Kit, DML 6313, Sherman Mk.III

DRAGON MODELS LIMITED


Product Specifications.

6313, Sherman Mk.III. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit. Contains 403 styrene parts (including 22 clear), two DS-100 track lengths, one piece of wound metal wire, one etched brass fret, three decal/markings schemes and eight pages of instructions in 12 steps.


Introduction.

Although DML announced the release of early welded superstructure M4A2s some years ago, they have only recently begun to become available. The first was the type with welded driver’s hoods, which was marketed as a USMC M4A2 at Tarawa. In fact, it can be modeled as used by a number of other nations in a number of other locations.


The latest iteration of the early M4A2 is the type with cast driver’s hoods that were welded onto openings on the 56-degree glacis plate. They are very “different” and not as common in photographs as the welded hood types. Yet, they carried some very distinct markings, especially in British/Commonwealth service, as depicted in this latest DML release.


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 T54E1 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. DML has also responded to some problems with these tracks as they were initially issued with the Tarawa M4A2. They were packaged wrapped around a card, which badly distorted the guide horns; DML now has the track lengths loosely packed and mine were completely distortion-free.


For the record, the tracks from my Tarawa M4A2, after being removed from the packaging some weeks ago, have COMPLETELY “healed” themselves; the horns are no longer distorted in any way. I simply left the tracks out and their “memory” kicked in.


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.


However, the original wheels are not for use here (but are a VERY handy contribution to the spares bin), so DML has also supplied the welded five spoke road-wheels, which photos show adorned all three of the tanks for which markings are supplied. 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 the solid ones are used as noted in the instructions (the open rings are listed as an option, but they were not seen on these three tanks). A set of bogie units with up-swept return roller arms is provided as part of the welded road-wheel sprues; these can also help fill the spares bin.


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 these tanks. 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; the bolts are given (parts V-33) but are not mentioned in the instructions. Perusal of references listed below (particularly numbers 3 and 4) 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.


A cast three-piece transmission/final drive housing unit is provided as it was the type seen on the tanks for which markings are included. This is a completely new ten-part affair, which includes exquisite casting details, to include texture and foundry numbers in five different places. The part will require careful elimination of mold seams and some additional texture where the injection-molding process precluded its appearance. Several drain plugs are also given as are separate attachment flanges. These last items have very crisp bolt detail and are devoid of ejector pin marks. New properly-sized final drives are molded with their mounting plates and under-fender details, all as one part. The final items comprising this assembly are separate mounts for the tow clevises and the upper bolted attachment strip used to attach the unit to the glacis plate.



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 cast driver’s hoods. The part comes from a slide mold and has fine weld-bead detail 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 the supplied etched brass hex-bolt heads are to be applied. The cast driver’s hoods have nicely-rendered weld bead detail where they are attached to the remainder of the glacis plate, 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 the option of all of them 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; all have weld-bead detail where they attached to the hull. 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. A new addition is a complete set of US-style sand shields in several parts. There is also a pair of rails for either side of the superstructure, upon which the hoops and canvas could be placed to disguise the tank as a lorry. A nice little rack for POL cans (“flimsies”, which are not included in the kit) is also provided.


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, while 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. Some of these tanks carried .30 cal. or .50 cal. machine-guns on the cupola ring mount (see below), but neither are given in the kit.


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 original kits’ M34A1 mantlet and rotor shields are provided, as a multi-part assembly with outstanding texture and foundry casting numbers molded in place; save this for your spares bin! This kit includes a new M34 mantlet with two styles of rotor shield (with and without “ears”) as well as a separate shield for the co-axial .30 cal. MG. The .30 cal. Browning itself 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 an optional socket cover if it is not used.


An etched brass blade sight is supplied for the commander, while extremely fine styrene tie-down loops are given for the turret bustle rear; these are complimented by etched brass straps and buckles. There is also three etched brass foundry casting symbols as options for the bustle’s rear face. The usual lift rings are supplied and (finally!!!) US style radio antenna bases and plates. The British aerial base for the No.19 radio is also given, but there is no circular base guard provided for it as commonly seen in photos. Finally, a new British-style stowage bin is provided for the turret rear; it comes as two pieces and can be depicted opened or closed. It is detailed with the same styrene tie-downs and etched brass belts that were previously fitted to the turret bustle’s rear face.


Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Briefly: STILL 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 properly-rendered for this version and that the components are where they should be. The omissions I have mentioned, specifically the lack of cupola ring-mounted anti-aircraft machine-guns, missing No.19 radio antenna base guard and lack of “flimsy” cans, are all relatively easy to live with, especially if the modeler has a decent spares bin. See below for comments on the decals.


Instructions.

They are the usual drawn style and are not nearly as busy as most of the recent ones seen from this manufacturer. Some things are not mentioned, such as the use of parts V-33, while some things are a bit confusing, such as the options related to adding the bolt heads to the rear superstructure plate. The instructions do show the installation of the tracks, as did those included with the Tarawa M4A2, contrary to what has been said here on ML.


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 Brigade insignia. Carrier film is thin and closely-cropped to the design edges. Markings are provided for three Sherman MK.IIIs of the from the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, which was a part of the 9th Armoured Brigade, as seen on parade in Syria, late 1943. They are:


• “Barford St Martin”.
• “Corston”.
• “The Old Bell”.


The instructions call for “Tan” as the base color, with “Field Gray” or “Red Brown” for the camouflage pattern. This should equate to a “Light Mud” base, and “Blue-black” for the pattern. The ambiguity regarding the pattern color as shown in the kits instructions stems from conflicting published information as well as the use of the paint manufacturer’s color names, as opposed to the actual names of the colors used, as promulgated by the users. But, the “smart money” (as well as the box top art) says that the colors should be Light Mud and Blue-black.


The markings themselves are fairly accurate and well-researched. However, I noted that the background color for the 9th Armoured Brigade’s white horse insignia is far too dark. Instead of a fairly “primary” green color, it more resembles a black-green Luftwaffe camouflage color. Replacements exist, especially on the Echelon sheet listed in the reference section. The final item of note is that “Corston” mounted a .50 cal. machine-gun on the commander’s cupola and had no “ears” on the main gun’s rotor shield, while “The Old Bell” mounted a .30 cal. in the same location and “Barford St Martin” had none; both of these had the “ears” on the rotor shield. The rotor shield differences are properly shown in the kits instructions.


Conclusion.

Again, this is a very well-presented kit, despite the few glitches and omissions. It is also quite refreshing to see relatively minor variations of the Sherman getting the treatment that similar German Panzer have enjoyed for quite some time. This is indeed a great time for modelers of Allied WW2 subjects!


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. “The Sherman Tank in British Service 1942-45”, Osprey Vanguard 15, by J. Sanders, M. Roffe & M. Chappell.
3. “M4A2 (75mm) Sherman”, Military Vehicle Workshop Series Vol. 21, by S. Arnold.
4. “Walk-Around M4 Sherman”, Squadron 5701, by J. Mesko.
5. “British Tank Markings and Names”, Squadron 6021, by B.T. White.
6. “The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry in Syria 1943”, Military Modelling Vol.35, No.9, by P. Brown.
7. “M4A2 Medium Tank Sherman III, Markings of Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Tanks in Syria”, Echelon Fine Details ALT352002 (water slide decal sheet).
8. Correspondence with Peter Brown.


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