M4A2 SHERMAN "U.S. MARINES" 1/35 - ACADEMY

[mindphaser]

Academy homepage (http://www.academy.co.kr/en2/pla/pla_detail.html?p_mode=1&id=369)

[dharper]

This is indeed "Great News". It looks like Academy corrected the angle of the upper rear hull plate!! Way to go Academy!! The markings shown on this model are not correct for the Late production M4A2 shown here. These markings are from a USMC M4A3 on Iwo Jima. It's a real minor point though, kit decals are the first thing I toss out of any kit.

An interesting note is the wading gear that comes with this kit, it is the second generation style seen in WWII (Saipan, Peleliu, Okinawa) on this very type of Late production M4A2s. This set up was a factory produced kit that was a redesign of the original factory designed product.

I recently obtained copies of the official "After Action Reports" from several of the USMC Tank battalions on Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. They give some details of this wading gear and its use in action. One interesting aspect was that, in the Saipan report, in the recommendations section it states that the rear most stack should be mounted with the exhaust outlet facing towards the rear of the vehicle instead of facing forward (as shown in the Academy box art). The reason for this was the fact that the hot exhaust stream was sucked back into the engine compartment causing the engine to run much hotter than normal, causing some overheating problems. Two photos below illustrate the change.

http://www.harpercastings.com/images/image_posts/GOLDBRICK%20JRcp.jpg

This photo shows a Late Production M4A2 named "GOLDBRICK jr." coming ashore on Saipan with the stacks both facing forwards.


http://www.harpercastings.com/images/image_posts/95492cp.jpg

Here is a Late Production M4A2 coming ashore at Peleliu with the rear stack facing to the rear to prevent the overheating.

[general zod]

I wonder how hard it would be to change the direction of that rear stack

[dharper]

Simple, Just turn it around. It's only the top piece.

[tazz]

I Cant waite to get this model.
it looks awsome,

[mindphaser]

as me ;)

[mindphaser]

The first in box review by Terry Ashley you can find on PMMS (http://pmms.webace.com.au/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd13203.htm)
It looks very nice :thumb:

[mindphaser]

This is indeed "Great News". It looks like Academy corrected the angle of the upper rear hull plate!! Way to go Academy!! The markings shown on this model are not correct for the Late production M4A2 shown here. These markings are from a USMC M4A3 on Iwo Jima. It's a real minor point though, kit decals are the first thing I toss out of any kit.

btw. acccording to me the "NITEMARE II" was painted with more than one colour ;) Am I right, David?

http://plastikova.valka.cz/usmc/nitemare_detail.jpg

[dharper]

No, it was actually written on the tank with a piece of white chalk. You might be seeing a bit of a shadow cast by a thin piece of sheet metal that was mounted on the top edge of the side armor. Or else the writer applied more pressure to the wood on some words.

[mindphaser]

2 David: I described it badly. I thougth that the whole tank was painted with more than one colour and not as Italeri and Academy present in their models.

[blood_or_guts]

cany any one give me some advice to convert this model to and M4A1