The M4 Sherman is the most famous American tank of WWII, and more than
50,000 examples of the medium tank were produced. It formed the backbone
of innumerable American, British and Commonwealth armored formations.
The popular Sherman was thus the logical choice when Dragon’s design
team sought a subject for their next 1/6 scale plastic kit project. The
specific Sherman variant selected is an M4A3 fitted with a 105mm gun.
This type was a welded-hull tank powered by a 500hp Ford GAA V8 gasoline
engine, and it mounted a 105mm gun suitable for the close-support role.
The M4A3 was the preferred variant for the US Army, meaning it was
widely used in WWII.
This Sherman is a big release for Dragon in more ways than one. It’s
big on accurate details, and although some moldings are large, there is
no deformation of parts. Modelers will find this satisfying kit fits
together precisely. The road wheels rotate, and the tracks with
individual links are well-designed and well-engineered so as to be both
durable and realistic. For greater interest, the tracks come with new
duckbills that were used to improve traction on soft ground. Owners can
traverse the turret and elevate and depress the gun towards any target
they select. The 105mm gun barrel is a newly tooled item. With this
Sherman M4A3 105mm, the Allies have gained armored superiority in terms
of 1/6 scale kits!
