Selected 1/35th Shermans in Plastic
M4A2 "US Marines"
(13206)
Reportedly corrects the rear hull problem. Comes with wading
trunks. 75mm turret still lacks thickened right cheek. M4A3
HVSS Sherman 105mm Howitzer and M1 Dozer Blade (13027) M4A3E8
(1306)
This is an old copy of the Tamiya kit.
M4A1 Sherman Early Version
(6048)
For years the best plastic Sherman kit, still quite good. Rear of hull
is slightly short.
M4A1 76mm "Operation Cobra" (6083)
A good model of the early
M4A1s with 76mm gun.
M4A2 "Tarawa"
(6062)
An excellent model of an early M4A2 with welded drivers' hoods
and cast transmission cover. Can be used in representing M4A2s from some French
or British units also. USMC
Sherman M4A2 Late PTO (6462)
M4A3 76mm (W) "Battle of the Bulge" (6255)
A good kit of a common
vehicle in Europe. Some details are not quite as nice as the M4A3E8 kit, but still
a good starting point. This kit comes with two sets of figures included.
M4A3 (76)W (6325)
An updated kit of the above using many parts from the M4A3E8 kit. This one also
comes with T48 tracks with extended end connectors, but no figure sets this time.
M4A3
(76)W HVSS Sherman WWII
(9010 or 9010X)
Comes with T66 steel track and parts to recreate an "expedient
Jumbo." Turret is too flat sided, gun tube a little too short. Early DML
"easy eights" had Italeri lower hulls that required removing VVSS mountings
to install the HVSS, then they included a resin lower hull, then they produced
their own lower hull. Some boxes are marked, but older ones may be "luck
of the draw." DML molded the sight and co-ax MG holes in the wrong places,
these need to be corrected.
M4A3E8 "Thunderbolt VII"
(6183)
The best kit of the "Easy Eight" around. M4A3E8
Sherman "Major Albin F. Irzyk" (6283)
2005 Dragon Expo
kitbash of M4A2 and M4A3 parts with HVSS suspension. M4A3E8
"Korean War version" (6811 or 9009X)
Has T80 track and
telephone box on rear plate. Otherwise same as above. Current production has the
DML styrene lower hull.
M4A3 105mm HVSS (6354)
Another of Dragon's updated Shermans. Gun mount
is slightly too narrow, but otherwise a good kit.
M4A3 POA-CWS H-5 (6807)
Pretty accurate model can be built of the M4A3, 105H, HVSS or the Korean War era
kit can be built from the box as a U.S.M.C. vehicle. M4A1
Sherman (225)
An older kit, but the only one of this common ETO vehicle.
Fortunately the basic shapes are pretty good. Needs details added/revised to be
up to current levels.
M4 Sherman US Marines (6389)
Really a re-release of their earlier M4A3,
75W (labeled on the first release as a "Jumbo") with M4A2 engine deck
added. COULD be built as M4A2 with late hull, but rear of hull still needs some
more revisions. Turret has same problem as Tamiya, a late turret, but without
the thicker right cheek. M4A2
Sherman Jumbo (253)
This
is actually an
M4A3 76mm VVSS. M4A3
Sherman with Calliope (288) M4A3
76mm Sherman
(6640)
M4
Sherman (35190)
The
only M4 in 1/35th, HOWEVER Tamiya did poor research on this kit and the front
has features closer to an M4A4. This website has a long "tweeks"
list.
M4A3
Sherman (35122)
An aging kit, released in the 1980s. Represents an
M4A3 75W. Good overall representation, but needs lots of love and detail to be
"right on."
M4A3, 75mm Sherman Late
Production "Frontline Breakthrough" (35250)
An updated version
of the above with new figures, two kinds of wheels, extra stowage. Same basic
molding as above, so it shares the same upgrades.
M4A3E2
"Jumbo" (35139)
Basically modified from kit #35122. Far
from the best "Jumbo" kits, but the only one in styrene. M4A3E8
Sherman U.S. Army Medium Tank (3018)
Very
early motorized Tamiya kit. M4A3
Sherman 105 Howitzer (35251)
Similar
to above kits, but only has one style of road wheel. More new figures, plus a
105mm howitzer mount and revised turret roof (they still didn’t address the
"cheek" bulge). Good kit, but still needs details added/revised.
