just that the hull was messed with even more than before to make the engine deck the correct width. The critical error HB made was mis-locating the break in the hull roof and the angle in the upper edge of the hull sides. It should be 4 feet (1 inch on the 1/48 model) from the front edge of the hull roof, and it is just about 5 feet (1.25 inch on the HB hull). This mislocation then forced them to muck up all the aft hull armor angles to make everything else fit. Yes, there are a lot of more minor errors and glitches, but if the hulls and turrets had been bang-on, the small stuff would have been bearable. After all, we have to add sponson floors to all the Tamiya kits.....
As I mentioned, I have a bad case of AMS, so I just can't leave the problems alone. Unless you have modeling conversion experience, I think the best bet is to build the kit as is, or buy a resin hull if you can't abide the shape that is in the kit. Please bear in mind that many people have built these kits OOB and have been satisfied. Each modeler must choose what personal standard he wants to achieve. The tragedy is that ALL of Hobby Boss's other tank kits are beautiful, among the best released in ANY scale. Rat pookies, is what I say.
By the way, if you are modeling a WW2 E8 Sherman, the HB turret has only one option: Korea, 1950 - they added the canvas mantlet cover adopted after the war was over. And, there is no front on the turret - you MUST use the mantlet with the canvas cover, as that is what attaches to the turret shell. To solve that problem, you'll have to buy the M4A3 76mm kit with VVSS. It comes with two turrets: one with the loader's gun ring hatch and the other with the later oval loader's hatch. They both have regular mantlets, and you can use your choice of turret for the E8. Some early E8s did have the turret with the gun ring hatch, and some late VVSS M4A3s had the late turret with the oval loader's hatch - the wonderful world of mix 'n match Shermans.....
