Max-U52

I found this photo on the Heng Long website. So where can I buy one of THESE in 1/16th scale? And what exactly is this? The site says M4A3.

paintjockey

I believe that's an M4A3E8 76mm. In my opinion the coolest Sherman.
Terry

mustclime

I liked the jumbos....pic says m4a3....tracks do not look like e8 tracks to me

Wozwasnt

Maybe the people who put it on display didn't know the difference and just put any old Sherman tracks on.

trackmech81

We had an E8 at Fort Hood with rubber pad tracks. It saved the road from damage while moving it around.

Ex_Pat_Tanker

They are T80 tracks, same as the ones in the Tamiya kit. The single pin T66's were issued in parallel IIRC, with the T80's replacing them pretty much by the end of the war.

You can't buy one currently - only way to get one is Frankenstein one from Tamiya and/or HL parts for the hull, and either Nick or Mato's T23 turret.

Max-U52

I checked both matotoys and matomart and there's no turrets there for any model of Sherman. They have T76 and T49 tracks and a few hull pieces, but that's about it. I did notice that they have 2 different Sherman models, though - the M4A3 and the M4A1(76)W, but under metal tanks they also list the M4A3(75)W. Something tells me this might get confusing. :-)

Ex_Pat_Tanker

A brief history of the Sherman:

3 engines:
M4, M4A1 - 9 cyl Wright / Continental R975 radial engine (Tamiya / Mato)
M4A2 - GM 6-71 diesel
M4A3 - Ford GAA V8 (Heng Long)
M4A4 - Chrysler multibank

5 Hull styles:
Welded small hatch - M4, M4A2, M4A3, M4A4 - all dry stowage, and 75mm (unless converted to British 17 pounder)
Welded big hatch, M4 (105mm gun only), M4A3. 'Wet' ammo storage in M4A3 signified by (w) after the gun size (105's were all dry stowage) (Tamiya and HL)
Cast small hatch - M4A1, all 75mm
Cast big hatch - M4A1, small number of dry stowage 75mm versions converted to DD swimming tanks, most 76mm with wet stowage (Mato).
Hybrid - cast big hatch front hull / welded rear hull - M4 75mm dry stowage and 17 pounder conversions.

Turrets:
Low bustle - early 75mm version, commanders hatch only.
High bustle - late version with commander and loaders hatch - 75mm and 105mm versions (HL and Tamiya)
'T23' - 76mm versions only (Mato)
British firefly versions were usually low bustle, with an additional square hatch added for the loader.

Experimental / limited standard versions:
E2 - Up armoured M4A3, 254 made.
E4 - 76mm gun in 75mm turret. Felt to be too cramped, most were post war conversions sent to Yugoslavia and Pakistan.
E8 - HVSS suspension
E9 - extra wide tracks on VVSS suspension.

Tracks:
T47, T48, T49 (and probably others) - Used on VVSS suspension tanks, they have guide the horns on the end connectors.
T66, T80 - used on HVSS tanks, they have guide horns down the centre of the tracks.

Confused yet?

The Tamiya Sherman is a M4E8 105mm, the Heng Long is an M4A3 105mm, and the Mato is an M4A1 76(w).

In terms of mixing and matching parts, the metal Mato T47 / T49 sets are only intended for their Sherman - they are incompatible with the HL due to the HL having an underscale track width. The metal tracks they list for the M4A3 are the correct ones for the HL.

Panther F

Gosh... you had ME at "A brief history of the Sherman:"






Jeff

Ex_Pat_Tanker

With all the questions today, I figured it'd be best to get that all out of the way in one go

Pah co chu puk

A brief history of the Sherman... Thank you for that.

thecommander

Martin is VERY knowledgeable.... and loves Shermans.

Every museum we went to in Normandy last month had an "obligatory" M4 on display.




He drooled over several Shermans at the wrecks of the English Channel Mus. to the point of dehydration. I saved him from the brink of death repeatedly.





I have IR battled a few Tamiya tanks over the years but only started to battle my own M4 & M51 just this past spring. They are great tanks. I was very fortunate to learn much from him first hand Here are a few pix. More to come on my other Europe trip post. I want to thank Martin for meeting my family and I there and for joining me in exploring more of Normandy. I wish he were with me in Bastogne a week later as well. I still have more to see and do in Normandy....with the new museums that have opened or expanded..... the list gets longer ...not shorter.

Ex_Pat_Tanker

Good to see you made it home safe Bob. I still haven't gotten around to sorting out my pictures, I was waiting for you to post yours so that I didn't have to...

Panther F

I like it that we have like minded, like interested, and like educated about the Sherman tank around here.







Jeff

thecommander

I only took about 4,000 pix so..... it shouldn't take me but a decade or so.

I'm sure we have many doubles but I still want to see your pix pal. Get ready.

thecommander

I really want a Kelly's Heroes Sherman.....I was dreaming about it while driving around Nancy France.

I loved yours Jeff ...... and Joe Murphy's too.

Max-U52

OK, Jeff, Bob just ratted ya out. Can we see a photo of your Kelly's Heroes Sherman?

Gotta ask - What's the Ex Pat part? Your location says you live IN the UK so I'm guessing not for ex-patriot. Enquiring minds want to know.

Glad to see ya home safe, Bob, I'll email or call soon, I'm thinkin' about maybe doing a 1/16th scale Stuka with the Skysport instead of the original plan. Both the M16s are still runnin' great, and no, the 9-year-old nephew still hasn't worked his way up to driving one. :-)

Gary

Baliw

Not to shorten your very awesome summary of the Sherman, but if I really wanted an Easy Eight Sherman (WWII) then all I have to do is get the Tamiya one? Or is the gun wrong (the Israelis did an upgrade?)?

thecommander

Martin is Ex-Pat-Tanker. Ex-patriot....he lives in the UK near London. I am in NJ near NYC. He lived in Michigan for a few years... but I met him in Danville, Virginia. He is now back in London but met me in Normandy France a few weeks ago to finish a European Tank tour that we started in Bovington England back in March of 2012. Confused yet???

thecommander

My favorite laptop is out for repairs so here is a video with Jeff's Tank. Enjoy, Bob https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isU_...m45MJ47wobWY2g

PS there are a few other tank & hobby related videos too....if you have time to kill.

ksoc

My understanding is that for a proper Tamiya Easy Eight, you need a different Turret (T23?) 76mm Main Gun and mantle, vented (grills) engine deck, and an exhaust diffuser..... though I could be wrong

edoubleaz

My Feedback: (1)

Easy Eight Project Sample

http://www.desertarmor.com/DAK_PROJE...abana_Boy.html

Imex-Erik

So we seem to be missing a 75mm turret huh?

Max-U52

OK, that almost tells me what I was after, but it at least gives me a better guess ... So, Martin, you're an American Expat living in the UK? How cool is that. If it was me, though, I think I would've gone a little bit further east, but being a 1st generation German-American I suppose that's understandable. :-)

So, back to the subject ... ever notice that one tiny detail can really attract you to a particular tank? Well, why does the tank in the photo have a muzzle break? I first saw a photo of a Sherman with a muzzle break years ago, and ever since then every Sherman I see that doesn't have it just looks naked.

edoubleaz

My Feedback: (1)

The 76mm gun came originally with a smooth barrel and later featured a muzzle break attached to a threaded ring on the muzzle. Development of the break lagged so many of the interim gun tubes had a thread protector to keep the delicate machining safe. The same gun was featured on the M18 hellcat and the same rules applied.