Codename: Sherman 2016 - 3pc Differential Housing Conversion 210122

[Rubicon Models]

Further to our discussion on the new M4A3/M4A3E8 Anniversary Box,
here is a brief proposed feature list...










Enjoy!

[Pinky]

The "Easy Eight' version is very welcome.  If you're also providing the tracks with extended end connectors, they will be useful for fitting to (for instance) an M36.

Will it include both the early and late production 76mm turret?  Very few M4A3s had the early 76mm turret, as I mentioned before.  If you left out the early turret, and one set of tracks, there's almost enough parts for 2 complete tanks...

[Yaquir]

Great!

[Rubicon Models]

People had been asking where we are going to include the 75/105mm turret?
There are a lot of M4 variants that we can incorporate the new turret...
More on the subject later!











Enjoy!

[Foz]

Nice to see the M4A4 make an appearance.  I hope you're going to do the hull with bow MG too?
The Sherman III you has a 75mm turret, I believe, not the 76mm as you noted.

Any thoughts on the early & late production M4A1s with cast hulls?

[ripley]

Nice selection of Shermans .  About the Sherman III , those added on pieces on the rear engine deck  are actually the  upside down fr fender extension / sand shield  , removed and welded to the rear deck as stowage holders . If used there should be no full fender / and shield . Seen quite a lot in North Africa , IRC when the veteran units arrived in Normandy with new tanks  they welded them back on the rear decks . Picture in British Tanks In Normandy by Ludovic Fortin , page-42 , 44 , 138 ( Histoire & Collections ) . I also realize these pictures are just cad renderings , actual production will be different , just thought to give you a heads up in case you didn't know what they were .

[Rubicon Models]

Nice to see the M4A4 make an appearance.  I hope you're going to do the hull with bow MG too?

WLG already (sort of) had a M4A4, hence not on our priority list right now.

The Sherman III you has a 75mm turret, I believe, not the 76mm as you noted.

Yes, that was a typo... sorry for the confusion!

Any thoughts on the early & late production M4A1s with cast hulls?

What do you think? 

[Rubicon Models]

Nice selection of Shermans .  About the Sherman III , those added on pieces on the rear engine deck  are actually the  upside down fr fender extension / sand shield  , removed and welded to the rear deck as stowage holders . If used there should be no full fender / and shield . Seen quite a lot in North Africa , IRC when the veteran units arrived in Normandy with new tanks  they welded them back on the rear decks . Picture in British Tanks In Normandy by Ludovic Fortin , page-42 , 44 , 138 ( Histoire & Collections ) . I also realize these pictures are just cad renderings , actual production will be different , just thought to give you a heads up in case you didn't know what they were .

We are aware of this.  We just put most of the options that are possible in the drawings to show you what is available.

[Pinky]

Nice to see the M4A4 make an appearance.

There are no M4A4s in this group.  The Firefly is based on the M4.

The M4A2 with applique armour was a relatively rare version outside the Red Army.  By the time applique armour began to appear, most M4A2 production had been earmarked for the Red Army.  Some examples of this variant saw service with the US Marines, and with the 8th Army in Italy.  It only saw limited service in the NW European theatre - apparently only with 8th Armoured Brigade. 

The earlier M4A2/Sherman III below the M4 was much more common in the British Army - the British received large numbers of these in 1943, and most served in the Mediterranean theatre.  It would be nice if you provided an optional bolted transmission cover for this variant.

None of these variants mounted the 105mm turret, which only appeared on the late (large hatch) M4 and M4A3 hulls.

[Rubicon Models]

Pinky: We are aware of the applique armour on the M4A2.  These 3D drawings are earlier renders, we have removed it from the M4A2 hull, but those on the M4 will remain.

Here is a 3D print from the 3D drawing...


Enjoy! 

[Foz]

Any thoughts on the early & late production M4A1s with cast hulls?

What do you think? 

You'll be rushing them out, because you're wonderful lovely people.
As it goes, my mid-war lists are currently on hold, so no rush.
It's just great you're doing a set of Shermans with interchangeable bits.

There are no M4A4s in this group.  The Firefly is based on the M4.

My mistake, I saw Firefly and thought Vc, not Ic.  Bloody Dyslexia kicks in again.
Either way, a Ic would be useful for me (as would the M4A4s hint hint).

[Pinky]

Pinky: We are aware of the applique armour on the M4A2.  These 3D drawings are earlier renders, we have removed it from the M4A2 hull, but those on the M4 will remain.

It wasn't inaccurate - just a relatively minor variant. 

It's exciting to see the 3-D renders for the M4 and M4A2 (I'm assuming that the late production turret on the M4A2 is just a stand-in).  With the inclusion of crew, they look like the next generation of Rubicon AFV.

[Rubicon Models]

It wasn't inaccurate - just a relatively minor variant. 

We know.  Applique armour on the M4A2 is mostly used during the Sicily campaign.

With the release of the M4A2, we will include a template for the extra applique armour so that customers can use plastic sheets to create them if needed.

[Pinky]

We know.  Applique armour on the M4A2 is mostly used during the Sicily campaign.

Later - in Italy.  Your earlier M4A2 is almost perfect for the Sicily campaign.  He's a typical M4A2 landing in Sicily - I think it has the initial British-manufactured sand shields (rather than the later factory-installed type on your kit) and early pattern track, but otherwise it's the same.

[H0ffmn]

The front upper hull on this M4A2 has the direct vision ports,not the built up armor around the driver and radio operator's small hatches, that Rubicon shows in their 3-D drawings.
 That would be great if Rubicon made the direct vision ports as an option in their upcoming new M-4 kits,as well with the ones that they show in their 3-D drawings. Even as just an alternate front upper hull piece with the direct vision ports