| M4A3 76mm Sherman | Italeri Kit #7521 |
| Article by Doug Chaltry; last updated 29 September 2016 | |
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| Modeling the Sherman Tank in 1/72nd Scale |
| M4A3 76mm Sherman | Italeri Kit #7521 |
| Article by Doug Chaltry; last updated 29 September 2016 | |
|
|
| Italeri has released a
line of 1/72nd quick-build kits for the wargaming market.
Not to be confused with their standard line of scale
models, these are simplified kits along the lines of the
Armourfast range, and other wargaming kits. However, the
detail on this M4A3 76mm kit is outstanding, and is far
out of the league of Armourfast and the other wargaming
companies. This model is the same size as the Dragon
Sherman M4A3 (76)W kit, and is perfectly compatible with
that kit. The details are pretty well done, though not
quite to the excellent standard of the Dragon kit. All
hatches are molded closed, the pioneer tools are molded
onto the hull, and the hull scales out just a little bit
short, but most other dimensions are quite accurate for
1/72nd scale.
The turret is likewise nicely detailed, with closed hatches. The pistol port on the turret side is the weakest area on this piece, and really needs to be resculpted a bit. The gun barrel is molded nice and straight, and with an open end. One of the interesting features of this kit is that the suspension bogies have the track return rollers mounted on the upward-angled bracket, which I believe is a first for this scale. The detail on the bogies is very well done, so I'm thinking of a way to improve these parts for use on other kits. This model could easily be converted into a very nice, competition-quality scale replica if the modeler were to replace only a handful of the details. Obvious bits that would need improvement are the headlights and tail lights, gun cradle, lift rings, sprockets and tracks.
Markings are included for three tanks:
There's not much more to say about this kit. It is pretty accurate in scale and details, and is one of the nicer wargaming kits I've seen. Two complete kits are included in the box. |
| Modeling the Sherman Tank in 1/72nd Scale |
