1/72 (20mm) Plastic Soldier Company M4A1(76)W Sherman Tanks

 

 

 

The M4A1 Sherman is the second version of the Sherman Tank.  The M4A1 shares the same engine as the original M4 Sherman (the gasoline Continental R975 radial engine).  The difference between these two tanks is the M4 has a welded hull, while the M4A1 has a cast hull.  The M4A1(76)W is an upgraded variant of the M4A1 with a more powerful 76mm (76) gun and a safer ‘wet’ (W) ammunition stowage.

 

The Plastic Soldier Company produces a 1/72 scale (20mm) M4A1(76)W Sherman set, which allows you to build three tanks.

 

 

 

M4A2 Sherman Tank sprue: side 1

 

M4A2 Sherman Tank sprue: side 2

 

 

 

As a way of making each tank look unique, I added U.S. tank riders to two of the tanks.  The tank riders are soft plastic figures produced by HaT Toy Soldiers.  A set of tank riders includes four identical sprues of 11 figures (44 figures in total).

 

 

 

HaT U.S. Tank Riders

 

 

 

In addition to adding the tank riders, I also added resin logs and stowage pieces to the Sherman M4A1(76)Ws.  These resin pieces are produced by Value Gear, a company specializing in producing World War 2 resin tank accessories in a variety of model scales (1/72, 1/56, 1/48, etc.).  I painted the crew and tank riders of one of the M4A1(76)Ws as African Americans to show this tank and her crew are part of the famous segregated 761^st ‘Black Panthers’ Tank Battalion.

 

 

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman, 761^st Tank Battalion: front

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman, 761^st Tank Battalion: side 1

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman, 761^st Tank Battalion: side 2

 

 

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman with tank riders: front

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman with tank riders: side 1

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman with tank riders: side 2

 

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman: front

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman: side 1

 

M4A1(76)W Sherman: side 2