WesternOutlaw
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Hey guys, I see why you like that particular model (as well as the figures). Great images Wayne! Thanks for sharing.
Pondering on the Best Sherman (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter WesternOutlaw
- Start date
Hey guys, I see why you like that particular model (as well as the figures). Great images Wayne! Thanks for sharing.
WesternOutlaw
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Would be a nice one, Paul!
Terp152
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Agree my fave too.
Patton must be ordering the crew to get rid of those blasted sand bags! I read his comments that he didn't approve of their use. ^&grin Good pics BTW, very nice scene. Chris
jazzeum
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This has been my favorite also. I purchased it when it first came out but I accidentally damaged it about three years ago so I sold it. I was able to reacquire it about a year ago via eBay at a very good price.
binder001
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Interesting question re: the "best" Sherman. Each of Andy's tanks has good points and bad points. Further, the M4 series tanks evolved over time and different versions are appropriate for certain battles.
The really old "Easy 8 Sherman" (DD27) was prototyped using the hull from an Israeli Sherman and still carried the modifications that the IDF used. The "ancient" M4A3 from the original Battle of the Bulge and Iwo Jima series was really poor and unfortunately was used by BMC for their Sherman tank and was reduced in size and issued by New Ray and some other Chinese companies. DD45 is a nice model of the howitzer-armed "close support" version and represents a model from the fall of 1945 onwards. The late M4A3s shared a common hull after "wet" ammo stowage was adopted, so the howitzer tanks and 76mm tanks share a common hull design with the late 75mm tanks. The Limited "General Inspection" tank represents an M4A1 with 76mm gun with the sandbag racks associated with the 14th Armored Division and some other units from the Seventh Army. The tank is marked as being from the 14th Armored Division but they generally operated M4A3 variants. I never bought the K&C "Firefly" (DD135) but it looks like a nice model of what it claims to be. The 17-pounder tanks entered service with the Normandy invasion and served through the end of the war. The K&C "Classic Sherman" (also marketed as the "Wounded Sherman") is a hodgepodge of features, and represents a VERY narrow range of vehicles so I avoided buying it. The model is riding on the early suspension, typical of M4A1s used in North Africa and some on Sicily. It has later features on the hull and turret. The only tanks that I have seen with that mix of features were some older M4A1s that were still "hanging about" in Italy and were upgraded and sent into France (via Opn Dragoon) with the Seventh Army, with some serving to the end of the war in separate tank battalions. Not correct for the First, Third or Ninth Armies - those units were supplied via depots in the UK. Before D-Day there was a "blitz" program by Army Ordnance to upgrade all the M4/M4A1 tanks in the UK to the latest standards or to replaced older tanks with newer versions. The latest models include the M4A3E8 in several sub-versions. These are pretty nice models that were likely based from more recent 1/35th kits that have improved accuracy. One thing to remember - the M4A3E8 only started appearing in limited numbers just before the Ardennes campaign, but shipments increased in 1945 and they were fairly common at the end of the war in Europe. The Italian front received late M4A3s but few, if any, M4A3E8s. There is no record of M4A3E8s (or other 76mm Shermans) in the Pacific, although they would have been used in the invasion of Japan. The "Oddball's Sherman" actually represents a post-WW2 rebuilt tank that was supplied to the Yugoslavian Army via Military Aid Programs, so despite it being a "fun" model, it is NOT a real WW2 Sherman. More history trivia; the British forces didn't get the wide-track HVSS Shermans. The primary tank used for "Fury" was a diesel powered M4A2E8 from a test batch provided to the UK. That late diesel Sherman was only used in combat by the USSR.
So the "best" Sherman would depend on what era you might want to depict. Certain tanks fit certain battles or operational areas. Further, the decision on a particular model is up to the consumer. K&C tanks are more accurately "art works" than "models". You can take four or five K&C Shermans and sit them side-by-side and you will find that they are different sizes. Pick the tank that looks good to you and have fun with it in your collection.
Future suggestions for K&C Shermans? The M32 series of recovery vehicles are always interesting. A new version of the M4A3, 75mm, with "Wet Stowage" would be a very accurate model to add to the line. These showed up in the fall of 1944 and served in considerable numbers in Europe and the Pacific with some in Italy also. The same basic hull was also used for the M4A3 with 76mm gun and the M4A3 with 105mm howitzer. The classic mid-production M4 was used from D-Day onwards, but it has been done by Figarti and FL.
Shermans are a fascinating historical, modelling, and collecting subject on their own.
Gary B.
