Academy 1/35 Soviet M4A2 Sherman
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Background
The M4A2 Sherman was similar to the earlier M4, with the principal difference
being power - the M4A2 was the only fielded version of the Sherman to
be powered by diesel engines. The GM 6-71 marine engines were adapted
to power the Sherman, necessitating a different rear engine deck. While
over 8000 examples were produced, these were used primarily by the US
Marines who had an ample source of diesel fuel available (the US Navy)
as well as by lend-lease partners including the Soviet Union, Great Britain
and Free French.
The Kit
While it doesn't come as much of a shock, Academy has finally stepped
off with the Sherman series. Molded in medium green styrene, the kit is
presented on eight parts trees (duplicate trees not shown) with crisply
molded and beautifully detailed parts. If you look closely at the turret
in the first photo, you can even see the texturing of the cast turret.
As you can see with the lower hull, this kit did not start out as a
motorized toy as some of the other kits out there have been. In addition,
the upper and lower hull are designed not to have any 'see-through' gaps
as the previsouly motorized models have.
The kit provides two different types of road wheels as well as two types
of drive sprockets. Rather than mold the periscopes in place as with other
kits, each hatch features a separate periscope mount, periscope, armor
plate and protective frame. Now that's detail, and that's just the hatches.
On the turret, two different antenna bases are included, one straight
up for a deployed antenna and the other bent down to depict a stowed whip
antenna. Even the weld marks on the front of the turret are separate parts.
This kit features the 76mm main gun
The only down side to this kit is that it doesn't follow in the footsteps
of the Stuarts, Tank Destroyers, etc. There is no interior detail inside
the turret or hull. While I don't know why Academy diverged from their
detailed interiors, many modelers have been anxiously awaiting Academy's
release of the Sherman for that very reason. We can hope that they intend
to add interiors to their Shermans in later releases.
Markings are provided for three examples, two of which made it as far
as Berlin.
Conclusions
The Academy Sherman is nicely done on the outside. With an MSRP of $38.00
USD, the kit is nicely priced. While they've started the series with the
M4A2, I hope they consider adding the same level of detail on the inside
of the Sherman as they have with their previous subjects.
My sincere thanks to MRC for this
review sample!
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