Those photos are all small hatch dry stowage types, M4 and M4A1 with the protruding boxes for the driver and bow gunner. When the hull was redesigned for the large hatch and single piece glacis, the need for the extra armor over the ammo stowage bins was eliminated. 

Here is a good rundown on M4A3 types

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/sherman_types/m4a3/m4a3.html

 Small hatch early M4A3

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/manufacturer/m4a3ford/m4a3ford_variants.html

 Large hatch late M4A3

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/manufacturer/m4a375w/m4a3_75w.html

stikpusher

Tamiya boned up when they included those extra side armor plates on their M4A3 kit. They shouldnt be there, because of the revised "wet" stowage moving the ammo racks off of the sponsons and down into the hull bottom... Only the similar hulled diesel engined M4A2 variant had those plates, as they retained the "dry" sponson stowage on the 75mm gunned ones... The US Army did not use that variant, but the Marines did, and the rest were reserved for Lend Lease.

 

Hey Stik, you might be right regarding the extra side armor plates. But I've found plenty of WWII and museum pics that show that the A3 used them, while in US Army service. I could be wrong, they could be A2's but you have to remember, that the 761st Tank Battalion, normally got the scraps of the armor ie. like the M5 Stuart when there was a shortage of M4's. But since the plates are on and they've cured, they're staying on and they'll work just fine. BTW the first pic is from the upcoming movie regarding this unit and the final pic is from The Museum of the American G.I. Thank you for your comments.

I built a Tamiya M4A3 Sherman recently, and I loved how it came with the crates. It's very nice to have stowage included in the kit.

S.H.

Tamiya boned up when they included those extra side armor plates on their M4A3 kit. They shouldnt be there, because of the revised "wet" stowage moving the ammo racks off of the sponsons and down into the hull bottom... Only the similar hulled diesel engined M4A2 variant had those plates, as they retained the "dry" sponson stowage on the 75mm gunned ones... The US Army did not use that variant, but the Marines did, and the rest were reserved for Lend Lease.

Well I've done some more work on this kit. This kit is a delight to work with, due to its ease of build plus all the added features, add-ons and details. This M4 is ready for its base coat. All comments and critiques are greatly appreciated.

Gamera

Looks cool Tiger, looking forward to this! I built a 761st M4 a few years ago, there's some really nice decals out there for them. 

 

Hey Gamera, I already received the decals from Star Decals. They do look very nice. Unfortunately they're for the 76mm M4 Sherman with that battalion. But I'm going to make it work.

Looks cool Tiger, looking forward to this! I built a 761st M4 a few years ago, there's some really nice decals out there for them. 

Nice! I want to do a Black Panthers M5 Stuart some time.

S.H.