M4A3E8 Sherman

Manufacturer: Hasegawa (#31115)

Another one of Hasegawa'searlier releases, this is a kit that has very good detail andmoldings, but is far too large for an accurate 1/72nd scale kit.

Most of the detail is verywell done, although the hull hatches are molded closed, and thetools are molded onto the hull. It is about a millimeter toowide, and five or six mm too long. I think the length scales outto about 1/68 or so, and the width around 1/71.

The turret is mostly welldone, with open hatches, and a very nice gun barrel. It is just abit too large, perhaps around 1/71, and the sides of the turretdirectly behind the gun mantlet are too vertical; there should bea little bit of a slope to them. Not as much as on the Revellturret, but more than is represented here.

The sprockets are poor,and the headlight guards are also poorly detailed, but the roadwheels look pretty good (but are also too large).

The tracks are typicalHasegawa garbage. But considering how old this kit is, I guessthat's to be expected.

The decals includemarkings for two tanks of unknown US Army units, and one vehiclefrom the Japanese GSDF.