I’m looking to build my first armor kit ever. I’ve primarily built military aircraft all my life. I’d like to start off with a 1/35 US tank. Looking for something with nice detail, but not too complicated to build. Easy to read instructions would be nice. I have a tendency to put a kit away if I hit a stumbling block. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Craig
Here are 3 suggestions of WW2 era US tanks.
Tamiya M26 Pershing tank
Tamiya M4A3 105mm Howitzer Sherman
Academy M3 Lee Medium tank
As Rube Goldberg said, “Keep it simple, stupid.” I suggest a M4A3E8 (“Easy Eight”) Sherman from Tamiya(?).
Any of the Tamiya would work fine, dont worry about the accuracy people will complain about till you get more practice
Phil
I kinda disagree with TomZ2. The only M4A3E8 kits by Tamiya are a very ancient, inaccurate, and hard to find one released in the mid-70s (more of a collectors kit than anything else)
http://www.usarmymodels.com/MANUFACTURERS/Tamiya/tamiya3018.html
and their recent M51 Israeli Sherman – which is somewhat complex to build (and not a true US tank in its configuration)
Tamiya’s M4 Sherman Early.
Yeah if you want to take some sheet plastic and cover the open hull sides above the tracks of the Tamiya kit it makes a big difference while being a pretty easy upgrade.
The newer Academy Shermans aren’t half bad either.
Pick one you like.
[:)]
Tamiya’s M4 Sherman Early Production. Dead simple build (I went from in the box to ready for paint in three hours), good-enough detail, and it’s got side skirts if you don’t want to deal with the open sponsons. Honestly they aren’t a big deal anyway.
For a first build I vote for the Acadamy M3 Lee. Make sure to post pictures along the way. The Forum GOD"S demand it! Here… you can use this camera.
Tamiya M41 Walker Bulldog. Its dirt cheap, easy to build and can look pretty good if you want it to. For a first time tank it wont let you down. Is it a show winner? No. Is it highly accurate and detailed? Nope. But to show you the basics of armor construction and to let you see how it differs from aircraft you can’t go wrong.
Honestly, I would stay away from any Sherman tank or variant–like the Lee, Grant, etc—anything using those complicated bogey wheel assemblies. They’re a PITA for a beginner–especially to paint–and will turn you off from modeling armor.
What you want is a relatively simple kit without too much tricky detail, and nice, easy-to-assemble wheels and suspension. Price is a factor, I’m sure, too.
With all that being said, you can’t go wrong with the Tamiya M41 Walker Bulldog. THAT is an easy kit to build, and it builds up into a nice little model that “looks like a tank should”… You can get it relatively cheap too–I picked one up recently for about $15.00. Painting is easy too–overall OD; no complicated camo schemes to worry about.
Barring that, I’d also recommend the good ol’ erstwhile Tamiya “Panzer Kampwagen II F/G”. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s one of the most recommended “newbie” kits in history?
Good luck, Craig!
Respectfully disagree here. VVSS bogeys aren’t bad, and in my opinion the ease of dealing with the live-type tracks outweighs any headaches that may come from the bogeys.
But there’s also a stupid-easy modification you can do to greatly simplify construction and painting on Sherman and other VVSS setups.
This example is done on a FAR more complicated Tasca Sherman, but the same logic applies to every VVSS bogey I’ve ever seen in 1/35 scale.
Step 1. Okay…the bogey as assembled. Build it normally (if you want you can paint it all before hand, glue it, then restore lost paint), but leave the wheels out!
Step 2. Using sprue cutters, snip the bogey axles so that you can feed the wheels in after the fact.
Step 3. Insert wheels. Remove again as needed.
Craig, many of the Tamiya 1/35 kits mentioned will be great to start you off. For sheer simplicitys sake I’d side with Karl and say the Tamiya M41 Walker Bulldog, if you’re looking for a more modern look. For WWII maybe try Tamiya’s M5A1 Stuart. I built both of the for last year’s Weekend Madness GB and completed each one (assembled and painted) in 48 hrs! Can’t get any simpler than that.
doogs, I’m definitely going to try the method on my next Sherman!!
Seriously, fellow-Doog; I gotta respectfully disagree back atcha [whstl]–now that’s a nice technique for someone already adept with armor or even Shermans already, but flyerduke’s already admitted that if he hits a “roadblock” he’s going to bail on the kit. Sherman bogeys are already complicated by the very nature of their composition–three separate wheels, multiple parts—and you have to build SIX of them! And then you have the possibility of them getting all anti-clockwise on the hull of you don’t already know how to align the tracks and take into account the fact that the bogeys canter.
Speaking from experience, the first Sherman that I did so soured me on US tank suspension design that I think I didn’t build another Sherman for about 5 years. Undoubtedly, I"m biased–but I think that for a true beginner, wheels that pop right onto pegs against the hull would be a more forgiving trial tank for ya, flyerduke. [:)]
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I’m leaning toward the Tamiya M41 Walker Bulldog. It seems like a fairly straight forward kit and there are a few on ebay for $16 or $17 (shipping included). If all goes well with the Bulldog, the Sherman will be next. I’m really looking forward to starting my first tank. Thanks again.
Craig
If you have a Hobby Lobby near by might be able to fetch one there if you don’t wanna wait for shipping. They used to have 2 or 3 on the shelf at just about every location in the country.
ditto on the tamiya walker bulldog. it was my first armor kit too.
Well, I started my first armor kit this evening. The Tamiya 1/35 M41 Walker Bulldog. I’ve assembled the road wheels and started attaching some of the exterior parts to the lower half. Seems pretty straight forward so far. The only possible sticking point I see ahead is the gun shield cover. Any suggestions? Also, what color do I paint the tracks? Thanks.
Craig
