WWII U.S. Armored Division Series
U.S. M4A3 76mm Sherman

Bandai, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

FirstLook

When Bandai decided to see if they could compete with the other Japanese companies on the world market in 1973, they opted instead of 1/35 scale to go with 1/48. This made their models not only cheaper but gave them the flexibility to include interiors for many of the kits as well as crews and detail parts which were a plus. At the time they came out, their only competition in this scale was the line from Aurora which were close to 20 years old and harkened back to the start of plastic modeling.

Fast forward to the present and now Tamiya, Hobby Boss, and other companies have gotten into 1/48 scale in a major way with new mold kits. Tamiya does not include figures with their kits but now offers options to match specific vehicles at set times in WWII. But unlike their 1970s armor kits if you want figures they are now in separate sets needing separate purchase as well.

This kit – while missing options – builds up into a early production M4A3 with VVSS suspension,  an M1A1 76mm gun and the T23 style turret with the vision cupola for the commander and the split ring hatch for the loader with .50 caliber machine gun. It has the twin exhausts but no deflector assembly at the rear. The tracks are also T51 smooth style ones rather than more common T48 or T54 tracks. The drivers are the “lace” type and the road wheels and idlers are the solid cast type.

The GAA engine comes in 14 parts with separate fan drives and twin fans and radiators. The driveline includes the drive shaft and transmission. Separate engine deck hatches permit either open or closed options and all tools are separate.

The turret details are similar in nature with a gun breech and guard assembly, sight, machine gun, and crew seats with an ammo ready rack as well. The directions indicate that the crew members need to be assembled and placed in the tank before final assembly; four are provided to include the driver, co-driver, gunner and commander (guess you are out of luck on the loader).

Painting directions are minimal but the decal sheet provides markings for 12 different tank battalions and 10 different individual vehicles. A separate set of equally sketchy directions is included for the crew figures.

Overall this model still holds its own after more than 50 years – it is something of a shame that Bandai is so now taken with anime and Gundams that they have not re-released these kits.

Sprue Layout:

A             56           Running gear

14           32           Four crew figures, partial interior components

C             61           Details, machine guns, skirts, bulkheads

D             55           Turret and details

B             33           Upper hull, engine, interior

-              1              Lower huill

-              2              Silver vinyl track runs