| Modeling the Sherman Tank in 1/72nd Scale |
| M4A3 Medium Tank |
| M4A3 |
| The M4A3 entered service with the early small hatch hull, armed with the 75mm turret. Early versions of this tank had a bolted 3-piece final drive housing (nose piece), and direct vision slots in the front hull. The direct vision slots were removed fairly early, and the nose piece eventually converted to the single-piece cast nose of two styles. |
| Name | Manufacturer | Item # | Medium | Type | Rating | Comments | Links |
| M4A3 early | ARMO | Resin | Conversion | With rounded nose piece, early hull, and M34A1 gun shield. Turret has no loader's hatch. Comes with etched brass details and turned metal gun barrel. Converted from ESCI. | |||
| M4A3 late (actually mid) | ARMO | Resin | Conversion | With rounded nose piece, early hull, and M34A1 gun shield. Turret has loader's hatch. Comes with etched brass details and turned metal gun barrel. Converted from ESCI. | |||
| M4A3 Early-production | CPL Overby's Motorpool | Resin | Kit | With 3-piece transmission cover. OOP | |||
| M4A3 Mid-production | CPL Overby's Motorpool | Resin | Kit | OOP | |||
| M4A3 Small Hatch | ModellTrans | 72066 | Resin | Conversion | Conversion hull for Heller. | ||
| M4A3 | UniModel | 373 | Plastic | Kit | Possibly replaced with the Hedgerow Cutter version (because it has the same kit number)? | ||
| M4A3 w/Calliope Rocket Launcher | UniModel | 376 | Plastic | Kit | |||
| M4A3 w/Deep Wading Trunks | UniModel | 216 | Plastic | Kit | |||
| M4A3 w/Hedgerow Cutter | UniModel | 373 | Plastic | Kit | Repeated kit number. |
| M4A3W |
| Some M4A3s were built with the late 47° big-hatch hull, and yet retained the 75mm M4 turret. These turrets all had the oval loader's hatch. Early models retained the split commander's hatch, but later models incorporated the commander's vision cupola. Total Number Produced: 3,071. |
| Name | Manufacturer | Item # | Medium | Type | Rating | Comments | Links |
| M4A3 (75)W early | ARMO | Resin | Conversion | With rounded nose piece, late hull, and M34A1 gun shield. Turret has no loader's hatch. Comes with etched brass details and turned metal gun barrel. Converted from ESCI. | |||
| M4A3 | Armourfast | Plastic | Kit | N/A | Wargamer model. Good scale accuracy but very simplistic. | ||
| M4A3 | ESCI | Multiple | Plastic | Kit | *** | Decent but very rare model. OOP | Preview Review |
| US Marines Sherman | Fine Scale Factory | 005 | Resin | Kit | *** | Modified from ESCI M4A3. Added wood and sandbag armor, plus new tracks. OOP? | Preview |
| M4A3 | Italeri | 7518 | Plastic | Kit | N/A | Wargamer model. | |
| M4A3 Calliope | Lexa/Dragon | 001 | Plastic | Kit | **** | Plastic parts from Dragon with a resin T-34 rocket launcher. | Preview |
| M4A3 (75)W | MR Modellbau | 72052 | Resin | Conversion | ***** | ||
| M4A3 | Trumpeter | 7224 | Plastic | Kit | *** | Decent kit with high-bustle turret and solid dish wheels. | Preview |
| M4A3 w/Deep Wading Trunks | UniModel | Plastic | Plastic | Kit |
| M4A3 (75) HVSS |
| There were over 500 M4A3 (75) HVSS tanks built, although photos of them are extremely rare. At least one was photographed in Czechoslovakia, and several on Okinawa at the end of the war. Their combat use remains elusive. As do model kits of this version, though it would make an interesting and easy conversion through simple kit-bashing. |
| M4A3 (76)W |
| The M4A3 (76)W was one of the more common Shermans to see action in the European Theater of Operations, and the selection of available kits reflects this fact. |
| Name | Manufacturer | Item # | Medium | Type | Rating | Comments | Links |
| M4A3 (76)W | Al.By | CK04 | Plastic/Resin | Kit | **** | Includes complete plastic ESCI M4A1 kit, with resin M4A3 hull (improved copy of ESCI M4A3 hull) and 76mm turret (modified Hasegawa turret). OOP | Preview |
| M4A3 (76)W | Al.By | Resin | Conversion | **** | Highly improved copy of ESCI M4A3 hull for use with the M4A1 kit. Turret converted from Hasegawa. | ||