Waverly, NE
The really old "Easy 8 Sherman" (DD27) was prototyped using the hull from an Israeli Sherman and still carried the modifications that the IDF used. The "ancient" M4A3 from the original Battle of the Bulge and Iwo Jima series was really poor and unfortunately was used by BMC for their Sherman tank and was reduced in size and issued by New Ray and some other Chinese companies. DD45 is a nice model of the howitzer-armed "close support" version and represents a model from the fall of 1945 onwards. The late M4A3s shared a common hull after "wet" ammo stowage was adopted, so the howitzer tanks and 76mm tanks share a common hull design with the late 75mm tanks. The Limited "General Inspection" tank represents an M4A1 with 76mm gun with the sandbag racks associated with the 14th Armored Division and some other units from the Seventh Army. The tank is marked as being from the 14th Armored Division but they generally operated M4A3 variants. I never bought the K&C "Firefly" (DD135) but it looks like a nice model of what it claims to be. The 17-pounder tanks entered service with the Normandy invasion and served through the end of the war. The K&C "Classic Sherman" (also marketed as the "Wounded Sherman") is a hodgepodge of features, and represents a VERY narrow range of vehicles so I avoided buying it. The model is riding on the early suspension, typical of M4A1s used in North Africa and some on Sicily. It has later features on the hull and turret. The only tanks that I have seen with that mix of features were some older M4A1s that were still "hanging about" in Italy and were upgraded and sent into France (via Opn Dragoon) with the Seventh Army, with some serving to the end of the war in separate tank battalions. Not correct for the First, Third or Ninth Armies - those units were supplied via depots in the UK. Before D-Day there was a "blitz" program by Army Ordnance to upgrade all the M4/M4A1 tanks in the UK to the latest standards or to replaced older tanks with newer versions. The latest models include the M4A3E8 in several sub-versions. These are pretty nice models that were likely based from more recent 1/35th kits that have improved accuracy. One thing to remember - the M4A3E8 only started appearing in limited numbers just before the Ardennes campaign, but shipments increased in 1945 and they were fairly common at the end of the war in Europe. The Italian front received late M4A3s but few, if any, M4A3E8s. There is no record of M4A3E8s (or other 76mm Shermans) in the Pacific, although they would have been used in the invasion of Japan. The "Oddball's Sherman" actually represents a post-WW2 rebuilt tank that was supplied to the Yugoslavian Army via Military Aid Programs, so despite it being a "fun" model, it is NOT a real WW2 Sherman. More history trivia; the British forces didn't get the wide-track HVSS Shermans. The primary tank used for "Fury" was a diesel powered M4A2E8 from a test batch provided to the UK. That late diesel Sherman was only used in combat by the USSR.
So the "best" Sherman would depend on what era you might want to depict. Certain tanks fit certain battles or operational areas. Further, the decision on a particular model is up to the consumer. K&C tanks are more accurately "art works" than "models". You can take four or five K&C Shermans and sit them side-by-side and you will find that they are different sizes. Pick the tank that looks good to you and have fun with it in your collection.
Future suggestions for K&C Shermans? The M32 series of recovery vehicles are always interesting. A new version of the M4A3, 75mm, with "Wet Stowage" would be a very accurate model to add to the line. These showed up in the fall of 1944 and served in considerable numbers in Europe and the Pacific with some in Italy also. The same basic hull was also used for the M4A3 with 76mm gun and the M4A3 with 105mm howitzer. The classic mid-production M4 was used from D-Day onwards, but it has been done by Figarti and FL.
Shermans are a fascinating historical, modelling, and collecting subject on their own.
Gary B.
Waverly, NE
PanzerAce1944
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The "Fury" Tank and as already depicted the Sand Bagged Sherman :salute::
Wayne
Wayne
jazzeum
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A few years later, K & C made the British Sherman for King & Country UK. Some of these were sold by Treefrog, the difference between that the one sold in the UK came with a certificate whereas the Treefrog ones didn't; the former tend to be the more prized ones.
The British Sherman was a repaint of the DD 45, with different figures.
The British Sherman was a repaint of the DD 45, with different figures.
wwiibuff
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I have several K&C Shermans and still like the old DD045. I like the tank commander half figure that came with it. I also have and like the damaged winter set BBA026. DD179 Easy Eight is also a good one. But my favorite is still the sandbagged Sherman that came with 7 figures, BBA015SL. An amazing set, and amazing that it came with 7 figures.
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Go for Broke
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The sand bagged Sherman is my favorite too. WO should know in case he's thinking of getting one, that its quite small to KC soldiers.
I have a copy of the BBA026 "wounded Sherman" that was painted over in OD to work in non winter displays. If my memory is correct, one of the guys on this board did a batch of the models over and they came out very nice.
I think all told I have 7 Shermans (all American), a Chaffee, 2 Stuarts, an M26 Recovery vehicle and a Figarti Fuel truck, which some day could display nicely as an armored squadron in Europe.
I think all told I have 7 Shermans (all American), a Chaffee, 2 Stuarts, an M26 Recovery vehicle and a Figarti Fuel truck, which some day could display nicely as an armored squadron in Europe.
kilted vampire
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Lot of people going for the sand bagged Sherman and rightfully so but, for pure entertainment I love Oddballs Sherman. My favorite all time comedy. WOOF WOOF!:salute::
I converted a Frontline Sherman years ago to make one. Even painted up an Oddball and Fez guy.
I converted a Frontline Sherman years ago to make one. Even painted up an Oddball and Fez guy.
I have several K&C Shermans and still like the old DD045. I like the tank commander half figure that came with it. I also have and like the damaged winter set BBA026. DD179 Easy Eight is also a good one. But my favorite is still the sandbagged Sherman that came with 7 figures, BBA015SL. An amazing set, and amazing that it came with 7 figures.
Yes, I'm with you on this. Sandbagged Sherman is my favorite to. Loads of detail and the sand bagging looks really good, especially on the sides. The 2 turret crew are also very very good.
PanzerAce1944
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enricoquinto
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Hi Wayne,
I agree !!! :smile2: I'm with you, I'm a huge fan of the "Fury"
Cheers
Enrico :smile2:
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