September 2019 - Model Military International 55mantlet is provided although this
is not called out in the instruction
despite later in the instructions
showing it as an option when fitting
the turret to the hull with separate
instructions provided although
they use the same parts – peculiar.
The turret mounted .50 cal is
very well done in multiple parts
although I ask why they have split
the body as with the feed cover
open it doesn’t really depict the
bolt upper. The barrel extension
jacket is well done in one piece
and barrels with and without a
folding change handle are included
The muzzles are drilled out and
with a good magnifier reveal
rifling! The ammo can is moulded
integrally with the tray and has
optional lids either closed or with
rounds feeding the gun. Separate
charging handle and triggers are
included making this a very nice
.50 cal although I personally feel
the TASCA ones just eclipses it in
sharpness and detail.
The Commander’s cupola has
separate clear styrene vision slots
and is superbly detailed right down
to multi-part hold open latch etc.
Cast marks are included on the
hatch interior and the hatch can be
made to open. Other options include
a folded down pintle for the 50 cal.
The next step takes us onto
the hull and has you drill two tiny
(.8mm) holes in the hull glacis from
underneath. Don’t forget as they
are only marked underneath – you
have been warned). More details
on the inner hull are a glacis
inner (a hint of later interior set
perhaps?), periscopes and detailed
hatch locks including photo-etched
latch handles. The driver’s hatches
have seven parts each including
rotatable periscopes and guards
and internal and external handles.
They are not workable but can be
fitted open or closed.
Internal sponsons are then fitted
along with the fenders in plastic.
Glacis fittings are then added along
with the hull machine gun, which is
a one piece affair on ball mount.
No clear parts are included for
the headlamps which have blackout
shades fitted. RFM has depicted
the hull ventilator well and include
photo-etched mesh as well as a
styrene cover. A securing ring
is included for the hull machine
gun cover as a separate part and
photo-etched light guards are then
fitted. It is worth noting the hull
periscopes can be depicted closed
or open. Photo-etched guards are
one piece each but the horn guard
is a multi- part affair.
The engine decks are reasonably
well moulded but the handles sit
proud. These in real life dropped
down so maybe drill the holes out
and let them sit lower if you want
that level of realism/detail. They
are detailed on the inside to a
point as they do not have the large
fairings normally seen attached.
Stowed tools supplied are on par
with the other manufacturers with
moulded on mounts and straps
on some etc. Definitely room for
aftermarket straps etc. The rear
stowage shelf can be depicted
open or closed and four jerry cans
are included as stowage. These are
nicely done but not as finessed as
the Tasca ones. The rear plate with
towing pintle is well done and even
has a fine PE clasp latch in three
parts which secures the tow pintle
from swivelling when not in use.
The lower hull is a multi-part
affair and fits well, just like
Tasca. The rear idler mounts are
correct and not L-R handed like
the Tamiya ones. They are well
detailed with adjustment heads
etc. The final drive assembly and
transmission housing are really
well done and detailed. Like Tasca,
RFM recognise these are bolted
to the hull and they fit! Three
differing types of drive sprockets
are supplied and all well detailed- exercise care in removing from
sprues. The same goes for all the
small parts. The bogies are multi
part and follow the instructions
carefully and they articulate
almost like the real thing. They are
not hard to assemble.
This brings us to the fiddliest
part although as individual tracks
go these aren’t too bad. The T80
double pin track is supplied as
76 links per side. Each has four
pad halves and one piece track
pin assemblies. A supplied jig (4
included) makes assembly easier
and alignment guaranteed. The
pins come in section of seven and
following the instructions here
really helps leave one end on the
sprue and they are an almost drop
fit with seven at a time. Individual
hollow guide teeth are then added
then the inner pad faces. These will
be time consuming but not as bad
as I had originally thought. If you
are careful they articulate.
Final details are then added
in the form of the tow rope with
detailed latch assemblies to
hold it in place, and the exhaust
deflectors correct for a late WWII
M4A3. These may be positioned
in use or in maintenance mode
(lifted and locked). The multi-part
gun is assembles with five parts
making up the muzzle brake, which
attaches to a one piece tube. Not
mentioned in the instructions is a
threaded end cap for an M1A1 tube
which is superbly detailed again
indicating further variants. The
turret then is placed onto the hull
via its spacer ring.
Additional parts are included in
the form of .30 cal on pintle, spare
ammo boxes for .50 and .30 cal, a
folded .50 cal tripod and open .30
cal one. Three M3 Thompson sub
machine guns are supplied as well.
Decals are included for two
examples. The first is a black
over Olive Drab example of 12 AD
Germany 1945 with no markings
other than white stars. The second
is “Paper Doll” Number 23 of 68th
Tank Bn Germany 45 which has hull
art in the form of a boxing turtle.
Again no stencils, Divisional or
Registration markings are present
only white stars, hull number, a
white triangle and name plus art.
A colour guide is included on an A
4 Sheet with Side, front and rear
views but no overhead view. My
references indicate “Paper Doll had
T66 Single pin tracks however. No
stars are provided for turret roofs.
Paint callouts are all AMMO by MIG.CON CLUSION
So after a lengthy examination,
I ask myself is this the perfect
Sherman model at last? It is
probably the best so far but not
without little (and I mean little)
problems like the loader’s hatch
springs, markings etc.
The kit makeup indicates further
variants down the track and who
knows, maybe the first mainstream
M4 kit with interior.
I really like this kit but it is
not for the beginner although an
intermediate modeller should be
fine with patience.
I welcome this new addition to
the market and hope for many
more variants of Sherman’s to
come from RFM going by their
track record so far. I would hope
they add the option of rubber band
tracks and plastic alternative to
the PE in later kits for the average/
beginner modellers.
Also please look at your
marking options RFM. Tanks have
registration numbers and Unit
markings etc. I still can’t do the
Tiger faced one as that has the
later post-war modifications but
this can be made into a number of
excellent late war subjects
Highly Recommended. ■Thanks to RFM for the review
sample http://www.ryefield-model.comThe lower hull is a multi-part assembly.
Detail parts are crisply moulded. The clear sprue. A photo-etched fret is included.
Alternate parts are supplied for the drive sprockets. Each track link has four pad halves and one piece
track pin.A jig is supplied to make assembly faster and
easier.