"PSC M4A1s" Topic

So the Plastic Soldier M4A1s say they are just the 76mm version, and the sprue picture says the 75 and 105mm components are unused. What gives? Is the kit somehow inappropriate for a "normal" M4A1?

the 75mm turret was fitted to the late m4a1 hull, but not the 105mm gun.
however there is some debate as to whether any of the late hulled 75mm shermans saw service as gun tanks.
there were some converted to dd's.
no one has proved one way or the other, well not to me anyway.
so for usa use unless a dd then only 76mm.
but who really cares that much for gaming!

The Commonwealth forces did use M4A1 with 105mm, so rather useful. Designated Sherman MkIIb

Quote from an excellent source, Barry Beldam:

For those that are curious (and to keep the question from becoming a 'he's wrong, because I know better' argument, the fact is that I feel it may well be a IIB, but I am not positive. Here is the situation: all the
accepted references state that there never where cast hull 105s. To counter that I have talked to more than a half dozen veterans who clearly state that they crewed both IIBs and IICs. They didn't know one model of M4 from another but they certainly knew what type of hull, gun and engine their home had for the 1, 2 or 3 years that they lived in it. Documents in the archives as well as several war diaries mention cast hull Cs and Bs. Further, any workshop in the field could take a 105
turret and put it on any hull they wished and add the necessary changes to the interior, it was not necessary to get a finished product from the manufacturer. To the photo itself: I took the photo and scaled it and then, using the known dimensions (all are known for the Sherman) did a photo mensuration of the vehicle at that angle from the camera lens. Allowing for a slight paralax error, the barrel of a 75mm gun should extend
about 5-6" beyond the edge of that open hatch. It does not and there is no dust or obfuscation to the front. Further, if you take the scale of the tank and then measure the thickness of the gun barrel at the base and then compare it to the other 75s clearly seen in the photo you find that even allowing for the wrapping (which was usually consistent thickness as they all had roughly the same material in the same quantities available for wrapping and it was done for a specific reason and had to allow proper traverse, elevation and recoil when there) the tube is thicker than any of the 75s. Now this measurement isn't the best as there is also the helmetted head of the driver in the way, so I do not place total faith in it. Then you come to the tiny detail: there is a turret-mounted searchlight in the centre of the turret front above
the gun. Where have you seen that before? It is fitted to each and every 105mm turret when manufactured and is seldom seen on any other model (and never on Canadian vehicles of any size shape or colour except for 105s and even then it was usually removed very quickly). That little detail is never even mentioned. So you see, for me there are enough questions without answers and enough scientific evidence for me to question what model it is, but not have any confirmation. I say that it might well be a 105 and ask the experts to tell me why not. So far, the application of photo analysis seems to have been a new curve. All I ask for is an open mind and the total application of doubt, even to my work! So there it is, make your own decision…then doubt it and keep looking!

Barry

news to me!

Modeling the Sherman tank in 1/72. Great site any kit, conversion and more. There is a lot of information there.

172shermans.com/index.htm

link

And I believe the photo referenced is here:

link

What scale are you referring to for the M4A1 box, 15mm or 1/72? By my understanding, the 15mm M4A1 box lets you build the 75mm, 76mm, and 105mm turrets for the M4A1 cast hull, but only the 75mm and 76mm turrets would be valid.

The 75mm would use the single hatch turret and the 76mm the double hatch. Either of the thin or wide mantlets could be used for the 75mm, and the 76 has its own mantlet which is more box-like and has two loops on it.

There are some hull differences such as hatches and applique armor, but at 15mm scale you could disregard these. Technically, PSC gives you extra 15mm pieces in the M4A1 75mm set, but you could use different turrets in a pinch.

The M4A1 75mm saw most of its use by the Americans in Normandy through late '44. The 76mm M4A1 began to see combat in late July of '44. The 105mm was apparently never mounted on the M4A1 hull, only the M4 and M4A3 hulls.

For the 1/72 scale kit, it builds only the M4A1 76mm.

Here's a good breakdown at 15mm:
YouTube link

HTH

~iPaint

A Sherman aficionado I have learned never to say never where the Sherman and variants are concerned. However I am a bit wary of a single photo to confirm the existence of the M4A1/105. Most telling is the comment in the first reference of no mention anywhere in the official returns for 21st Army Group of any 105 armed Shermans in 44.

Thank you for all the awesome details and debate. I made this post because I thought PSC only made the 76mm M4A1. Only today did I realize the 75mm M4A1 is under the British section. Oops!

The PSC M4A1s are pretty nice! The parts fit very well indeed. I added some ballast to give them some weight comparable to metal or the resin tanks

The PSC M4A1s are pretty nice! The parts fit very well indeed. I added some ballast to give them some weight comparable to metal or the resin tanks out there