Small Scale Military Headquarters

I saw on BBI's website their Honk Kong Toys & Games picture gallery of an 1/18 M4 Sherman "Thunderbolt".
Is this a NEW Sherman? If so, it would be big competition for FOV's 1/18 Sherman.

http://www.blueboxtoys.com/bbi2005/imag ... 008/10.jpg

The other photos are of previously released replicas (F-4J, Cat Mouth F6F, Daisy Jane F4U, etc.)

I will have that Sherman.

I can't find the BBI 1/18 Sherman "Thunderbolt" listed at any etailers, so I'm assuming it's a new model. I could only find the old BBI Sherman "58" with the 105mm.

The maybe-new BBI Sherman looks far superior to FOV's Sherman because of weathering and apparently comes with a crewman, more detail and accessories. It appears to have the 75mm gun, but it's hard to tell from the gun barrel angle in the photo. Either way, it looks very impressive.

EW NO.

That's a repaint of the old 105mm M4A3 Sherman.

I dunno what's wrong with BBI. Of ALL the markings they could have done, then HAD to pick Creighton Abram's ride?

Creighton Abrams NEVER commanded a 105mm Shermie.

This is a travesty. What's next, BBI's gonna repaint their Corsair as BBD?

But horrible choice of markings aside, BBI has the best Sherman on the market right now.

GOOGLYDOOGLY:

I was afraid somebody was going to say it's a repaint of the "58" 105mm Sherman.

Oh well...

Yeah, what a joke. They could have at least used the M34A1 mantlet to illustrate an earlier version of his Thunderbolt M4A3 tank.

This looks all wrong!! Put a different turret and gun shield on there at you might have something!

True, it is a repaint, but it will be availible again and at a price lower than what you pay on evilbay. These tanks by BBI are perfect for cutting up and using for parts The main gun mount works nicely for an M-24 gun mount and the over all model is the later Sherman which makes it different than 21st C's and FOV's Sherman.

Now if you want to talk about getting a different NEW tank, let hope that someone will finally make a later WWII tank, such as the M-24 Chaffee or M-26 Pershing tank. I frankly am tired of the M4, I model later in the war, so the Allies need better tanks to go up against the Huns superior tanks. Question about this new Sherman will be, "Who will be carrying this one" Now that Target seems to have bailed on BBI Da General

For the low price, I can over look the wrong barrel.

It sure makes the FOV Sherman pale in comparison. I wish the BBI Sherman it had a 75mm instead.

But horrible choice of markings aside, BBI has the best Sherman on the market right now.

Agreed - I will get it just because I want their Sherman in OD. I think bbi often chooses a scheme they want to do then just puts it on the piece without much regard for historical accuracy. I believe their S2 Corsair was a good example of that. Good product gets them through stupidity though.

What will the price be on this? I see you guys talking about it being lower priced, but I haven't seen one listed.

It originally sold for $39.99. I doubt it will be cheaper. The ones selling on Ebay have sold as high as $50. To make ita 75mm tank you need to replace the manlet and barrel with othe one from the 21st Century Sherman and remove one or both(I forget which) of the ventalators on the back of the turret top and move the 50 cal mount. If both the BBI and FOV Shermans match, you could swap the FOV's whole turret.
As much as I would like to see a M24,M5 AND M26 produced in 1/18, iI would still like a M4A1 cast hull and an Easy Eight Sherman made.

caesarbc wrote:I'm glad there is a new paint scheme on the Sherman, but really disappointed that there is so much overkill on this model. FOV, BBI and 21c....anyone else out there want to do a Sherman???

Let's get some other armor out there...allied armor to boot! Now that FOV is supplying us with some good quality troops, I think we owe it to them to give them some different armor choices.

Just remember that those people new to the hobby or new to 1/18th may not have all the old releases. I have always been a 1/32 guy but started on 1/18 just last year. I don't have any of the old armor releases and would love to get my hands on some Shermans. The 21C and BBI are all long gone from e-tailers and e-bay prices are not always so friendly.

Now, if someone has an old Sherman they want to sell me, I will gladly get on the new model wagon also!