DR6231: Sherman Mk. III Mid Production, Sicily

1/35 injection plastic kit with photo etch and decals

The Sherman III was widely supplied under Lend Lease to the British Commonwealth as well as to other allies such as France. The Sherman III was diesel powered and those used by the British had a number of modifications such as an alternative rear turret stowage bin, sand shields, and a narrower gun mantlet. The Sherman III (called the M4A2 by the US Army), like other Shermans, saw changes introduced during production. This new kit from Dragon depicts a mid production model was introduced in mid to late 1943 and deployed by the British Commonwealth in Italy and Western Europe. As such it represents a version of the Sherman previously not available in 1/35 scale.

The kit features a combination of new and/or improved tooling as well as parts from the early production Sherman III and M4A2 Tarawa release. This kit, which has over 400 parts benefits from the use of slide-molding, new photo etch, and newly tooled one-piece Dragon Styrene tracks which depict a type specific to the British. The inclusion of features such as the weld beams and bolt heads and the improved PE shows the attention to detail and consideration of how modelers will build it. The gatefold instructions have 12 steps of clearly presented line drawings.

Turret
The main turret shell is a single piece that is slide molded with casting surface texture and integrated bustle. It depicts an early 75mm turret with a single split hatch for the commander and has a British pattern rear stowage bin with angled lid that can be left open for dioramas, while the M34 rotor and gun shield are the simpler narrow British design.

All ports and hatches can be assembled open or closed and separate crisply molded parts are provided for the cupola, pistol ports (which has a locking arm), periscopes, lifting points, turret base etc. The commander’s hatch is detailed on both sides (e.g. internal locking mechanism) and has a clear vision block for the periscope. The new barrel tube for the 75 mm gun is a single plastic slide-molding with a hollowed out muzzle. There is a slight seam marking, which can be easily removed. There is a choice of antenna bases, which are crisply detailed.

Hull
The main upper hull is new tooling and features the squared off welded hoods for the driver and radio operator. These hoods simplified production (over cast hoods) and are typical of a mid production Sherman Mk III. The upper hull is a crisp one-piece slide molding with the numerous weld beams finely reproduced with raised profile, as well as having sharp detail for the bow-gun socket in the rolled plate.

The grill for the engine deck is new tooling and now has exactly 24 bars in each block correcting a minor slip in earlier kits. The hatches to the engine can be left open which opens up much diorama potential, although you will need to add an engine.

The front of the hull has a PE strip with the ten bolt heads on it and there is new tooling for the one-piece transmission cover, which has casting numbers and casting marks on it. Such detail adds to the kit’s finesse.

The sand shields, stowage rack for the right front fender and front fenders are photo etch and are designed to be relatively straightforward to fold and fit. The rear sand shields have been repositioned on the rear upper hull to act as stowage racks, a feature often seen in wartime photos. If modeling a frontline Sherman III you may want to fit some assorted stowage in them.

Separate parts are provided for a variety of fitting including the new towing eyes and varying fittings on the rear engine deck. For the front lamp guards there is a choice of plastic or PE that has been redesigned to simplify assembly. The tools have the clasps molded on and while satisfactory, could benefit from PE. The tow cable stays are PE and come with a bending template to get the profile right while the cable itself is twisted metal. There are two types of rear splash-guard and the uneven cut in a splash-guard is nicely captured.

The suspension has VVSS bogies (Vertical Volute Spring Suspension) with the option of road wheels with five spokes (as for the Mk IIIs for which decals are provided) or six raised ribs on solid wheels. The kit has plastic track skids. The one-piece lower hull tub has the sponsons and return roller mounts molded in place and features ample detail on the belly plate.

Tracks
The newly tooled tracks are the WE210 pattern, commonly know as the “Double I” due to the profile on the outer face, which was developed by the British to provide improved traction in the desert and were also used on the Grant and early production Sherman Mk IIIs. This is the first 1/35 kit to include these tracks, which previously were only available as an expensive aftermarket set. Apart from helping given the Sherman Mk III as distinctively British appearance, these tracks will be useful for those interested in swapping parts between kits, since other track designs were also fitted to mid production Mk IIIs.

The WE210 tracks are the glueable one-piece Dragon Styrene (DS) type and are packed flat in the box, so that they do not get bent in storage.

Markings
A small decal sheet by Cartograf has markings for one tank of the 3rd County of London Yeomanry in Sicily 1943. This British tank is painted in a contrasting tan (light mud) and olive drab scheme. The decals include the name “CLIVE”, a roundel for the turret roof, turret number yellow 38 (applied to bustle) and varying tactical and unit emblems. While the decals and suggested paint scheme offer an appealing finish, aftermarket firms offer (and will expand the range of) alternative schemes. In selecting alternative decals for this kit, its worth remembering that the WE210 tracks, are very much associated with the British, and were generally not used by other Lend Lease users such as New Zealand.

Recommendation

I know many modelers who have been awaiting the release of new WWII Commonwealth models and this mid production Sherman Mk. III will certainly be popular. With the inclusion of photo etch, the new WE210 tracks, and varying other newly tooled parts this kit has considerable appeal. Definitely recommended.

- Neville Lord

"Enjoy the pics in this photographic preview of the kit."

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- Vinnie Branigan

"As DML continues to work through major variations of the M4 Sherman."

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- Frank De Sisto

"More accurate hull for mid-production M4A2/Sherman III tank."

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- Cookie Sewell