Kit, DML 6062, M4A2 Tarawa

DRAGON MODELS LIMITED


Product Specifications.

6062, M4A2 Tarawa. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit. Contains 339 styrene parts (including 20 clear), two DS-100 track lengths, one piece of wound metal wire, one etched brass fret, seven decal/markings schemes and eight pages of instructions in 11 steps.


Introduction.

A decent all-styrene kit of the M4A2 with welded driver’s hoods has been on the “want list” of quite a few modelers for many a year. Those “in the know”, have realized that this particular version of the US M4 medium tank has seen some of the most colorful markings and paint schemes ever applied to an AFV, especially when used by the allied British/Commonwealth units, the Poles or the French. US use was relatively limited, with service in USMC tank battalions being the most well-known. Therefore DML has decided to issue the first version of the M4A2 with markings for tanks of the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps Tank Battalion as used on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll in November 1943.


The legendary assault on Tarawa saw the first use of an M4-series medium tank in the Pacific, as well as the first use of the US Navy’s Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter and Essex-class fleet aircraft carrier.


Tracks.

These consist of two single lengths molded in DS-100 soft styrene. This material can be glued with standard styrene cements and will take paint better than vinyl. In the case of these particular T54 all-steel tracks, the detail rivals that of any individual-link products on the market. For instance, the end connectors have the proper details on their outside surfaces, to include the circular openings for the track pins. All this without the need to spend extra hours (or extra money) to arrive at the finished product; well done, DML!


Suspension System.

The suspension system is typical of those seen in the more recent DML kits, but with one significant addition. After all the criticism by modelers, DML has finally included the back sides of the stamped rear idler wheel hubs; this is indeed welcome. The road-wheels are also the stamped type and continue to be accompanied by separate back hub details; notably, the mold seam is at one edge of the wheel rim, instead of the center. This makes the always boring clean-up of all 12 road-wheels easier and therefore much quicker. Two styles of return rollers are supplied; the modeler should consult the instructions as to which ones are to be used. There is a choice of drive sprocket rings, but only one is used as properly noted in the instructions.


The bogie trucks and swing arms have nice foundry parts number details cast on. The swing arms will remain movable, while the return roller arms are of the so-called “straight-arm” type, which is appropriate for this tank. The leading faces of each bogie unit needs some detail added, including the drilling out of four holes, while the track skids can use the addition of four attachment bolts and some thinning-down. Perusal of references listed below (particularly number 14) will show the detail-oriented modeler what needs to be done.


Hull.

The hull belly and side plates are a one-piece molding in the appropriate configuration for the diesel-engine version of the M4.There are separate mounting plates for the bogie units as well as other parts to detail where the mounts “fold over” onto the belly plate. Separate front extension parts are attached to the hull sides and then the final drive housings are fitted. The transmission cover is the early cast single-piece type with the rounded nose; it has some excellent texture effects as well as some foundry numbers molded on. A separate attachment strip for it has raised bolt heads without any extra splash protection; separate tow clevis mounts (“ears”) are provided as well.


The hull rear plate is attached along with separate exhaust pipes, mufflers, and the grill work seen beneath the superstructure overhang. The radiators and splitter plate seen above this are not provided. Other items include a tow pintle and mount as well as molded-on mounts for the tow clevises. The idler wheel mount assembly is a multi-part affair and includes an axle that can be adjusted for proper track tension; don’t glue it in place until you’re satisfied with the appearance.


Superstructure.

As mentioned above, this is the first styrene kit to depict the welded superstructure with 56-degree glacis plate and welded driver’s hoods. The part comes from a slide mold and has fine weld detail on the on the roof and side plates, where appropriate; that on the roof is properly raised above the surface, as it is elsewhere on the part. The rear plate has painted-on marks to show where etched brass hex-bolt heads are to be applied (more on that later). The welded driver’s hoods have nicely-rendered weld bead detail as does the radio pot on the starboard side of the glacis plate.


All crew and engine deck hatch lids are separate parts and can, of course, be depicted opened or closed. The same can be said of the various fuel, oil and water filler caps, which also have detailed orifices. The crewmen’s hatch lids have separate grab handles, counterbalance springs, periscope rotation plates and covers, as well as periscope heads in clear styrene. In a throw-back to earlier times, the engine deck access hatch lids have grab handles molded in place; some properly shaped brass or styrene rod should fix that little problem.


There are a host of other detail parts including lift rings, vent domes, head- and tail-lamps (the former as clear styrene parts), brush guards (with only the ones in front given the option of being replaced with etched brass parts), horn and various (quite well done) tools. The bow-mounted .30 cal. Browning machine-gun is slide-molded so it includes nice cooling jacket detail as well as a pre-opened bore. There are also optional styrene armor strips for the area around the filler caps, optional styrene or etched brass fire extinguisher pull handle covers and other etched brass details. The provided braided metal wire, styrene end loops and etched brass clamps will result in a nicely-done tow cable.


Etched brass front fenders are supplied as are the mounting strips for the sand shields. The latter items seem to have properly captured all of the subtleties of the prototype parts to include the spacing of the bolt holes as well as the taper of the front and rear segments.


Turret.

