Overview: MR Models new 1/48 scale sets for TAM's M4 Sherman - Part 1

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hi all,

after receiving samples of MR Models new Upgrades/Conversions for Tamiya’s 1/48 scale M4 Sherman, I decided to do a quick overview on the sets.

  • MR-4806 M4 Sherman roadwheels w/stamped ribs

First is a set of stamped spoked roadwheels and idler wheels for the Sherman. The bag has fourteen roadwheels and two idler wheels cast in grey-green resin. Casting itself is good with crisp detail and only a small casting block on each wheel allowing for easy removal. For the size of the parts (1/48 scale ) the detail is excellent. The roadwheels have well defined details including the grease plugs, relief valves and the twelve small retaining rivets (!) around the rim. The two stamped idler wheels are perfectly cast also featuring all the small details and have nicely done hubs. The axles holes are drilled out making the wheels ready for use.

  • MR-4809 M3 gun w/ narrow M34 mantlet

As an option to # MR-4805 this sets only gives you the mantlet parts for the early M34 mantlet instead of a whole new turret. It comes with a replacement inner mantlet for the turret with both styles of narrow M34 mantlets ( plain early type or later version with barrel protection extensions ), the barrel shield for the coaxial MG, two resin MG barrels, separate pistol port, metal barrel, trunnion + bearing and breech block for the 75 mm M3 gun. The casting of the parts is good with some care necessary while removing the mantlet parts from the casting blocks. The inner mantlet is cast with the lift rings and nice screw head details, but has no casting number. The fit of the whole gun assembly is very good with the metal barrel perfectly sitting in the resin parts (mounted through the outer mantlet into the inner gun assembly). If carefully installed the gun will be fully moveable. Sadly, the barrel is lacking the flared muzzle.

  • MR-4810 Drive sprocket & idler wheels

Last is a replacement set containing two drive sprocket wheels and four idler wheels for the Sherman. You get the two stamped idler wheels from set # MR-4806 as well as two welded idler wheels. Casting of the parts is good with nicely reproduced details (see above). The drive sprocket wheels are cast in two parts each with beautiful bolts on both sides of the drive sprocket wheels. After some minor cleanup they are ready for use. Again some care should be taken while removing them from their casting blocks.

A full review should be available on PMMS site in the future as I send out samples to Terry.

HTH

Frank

2

Next are the more extensive sets (Part 2):

  • MR-4804 Firefly IC Conversion/Upgrade

First is a little conversion to convert Tamiya’s M4 into a British Firefly IC. The set comes with new turret, which is used together with the kit parts D2, D4, D5. Beside this it contains a new mantlet, a separate pistol port, a metal barrel, trunnion + bearings and a breech block for the 17 Pdr. gun, both types of muzzle brakes (Mk. 1 and 2), a gun travel lock, hull first aid box, hull armored MG plug, gun cleaning rods, fire extinguishers, smoke emitters, tow hook device, a searchlight, new antenna mount for glacis plate, ammunition boxes cal.30 (3) and cal.50 (3) as well as two periscopes in clear plastic. Casting of the parts is good. Most of the smaller parts are updates to the hull for doing a British Firefly tank like the two fire extinguishers, the gun cleaning rods, the first aid box and the smoke emitters for the hull rear, the hull MG plug, the towing device (6 parts) as well as the gun travel lock. Starting with the turret, you get a full resin turret with welded on turret box at the rear, subtle casting texture on the surfaces and lift rings in place. The searchlight, the pistol port and the loader’s hatch lid (with inner and outer details) are separate parts. The interior shows basic radio equipment details at the turret rear. Inner gun assembly is made up of four parts including trunnion, bearings and the massive breeck block of the 17 Pdr. gun. It will remain moveable if carefully installed. Beside this you get a new outer mantlet with coaxial MG and a beautiful done metal barrel with two optional resin muzzle brakes with the distinctive shape of the 17 Pdr. guns. These aren’t totally hollow, but can easily drilled out if wished. The fit of the metal and resin parts in the gun assembly is very good. All in all a very nice set including a lot of parts to reflect all the changes done by the British to the basic design of the Sherman.

  • MR-4805 Sherman early 75 mm turret w/ narrow M34 mantlet

This set provides the modeler with an early production Sherman turret without loader’s hatch and with the narrow M34 mantlet. Actually you get a new upper turret, which is used together with the kit parts D2, D4, D5 and D 14. The sets contains a resin turret, both styles of narrow M34 mantlets ( plain early type or the later version with the barrel protection extensions ), the barrel shield for the coaxial MG, two resin MG barrels with nice cooling jacket, a separate pistol port, a metal barrel, trunnion + bearing and a breech block for the M3 gun, a searchlight, new antenna mount for glacis plate, ammunition boxes cal.30 (3) and cal.50 (3) as well as two periscopes in clear plastic. Casting of the parts is good with all parts being numbered on the casting blocks and in the instructions sheet. The inner gun assembly is made up of four parts including the trunnion, bearings and the nicely cast breech block. It will remain moveable if carefully installed. Both mantlets are well done with the barrel shield for the MG having a collar to insure good fit og the resin barrel. One letdown is, that the metal barrel for the M3 gun lacks the flared muzzle. The turret itself has a subtle casting texture and is cast with the cheek appliquie plate and the five lift rings in place. The pistol port and the searchlight being separate parts. Especially nice are the finely reproduced casting numbers on the turret roof. In the rear of the turret is some basic radio equipment detail present. Two periscopes made of clear plastic are also incuded. Yet, they are a bit too wide so some minor sanding is equired to make them fit into their openings in the turret roof. A nice touch is the inclusion of a new antenna mount for the glacis plate to replace the Tamiya part, which is of wrong shape.

Sum up:
Overall, these are two really nice sets allowing for some quite different looking Shermans. Personally, I would recommend to use Hauler’s separate resin tools and the PE set to further improve the upper hull. If you want a correct early M3 gun with flared muzzle, you can either got with ARMO or the new Armour Workshop barrel. Beside this TWS offers a resin replacement hull for the Tamiya kit, which is very nice, too

HTH

Frank

My sincere thanks to MR Models for the samples!

3

Thanks for the indepth review - any change of some pictures?

4

[:)] Thanks, but this is only a quick overview as I noted in the headline because I don’t have the time for doing an extensive and detailed review. Therefore I send samples to Terry Ashley for doing the really “hard work” :slight_smile: I was promised to get some pictures of Shermans built with these sets and/or images of the sets, but I haven’t received them yet. The guys from MR Models are quite busy at the moment doing big 1/10 scale models for the German Industry. So there’s little time for the scale modeling items. Nevertheless, the stowage sets (US and British) as well as the set for the Tiger I shall follow shortly.

A number of yet not listed items is planned for the future. I do will try to post some short updates here.

HTH

Frank