Cyber Hobby 1/35 BEUTEPANZER M4A2 75

KIT #: 6529
PRICE: $60.00 MSRP
DECALS: One option
REVIEWER: Scott Van Aken
NOTES: Limited issue

HISTORY

The M4 Sherman was the most widely produced American tank of WWII, and it equipped several Allied armies. The diesel-engine M4A2 was never used in combat by the U.S. Army, but it was fielded by the USMC, the UK, France, Poland and the Soviet Union. A great many M4A2 Shermans were supplied as Lend Lease vehicles to the USSR during its time of desperate need as it fought for survival. In fact, with approximately 4250 M4A2 tanks sent to Russia, it was supplied in larger numbers than any other British or American tank. Around half of this figure had 75mm guns.

Naturally, it would be normal that some of these would be captured by the Germans and put to use. In fact, I think that nearly all the Axis countries used captured vehicles in battle to help make up for losses that could not easily be replaced.

THE KIT

The Cyberhobby/Dragon 1/35 Sherman's have gotten good feedback about fidelity to scale and the pleasure they are to build. This is especially true of the more recent moldings. Just a week ago, you read Blair Stewart's build article on the Normandy boxing of their M4 version and he was very pleased with the kit. You see, unlike many of Dragon's tanks, this one is not a mass of small parts. In fact, the instruction sheet is almost a pamphlet compared to something like their Tiger. Much of this is due to the simplicity of the Sherman itself, and the rest can be put down to the excellent DS single piece tracks that Cyberhobby/Dragon uses.

Dragon provides just enough in terms of photo etch to make it useful, but not overbearing, something many of us like. As for the features of the kit, here is what Dragon lists:

As mentioned, the instructions are not as large as the norm and from what Blair stated in his article on another boxing, there was no problem with mis-numbered parts. All the color info is Gunze and Model Master. The lone markings option is pretty much basic insignia with a fetching three color camouflage scheme.

CONCLUSIONS

As this is a limited release kit, if you want one you'll have to grab it quick as Shermans are quite popular. It is stated by pundits that the armor tables at model contests are full of "Shermans and Germans". Well now you can have both in one kit!

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org

April 2009

My thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. Get yours today at your favorite shop or on-line retailer.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.

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