(I also posted this on missing lynx)

Having built mostly Modern Armor, I am not sure what I am getting into regarding Shermans.

I have come to the conclusion that the Harper Squadron book is the most accurate book on the tanks used on Iwo. Concord's book identifies the tanks of 4th and 5th tank BN as M4A2 when in fact they were M4A3's. (right?)

Which brings me to some questions regarding building an accurate Iwo Jima 4th Tank BN M4A3.

Can I use the high bustle turret with the raised, single hatched TC cupola from the Dragon M4A2 late PTO kit and place it on the Dragon M4A3 Premier kit hull?. (I can also use the T54 Duckbill tracks from the M4A2 kit)

I will use Hard Corps models wood and concrete side armor with a fuel drum from the Academy M3A1 Stuart for the water storage tank on the rear.

What Eduard P.E. set has the screens for the hatch covers?

I seem to remember seeing diagrams on how to scratch build the wading trunks for the M4A3, anyone remember where? If not is there a good resin version,? I will need the bottom half of the rear trunk.

Last but not least, were there any exterior differences between the M4A3 Gun tanks and the Flame Tanks? (The barrels look exactly the same to me)

Any information or comments are welcome.


Gunner Mike

Temecula Valley Model Club
"Haud Sceptrum, Haud Sentio, Haud Forsit

You might search/ask on Missing Links as these tanks are discussed frequently. Someone was modelling one in the last week or two.

Italeris USMC Sherman has wading trunks and adaptors to fit both an M4A2 and M4A3.

Eduard has a Zoom set for the Italeri kit with the screens for the hatches.

Yes, you can kitbash the Dragon Premier Kit M4A3 (76) hull with the Dragon PTO Late M4A2 turret to produce a late M4A3 (Dragon will undoubtedly offer that combo eventually, since they've already done all the tooling, and it was also very common in Europe--I suppose they don't want to saturate the market with too many Shermans at once). And the leftover T23 turret and M4A2 hull will make a dandy Soviet Sherman.
The turret mounted flamethrowers looked exactly like 75 mm guns because they were. The outer half of the tube from worn out 75 mm guns was torched off and fixed in the mantlet, and the flame gun was mounted inside. That said, most flame tanks were composite hull M4's.