Looks like Border models finally released the 76mm large hatch…the original artwork is been changed from this
To this
I wonder if they had to go back and redo the late large hatch hull?
Lot’s of controversy on this one when the T-23 turret was shown on the mid production small hatch hull…
I saw this unboxing video and it looks okay?
For that price Border can keep them. Too many outstanding RFM and Asuka kits of the same variant already on the market, much more accurate and detailed.
you’re not wrong…the Asuka kit is available for under $40 bucks at scalehobbyist.com
and the thing about the Asuka is that you can convert into an Operation Cobra version much easier than this one…
I still think I’ll be ordering one these new Border kits tho…I will say this about this kit, that link to link T-48 track looks fantastic and it comes with a jig and everything, plus the kit comes with some cool stowage items too…overall it might not be that bad of a value at $54 bucks if you don’t have to buy AM tracks and stowage, but not much is included in decals, you’ll have to settle for building it as a Polish one in the ETO, English one in Italy, or later stage American tank in the ETO without any markings…or you can use spares like I will, I have tons…
I forgot to point out that while we do have several options at building a large hatch M4A1 76mm, I don’t believe there is an RFM one out yet, but hopefully they do produce one, especially with a full interior…that would be amazing…
I know of, the really old Italeri, the old DML, the Tamiya one that came out like 10-12 years (?) ago as an Israeli tank, the Asuka release from 2019(?) and then this one that Border is making now…
I ordered both the Borders Model 75mm and big hatch 76mm…I know the decals aren’t accurate on either of these, but the sprues on the 75mm look good, I only wish they’d included either the older 3 piece tranny. cover or the later wider mantlet, both of those additions would’ve given us more alternatives for subjects…I’m not happy with the decals but I like the extra stowage items sprue…both kits include a turned metal barrel as well…
I like the 75mm version better, I think it’s a better kit overall than the 76mm kit…on the 76mm kit, I think that the rear hull on the 76mm version has a very obvious angle in the back, I was under the impression that the rear hull on the large hatch should be straight up and down without a slope, I was hoping that the Sherman experts can weigh in on this…
I know there were different foundaries that made these castings so am wondering if there was one in particular that made a casting with a an angled rear upper hull plate? It’s the type of rear hull casting that goes straight across without the small cutaway on the rear plate like on some A1s
A couple of odd things I noticed on these kits, both feature the straight return roller bracket with the pillow under the roller…I think it’s the same sprue just that one comes on both kits just on the 76mm with the solid wheels and the 75mm comes with the spoked wheels, otherwise I think the bogey sprue is identical. Another strange thing is that the 75mm kit has the sand shield mounting brackets molded on to the bottom edge of the hull and the 76mm version not only does not included that molded on but it also has no sand shield brackets available to add to the side of the tank whether in plastic or in photo etch…Just seems odd that they molded that feature on the 75mm and then completely ignored it on the 76mm.
Another strange thing on the 76mm is that the instructions, the color plates, and even the box art features a Sherman with the early barrel without the thread protector but that barrel is not included in the kit…the kit does have two barrel options, the muzzle brake option in plastic and the turned metal barrel features the thread protector…I suppose I could always sand down the metal barrel to get rid of the thread protector or I could just find a replacement barrel in my spares.
The turret on the 76mm looks to be a mix of early and later features, it has the welded fittings for the dustcover molded on in the front but it’s clearly an older turret with double door loaders hatch…it would not be hard to modify this turret for an Operation Cobra Sherman but it would be more difficult to remove the molded on ventilator in the front of the hull… to modify the turret you just remove the grommets for the dust cover and leave off the rear ventilator and then add the extra armor patter between the hatches, plus lower the spare barrel mounts for the 50 cal. you might also have to add the earlier split hatch as well. With the hull having that angle in the back and the ventilator molded on in the front, I’m not sure it can be used for an breakout Sherman…
would be awesome if someone produced this tank OOTB, early turret, early hull, correct markings for the two divisions that had these in Normandy, the correct suspension, and the Cullin device shown here…RFM has been releasing very specific variants on their kits to build Flat Foot Floogie and Thunderbolt etc…I wonder if they produce a large hatch M4A1 if they’ll do something like that for “In the Mood” or other Operation Cobra 76mm A1s
An important mistake is that, going by other reviews, Border repurposed the 76 mm turret’s loader’s hatch for the commander’s hatch on the 75 mm kit. The two look the same at first glance, but the outer ring of the 76 mm hatch is much flatter than that of the 75 mm.
Please don’t take offense, but in these four posts you’ve just listed most of the reasons that these two kits have no reason to exist. Just too many errors. I’d rather throw my money at a good, accurate Asuka or RFM kit and a little Value Gear for the same price.
No worries and why would I take offense? I didn’t design them and I bought them with my eyes open knowing that there was some trouble ahead 
It’s a disease really, like a challenge to see if I can’t make something out of these kits OOTB or maybe using a bunch of my spare parts to make an accurate version…
You guys, did a version of the M4A1 large hatch feature an angled rear upper hull casting? I’ve been looking at period photos and I’ll be darned, some of them seem to have that angle while others don’t…is it an optical illusion or did some of those M4A1 hulls have an angle in the rear?
They did repurpose the same hatch and they probably figured most people buying this wouldn’t even care or notice? I already knew that this as a potential issue because a lot of these manufacturers try to put out different versions with the same sprues…
Unlike folks that don’t build as many Sherman kits as I do, feel kinda protected by my vast collection of Sherman 1/35 scale spare parts…it’s disgusting really, but I have two large plastic bins with six drawers each with everything separated and for the most part cleaned and sanded, I’ve put a lot of work into my spares bin…turrets, hatches, FDAs, tracks, wheels, barrels, decals, hulls, suspension sets, tools, stowage items etc…
In the past I’ve actually built a full tank just out grabbing stuff out of those drawers as a challenge. Like I said I’m a bit nuts and I know it and I don’t give a rip😆
Just did some extensive research and searching just to make sure - all M4A1 hulls have a vertical rear hull side.
I’ll wait for RFM, Meng or Asuka etc to do one this version or pass on building it.
Yep, the ones modified in Israel for better airflow over the radiators for the retrofitted Cummins diesel engine.
But, of course, these had the back of the upper hull cut off and then re-attached at an angle. You can see the weld fillet for that below the tail light, where the rearmost stay for the mudguard sits against the hull.
Most likely.
I don’t have quite that much, but I do have the box of an AFV Club Churchill AVRE with SBG bridge full of Sherman parts, plus an Asuka Sherman box full of Sherman suspension parts. Most of these sorted into plastic bags and plastic boxes with compartments, else it would be a nightmare to find anything at all in them.
I hope you guys can see the angle on these two photos. Pretty sure it wasn’t molded like that at the foundry. Yes, I’m aware of the Israeli modification but they also added an extension in the middle part which hung over top of the filters like in the photo that Jakko posted.
