Looks like this set comes with a 1/35th scale jeep thrown in and it does feature an IDF initial production M51 but half of the set is a Late WW2 M4A1 76mm which should be able to double as a 1956 Israeli M1 with the proper markings…
I only posted this because I found nothing about it anywhere else…
Some might say that we already have the Tamiya M51 but this is the initial continental engine version…
What I’m most excited about is the WW2 late M4A1 76mm version, there are many historical photos of these tanks with both the sand bag armor and the armor plates and Takom has included the sprue with the sandbags and also two versions of armored plate, skip to 9min mark in the video to see the sprue…the exciting thing about that sprue is that one of the armor plates is designed for the welded M4A3 76mm hull so Takom is definitely going to be releasing more Shermans…this is very good news for me:) It’s so exciting to be getting all these different variants that have never been offered before but also the nice accessories are a very nice touch too…
Another encouraging development here is that Takom has molded their own VVSS. I can’t imagine them creating that mold just for this one VVSS tank, their narrow track sprue also looks interesting, looking forward to building their version of those types of tracks…
At this point they just need to make some very minor changes to their Large hatch hull and then mold an early split loaders hatch turret so that they can release their version of the first Shermans to enter battle with the 76mm gun, the “orphan tanks” that nobody wanted, the tanks that took part in Operation Cobra. If they do that version and they include extras then we might get some Douglas devices and Cullen Hedgerow with the kit, it feels like that version of the 76mm M4A1 is just around the corner, it’s never been released in plastic before, not even the Asuka kit builds into one of these OOTB without modifications…
If anyone is wondering about the M51, Andy was incorrect in his video when he said that this is a diesel version. This particular kit is the “A” version or Degem Alef in Israeli, it means that these tanks pretty much were just M4A1 HVSS tanks with the new upgunned turret and modified internal stowage configurations to accommodate the giant 105mm shells. Otherwise these tanks still retain the outside look of the M1 SuperSherman M4A1 HVSS and they still had the Radial Continental engines.
An important detail that Takom got correct is that these tanks had the early version of the big muzzle brake, they hadn’t added the reinforcement rib on the sides yet, so these tanks have a different and unique look to their gun, the stowage was also very similar to the way M1/M50 stowage was configured. Another thing to take note of is the emblem on the box, it has the Sabingamartin brand shield on the box so Takom must’ve collaborated with Professor Manasarob on this kit. On the off chance that you guys haven’t heard of him, he is the author of the “Israeli Way” series of books that cover IDF armor from it’s inception and their very first tanks and I think the books go all the way to modern vehicles. I’ve only ever collected the books based on Sherman variants because that’s where my interest lies. I’m pretty sure you can still order the books on the SabinaMartin website if anyone is interested in learning the truth about IDF armor history in great detail and with a lot of images designed to help modelers build accurate reproductions.
An interesting read.Id love to do a British Sherman 2/M4a1 sometime.On good authority i was told they were later versions with cast in side applique armour plates on hull sides(Some not all),Often high bustle with loaders hatch and the later sharp nosed transmission cover.Maybe with all these new kits i can make one or 2 U.K ones in Normandy service.
Up until now the Takom M4A1 kits have all been the later large hatch wet stowage hulls with the T23 turret. But now that they have developed their own VVSS suspension sprues they might decide to go down to Sherman rabbit hole even further.
To make the tank you want you can use the beautiful Asuka kit and scratch build the molded thicker armor relatively easily. Unfortunately, I don’t know enough about this type to speak on other details like turret etc…I’d have to do some research but I think the Asuka would be a good starting point…
Good to hear from you.Great photos of 4th Armoured u.ks Sherman 2s.The only regiment in U.K to use them in Normandy.I really must make 1 or 2 in 1.35th,TMD makes stuff but its postage to u.k that kills us.I shall keep an eye out at U.K shows for the Asuka M4a1s.We dont see so many here only the odd El.Alamein early M4a1s.I know Tasca did a limited edition U.K Sherman 2 but rare as rocking horse poop.I used to order spare sprues from Asuka but again postage is only Express shipping to U.k.Brexit etc is to blame.
