Johnnych01 Regular

Interesting. What ToO were these used in ? Pacific and Europe ? Would be good on a Dio.

Also, not knowing enough about Shermans, was that type of turret on that type of hull with that suspension, or was it specific for the dozer fit ??

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barkingdigger Associate Editor

Up to now we had the Academy plastic blade or the resin Verlinden one, so it’s about time we got a new one! Is it me, or does the box art scream AFV Club?

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NetCharby

I believe the wider M1A1 blade was mostly used after WWII, especially by the US Marines who made extensive use of M4A3(105)H HVSS tanks fitted with these in Korea.

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Frenchy Patron

I guess it’s not just you

By the way, here’s a USMC M4A3(105) HVSS dozer tank in Korea

In action

H.P.

Johnnych01 Regular

Is that tank in 1/35th ?

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Frenchy Patron

H.P.

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RonW Supporter

Me! Me!! Me!!!
Wanna have…

NetCharby

Yes, this would be a good basis for the M1A1 blade (better than Academy’s anyway), though I don’t remember if Dragon included USMC markings with the kit.

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Frenchy Patron

There’s a comparative review of both on Terry’s website :

https://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/misc/m4a3105hvss/m4a3105hvss.htm

H.P.

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RonW Supporter

If one were to use Tamiya’s 105-kit and slapp on an HVSS-kit plus this dozer…
Would that make a decent combo?

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Frenchy Patron

Unfortunately, Tamiya kit turret has flaws too…

https://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/misc/m4a3105hvss/m4a3105hvss_turret.htm

H.P.

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RonW Supporter

Those seem minor in comparisson?

SableLiger Patron

M4A1 with dozer blade; 16th Engineers; Italy, 1944.

M4A2 with Dozer Blade; Unknown Unit; France, 1944.

Another M4A2 with Dozer Blade; 30th Infantry Division, France, 1944.

M4A3 with 105mm Howitzer with the dozer blade; probably used during the 1948 war of independence. Yad La-Shyrion Armored Forces Museum, Israel.

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NetCharby

It’s certainly feasible.

Despite the flaws pointed out by Terry, I decided to go with the Tamiya turret, which I mated with a Tasca M4A3E8 hull. That said, the Tamiya turret misses a lot of details beside the cast-in cheek armor reinforcement, which I added with putty.

One important detail missing is the flanges around the gun mantlet for the attachment of the dust cover. These flanges were factory installed on ALL 105mm Shermans. I stole one from the DML kit I had lying around.

Cheers!

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SableLiger Patron

Beautiful work on that Sherman. Excellent diorama as well.

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NetCharby

Thanks!

Johnnych01 Regular

So in theory, this blade in the thread, would fit those Mk’s of Sherman in Europe ???

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SableLiger Patron

I would assume they would fit the VC Firefly Shermans, since the only major difference would be the replacement of the short 75mm M1 main gun for the British QF17 pounder. TO be honest, I have not seen a Commonwealth Sherman fitted with the Dozer Blade. YMMV.

Johnnych01 Regular

If I did ever get it and do it, I would only build it as a US one anyway

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SableLiger Patron

Marines had a lot of them to clear beach obstacles and bunkers during the fighting

Barely visible, but this is a dozer Sherman, during fighting in Peleliu, 1944.