Modeling the Sherman Tank in 1/72nd Scale
 
M4A2 "Sherman" 75mm Zvezda
Kit #5063
Article by Doug Chaltry; last updated 12 September 2024
Before I saw any of the Zvezda "Snap Fit" kits in hand, I had assumed that they were intended as wargame kits; because how could a snap-tite ever exhibit the kind of detail that's more common on static display models? I sure was wrong on that assumption. This is actually a very fine kit that has some details that are the best I've seen. The engineering of the model is truly creative, and as far as I can tell without yet building it, I think that there will be no way possible to identify this as a snap-tite once completed. I've seen some of Zvezda's other "Snap Fit" models built and painted, and they do indeed look top of the line. The molding is quite crisp, with sharp edges where they need to be, and all of the details for this version of the M4A2 are accurate, as far as I can tell. I measured several dimensions, and the scale is spot on for 1/72nd.

As far as options are concerned, the kit offers two styles of road wheels, two styles of sprocket wheel, but only the single style of idler. All of the pioneer tools are molded as separate parts. The hull crew hatches are molded open, yet for some reason, the turret hatches are not... That is unfortunate, and it's a combination likely not often seen. One innovation of the kit are the tracks that are molded in hard plastic, but as a single strip, with the intention of bending the strip of links into the proper shape to wrap around the wheels. There are grooves molded on the back of the links to assist in bending them, but... those grooves are in the middle of the track shoes in between the end connectors, so that the links would be bending in the entirely wrong place! True, it will be difficult to bend the links where they are supposed to bend because of the presence of the end connectors, but I think if one is patient, it likely can be done, maybe with some delicate cutting. It would be worth the effort to try, because it will look ridiculous otherwise.

The two things that I absolutely love about this kit are: this is the only model in our scale that clearly has the upswept return roller mount on the wheel brackets. Because the Eduard/Extratech return roller mount is a separate part, it's possible to modify it to represent the upswept mount, but the detail on that part pales in comparison to this one. Unfortunately, although it looks like two sets of suspension units are included, only the back halves are duplicated here, not the front halves, so no luck with a complete extra set. The second thing that this kit does right is the gun's M34A1 rotor shield. The side armor plates protecting the base of the gun barrel are molded so incredibly thin, it's hard to appreciate in the scan below. This is by far the best looking rotor shield we have available to us (but the coaxial .30 cal is rather poor, and best replaced).

Markings are included for four vehicles:

M4A2 No. 8392, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA, December 1943
These markings are mostly correct. The serial number printed in blue should be 3 035 813, not 3 035 513, which is a very minor error. Also note that this vehicle should have the open-spoke road wheels, which are not an option included in this kit. Honestly, I find this to be a very strange choice of marking scheme to include in the kit; one that I doubt will appeal to many modelers. I would have rather seen another Soviet option instead.

M4A2 No. C40 "Caesar", 2nd Tank Battalion, US Marine Corps, Tinian, Mariana Islands, July 1944
These markings are mostly correct, missing only another "C40" for the rear of the turret.

M4A2 No. 152, Soviet 1st Mechanized Corps, Belarus, July, 1944
I cannot find this tank in any of my references, but it matches the markings included in the Colibri M4A2 Shermans decal set.

M4A2 No. 203, Soviet 244 Tank Regiment, Yalta, April, 1944
I can find no information on this tank. As far as I can tell, there was no 244th Tank Regiment. There was a 244th Tank Brigade, but that was reformed into the 63rd Guards Tank Brigade in 1943.

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Modeling the Sherman Tank in 1/72nd Scale