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MR Models
M4 Sherman Turret
MR Models Set#MR-4805
1:48 Scale
Review by Terry Ashley

TamiyaMR Models have released additional updates for the Tamiya 1:48 Sherman (kit #32505) with this set providing a replacement early low bustle turret with M34 gun mount and appliqué cheek armour.

The set consists of 29 parts in light grey resin 2 in clear resin and a metal 75mm M3 barrel. The quality of the resin casting is very good with just the usual casting blocks to be removed and some resin film inside the turret openings to be removed.
The large casting block on the back of the turret is easy to remove with a razor saw but does eliminate the surface texture on the back of the bustle which isn’t that noticeable at the end of the day.

The hollow turret has subtle cast surface texture with casting numbers on the roof that could be sanded down a little for this scale and has the front shield cast in place with separate pistol port and periscopes. All other details are included in the casting such as the lifting eyes that need fine resin film removed from their insides and nicely defined ventilator, periscope housings and weld beads on the appliqué cheek armour.
The clear resin periscopes have to be trimmed in length to fit the openings but this is quite easy but you will have to add the periscope cover flaps from thin card.

The turret is designed to take the hatch ring from the Tamiya kit which fits perfectly as does the resin pistol port hatch and there is also a movable gun breech for the inside which is trapped against the back of the shield by two bearings and you have to be sparing with the cyanoacrylate to ensue this moves after assembly.

Two rotor shields are provided; the early type with separate MG shield and the second type with cheek armour guards, but unfortunately these are not even with one being slightly lower on the shield than the other but isn’t that noticeable after the barrel is fitted.

After fitting the gun breech you have to drill out the locating hole for the metal barrel which fits snugly through the rotor shield into the breech and importantly the barrel length matches the 1:48 plans in the Hunnicutt Sherman book exactly as does the turret size.

The lower Tamiya turret ring (part D14) has to have the rear bustle section removed to fit the resin turret but this is quite an easy job. As a bonus you also get a replacement radio pot for the right of the front plate that requires the kit pot to be removed and the small indentation above the pot filled, don’t worry about the hole in the hull as the new pot will cover this but not the indentation.

Fitting the new pot is then easy but note it should sit slightly lower on the glacis than the original pot in the Tamiya kit and referring to references will determine the correct position.

Two .30 cal MG barrels ends, a searchlight plus three .50cal and three .30cal ammo boxes complete the set to muse as required.

If you wanted to add further detail to the turret there is the Gaso.Line Sherman update set (#GAS48031) available with the resin hatch ring fitting perfectly to the MR turret and the Hauler Etched detail set (#HLX48001) for the Tamiya Sherman.

Conclusion:
A nicely detailed early 75mm turret with subtle cast texture to replace the smooth Tamiya turret with the metal barrel and other parts a nice bonus and will greatly improve the final kit as well as offering the earlier turret option.

Highly recommended for 1:48 fans.

Resin and metal parts
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MR Models
Turret overhead view with barrel fitted and Tamiya hatch ring in place
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Left and right views of turret
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Inside turret view of gun breech
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Tamiya lower turret ring modifications
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Two views of the new radio pot added to the Tamiya hull
note filled indentation from old pot

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References:
SHERMAN A History of the American Medium Tank
R.P.Hunnicutt. Presidio Books
ISBN 0-89141-080-5
book
Modeler's Guide to the Sherman
MMIR Special.
Ampersand Publishing Company, Inc
book

Thanks to MR Models for the review set.
MR Models are available direct from MR Models or VLS/ModelMecca in the US.



Page created 27 July 2005

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