RE: sherman spares scrounge
Ditto on the Karen at the AAF idea.
Long as you have the sprue IDentifier (7 digits checkable on the back pages of your manual) and the kit # (Sherman is 56014) you can order anything.
Be aware that the MG sprue is very often backordered, but Karen will not charge you until she has it in her paws.
I'd ordered 4 of the MG sprues a while back, took 6 months, and when i got my package, I got FIVE sprues, not the four I ordered. I almost got my Firefly barrel from her, but bagged one cheaper on eBay ($21.90 shipped to Canada)
She's usually by first option for Tamiya parts, short of eBay.
WhiteWolf