Kit, Cyberhobby 6527, Sherman III DV Initial Production Smart Kit

CYBERHOBBY


Product Specifications.

6527, Sherman III DV Initial Production Smart Kit. 1/35th-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 300 styrene parts (including 22 clear), two DS100 soft styrene track lengths, one length of braided metal wire, one etched brass fret, two decal marking schemes and six pages of instructions in 12 steps.


Introduction.

This specific variation is designed to represent the early-production version, which was characterized by direct-vision ports for the driver and bow gunner on a welded upper hull, cast three-piece differential cover and early M3 style Vertical Volute Suspension System (VVSS). The markings are for a single British tank named Cocky used during and after the battles at El Alamein in North Africa during the autumn of 1942. Parts specific to this version, such as sand-shields, Flimsy rack, Sunshield frames, blanket box and other bits are provided.


Tracks.

These are composed of two lengths DS100 material, molded in soft styrene, which can be fixed together using standard styrene cement. They represent T41 rubber block types and the detail is typical of tracks molded in this fashion: crisp and accurate. Prior to fixing with glue, ensure that the idler wheel axle (a separate part) is doing its job, so the tracks are properly tensioned.


Suspension System.

This is the early D37893 VVSS suspension system, commonly referred to as the M3 type. The read-wheels are the welded D38501 types with five spokes, which feature properly-placed grease nipples and relief valves. The brackets consist of inner and outer halves; the parts go together quite easily.

One type of drive sprocket, of the open type, is provided. The idler wheels are welded with five spokes. The final components for the suspension are the completely-detailed final drive housings and the adjustable axles for the idler wheels; the latter fits into its bracket with a separate spindle. It is recommended that the idler wheel axles are not fixed in place until the tracks are fitted; these can be adjusted for proper tension and then glued in place.


Hull.

The lower hull is provided as a single, slide-molded part featuring proper rivet, panel and rib details. The hull sides also have the separate mounting plates for the VVSS brackets.

Up front, there is an 11-part, three-piece cast transmission/final drive cover. This has subtle casting texture, foundry numbers and drain plug details. The bolted-together flanges used to assemble the cover come as one part per side; in reality, this is a two-part assembly, so the modeler should add a seam for the proper appearance. The final items are separate tow shackles and their mounts.

The rear plate features a separate multi-part engine exhaust muffler array and several separate plates to box-in the upper hull overhang. A tow hook and mount is provided, but this reviewer doubts it would have been an original production fitting.


Upper Hull (Superstructure).

The welded upper hull is typical of early-production types that had direct vision ports and flaps. It is molded with some nice weld bead detail, all of it properly raised above the plate surfaces. The drivers hoods are properly-contoured for the direct-vision type and the ports are separate inserts for maximum detail fidelity; separate flaps can be installed in the opened or closed position. Molded on detail includes the antenna base, machine gun bulge, head-lamp bases, vent covers and tow cable stays.

The drivers and radio operators hatch lids are each have separate grab handles, periscope heads, covers and rotating plates; the scope heads come as clear styrene items and they can be shown opened or closed. Separate clear styrene head-lamps are provided; they are protected by etched brush-guards, which can be shaped using a provided styrene form. The usual lifting hooks are also provided, but there is no horn given. The front fenders are made from etched brass parts for maximum scale fidelity; they are specifically made as part of the sand shield system, also provided as etched brass items, and cannot be easily modified otherwise. Also in etched brass are the two racks that mounted the Sunshield camouflage covers. The final British item is the rack for Flimsy cans seen on the starboard side fender, unfortunately, no cans are provided. The bow .30 cal. Browning machine-gun is a complete assembly, which was made using a slide-mold; therefore it has a pre-bored muzzle with the characteristic slot, as well as proper cooling jacket detail.

Separate filler caps are fitted to three locations on the main superstructure molding, with another four sitting on the engine deck plate. The engine bay access hatch lids are separate parts and feature accurately-rendered grill detail and, unfortunately, molded-on grab-handles. Lifting rings, tools with etched brass tie-down details, and brush guards are complimented by clear tail-lamps. Unlike some previous DML M4A2 kits, the painted-on markers for the placement of the bolt-heads on the rear plate are not provided. This is because there were apparently two different patterns, both of which are provided for on the instruction sheet. Some planning will be involved in order to properly space the bolts; the modeler should also be aware that the vertical row should not be centered. Again research assets will be useful.