The turret is completely new and is beautifully textured; it comes from a slide-mold so the pistol-port hatch opening is properly molded in place. There is a fine seam that must be eliminated and the hatch lid is separate and includes an opening lever. All periscope heads are clear styrene, while there are separate rotator plates and covers for them, so they can be depicted opened or closed. The commander’s split-hatch cupola has separate lids with complete detail on both sides, to include separate lift rings and handles, hold-open latches and machine-gun travel lock, as well as molded-on parts numbers.


The 75mm gun tube is from a slide-mold, so it is pre-bored; careful clean-up of the mold seam is needed and for this I strongly recommend my old stand-by tool, the “Flex-i-file”. The mantlet is a multi-part assembly with outstanding texture and foundry casting numbers molded in place. The .30 cal. Browning is from a slide-mold and includes fine cooling jacket detail as well as a pre-opened bore. Another item of note is the finely-rendered roof-mounted search-light. It is the most accurate styrene version on the market and has optional socket cover if it is not used. A etched brass blade sight is supplied for the commander, while extremely fine tie-down loops are given for the turret bustle rear; these are complimented by etched brass straps and buckles. There are also three etched brass foundry casting symbols as options for the bustle. The usual lift rings are supplied and (finally!!!) US style radio antenna bases and plates. I guess all my pestering on this point was finally heard…


Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Briefly: no complaints here!


Accuracy and Details.

I have no 1/35th-scale plans to compare the parts to, but photographs indicate that the details are proper for this version and that the components are where they should be. The one omission that I would address is that the M4A2s on Tarawa carried a steel angle-iron frame with a load of jerry cans on the superstructure rear plate. Any modeler worth his salt should have these items in his bag o’ tricks, so they should be no problem to add; that’s why the modeler may not have to place most of the separate etched brass bolt heads back there since most will be hidden by the jerry can and rack.


Instructions.

They are the usual drawn style and are not nearly as busy as most of the recent ones seen from this manufacturer. The one glitch that I noted is in the call-outs for the markings schemes; see below.


Decals and Markings Information.

These are from Italy’s Cartograf and are very well-printed. Registration is very good, especially when it comes to the unit’s Elephant insignia. Carrier film is thin and closely-cropped to the design edges. To my eye, the color of the yellow letters depicting the tank’s names, are a bit on the “green” side.


The assault on Tarawa was fairly well-documented, so there is a great deal of information on the small number of M4A2s that served. All belonged to C Company, 3rd Tank Battalion. The tanks were finished in the standard No.9 Olive Drab. Markings are provided for the following tanks, all of which are called out in the instructions as belonging to C Company:


• Colorado.
• Cobra.
• Cuddles.
• Charlie.
• Cannonball.
• Condor.
• 54, Destroyer.


All names are in yellow and are accompanied by the battalion’s trade-mark Elephant insignia, with Blue Drab serial numbers. “Destroyer” also carries white Tac numbers (54) on the turret side, several geometric signs and a white “star and bar” aircraft-style insignia on the hull sides. Photos reveal all to be accurate, with one caveat: “54, Destroyer” is from D Company and is marked as seen later on during the battles on Guam; only C Company landed on Betio Island. D Company, 3rd Tank Battalion, also landed similarly-marked M4A2s on Iwo Jima, along side the M4A3s of the 4th and 5th Tank Battalions. In reality, there are many more USMC markings schemes available for this version of the M4A2; it is hoped that the after-market folks will take note.


As stated earlier in this review, several other nations used this version of the M4A2, with (in particular), the Poles and the French fielding some very colorfully-marked vehicles. For brevity (and my own so-called “sanity”), the reference section of this review only represents resources concerned with USMC use of this tank.


Conclusion.

I am sure that I am not the only modeler to be delighted to see this widely-used M4A2 variant in styrene plastic. It is currently known that DML will also release a British/Commonwealth “Sherman III” (British designation for the M4A2) with cast driver’s hoods. With this last major M4 variant in styrene, Sherman-lovers ought to be more than content.


Now, if DML could do a proper “plain vanilla” early/mid M4 welded superstructure variant, all would be right with the world (of scale modeling).


Highly recommended.


Frank V. De Sisto


References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:

1. “Sherman: A History of the US Medium Tank”, Taurus, by R. P. Hunnicutt.
2. “US Marine Tanks in World War Two”, Tanks Illustrated 29, by S. Zaloga.
3. “Tank Battles of the Pacific war 1941-1945”, Concord 7004, by S. Zaloga.
4. “The Sherman Tank in US and Allied Service”, Osprey Vanguard 26, by S. Zaloga.
5. “Armour of the Pacific War”, Osprey Vanguard 35, by S. Zaloga.
6. “US Armour Camouflage and Markings 1917-45”, Osprey Vanguard 39, by S. Zaloga.
7. “Marines Under Armor”, Naval Institute Press, by K. Estes.
8. “Tanks on the Beaches”, by R. Neiman & K. Estes.
9. “Marine Tank Battles in the Pacific”, Combined Publishing, by E. Gilbert.
10. “US Marine Corps Tank Crewman 1941 -45”, Osprey Warrior 92, by E. Gilbert
11. “Tarawa 1943”, Osprey Campaign 77, by D. Wright.
12. “Tarawa, a Hell of a Way to Die”, Crowood, by D. Wright.
13. “Sherman in Action”, Squadron 2016, by B. Culver.
14. “Walk Around M4 Sherman”, Squadron 5701, by J. Mesko.
15. www.tarawaontheweb.org


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