| M4A3 (76)W | Armourfast | 99012 | Plastic | Kit | N/A | Wargamer model. Good scale accuracy but very simplistic. | Preview Preview2 Review |
| M4A3 (76)W | Ca.Ma. | Resin | Kit | OOP | |||
| M4A3 (76)W | CPL Overby's Motorpool | Resin | Kit | OOP | |||
| M4A3 (76)W | Dragon | 7271 | Plastic | Kit | **** | Fairly decent kit. Best plastic version of this tank available. | Preview |
| M4A3 (76)W | Eduard | 7601 | Plastic | Kit | *** | Comes with photoetched details. | Preview |
| M4A3 (76)W ProfiPack | Eduard | 7602 | Plastic | Kit | **** | Same kit as above, but with more photoetched details and new decals. | Preview |
| M4A3 76mm | Italeri | 7521 | Plastic | Kit | N/A | Wargamer model. Good scale accuracy and nicely detailed. | Preview Preview2 Review |
| M4A3 (76)W | MR Modellbau | 72040 | Resin | Conversion | ***** | ||
| M4A3 (76)W | Trumpeter | 7226 | Plastic | Kit | *** | A pretty average model. Good scale accuracy, but some weak areas in detail. | Preview |
| M4A3 (76)W HVSS |
| Also known as the M4A3E8, this version was equipped with the HVS suspension towards the end of the war, and saw action in Europe and also post-war in Korea. |
| Name | Manufacturer | Item # | Medium | Type | Rating | Comments | Links |
| M4A3 (76)W | Ca.Ma. | Resin | Kit | OOP | |||
| M4A3E8 (76)W HVSS | Dragon | 7302 | Plastic | Kit | **** | With appliqué armor and T66 track. | Preview |
| M4A3E8 HVSS | Fine Scale Factory | TL025 | Resin | Kit | *** | The hull is heavily modified from ESCI, the suspension is modified Hasegawa, and the turret is modified Revell. White metal tracks. OOP? | Preview |
| M4A3E8 HVSS | Hasegawa | 31115 | Plastic | Kit | * | Poor kit. OK detail, but some major dimension errors. | Preview |
| M4A3E8 HVSS | Modell Trans | Resin | Kit | Very good turret and hull parts, but 1/76th scale suspension. Includes open hatches with figures. Cannon has muzzle brake. OOP | |||
| M4A3 (76)W HVSS | Modell Trans | Resin | Kit | Very good turret and hull parts, but 1/76th scale suspension. Includes open hatches with figures. Cannon is without muzzle brake. OOP | |||
| M4A3E8 HVSS | Trumpeter | 7225 | Plastic | Kit | *** | With T66 track and WW II markings. | Preview |
| M4A3E8 HVSS "Korean War" | Trumpeter | 7229 | Plastic | Kit | *** | With T80 track and Korean War markings. | Preview |
| M4A3 (76)W HVSS | UM | 379 | Plastic | Kit | *** | Decent hull, nice suspension and tracks, horrible turret. | Preview |
| M4A3 (105) |
| The M4A3 (105) was one of only two Shermans to be outfitted with the 105mm M4 turret (the other being the M4 (105)). Only 500 were built before switching the HVSS. Early models had the split commander's hatch, but later models switched to the vision cupola. Total Number Produced: 500. |
| Name | Manufacturer | Item # | Medium | Type | Rating | Comments | Links |
| M4A3 (105) | Al.By | CK05 | Plastic/Resin | Kit | **** | Includes complete plastic ESCI M4A1 kit, with resin M4A3 hull (improved copy of ESCI M4A3 hull) and 105mm turret (modified ESCI turret). OOP | Preview |
| M4A3 (105) | Armourfast | 99015 | Plastic | Kit | N/A | Wargamer model. Good scale accuracy but very simplistic. | Preview |
| M4A3 (105) | CPL Overby's Motorpool | Resin | Kit | OOP | |||
| M4A3 (105) | Ca.Ma. | Resin | Kit | OOP | |||
| M4A3 (105) VVSS | Dragon | 7274 | Plastic | Kit | **** | Comes with photoetched details. | Preview |
| M4A3 (105) w/Deep Wading Kit | Dragon | 7330 | Plastic | Kit | Comes with photoetched details. | ||
| M4A3 (105) | Eduard | 7603 | Plastic | Kit | *** | Comes with photoetched details. | Preview Review |
| M4A3 (105) Profikit | Eduard | 7604 | Plastic | Kit | *** | Comes with new markings and a more extensive set of photoetched details than the previous kit. | Preview |
| M4A3 (105) | Modell Trans | Resin | Kit | Converted from ESCI M4A3, but 1/76th scale suspension. Includes open hatches with figures. | |||
