"For Shermanaholics, this is all great news..."

< full review here >
- Frank V. De Sisto

Able to provide considerable punch against targets such as bunkers, pill boxes and other fortified emplacements including the gun emplacements on the Westwall, the Shermans equipped with the 105mm howitzers, were popular with the troops and were used in tank and armored infantry units in both Europe and the Pacific. The enclosed turret of the Sherman gave the crew considerably more protection than the earlier open topped Priests offered.

Following up on Thunderbolt VII, Dragon has released the most numerous of the 105mm equipped Shermans, namely the later war M4A3 with HVSS suspension. As expected the kit contains many of the upgraded parts from Thunderbolt VII including the optional workable bogy assemblies and the crisp hull, while having new tracks and new turret features.

This kit, which has over 550 parts benefits from the use of slide-molding, optional photo etch and research, evident in features such as the raised weld beams on the upper hull. The gatefold instructions have 11 steps of line drawings that are well laid out.

Turret
The turret reflects the specific configuration of the howitzer version. This includes a new mantlet, rotor and gun shield. The turret shell has visible surface casting texture, a high bustle, and a raised rain-guard lip around the cupola base. The commander has a split hatch and the loader’s oval shaped hatch has the spring detail. Other features include a mount for the turret canvas, which sat over the rotor, a secondary ventilation fan and a turret top MG pedestal (no MG is included). All hatches can be assembled open or closed and there are separate crisply molded parts are provided for the cupola, pistol ports, aerial mount (choice of US or UK designs), clear vision blocks, lifting points, ventilator covers, turret base etc. There is an optional blanking socket should you choose to omit the searchlight.

For the 105mm howitzer barrel, there is the choice of a single piece injection plastic tube with rifling on the end or a turned metal tube with a drilled out end.

Hull
The main upper hull is one large piece that features the raised weld beams and is mated to a one piece lower hull tub which has the sponsons and return roller mounts molded in place. Separate parts are provided for the hatches on the engine deck, mudguards, first-aid kit, side fenders, barrel lock, lower front glacis, exhaust deflector, final drive housing, and numerous small details. The hatches to the engine can be left open which opens up much diorama potential, although you will need to add an aftermarket engine. The tools have the clasps molded on and while satisfactory, could benefit from PE.

The new tracks are the T80 pattern and represent a new approach to Sherman tracks. The body of the track is a single length of Dragon Styrene, while the guide horns are separate pieces that fit into holes on the main track. This approach allows for the guide horns to have the open centers and holes on the top, although it will take longer than standard one-piece tracks, but should be simpler than traditional separate link tracks. The DS main track has good detail, no protrusions and was free from distortion.

The multipart HVSS bogies have hollow metal cylinders for the upper horizontal tubes and optional metal springs, and can be made workable with care. The rubber tyres are separate parts that offer flexibility for painting. There is a choice of two patterns of drive sprockets (‘fancy smooth’ and 'solid simple plate'), both of which are 2006 toolings.

The PE fret contains the front mudguards, side fenders and headlamp and tail lamp guards (alternative plastic guards are included).

Markings
A medium sized Cartograf decal sheet has markings for four US Army tanks from WWII. All Shermans have a plain olive drab base coat and are covered on the instruction sheet by four views. The markings are:

* 713th Tank Battalion at Okinawa in the Pacific 1945. This has some white wash and the star is painted free hand – this is the tank on the box art.

* 'Andy' of the 67th Armored Infantry Battalion, 13th Armored Division in Austria 1945.

* 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division in Germany 1945.

* 752nd Tank Battalion in Italy 1945.

Recommendation

The 105mm howitzer version of the Sherman, reflects the strengths of Dragon’s recent releases and helps round out their range of newly tooled Shermans. This kit will make an impressive model out of the box and could be used in either a WWII or post war setting. Definitely recommended.

- Neville Nord

"…super kit for those of us who are Sherman fans …"

< full review here >
- Cookie Sewell