Asuka U.S. Medium Tank M4A3E8 Sherman “Easy Eight” no. 35-020
Panzer Art no. RE35-099 Differential cover for Sherman tank (final model)
Tamiya M-51 no. 35323
Robert Manasherobs books are invaluable, and for this project I can only recommend Vol. 10 https://www.sabingamartin.com/books/sherman10.html
It has pictures of the above vehicle, and a lot of pictures of the M-51 found in the Russian Kubinka museum. The M-51 in the museum is from the Six Day War, so similar to the one, I want to build.
Hi Nikos,
This kit was begun long before the RFM M4A3 kit came out. But I’m not sure, I understand your question? Do you prefer the RFM Sherman kit over the Asuka kits?
“RFM” was the answer to the question for the manufacturer of the transmission cover.
My question has to do with the use of the Asuka hull. Why did you use it? Because of a specific characteristic (the front glacis plate angle) or it was the one you had available for a welded hull M4?
The vehicle in the picture for sure is based on a late, wet hull with large hatches and the 47 degree slope. But only the angle of the upper rear hull will tell, if it is a M4 or M4A3. Or M4A2 for that matter.
By the looks of it: no, it can’t. Which can mean two things: either the hull was from an M4A3 and they cut off the supports, or the hull was not an from M4A3 to start with For the modeller, this is really only relevant if there would be scars, but it’s the kind of detail you’d only want to add if you really want to show that it was an M4A3 to those who pay close attention, IMHO. And the jerrycan is in the way for seeing the angle of the rear plate, so that doesn’t help either.
I just realised something: Did the IDF receive any M4 (105 mm) tanks at all? Because if not, then this one’s hull would have come from an M4A3 — the only large-hatch M4 tanks with welded hull front that were made, were 105 mm howitzer tanks.
I think, but I’m not sure, that 12301-א is an M4 (105 mm), not an M4A3. I can’t see the support on the sponson, but it does look like there’s a lump that could be the air scoop at the back. It’s impossible to say what type 12498-א was, but the tank in front of it has an M4 engine deck, so if 12498-א belonged to the same unit, I would kind of expect it to be an M4 too.
My memory seems to be getting worse than I realised I lost track of why I asked about them in the first place — I thought earlier tonight I was wondering if they had gotten any M4A3 (105) tanks but no, I had asked about M4 (105)s because if they had not, we could rule out the M51 being based on an M4 hull … sigh Your photos prove we can’t, unfortunately.
I have given up on trying to figure what type were Israeli M51. It is hopeless with so many types of hulls, engines, turrets etc finding their way to Israel.
Anyway, back to the beautiful build. A detail I notice recently on Israeli HVSS suspensions is this minor modification:
The question is relevant here, though, because of this thread apparently being about an attempt to recreate the vehicle in the pictures, 814794-א. Getting that as right as possible would mean trying to work out the hull type.
Exactly. I want to replicate 814794-Y, among other reasons, because I can get decals for it from SabingaMartin.
Since I began this kit some years ago, resources were fever than today, so I began with the Asuka M4A3 kit.
I do have a few photographs showing a M-51 based on the M4 hull. In this photo, if you look at the angle of the upper rear hull, and compare the near vertical angle of the upper rear hull with the vertical jerry can on the right rear fender, then I think this photo is evidence af a M-51 based on a M4 hull. In the other picture, the angle of the upper rear hull is far from the vertical of the jerry can, and thus, this picture depicts a M-51 on the M4A3 hull.
For the modeller, this is really only relevant if there would be scars, but it’s the kind of detail you’d only want to add if you really want to show that it was an M4A3 to those who pay close attention, IMHO. And the jerrycan is in the way for seeing the angle of the rear plate, so that doesn’t help either.
I lost track of why I asked about them in the first place — I thought earlier tonight I was wondering if they had gotten any M4A3 (105) tanks but no, I had asked about M4 (105)s because if they had not, we could rule out the M51 being based on an M4 hull … sigh Your photos prove we can’t, unfortunately.
