OK Terry, I voted for the Pershing and here's why - I didn't see some of my other personal choices on the poll. I love Shermans and Figarti is doing righteous Sherman work. I will bet that there are a couple more interesting Sherman types in the works that haven't been announced yet. The Pershing is a beefy tank that looks unlike anything else in the ETO. Yes, very limited combat time, but it set the pattern for the American battle tank. I would suggest the markings for Sgt Early's tank from the 3rd Armored Division - that was the one that fought the Panther in Cologne, Germany in 1945 in what has to be the best documented tank duel ever.
My personal first choice would be for an M4A3E2, the uparmored assault Sherman. These are called "Jumbos" in some references but they never really had a US Army name in WW2. Anyway, these were beefed up M4A3s with up to 6" of armor. 254 were built and 250 went to Europe. They were distributed to a variety of units. There are about 8 or more M4A3E2s in existence today including a restoration nearing completion at the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation and a restoration underway at Ft. Knox. The Ft. Knox machine is VERY interesting as it was discovered to have quite a history. Nicknamed "Cobra King", it served in the US 4th Armored Division and as part of Company C, 37th Tank Battalion it becaome the first Third Army tank to enter Bastogne to relieve the 101st Airborne Div. "Cobra King" later served in the ill-fated Hammelburg raid where is was knocked out. The tank was later recovered by the Seventh Army, was repaired and ended up as a monument tank at a facility in Vilseck, Germany. The historic importance of the tank was discovered and the vehicle verified by serial numbers. It has been brought back to the USA and is being restored and will be in the upcoming National Museum of the US Army.
To add to the poll - how many of us would actually plunk down $225-250 to have a nice model of this historic tank? Can we sell 100 of them? If we can then maybe Rick will build it?
Gary B.
(unrepentant lobbyist for Cobra King)