Turret.

The turret is a typical early low bustle D53018 type with M34 mantle. Two different rotor shields are given for the mantle: the D51288 type without the armored collar and the D68454 with the collar. They are both very well-textured as is the mantle. The smaller rotor shield seen over the co-axial .30 cal. Browning is provided, while the machine-gun itself is slide-molded with pre-drilled bore and proper cooling jacket details. There are two main gun types; one with a continuous taper, and another that flares at the muzzle end. Both are slide-molded in one piece. A complete M34A1 mantle is also given, so a retro-fitted survivor can be modeled.


The turrets upper shell comes from a slide-mold, so the pistol port opening is cast in place (the lid is separate and comes with an internal latch); some work will be needed to remove a mold seam and add texture to the area. The basic details for the type are molded in place, but there are no foundry numbers or symbols present. The lower part comprises the turret ring.

All periscope assemblies are separate and include clear scope heads, separate covers and rotator plates. The commanders early high-profile D69993 split-hatch cupola is made up of a total of 11 parts to include a clear periscope head. Separate detail parts are given for the turret to include UK-style radio antennae bases, blanket box, lift rings and commanders blade sight. This is all topped off with a fine .50 cal. M2 heavy AA MG. It comes from a slide mold and features open receiver with separate cover and separate cocking handle (an improvement over the M2 seen in DMLs recent US half-track series) as well as a choice of two different ammo box types and two different pintle configurations.


Molding, Fit and Engineering.

Overall, I found no problems with the fit of any major or minor component. No sink marks were found, and there were no visible ejector pin marks.


Accuracy.

Based on the cited references, I have no completely reliable 1/35th-scale plans to compare the kit parts to. Photographs indicate the kit is very accurate from a visual standpoint. Although racks are provided, no Flimsy cans are given in the box, which rather defeats the purpose. Also, since the first reviews were posted of some British M4s, other reviews have noted the improper sizing of some of the etched brass parts for the Sunshield maunts, so the modeler should take note.


Instructions.

These are well-drawn and easy to follow.


Decals and Markings Information.

The decals are from Cartograf and are cleanly printed with excellent color saturation. Film is thin, matte and cut close to the edges of the designs. Markings are provided for the following nine British-manned M4A1s:

24th Armoured Brigade, El Alamein, November 1942.
The Royal Scoys Greys, El Alamein, December 1942.

This scheme is unique in that it allows the modeler to depict the same tank, Cocky at two different times, in the markings of two different units. This is a relatively well-known scheme and appears to be substantially accurate.


Conclusion.

Yet another addition to the growing list of Sherman variants from DML should make fans of the early M4A2 quite happy. Some tanks in this configuration could later be seen as far a-field as the Norman countryside and the Italian mountains, so there is plenty of scope here for the intrepid researcher.


Highly recommended.


Frank V. Curly Stooge 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. Walk Around M4 Sherman, Squadron 5701, by J. Mesko.
3. British Tanks in North Africa 1940-42, Osprey Vanguard 23, by B. Perrett.
4. The Sherman Tank in British Service 1942-45; Osprey Vanguard 15, by J. Sanders.
5. Modelling the US Army M4 (75mm) Sherman Medium Tank, Osprey Modelling 35 (current series), by S. Zaloga.
6. M4 Sherman, Osprey Modelling 14 (old series), by R.H. Cabos & J. Prigent.
7. British Sherman tanks; Concord 7062, by D. Oliver.
8. The New Breed, Part 1, North Africa Colour and Markings Series; The Factory Publishing, by D. Oliver & M. Starmer.
9. M4 Medium (Sherman), AFV Weapons Profile 29, by P. Chamberlain & C. Ellis.


Reviewers note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to Cyberhobby. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.


Cyberhobby kits are available through their web site at: www.cyber-hobby.com.


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