Tamiya Sherman M4A3

[plasticprime]

This is straight from the box. I like the Tamiya armor kits because they look good and they keep the parts count to something reasonable. No weathering on this one, just some highlighting here and there with a silver pencil.

[bisc63]

Another nice clean build. Like the welded hull Sherman, you did it proud!

[Jim B]

That's a really nice looking Sherman.  Man, I haven't built a tank in forever!

Edited July 5, 2021 by Jim B

[Mike999]

All you Sherm-a-holics in here have inspired me to rescue a kit from the Shelf Of Doom:  the Tamiya M-51 "I-Sherman."  That's the modified Israeli M4A3 Sherman, with the big honking 105mm French gun that required a counterweight welded onto the back of the turret.

It's a great kit that just fell together, like most Tamiyas.  Not sure why I gave up on it. Maybe because I dithered around adding extra details etc. and got bored. It was ready for paint, so I got the base coat on and it should be ready to finish. (Famous Last Words...)

If you want to build an early M-51 from the 1967 Six Day War, Tamiya's the way to go. This is the only kit of that tank.  The Academy and Dragon M-51's are later versions.  

Typical for them, Tamiya simplified the complex E8 suspension into just a few parts that still look good.  The Dragon suspension is a nightmare that uses a bunch of fiddly little parts, including brass tubes. 

Tamiya's also the only company to nail another complex M-51 part, that big muzzle brake on the end of the barrel.  According to Der Experten, Dragon's muzzle brake is too small, while Academy's is the right size but missed the shapes.