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DRAGON MODELS LIMITED
Product Specifications.
7313, Sherman M4A3 (105mm) HVSS. 1/72nd-scale injection-molded styrene/multimedia kit. Contains: 170 styrene parts, one photo-etched brass fret, two DS100 track lengths, four decal/marking schemes and six pages of instructions in seven steps.
Introduction.
DML continues to add to their line of small-scale Shermans, this time giving modelers a 105mm-armed M4A3 on the later hull with Horizontal Volute Suspension System (HVSS). This builds on the previously-released M4A3 (105mm) with the earlier VVSS suspension system. Overall, this kit is indeed a worthy addition, to the arsenal of Sherman variations in this scale, so do please read on.
Tracks.
This kit is provided with T80 double-pin steel chevron tracks, presented in the now familiar DS-100 material. They can be fixed with standard styrene cements and take paint very well. They are very well-detailed, especially for the scale.
Suspension System.
This kit features a newly-molded HVSS suspension system, broken down into eight parts for each complete unit. Construction is eased by the design of the parts, with, for instance the inner road-wheels molded integral with the bogie truck; this will also help keep things properly aligned on the finished model. The return rollers (two different types) are each molded as a complete unit, including inner and outer wheels where appropriate, as well as their mounts. The idler wheels feature separate inner and outer halves and also include separate tension adjustment mounts.
Hull.
The hull is a new slide-molded item with proper belly plate layout for the Ford engine, molded-on final drive housings and idler wheel mounts. The rear deck features separate exhaust pipes (with opened ends), idler mount details, tow pintle and mount and properly configured early exhaust deflector unit.
Superstructure.
The superstructure is of the later 47-degree welded type with large driver’s and co-driver’s hatch lids. It is also the product of a slide mold so the entire superstructure section, minus some details and hatch lids, is molded in one piece. This allows for crisp details, especially on the side plates, which feature raised weld beads at the glacis plate joint. New sand shield mounting strips, complete with braces are fitted over the earlier strips. Wider front fenders are molded in place and there are etched brass replacements for them should the modeler choose to go that route. Raised weld beads are also present on the upper hull surfaces, as are most of the tank’s pioneer tools. The nice shovel is separate, as is the engine starter crank, and gun tube cleaning staffs (but these are not suitable for this type, see below). The rear plate must have the small slots for the VVSS track block racks filled in. The racks are not marked as “not for use”, but neither are they shown being installed in the instructions. DML also does not provide spare T80 blocks often seen on the superstructure side plates, above the sand shield mounts. So, be warned.
The crew hatch lids are separate parts and feature details on both sides, to include periscope heads and separate tiny brush guards. An extra driver’s hatch lid is included with a separate periscope head so it can be positioned pointing in any direction. All grab handles are molded in place and will need replacement by fine wire. A nice etched brass stowage rack is provided for the rear plate; other etched brass parts replace some of the brush guards. The final item is a tow cable that can be made up of styrene end loops, but the braided metal wire seen in other DML kits of this tank is not provided to complete the assembly. The end loop parts are marked as not for use; ignore that, get some appropriate cable material and use them.
Turret.
The turret is the later high-bustle 75mm type as used to mount the 105mm howitzer, fitted with all-around vision commander’s cupola and oval loader’s hatch lid. The main upper turret shell comes from a slide mold so the pistol port opening is molded in place. The modeler will have to clean up the resulting mold seam and add some texture; the remainder of the turret has fine texture. Although not a single foundry number is present, the turret does exhibit the extra cast-on armor on the gunner’s side, which represents the type that was faired-in at the bottom; some work with a knife and file will allow the modeler to modify this to a sharp edge as sometimes seen. All hatch lids are separate, as are the various periscope heads and sight covers. A styrene or etched brass part is provided for the commander’s vane sight.
Most of the stowage brackets for the turret MG are present, but DML only gives the .50 cal. body, making the entire thing useless! This is not an Allied Lend-Lease tank; US units used the “fifty”! As usual for this manufacturer, there is no US-style antenna mount or search-light included for the turret roof. Curiously, since some parts come from a generic HVSS sprue, there is a nice little .30 cal. MG, marked as not for use. Finally, all grab handles on the hatch lids are molded solid and need replacement by fine wire.