| M4A3 (105) | MR Modellbau | 72053 | Resin | Conversion | ***** |
| M4A3 (105) HVSS |
| The majority of the M4A3 (105) vehicles were equipped with the HVS suspension. Most of these likely had the commander's vision cupola, though some of the early ones may have still been equipped with the split hatch. Total Number Produced: 2,539. |
| Name | Manufacturer | Item # | Medium | Type | Rating | Comments | Links |
| M4A3 (105) HVSS | Ca.Ma. | Resin | Kit | OOP | |||
| M4A3 105mm HVSS | Dragon | 7313 | Plastic | Kit | **** | Comes with T80 tracks. | Preview |
| M4A3 HVSS POA-CWS-H5 | Dragon | 7524 | Plastic | Kit | **** | Flame tank from the Korean War. Same as Dragon's earlier M4A3(105) HVSS kit, with a metal tube for the flamethrower. | Preview |
| M4A3 (105) HVSS | Modell Trans | Resin | Kit | HVSS suspension copied from a 1/76th Matchbox or Fujimi kit. | |||
| M4A3 (105) HVSS | UniModel | 381 | Plastic | Kit | |||
| M4A3 HVSS Flame | UniModel | 380 | Plastic/Resin | Kit | Flame tank from the Korean War. |
| M4A3 Firefly |
| Although shrouded in mystery, the Americans experimented with an M4A3 that mounted the British 17pdr gun used on their Firefly tanks. Only a few were built, and apparently never saw action. |
| Name | Manufacturer | Item # | Medium | Type | Rating | Comments | Links |
| M4A3 Firefly | Al.By | CK06 | Plastic/Resin | Kit | **** | Includes complete plastic ESCI M4A1 kit, with resin M4A3 hull (improved copy of ESCI M4A3 hull) and Firefly turret (modified ESCI turret). OOP | Preview |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo |
| One of the most interesting Sherman variants was the M4A3E2 Jumbo. This was an M4A3 that had its hull armor significantly reinforced, and what was essentially a new, heavily armored turret mounting the 75mm cannon. A few of them were retroactively upgraded with a 76mm gun. There were no headlights mounted on the front hull, and the tracks were fitted with the extended end-connectors to compensate for the tank's excessive weight. |
| Name | Manufacturer | Number | Medium | Type | Rating | Comments | Links |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | Black Dog | 72040 | Resin | Conversion | **** | Very good set, only lacking suitable tracks. | Preview |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | Ca.Ma. | 72005 | Resin | Kit | ** | OOP | Preview |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | Extratech | 72036 | Plastic | Kit | *** | Comes with photoetched details. | Preview |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | Fine Scale Factory | TL 020 | Resin | Kit | **** | Heavily modified from ESCI M4A3. New hull and turret, plus highly improved wheels and tracks. OOP? | Review |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | Friendship Models | WVC72050 | Resin | Conversion | Conversion set for Dragon. Some parts can also be purchased as separate subsets. | Review | |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo Final Drive Housing | Friendship Models | WVC72081 | Resin | Conversion | Conversion set for Dragon. Also sold as part of Jumbo Conversion set (WVC72050). | Review | |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo Hull | Friendship Models | WVC72079 | Resin | Conversion | Conversion set for Dragon. Also sold as part of Jumbo Conversion set (WVC72050). | Review | |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | Friendship Models | WFG20013 | Resin | Kit | N/A | Wargame friendly vehicle. | |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | Italeri | 7520 | Plastic | Kit | N/A | Wargaming kits. | |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | Leva | 72-C-06 | Resin | Conversion | ** | OOP | Preview |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | MR Modellbau | 7202 | Resin | Conversion | **** | Conversion set for ESCI. | |
| M4A3E2 Jumbo | UM | 453 | Plastic | Kit | *** | Includes resin parts. | Preview |
| Modeling the Sherman Tank in 1/72nd Scale |