Pacific Coast Models reports the ship carrying the Tasca M4A3E2 is due 27 Jan and they expect to have them by 31 Jan or 1 Feb 2011.
Got my sample from Tasca last month. I haven’t started it yet but I’ve posted pics of the sprues on my blog: http://toadmanstankpictures.blogspot.com
I want to get this kit, but the price is so high now. Maybe by the summer it will come down to around $30.
Thanks toadman for posting what this kit looks like.
Tasca Shermans won’t hit the $30 mark unless you find some modeller shrinking his/her stash.
- They’re in super high demand and 2) they sell very well. No incentive for any seller to drop the price down. The very very best I ever saw was a one day sell off of the M4A1 by Dragon USA – and it was $29.99 I think. They went like hotcakes.
I’ve build three Tasca Shermans and can tell you, they are some of the best 1/35 kits extant. Save a few dollars and really treat yourself. You won’t regret it.
Just curious, what is the felt pad for? Buffing?
It’s the goofiest thing in the kit. It is to be cut into little pieces and inserted into the suspension units to force the suspension arms down. I don’t like it at all. I’ve built a few Tasca Shermans and can get it to work most of the time, but it is a pita. I wish they would redo that part of their Shermans. Otherwise they are pretty nice kits. I sometimes wonder about all the gushing over Tasca. They are good, but not much better than other companies. And very pricey for what you get. Just my opinion.
Doug
I don’t like that feature either – it allows the suspension to flex realistically (which is really nice with the heavy Jumbo sherman). However, I always glue it down as I don’t want any movement on a completed model. As a matter of fact, I insert a tab of styrene instead of their rubber pads.
As for value, it depends on what you see. Other Sherman kits are either on par or $10 cheaper. As for accuracy and skillful engineering, my opinion is that they are the apex of 1/35 kits – I disagree that they are “not much better than other companies” – I would say they are setting the standard by which others are measured
Also, if a nicely built and painted Itaeri M4A1 is satisfactory to you, then by all means grab one at the local swap meet or EBay for $12. In that context, a $55 Tasca Sherman would makes no sense. Save the bucks and take the wife out. But if you want to treat yourself to a GREAT Sherman tank, go Tasca.
Again, my two cents.