is 35 054. Academy's 2004-2005 catalog shows a new M-551 Sheridan kit no. 13011 in the future. Drawing like's like a better kit.
John

Just for clarification, it is an M551 Sheridan and there is no Dragon Sheridan kit. The Tamiya kit can look good, with a lot of work. Maybe the new Academy one will be better, we shall see.

This site has a lot of info on the Sheridan including many photos and diagrams:
http://www.eaglehorse.org/4_ftx_gunnery/equipment/m551_sheridan/sheridan_intro.htm

It basically covers the history of the tank from the design/concept stage to its operational
use.

The Sheridan is certainly a subject long-overdue for a decent 1/35 kit! (Apart from having no interior
and being originally designed as a motorized model, the Tamiya one has been OOP for ages and very hard
to find, particularly at a reasonable price). Let's hope the Academy one turns out well.

Has anyone here built the Airfix 1/72 kit of the M551? - what's it like accuracy/detail-wise?
Some of the earlier Airfix armour kits (e.g Tiger, Panther, IS-3) are awful, but their later efforts (such as the
M3A1 halftrack, and Bofors gun with Morris tractor) are very nice.