They have some really awesome resin kits & accessories, but does it really take 3-6 weeks for an order to arrive like they say on their website? [:O]
I’ve personally never had to wait that long (I live in MI). I never recall it being extraordinarily long whatsoever – Rob Ervin has a fantastic reputation for quality and customer service. Maybe if the item you’re requesting is out of stock, it might require him to cast a fresh one for you but that’d be it. Just give him a call – one of the nicest vendors out there – he really enjoys his company and the company of other modellers.
RC
I’m new to the armor stuff but have been looking around to try and find what needs to be done to build an accurate ETO Sherman. I had never heard of Formations until I saw this thread, and I’m interested in the parts they offer. Yesterday I also found complete resin Sherman kits offered by Resicast in England. Aside from the advantage of buying domestically from Formations, what is the better option: upgrade parts from Formation added to a plastic kit, or a complete resin kit from Resicast? Who has the better quality and easier to handle castings? Working with resin is no problem, as my usual subjects are HO scale resin freight cars, but I know the quality in those can vary widely by manufactuer. Thanks in advance for the help. [:)]
There are many options these days. It all depends on what you want to build. I’m a proud Shermanholic and am pretty knowledgable about what’s out there in order to build which most accurate version. LMK what you want to build and which timeframe, which theatre of operations, which combatant nation (US, UK, Can, Soviet, French, Pole, S African, NZ, China, captured German, etc)
For a quick rundown of variants, go to my article here:
http://www.usarmymodels.com/ARTICLES/articles.html
RC
I live in Campbell, CA - and have experienced nothing but swift and wonderful service from Formations Models. I recommend ordering direct from Rob Ervin. No order ever took longer than five calendar days to reach me, and the quality has always been A1. Jim
Thanks for the info T26E4! I’m not really in a rush for anything except maybe the pioneer tool set (for my Italeri M4A1). I’m thinking of converting my DML M4A1 into a more true early version, but still use DML’s hull & turret. I read Terry Ashley’s review comparison of early M4 suspensions (M3?) and want to go that route, but when I saw all the other items Formatons has my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets! [:D] Fortunately I just got my Xmas bonus from work!! I’ll take at look at the Resicast site and see what they have to offer.
Hey GunTruck! Nice to meet ya! I live way across the bay in Hercules! Looks like I’ll be placing an order with Mr Ervin next week!! With the holidays and all I don’t expect a quick delivery, but maybe I’ll get lucky!
Hi Buffle: Yes Rob has a sweet early M4A1 upper hull. You might think about replacing the DML 75mm turret while you’re at it. (You want Formations’ 75mm low bustle turret)
Read the Italeri M4A1 tweaks list on the site I listed earlier. Lots of good hints there.
Another company’s wares to consider are www.chesapeakemodels.com. CMD has been around a long time. Also www.tankworkshop.com.
And watch out for that Jim Lewis guy. He’ll have you building too much modern stuff in no time! [:D]
Regards, Roy
heh heh (in my best Obi-Wan Kenobi voice) …you WANT to build Modern Armor…
he also has all metal weld together kits correct?
I wouldn’t worry too much about Jim trying to get you to go modern. I have made personal observations that Jim has become a Shermanaholic like you and I.
Buffle, don’t forget to visit the SVSM show in Santa Clara in April.
Heh heh - Shermans Rule! 
Belated Merry Christmas!! Sorry for the late response, been doing the holiday thing (no model work though[:(]).
Working on the Ital M4A1 has got me really interested in Shermans. I’ve got 2 in my stash now and plan on adding 3 more! I need to finish my WWII armor first, then move on to modern armor. I can’t wait to place an M3 Stuart next to an M1 Abrams!
toadmanstankpictures, thanks for the tip on the SVSM show! I’ll definitely be going, it will be my first one!
T26E4, thanks for that link to the usarmymodels.com site; that is very helpful information. What are your thoughts on using the Formations M4A1 Dry Stowage upper hull and turret set along with the Formations M4/M4A1 lower hull and just avoiding using a donor plastic kit all together, except for the road wheels and bits such as that versus upgrading a plastic kit? Also, are the Formations hulls and turrets thin enough to enable using the Verlinden engine set and interior sets? I have some reference material ( Squadron and Osprey books, various FSM back issues) on the way, but I’m leaning toward doing an M4A1 with the 75mm gun.
As far as a donor kit, Rob now has enough stuff to go with a totally resin M4A1 (among others), but some of us still like donor kits for ease of assembly (I personally prefer styrene versus resin). When the DML M4A1 (#6048) was very hard to get I picked up a complete M4A1 conversion from Formations and it looks great. Rob has so many Sherman bits and pieces that it makes your head swim just going over his listing. He is a fellow “Shermanoholic” and really gets the small stuff down right.
I think the reason the website says "three to six weeks’ is that like any small producer, he may be out of an item and have to cast more. He also goes out of town to attend AMPS and IPMS meets (I was fortunate enough to meet him in KC a couple years ago).
Order with cofidence!