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The year of Shermans? Meng
ninjrk
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 12:21 AM UTC
I for one am happy to see Shermans getting a lot of love this year. I confess to being a little unsure what Meng will offer beyond what is already out there from Tasca/Asuka but we shall see.

The M4 Medium Tank, also called Sherman, was a tank without a frightening main gun or thick armor. It was not designed by famous scholars or driven by crew with shining medals. However, it’s the peak of the-then industrial production. At the beginning of design, its size was taken into consideration for strategic transport by ship. A large number of other weapon components were used to simplify the design and production. Thanks to the uniform specifications, the same parts machined by different production process could be produced in large numbers. The M4 Sherman’s gun was not limited to a specific ammunition. And its tracks didn’t need to be changed to special tracks for rail transport. Nearly 50,000 of this top design tank were produced. It had a complete range of variants. There’s no doubt that it played an important role in the victory of the Allies.
This latest MENG TS-043 U.S. Medium Tank M4A3 (76) W model is 206mm long and 90mm tall. This kit has a total of 1,190 parts. The key suspension structure is the same as on the same vehicle. This movable suspension is realistic and reliable. This kit features fairly complete equipment cast numbers and realistic surface details. This kit includes high-strength workable tracks with “duckbill” end connectors. Fine PE parts and metal cables are included. A gift metal barrel is included in the first batch of products.






chefchris
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 01:02 AM UTC
To me we cannot have enough Shermans. Just like Tigers.... They will sell. It looks nice. I hope the late M4A2 76 will be next
leopard122
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 02:19 AM UTC
So give us a Sherman DD... then we can talk
Biggles2
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 02:50 AM UTC
Amazingly high parts count, at almost 1,200 pieces!
jwest21
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 02:51 AM UTC
Based on how inexpensive Meng's King tiger is, this should be cheaper than the Asuka kit and easier to find.
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 03:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Amazingly high parts count, at almost 1,200 pieces!



I think/hope that the tracks account for a large part of that parts count. Double pin track made as workable track means either:
a. Two parts for each link (upper + lower) and one part for the two pins and two endconnectors (duckbill + plain), pins sandwiched between the halves of the link. Makes 3 parts for each track link
or
b.Link as single part with holes for the pins, maybe only 1/4 or 1/3 of the way through (would make the completed track a bit more fragile) 2 x end-connector + two pin stumps. Also makes 3 parts for each link.

They could also have decided to let the duckbills be separate parts which would add 1 part to each link.

79 links in each track, say 80 x 2 x 3 = 480 parts,
if the duckbills are separated we get 640 parts
and if they have added some extra as spares ....
Close to half, or even more, of the 1200 parts could be the tracks.
/ Robin
Charlie-66
#186
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 03:21 AM UTC
A new Sherman? Heck yeah! Can't wait to get my hands on this. Would love to see some of the specialized versions as well; DD, Calliope, with dozer blade. That said, this is great news and hopefully the start of more to come.
TankManNick
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 05:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

So give us a Sherman DD... then we can talk



Oooh! Now you're talking!

I've done 1/76 resin and scratch 1/72. I've contemplated doing a 1/35 but I think the details would be a bit 'approximate' :-)
nsjohn
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 06:32 AM UTC
Why the M4A2 76? They went almost exclusively to the Russians, and Dragon, Academy and Italeri have done them
russamotto
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 06:54 AM UTC
They also all did panthers and tigers. It is about opportunity to sell a product. If they can do it better than the others, or hit the next generation of modelers, the kit will sell. If they offer a few extra bits, like stowage or a figure, or include casting marks, it would add to the appeal of the kit. At the very least, it would be expected the kit would offer better detail than Academy or Italeri at a better price than Dragon.

These new releases highlight the problem of maintaining a stash. You buy kits that at the time are the best (or only) available of the subject and then a better offering comes along. What do you do with the old kits?
jwest21
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 07:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Why the M4A2 76? They went almost exclusively to the Russians, and Dragon, Academy and Italeri have done them


It's actually the M4A3 76 according to the pictures.
Tank1812
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 07:17 AM UTC

Quoted Text

They also all did panthers and tigers. It is about opportunity to sell a product. If they can do it better than the others, or hit the next generation of modelers, the kit will sell. If they offer a few extra bits, like stowage or a figure, or include casting marks, it would add to the appeal of the kit. At the very least, it would be expected the kit would offer better detail than Academy or Italeri at a better price than Dragon.

These new releases highlight the problem of maintaining a stash. You buy kits that at the time are the best (or only) available of the subject and then a better offering comes along. What do you do with the old kits?



You build the old kits. I like using them for trying new techniques. Don't feel as bad when it goes wrong and out the new kit price. Sometimes it can fun to build for the sake of building. New kits don't always equal best, better or fun.
nsjohn
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 07:58 AM UTC
It was in response to the wish for a M4A2 76 next that I was querying. I can appreciate why Meng have done the M4A3 as that was the most prevalent 76 in 1944/45, and was almost exclusively used by the U.S.
Bravo1102
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 08:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text

It was in response to the wish for a M4A2 76 next that I was querying. I can appreciate why Meng have done the M4A3 as that was the most prevalent 76 in 1944/45, and was almost exclusively used by the U.S.


Everybody forgets the Free French reequipping with M4A3 in late 1944 to early 1945.

Sure we're all a fine gang of francophobes but the markings are cool. Hopefully Meng will put French markings in a kit.

Maybe a fully sandbagged Sherman like the old Monogram Hedgehog kit.

And you know what one possible follow up to an M4A3 76 mm wet is? A M4A1 76 mm wet. Just saying.