M4A1 Sherman U.S. Medium
Tank (Mid-production) (35010)
Super effort that is one of the best Sherman
kits right from the box. Relatively expensive for a plastic kit, but it doesn't
need much aftermarket support. Correct for Tunisia, and other Mediterranean actions,
Pacific Theater, etc. M4A1
Sherman U.S. Medium Tank (Late Production) (35012)
In
mid-2008, a revised version of kit #35010 was released as a "late production"
version with appliqué armor and M34A1 gun mount that more closely represents
tanks in the ETO.
Commonwealth
and Soviet ShermansAcademy
M4A2, "Russian Army"
(13010)
Still not a perfect M4A2, but closer than any other. Rear hull plate
angle incorrect. Turret can be used to construct a U.S. M4A3 76W on the Tamiya
hull. Dragon
Models Limited M4A2
"Sherman III" (6313)
The M4A2 with cast drivers' hoods and a
few other changes. Another nice kit that can be used to build M4A2s from the British,
Free French or U.S.S.R. This one can also be modified to an M4 as built by Baldwin
Locomotive Works.
Firefly VC (6182)
Newer, updated version of their older "Firefly."
Originally the chassis was too short to represent the M4A4; the newest production
has addressed that error.
M4A4 (6085)
Older kit with the improper short chassis, otherwise an adequate
kit. M4A4
with 60-lb rockets (6041)
Revision of the M4A4 kit to include the rocket
launchers used by some vehicle of the Guards Armoured Brigade.
Firefly IC
Can be built as the British Firefly Hybrid IC, or as a U.S.
M4 with composite hull. Generally a good kit, but as all plastic Shermans, it
still needs details fixed.
M4A2, 76mm, "Russian Army"
Very good, many extras (metal gun
tube, PE, clear parts, etc). A totally new tooling, very good model. The “from
the box” subject is limited, but the parts can be used to improve many other
projects. Tasca
Sherman V (35009)
An excellent model of an M4A4 as modified to carry the 17-pounder gun. Another
of Tasca's fine Sherman kits. Selected
Plastic Sherman Models in Other ScalesAirfix
M4
A very old kit showing its age. COULD be built as an early M4. DML
1/72nd scale Sherman kits
Basically scaled down versions of their 1/35th
"cousins," the DML 1/72nd series are affordable kits that are generally
quite good. ESCI
(now released by Italeri) M4A1
1/72nd scale. Basically a good model, but
does have the 75mm turret on the "big hatch" cast hull. A very rare
variant. Parts can be used for other projects. ESCI
M4A3
A very nice 1/72nd model, but hard to find. Hull slightly short. Eduard/Extratech
1/72nd M4 series
Includes M4 75, M4A3E2, M4A3 76W , and M4A3 105 howitzer
(so far). Nice little kits. Lots of parts, but usually rate as correct in size
and outline. Hasegawa
M4A3E8
An older kit with many problems. Hull way too big, turret proportions
off. Bandai
1/48th Sherman series
Back in the 1970s Bandai produced M4A3 75W, M4A3
76W, M4A3 105H, M4A1 75W, M4A1 76W. Basically nice little models. Even had some
interior. Hard to find now. A few re-released by From/Fuman. Tamiya
M4 in 1/48th
Not in general release yet. Reportedly to be a scaled down
version of their M4 mid-production, complete with same problems, but basically
a nice kit. Followed by an M4A1 that was a much nicer kit and an M4 "Firefly
Ic" all based on the same chassis and components. Revell
1/40th
True 1950s research (look at a couple pictures and graft on all
the different features seen). A poor Sherman but many of us learned on them! Monogram
M4 and M4A1 in 1/32nd
70s vintage kits that had potential but were cut
off by using too many components from the earlier Lee/Grant kits. Basically good
hulls and turrets in proper 1/32nd scale. Selected
Resources
Missing Lynx armor web site. The Reviews
section covers many available Sherman models, the Allied WW2 Discussion Group
is a good source for info (from basic to trivia) and the Gallery features some
really fine models. Track-Link
also has a wealth of reviews of Sherman kits and built kits in the Model Gallery.
Sherman, a
History of the American Medium Tank, by R.P. Hunnicutt
Sherman at War,
vol. 1, by Steve Zaloga
Sherman at War, vol. 2, by Steve Zaloga
U.S. Tank Battles in North Africa and Italy, by Steve Zaloga
U.S.
Tank Battles in France 1944, by Steve Zaloga
U.S. Tank Battles in Germany,
by Steve Zaloga
Sherman in Action, by Bruce Culver
M4 Sherman
Walk Around, by Jim Mesko See
also Tim Streeter's Vehicle
References on this site listing recommended books, including those above,
and The Sherman Corner. -
Gary Binder | 
