I'd reccommend DML.

Instead of paying for a new one, I decided to see what I could come up with by cobbling one together using spare parts from several kits I had.

 The result was a M4A3E2 Sherman (the last build I posted here a while back).

Mike,

Consider one of the Tasca Sherman models.  I haven't built one yet, but have one of the DML offerings in the stash.  Having now built two of Dragon's panzer models and coped with the challenges in their instructions, I'd give Tasca due consideration.  Their Sherman's receive glowing reviews online.  Tasca also manufactures many of the Sherman variants.  You may want to take some time with the resident tanker and find out which was his variant.

I'm a relative novice to armor modelling, so take heed of others with greater experience.

Carl

Get a Tamiya Sherman; they make several versions. They are easy to build, handle well (not as many tiny bits that can get broken off in transit), relatively cheap, readily available and are accurate enough for a non-model building vet who may not have seen a Sherman tank in over half a century.

You can probably score 2-3 Tamiya Shermans on an online modeling forum for the price of a single Tasca kit. Post a "wanted to buy" or "looking for" on Missing Lynx, state the reason you want one and you might even get one for the price of postage or maybe even for free.

Thanks for the reply's!  Of course I'm very familiar with Tamiya, have heard of DML but Tasca is a new one for me.  I will pick his brain this weekend and see if he recalls exactly which variant he crewed.

I'm looking forward to this.  Last year I build a Corsair for a resident that was a Marine pilot in Korea.  Far from a show winner but he loved it.

Mike

Disastermaster, that was some build!  I'll have to go through that entire thread this weekend.

Mike

I have a Tasca in the stash and they look great kits, the instructions look fine to me and not as confusing as Dragon's can sometimes look

Phil

I've built all three (Tamiya, Tasca and Dragon) - at least up to the painting stage.

The Tamiya is by far the easiest build - I built their Early Production and getting it to paint stage was literally a matter of a single night at the bench. If you're not familiar with armor kits, it's the one I always recommend as a great entry point. Problem is that Tamiya doesn't do all variants.

The Dragon mostly builds well, but you need to be very careful with the instructions. Mine mislabeled the idler mounts so they went on backward and basically ruined the build. Also, the front transmission housing/drive sprocket mount assembly on the welded variants is a super PITA. It looks much better on those with cast housings.

The Tasca kits are amazing. Think Dragon's love of tiny parts and detail with Tamiya's engineering thoughtfulness. Things fit and fit well. The .50 cal Browning is a work of art. The jerry cans are molded in such a way that you aren't gluing halves together, but gluing the bottom in to a completed can. The only thing I don't like about them is that, for a kit of their size and detail, I expect more than bisected barrels...I mean it should at least be a slide-molded single barrel, but there are aftermarket metal barrels aplenty.

Thanks guys!  Been doing a little research here at work when I can.  Looks like the 6th Armored Division was using the M4A3 at the Battle of the Bulge if the pics I'm looking at were labeled correctly.

I'm liking the quick assembly of the Tamiya kits since I'm off work next week but will do some looking tonight on the internet.

Mike

Tamiya does a nice M4A3 that comes with a few figures. Be careful though, since there's the M4A3, the M4A3E2 Jumbo, and the upgunned M4A3(76)W that all played the field during the Bulge. I believe the Easy Eights came later (1945) so you'd be off the hook with those.

Mike: find out the gun type on the tank he crewed....that'll help determine which Sherman variant he was on.

A few years ago, I met a 10th Armored Div veteran in my lhs - he was a gunner on a 105mm Sherman, just outside Luxembourg City during the Bulge.

Again, thanks for all your help!  I will talk to him next week when Bounty and I visit.

Mike

Just a little update on this project.  Talking with Ed and seeing some of his old pictures I was able to determine he crewed on the 105 version of the Sherman.  I picked up the Tamiya kit and will get started on it soon.

Mike

Tamiya's M4A3 (105) is a great kit.  Here are some tweaks lists for it, if you're interested:

usarmymodels.com/.../tamiya35122.html

usarmymodels.com/.../correctingdeflector.htm

usarmymodels.com/.../turretcheekarmor.jpg

Thanks for the tweaks!

Mike

Here's a couple of pics of the 105 Sherman I built for a10th Armored Div vet that crewed one...

I re-read your original post.  If you're building it for a veteran, then I say ignore the tweaks.  Build it straight from the box, unmodified,and delivery it quickly.  It'll be appreciated.  No need to alter a single thing on the Tamiya kit (just make sure you leave OFF the side applique plates which were NEVER part of any Sherman Howitizer tank).

Greg, nice looking Sherman!

Roy, I've been thinking along the same lines.  The only "model" he has now is a matchbox size Sherman and half-track.  I'm thinking the quicker the better.  I told him I would bring it in for him to see once I got it built but he has no idea I'm giving it to him.

Mike

That's basically the same thing I said the same day you asked your question.

Rob, you had the right idea.  I just wanted to make sure I got the right gunned Sherman.  Thanks for your input. :)

Mike

Mike: When I gave the one I built to the 10th AD vet (Sgt James Craig), I had talked to him and found out his unit (10th AD/11Bn) and tank radio call sign(Ghost 76). I had that info engraved on a brass tag at a trophy shop and then had them mount the tag on a finished wood base which I then mounted the Sherman (with nut & bolt) to the base before presentation.

Just a thought.....

Greg, great minds think alike!  I was thinking of doing something along those lines.  The local hobby shop here sells plastic display cases.  I just wish I could paint figures like some here since the kit comes with some infantry figures.

Of course I have his name and rank but getting additional info has been kind of hard.  I am dealing with someone in a assisted living environment.  I mentioned to him I understood the 6th had large hull numbers painted on the sides of the tank (trying to get his number) but that just seemed to confuse him.  I'm hoping to get some more info from his son when he brings more of his father's photo albums to him.  He's a pretty new resident there.

Hoping to get started on the Sherman this weekend and put aside my FW-190 for now.

Mike

My little project is moving along.  I do have one question you armor folks may be able to answer for me.  On the front left corner of the turret (right corner looking at the picture) there is a hole/depression that is molded into the turret.  It doesn't go all the way through.  Is that supposed to be there and if so, what was it for?

Thanks,

Mike

looking good, so far

The hole is for a smoke grenade launcher.  Many tanks had it welded over: its shot trap vulnerabilities outweighed its usefulness.  Check wartime pics.  I think you can leave it or add some slightly sloppy putty to depict the weld plug.

Nice job Mike, she is coming right along.

Thanks guys.  I never would have guessed that was for a smoke grenade launcher.  I'm sure it wasn't much help dodging 88's.

Hoping to get the first paint on it this weekend.

Mike

It worked like a flare gun (you see in the movies when the ship goes down). Fire several smoke grenades from multiple tanks into a field, allow the smoke clouds to develop and then you can cross without being easily targeted by the enemy.

We use a more elaborate smoke grenade launcher today, but the concept is exactly the same.

Thanks for the info Rob!  I've decided to leave it as is.

Mike

Was able to get the turret finished up last night so I now have all the major components ready for paint this weekend.  Would love to be working on it right now but the boss might get a little upset to find me working on this at my desk.