"Shermans in 1/72" Topic

Let's talk best Sherman kits.

I used to be a finescale modeller/rivet counter.
Recently I've been thinking of replacing my cheap and not-so-accurate shermans with plastic.
I considered milicast but I like plastic.

Dragon seem to be pretty much unobtainable.
Apparently they tool in copper and do limited runs.
PSC look to have some pretty noticeable issues.
Italeri seem OK but for the tracks.
Maybe get both and use the psc tracks on Italeri.
Would they even fit though?

What do you think are my better options?

People seem to be raving about the new Heller Sherman kits. These are new 1/72 tools, not the old Airfix job.

Most of the fast build Sherman kits have issues of varying magnitude. I would recommend detailed investigation before purchasing any of them to see if you can live with the various shortcomings, though it sounds as if you have already started doing that research.

Transplanting running gear on fast build kits can work, as I mentioned on the recent Panther thread…

Thanks!

I didn't realise that was a new design.
Looks very nice at first glance.

I think you need to advise us as to what mark of Sherman you are looking for .This will help to narrow the wide field a bit . For example M4A3s appear to be well catered for with decent models.

Also a lot of the inaccuracies can easily be hidden with stowage . For example if you covered the PSC Sherman 2A with spare tracks as the Polish did this will hide many of the inaccuracies or make them go away( less noticeable) :)

The Italeri M4A1 doesn't appear to have any track issues IIRC but is just an awful model :)

Heller M4A2 coming as well…

link

I want several marks covering NWE 44/45

So something like m4a1 (75)
M4a3(76)W
M4a3(105)
M4a3e2 ( Jumbo 75 )

Italeri do the jumbo and 105 in "fast assembly" which is part of the attraction.

The m4a2 for soviets sounds quite interesting as well.

Armourfast makes fast-assembly kits for basic M4 (75 mm and 17 pounder variants) and M4A3 (75, 76 and 105 mm variants).

I just built the 1/72 Hasegawa M4 (A3E8) and it is a nice kit. I also like the 1/76 Airfix Sherman M4 (I have about 6-7 of those).

Mike

Well for the M4A3 105mm then you need not look any further than the Altaya die cast model. If you shop around you will get this quite cheap . I bought around ten this year for around £2.50 GBP each for conversion in 75mm gun tanks . Shaun at S & S Models does the gun conversion and I think he sells the tank as well but not at that price.Also try Portcullis Wargames Emporium in Bolton ( not to far away from Liverpool), I had heard that he has still got some left and are very cheap :)

I appreciate that you stated kits but there are cheap diecasts as well out there and decent models too.

I've ordered 4 of the Heller kits.

It seems Dragon have M4a3 76W and jumbo coming out fairly soon.
The m4a3(105) is one of the very few dragon kits that suppliers have in stock.
Hmmmm….

The Hasegawa Sherman?
Isn't that the huge one?

Thanks Tim.
Yes, I've spent most of today wading through reviews from those sites.
There are a lot of Sherman kits with a lot of things wrong with them.

If you like making kits then Dragon look to be a clear winner on accuracy. At a price – in terms of both time and money.

Oddly enough, I saw the heller entry and assumed it wouldn't be shiny new.
I have high hopes for the Heller. It looks pretty good to me. I'll let you know what I think when I get it.
I'm going to get some dragons as well.

I just bought some commanders.
If you do shermans then I recommend the milicast US crew set.
I really like these and I don't think the pictures do them justice.
link

Resin, but very very nice.There are 4 spare heads. I plan on some head swapping with infantry for figures just head and shoulders out hatches.

I was surprised to see that Foundry have re-released their 20mm ww2 stuff which includes commanders.

the heller model is very nice and you ge5t a separate engine grill and 2 types of hull front early and mid production, as well as 2 sets of wheels. I reckon it could be one of the best Sherman models out there.

The Hasegawa "M4A3E8" is overscale. The PSC M4A1(75) is hugely overscale and has other "issues".

I am not really a huge fan of Armourfast as I find them just a little too spartan but their M4A3(105) is accurate scale-wise and can be detailed up.

If you're careful with the variant, (the m4 is a bit off but the wet hulled versions are good) the trumpeter kits are well worth a look.

The Dragon Shermans are hands down the best kits out there. They measure out dimensionally and have photo etch periscope guards and brush guards for the headlights. They can be tricky to build because if some if the small pieces and I don't think they would stand up ( the small pieces anyway) to a lot of handling. They also seem to rotate ( like many Dragon kits) in and out of production. ESCI used to make some Shermans that, given their age, were cool, they had engines etc., but they had dimension problems and their M4A1 75mm was a so called big hatch model that seems to have never been in combat except as a DD version, which the kit wasn't. Someone re boxed it recently as a Calliope tank.

I got my Heller shermans today.
Bit under the weather this morning but they look superb.

You can sort of mix and match to resolve some issues.
Trumpeter wheels are bad and you get two sets in the Heller.
I think it's the UM has bad tracks but there are two sets in at least some Dragon.

I gather the thing with Dragon short runs is they tool in copper so it's cheaper to make the mould thingummies but they wear quicker than steel.

Actually by the reviews on On The Way they rate pretty well and are second only to Dragon Shermans in overall quality (and maybe the heller kits), except the trumpeter M4 dry hull which has a terrible hull. PS ignore the Summaries in the trumpeter kit list page, they don't correlate with the articles. The WW2 variant Easy Eight actually looks like a corker, particularly considering they used to be Half the price of a Dragon kit I think they might be worth considering.

Altaya premades might be worth considering too.

But then You are after "the best" so by that measure its hard to beat Dragon.

I just built one the the Trumpeter M4A3E8 late war Shermans, with the HVSS suspension.
That's quite a nice kit (also usable for Korea, of course).

I don't know who that Sherman could be by. Trumpeter have a dark background to all their cover art but they're not really that new.
They still seem to be releasing stuff so I assume they're viable.

I think the Heller m4a1 will do me for the 75.
Probably get some of their m4a2 when they come out.
Have to think about whether I go for Dragon for the rest or hang in the hope Heller do every Sherman eventually.

Have to think about whether I go for Dragon for the rest or hang in the hope Heller do every Sherman eventually.

It looks as if Dan Taylor (Modelworks) is planning some conversions based on the Heller Sherman too:

link

I think that only Trumpeter has a dark background….

In my opinion, the Heller is well recommended by the OTW people, and the Italeri fast build is a good choice for the war gamers. Dragon has some flaws, as said on the 172shermans.com website.

@AONeill,

After nearly a 2 year hiatus 172shermansdotcom has recently been updated with some excellent stuff regarding Heller M4A2:

172shermans.com/whatsnew.htm

Not sure how you got on with these, but thought you might still be interested…

I think Attack did a 105 Sherman?

I am making a series of Dragon Shermans and like them very much indeed. Fiddly and time-consuming, but they look the part.

But I take your point about availability. I have been looking for M4A2's as well. They don't seem to be around.

I stored away some M4A3's and A4's a few years ago and am just building them now.