Molding, Fit and Engineering.
Parts fit is, overall, good-to-excellent; in particular the cast differential cover fits much better that it did in the original M4A3 76mm kit from last year. Overall, molding is very well done. Some of the smaller parts, such as the periscope brush guards, head- and tail-lamp brush guards, and turret fittings are really remarkably delicate. There are no visible ejector pin marks on any parts, including the insides of hatch lids.
Accuracy and Details.
My main beef with this kit is the lack of all the parts for the .50 cal. M2 machine gun; why give the gun and all the various brackets, but leave out the hand grips, ammo box and mounting yoke? And yet again, why has DML still not given modelers a US antenna base? In step 4, do not use part B15 as this represents the bore swab and staffs for a 76mm gun; it can be modified to represent the type used on 105mm howitzer-armed tanks and stowed on the left side of the hull in the bare spot next to the lifting ring. The scale plans seen in reference 7 not only show that the kit matches very well in the major areas, but that the mantlet is indeed too narrow. Of course, this is only true if the drawings are accurate to begin with!
Instructions.
The instructions are of the drawn style and are clearly presented. All the etched brass parts are shown in a yellow color, which is helpful. The painting instructions are in full color, with all tanks being shown as four views.
Decals and Markings Information.
There are four sets of markings provided by Cartograf. They are very crisply-rendered and completely accurate. They allow the modeler to mark the following tanks:
All four tanks are finished in a base of Olive Drab, with the Okinawa tank featuring a field-applied tan camouflage. The Okinawa tank also featured T66 all-steel single pin tracks and deep wading stacks; I have also been informed by a ML regular that this may actually be a late M4 HVSS vehicle. He may be correct.
Conclusion.
This is another worthy addition to the ranks of Sherman tanks in this scale and despite some continual shortcomings, DML should be applauded for going to such lengths to provide modelers with all these variations.
Recommended.
Frank V. “Curley 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. “The Sherman at War”, Concord 7001, by S. Zaloga.
3. “The Sherman at War (2)”, Concord 7036, by S. Zaloga.
4. “US Tank Battles in Germany 1944-45”, Concord 7046, by S. Zaloga.
5. “The Battle of the Bulge”, Concord 7045, by S. Zaloga.
6. “The Sherman in US and Allied Service”, Osprey Vanguard 26, by S. Zaloga.
7. “US Armour Camouflage and Markings 1917-45”, Osprey Vanguard 39, by S. Zaloga.
8. “M4 (76mm) Sherman Medium Tank 1943-65”, Osprey New Vanguard 73, by S. Zaloga.
9. “Sherman in Action”, Squadron 2016, by B. Culver.
10. “Walk Around M4 Sherman”, Squadron 5701, by J. Mesko.
11. “M4 Medium (Sherman)”, AFV Weapons Profile #29, by P. Chamberlain & C. Ellis.
12. “US Armored Divisions, the European Theater of Operations 1944-45”, Osprey Battle Orders 3, by S. Zaloga.
13. “US Armored Units in the North African and Italian Campaogns 1942-45”, Osprey Battle Orders 21, by S. Zaloga.
14. “US Tank and tank Destroyer Battalions in the ETO 1944-45”, Osprey Battle Orders 10, by S. Zaloga.
15. “Tank Battles of the Pacific War 1941-1945”, Concord 7004, by S. Zaloga.
16. “Modelling the US Army M4 (75mm) Sherman Medium Tank”, Osprey Modelling 35, by S. Zaloga.
17. “Modeler’s Guide to the Sherman”, Ampersand, by P. Harlem.
Reviewer’s note: Since May of 2005, I have been working on books for Concord Publications, a sister company to DML. The reader may wish to take this into consideration. For my part, I will attempt to maintain an objective viewpoint when writing these reviews.
DML kits are available from retail and on-line shops; for details visit their web site at: www.dragonmodelsltd.com.
