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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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Best 1/35 M4A3E8 kit?
AcornMan
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 31, 2010
KitMaker: 40 posts
Armorama: 33 posts
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 03:04 AM UTC
I'd like to hear your opinions about which 1/35 M4A3E8 kit is the best. I'm guessing it's between Tamiya (which appears to be a re-boxed Tasca/Asuka kit) and Dragon (which appears to offer several different kits), but it's hard for me to tell based on the internet reviews. Thanks in advance for your help.
nng-nng
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Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 22, 2013
KitMaker: 380 posts
Armorama: 376 posts
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 03:09 AM UTC
Why not Tasca right away?

Take the frist one for a late WWII, you won´t be disappointed:
https://www.scalemates.com/search-solr.php?fkSECTION[]=Kits&q=M4A3E8+Tasca&qs=Search

Although this kit appars to be based on tha same kit:
https://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=308948
Not shure whats the exact content is...
jwest21
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: October 16, 2006
KitMaker: 3,374 posts
Armorama: 3,126 posts
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 03:14 AM UTC
Definitely Tasca/Asuka/Tamiya reboxing. Second would be the Dragon Thunderbolt boxing.

PS- if you are looking for a Korean War version, Tasca has the Korean war boxing which also was reboxed by D-Corp in a very strange box covered in bunnies. That sounds like a joke but it isnt
MikeyBugs95
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New York, United States
Joined: May 27, 2013
KitMaker: 2,210 posts
Armorama: 1,712 posts
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 03:28 AM UTC
I have to agree with the above for the simple reason that I have the Tamiya boxing of the Tasca/Asuka kit. It is by far the best kit I've ever built along with Tasca's PzKpfw II Luchs. But The Tamiya kit is expensive. I haven't found it anywhere for under $65 except for one on eBay. And actually I think that for the quality, $65 is pretty good.

Also, Tasca/Asuka and the two new Tamiya reboxings are many times better than the Dragon offerings in quality and fit.
TimTam27
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 11, 2006
KitMaker: 222 posts
Armorama: 209 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 - 07:42 PM UTC
Hi.

It's out of stock at the moment but HobbyEasy.com have the Tamiya boxing of the Asuka kit listed for $36.08 USD.

Nice price if you aren't in a hurry.

Cheers.
silo1483
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California, United States
Joined: November 20, 2013
KitMaker: 2 posts
Armorama: 1 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 06:41 AM UTC
they are sold out now on hobbyeasy.com
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 11:39 PM UTC
Tasca does two different Jumbos. One is a Korean War boxing, but appears to be the same as the WWII kit except for decals. I have the Tamiya kits, and they are indeed Tasca reboxes with some added figures.
gary
ericadeane
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Michigan, United States
Joined: October 28, 2002
KitMaker: 4,021 posts
Armorama: 3,947 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2014 - 01:05 AM UTC
@trickymissfit: I think you misspoke. Asuka/Tasca only has one Jumbo kit. The M4A3E2 gem.

However Asuka/Tasca have THREE M4A3E8 "Easy Eight" Shermans.

1) The T66 tracked version, WW2 (the subject of the Tamiya re-boxing)
2) The T84 Rubber chevron tracked version (Tasca release of postwar JGSDF variant)
3) T80 composite track (Tasca release -- Korean "Tiger Face" version).


Asuka is releasing a fourth version, piggybacking the "Fury" movie. It'll be similar to the JGSDF one, with the T84 tracks (as seen in the movie).
MikeyBugs95
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New York, United States
Joined: May 27, 2013
KitMaker: 2,210 posts
Armorama: 1,712 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2014 - 07:17 AM UTC
If I'm able to I'd definitely be picking up that new kit. I want another Tasca/Asuka E8.
AcornMan
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 31, 2010
KitMaker: 40 posts
Armorama: 33 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2014 - 07:36 AM UTC

Quoted Text

@trickymissfit: I think you misspoke. Asuka/Tasca only has one Jumbo kit. The M4A3E2 gem.

However Asuka/Tasca have THREE M4A3E8 "Easy Eight" Shermans.

1) The T66 tracked version, WW2 (the subject of the Tamiya re-boxing)
2) The T84 Rubber chevron tracked version (Tasca release of postwar JGSDF variant)
3) T80 composite track (Tasca release -- Korean "Tiger Face" version).


Asuka is releasing a fourth version, piggybacking the "Fury" movie. It'll be similar to the JGSDF one, with the T84 tracks (as seen in the movie).


My understanding is that U.S. Shermans with T84 tracks (i.e. the rubber ones) were extremely rare, and that the reason the Fury tank had them in the movie is simply because modern owners of Shermans tend to use them. So yes, if you're trying to recreate the tank as depicted in the movie, then you'd need T84 tracks, but if you're trying to recreate what an actual M4A3E8 would have looked like at that time and in that place, the T66 tracks that come with the Asuka/Tasca/Tamiya kit are more accurate.

On another note, I feel like I've gone way beyond mere bolt counting at this point!
MikeyBugs95
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New York, United States
Joined: May 27, 2013
KitMaker: 2,210 posts
Armorama: 1,712 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2014 - 11:03 AM UTC
Some Easy Eight Shermans were fitted with the T80 (double pin, right?) tracks near the end of WWII, though.
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 09:51 AM UTC

Quoted Text

@trickymissfit: I think you misspoke. Asuka/Tasca only has one Jumbo kit. The M4A3E2 gem.

However Asuka/Tasca have THREE M4A3E8 "Easy Eight" Shermans.

1) The T66 tracked version, WW2 (the subject of the Tamiya re-boxing)
2) The T84 Rubber chevron tracked version (Tasca release of postwar JGSDF variant)
3) T80 composite track (Tasca release -- Korean "Tiger Face" version).


Asuka is releasing a fourth version, piggybacking the "Fury" movie. It'll be similar to the JGSDF one, with the T84 tracks (as seen in the movie).


I knew there were two, but the third is news to me. Last I heard Tasca was reissuing the m4a1 and one other early Sherman. I'll probably grab two of each.

gary
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 09:53 AM UTC

Quoted Text

If I'm able to I'd definitely be picking up that new kit. I want another Tasca/Asuka E8.


Tamiya offers that one (Tasca rebox), but with a nice looking set of figures in winter gear.
gary
MikeyBugs95
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New York, United States
Joined: May 27, 2013
KitMaker: 2,210 posts
Armorama: 1,712 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 04, 2015 - 11:04 AM UTC
Yes, I built that one. Lovely build.
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