50,000 Shermans versus 3000 Tigers. Wont be enough Sherman kits until there are 17 times as many Sherman kits as there are Tiger kits.
nsjohn
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 09:09 AM UTC
Hence I said almost exclusively used by the U.S.
Belt_Fed
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 10:21 AM UTC
Looking at the CAD images, this looks like a solid option so far. Of note are metal springs for the suspension, nice weld beads, metal tow cable, good casting marks, and location points for glacis mounted mirrors. From what I can tell this has the potential to be as good or better than the Tasca offering.

I'm really hoping for a separate interior for it. Even better would be a 75mm turret and the whole Sherman lineup.

As to the "yawn another Sherman crowd":
Yes, I know, we want "our" niche vehicles to be offered. But the Sherman has an enormous amount of appeal to a wide swath of modelers, and there isn't as much competition as you may thing. The Dragon, Academy, and Italeri kits are really pretty poor by today's standards, and the Asuka kits are starting to age causing poor quality parts (especially for their price). Sink marks, flash, mismatched and short-shot parts.... I'm very excited for this release.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 11:27 AM UTC
Yeah I want 1 or 2 or 3
Especially if they make it in 1/16th scale with interior.
Donald
TopSmith
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 11:28 AM UTC
Has some clairvoyant member devined a release date?
wedgetail53
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 12:17 PM UTC

Quoted Text

At the very least, it would be expected the kit would offer better detail than Academy or Italeri at a better price than Dragon.



Yeah Russ, I agree. I was in our LHS yesterday, and they had the DML Operation Sealion Pz III for $A119. Given that I can buy a Takom Jagdpanther G2 for $85, DML are pricing themselves out of the market while at the same time not producing anything startlingly new, just reusing existing moulds.

Regards

Rob
Petition2God
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 12:56 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Has some clairvoyant member devined a release date?



Seriously, that's the million $ question - when is the release date? I may buy a couple to get the first batch metal barrels.

m4sherman
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 03:04 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Has some clairvoyant member devined a release date?



Seriously, that's the million $ question - when is the release date? I may buy a couple to get the first batch metal barrels.




Same here, and to add to the comment above, if we all do the Jedi mind trick thing, can we get an interior!

And I remember a post about the RFM 'E8 Sherman. Could an M4 series war be brewing? My poor wallet.
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 08:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Why the M4A2 76? They went almost exclusively to the Russians, and Dragon, Academy and Italeri have done them



Well, first of all THIS is an A3, BUT!!! Why do the M4A2 (76mm), if at all? Because both the EARLY production (56-degree Hull Glacis, Dry "small Hatch"), Mid production (BOTH Hull types) and LATE production (47-degree Hull Glacis, Wet, "big hatch") are IMPORTANT versions of the M4-series Mediums, whether they were A2s or A3s. The A2 versions DID NOT only go to the Russians during WWII and afterwards.

Hopefully, we will also see a series of "slick" Welded Hull M4s, Cast Hull M4A1s, M4A3s, ALL in the EARLY 56-degree Hull Glacis and the later 47-degree "big hatch" Hull Glacis, in ALL production types, being EARLY, MID and LATE production versions, with 75mm & 76mm Main Guns, AND the 105mm Howitzer types. Let's not forget that E8s were built in both the CAST 47-degree Hull and the WELDED 47-degree Hull configurations. In the case of M32 ARVs, these were built in BOTH the CAST and WELDED Hull versions, also in the 56-degree and 47-degree configurations...

As nearly everyone posting before me in this thread has said;

We can never have enough Shermans... FINALLY, US/Allied fans are starting to open their mouths...

As a final note, ACADEMY, DRAGON, ITALERI, TASCA/ASUKA and TAMIYA have all done various Shermans. Many moons ago, REVELL and NICHIMO have also released Sherman kits, but THEY almost don't count. ALL have issues, with the TASCA/ASUKA kits probably being the best of the whole lot.

IT'S HIGH TIME that a model company with MENG's reputation did a series of ALL TYPES of US and British M4 Medium-series Tanks, PERIOD!!!
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 11:03 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hence I said almost exclusively used by the U.S.



Nothing wrong with that... The British liked Shermans enough to mount their excellent 17-pounders in them, did they not..?
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 11:05 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Has some clairvoyant member devined a release date?



Seriously, that's the million $ question - when is the release date? I may buy a couple to get the first batch metal barrels.




Same here, and to add to the comment above, if we all do the Jedi mind trick thing, can we get an interior!

And I remember a post about the RFM 'E8 Sherman. Could an M4 series war be brewing? My poor wallet.



I like to do the "Jedi mind trick thing" when I go to the supermarkets which have the automatic opening and closing doors...
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 11:09 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Amazingly high parts count, at almost 1,200 pieces!



I think/hope that the tracks account for a large part of that parts count. Double pin track made as workable track means either:
a. Two parts for each link (upper + lower) and one part for the two pins and two endconnectors (duckbill + plain), pins sandwiched between the halves of the link. Makes 3 parts for each track link
or
b.Link as single part with holes for the pins, maybe only 1/4 or 1/3 of the way through (would make the completed track a bit more fragile) 2 x end-connector + two pin stumps. Also makes 3 parts for each link.

They could also have decided to let the duckbills be separate parts which would add 1 part to each link.

79 links in each track, say 80 x 2 x 3 = 480 parts,
if the duckbills are separated we get 640 parts
and if they have added some extra as spares ....
Close to half, or even more, of the 1200 parts could be the tracks.
/ Robin



Hi, Robin!

Do you stay up nights figuring all of this Track-stuff out..?

Just kidding...

Soooo... If roughly half of the 1200 parts, (hypothetically speaking), are for the Tracks, WHAT comprises the other half..?

The rest of the Tank with an INTERIOR, maybe..?
 _GOTOTOP