I remember that limited release. I fretted over buying it at my LHS hoping I could get one discounted because I erroneously assumed that there would not be any interest here in the states for one of those. By the time I decided to just buy it full price, it was gone
They had it behind the register on a shelf, that by itself should have alerted me to how rare that kit would be. Twenty years ago, I just didn’t understand at the time how small Tasca was and how their stuff wasn’t just going to get re-released periodically like with the bigger companies.
But even on that kit you still needed to add the cast on armor yourself, correct?
Im not sure how many Sherman 2s in Uk service had the cast in side applique patches.Im.pretty sure either Formations or Joe at TMD do a hull in resin.Dan Taylor here in the Uk is custodian of The Sharpshooters museum here in uk.They had the Sherman 2 in Normandy along with the other 2 units of 4th Armoured brigade.I dont see any models at shows of this version in U.K service.We used to have a great Sherman modeller in our club and he used to make some wonderful models mainly of U.k versions.
Would you happen to have an image of the box art of the limited release kit that you mentioned a couple of posts ago?
I can’t even find a reference to it on the sclaemates website and now I’m wondering if what I remember is actually one of the original Sherman III releases. When you mentioned it I was certain I remember a Sherman II Normandy but now I’m wondering if the years are playing havoc with my memory:(
If you have an image to share about the kit that you referred to previously, I would be much obliged:)
That’s the one, thank you! I was starting to question my sanity for a second and it looks like it was a “white box” edition which would explain why it never made it onto scalemates website…I remember having already bought two other Tasca M4A1 models in the mid and the late versions was the primary reason why I didn’t buy it, my stash was under control in those days, now I just buy whatever I want and never think twice about it…
The differences to the regular kit were small too, it was the tracks, the different antenna, the blanket box in the back of the turret and I remember thinking that I could always find decals somewhere else if I decided to make one of those eventually. Later I changed my mind and when I went looking for it it had already sold…now I wish I had it in the stash;)
Pretty much, it’s silly thinking back how disciplined I was about getting new kits. I have almost every single release from Tasca except for that one, I own several of those white box kits too, war daddy, eternity, a Sherman III release, and a couple others I can’t recall off the top of my head but I didn’t get that one…That’s just the stuff that came before they became Asuka, maybe some 40-45 kits…of the Asuka kits I might have like 15-20 and Tasca and Asuka combined, I’ve completed about 8 of them😂
I guess my son can build or sell the rest after I’m dead…
I have a stash list, and the address of a place that auctions kits (among other things) - when/if I run out of time the family just needs to send the list, box up the kits, and wait for the auction money. I’ll be beyond caring by then…
I got my Sherman box from Andy’s today. I was looking at the sprues and both kits look amazing, IMO they look even better than the M1 and M4A1 76mm HVSS kits released last year…
The hulls appear to be General Steel hulls but they don’t have the foundry mark on the front glacis, some cast texture but it’s not overdone. I don’t think I’ll be converting one of these into a “orphan” Operation Cobra tank because I have a feeling that Takom is going to release a kit of that version in the next year or so, if they haven’t released one in a couple of years then I’ll consider converting one of these to add to the Operation Cobra collection that I already have. Tamiya, two DML, a Border Models, an Asuka, an Italeri, and a partially build Academy too…Hopefully Takom releases their own version to save me the trouble of converting yet another one of these…
If Takom does release a break out Sherman, I hope that they include both the markings for both the 2nd and the 3rd AD with the different corresponding hedgerow devices, the Cullen and the Douglas devices…fingers crossed, it’d be nice not to have to scratch build those..
Glad to help.I looked up Formations stuff and John produces an M4a1 with the cast in applique armour patches.Im definately going to try and do a U.K Sherman 2 in Normandy.Some units used to cut up the sandskirts and mount them on rear hull sides where the tools are and use it as a stowage box set up.
