Codename: Sherman 2016 - 3pc Differential Housing Conversion 210122

[Pinky]

It could be M4/Firefly.

Yes, but unlike the others it has the co-driver's hatch moulded shut. 

[ultravanillasmurf]

Good point.

The print is dated 11 October, so it might be an older print (there is also something across the driver's hatch.

[H0ffmn]

Good point.

The print is dated 11 October, so it might be an older print (there is also something across the driver's hatch.

It's a U.S. driver figure.They're just test shots. I doubt that the M-4 hull will be molded that way

[Rubicon Models]

This is the first time we are showing off this TS plastic sprue which differs from our
normal layout design.

Not able to show you the intricate details on this sprue right away, but this will be our
"breakout of the box" approach to a more creative and effective way to manufacture
even better quality products at a competitive price. Can you figure out what this sprue
contains?



Enjoy!

[H0ffmn]

Both the intermediate and late M4A2 hulls,optional sand shields or regular fenders,rear section of sand shields, front and rear lower hull with exhausts and shield,frontal armor for over the small hatch protrusions on the hull. I cannot tell what the lower center section on the sprue is supposed to be,maybe upper torsos and heads for crew figures?
I hope that you include three hull options for the M4A1 kit that you have listed as an upcoming project

[ultravanillasmurf]

Yay!

First usable Sherman (Sherman III small hatch), assuming a 75mm turret. 

[H0ffmn]

Usable Sherman?? The turret with the 76mm gun wouldn't be used on the small hatch hull, so yes, a 75mm gun and turret should be included in their M4A2 kit.I can't wait to see their M4A1 prototype and options

[ultravanillasmurf]

Usable Sherman?? The turret with the 76mm gun wouldn't be used on the small hatch hull, so yes, a 75mm gun and turret should be included in their M4A2 kit.I can't wait to see their M4A1 prototype and options

Me too (Sherman II).

[Pinky]

Looks like Hoffman identified all the parts.

It looks as though Rubicon are including the initial British-pattern sand shields in sections so that the rear sections can be attached to the rear deck to hold stowage (some units did this, especially in the Mediterranean). If so, that's very ingenious.

The kit seems to include a late version of the exhaust deflector, but I can't see the earlier version (i.e. the same as the M10 has).  I hope it's going to be on another sprue.  It's also unclear whether the hull is the early production version with direct vision slots in the glacis, or the mid-production version without.

Hopefully the kit will include both 75mm and 76mm turrets - and the 75mm turret will include the initial M34 gun mount with the narrow gun shield.  The late 'large hatch' hull would also require the later 'high bustle' 75mm turret - which would mean including 3 turrets!  As 75mm-armed M4A2s didn't have 'wet' stowage, it should also have (optional, not moulded-on) hull appliqué armour.

A lot of M4A2s (especially Soviet vehicles) had steel cleat tracks.  It would be good if the kit came with these.  It may be easier to mould the tread detail too.

Potentially, the options are:

- Sherman III, as used by the British Army in Tunisia (but only if it has the early hull and M34 gun mount) as well as Sicily and Italy.  The  mid-production hull was used in Sicily and Italy - many still had the M34 gun mount.  The mid-production version was also used by the British 8th Armoured Brigade and 27th Armoured Brigade in NW Europe.

- M4A2 ('small hatch'), as used by the US Marines (from November 1943) and the Red Army.  Most if not all of these were mid-production vehicles.

- M4A2 ('large hatch'), as used by the US Marines (in small numbers) and the Red Army (the British don't seem to have used them).

- M4A2(76mm)(W), as used exclusively by the Red Army.

However, that seems over-ambitious - I can't see Rubicon being able to squeeze so much into a single box.  If I were Rubicon, I'd only include the early 75mm turret and the 76mm turret, as the 75mm 'large hatch' version is the least important/useful M4A2 variant.

[H0ffmn]

It sort of looks like it is not, unfortunately, the early hull with the direct vision flaps. It looks like the slots in front of the driver hatches are periscopes. The direct vision slots would be positioned a little lower, and the would be a little wider than the rectagles in  the image

[Pinky]

It sort of looks like it is not, unfortunately, the early hull with the direct vision flaps. It looks like the slots in front of the driver hatches are periscopes. The direct vision slots would be positioned a little lower, and the would be a little wider than the rectagles in  the image

Your eyes are better than mine, HOffman!

I did some more research.  It looks as though the Soviets didn't get the early production M4A2 with direct vision slots; deliveries began with the mid-production version.  Most of the 75mm-armed M4A2 production went to the British and Commonwealth.

The 'large hatch' hull on 75mm-armed M4A2s should have appliqué armour plates on the sides, as it didn't have so-called 'wet' ammunition stowage.  Wet stowage was only introduced with the 76mm-armed version (which therefore didn't have the appliqué armour).

I've edited my earlier post.

[Rubicon Models]

There is a lot of good educated guesses on such a blurred images.  We can't post
a clear image of the sprue until all the related TS1 sprues are ready.

If you look at the creation date of this post, it was Feb 17, 2016.  We had achieved
a lot for the last eleven months!  A quick review...

1) M4A3/M4A3E8 4-sprue kit almost done
2) M4A2 US/British - hull sprue done
3) 75/105mm turret - mould almost done
4) M4 US/British - mould almost done
5) M4A1 US/British - digital drawing in progress

Not bad for such a complicated project!  We will try to post more images when
the plastic sprues become available.

PS: That does not include the various tracks and suspensions that were done
relating to these production models.

[ultravanillasmurf]

Excellent.

A lot of good work.

[Rubicon Models]

Hopefully the kit will include both 75mm and 76mm turrets - and the 75mm turret
will include the initial M34 gun mount with the narrow gun shield.  The late 'large
hatch' hull would also require the later 'high bustle' 75mm turret - which would
mean including 3 turrets!  As 75mm-armed M4A2s didn't have 'wet' stowage, it
should also have (optional, not moulded-on) hull appliqué armour.

We have decided not to include both 75mm and 76mm turrets in a single product. 
BUT we might include them in two separate product codes.

Here is a brief preview for the 75mm turret:
- includes both high and low bustle turrets
- includes both 75mm & 105mm gun - 4 gun barrels in total
- 4 mantlet choices
- flamethrower options
- two complete turrets

We cannot include all possible choices or options, but we have make both turret
designs to be as common as possible.  We have plans to release special "resin"
versions in the near future too!

[Pinky]

So there will be a 'standard' 75mm turret sprue?  It makes sense, I guess, but in the case of the M4A2 you end up with (as I tried to explain) a relatively unimportant variant and exclude an important one.  You'll have a similar issue with the M4A1.

I hope you remembered the extra ventilator for the 105mm turret...