Small Scale Military Headquarters

I saw photos of 21st Century's discontinued XD 1/18 M4 Sherman--olive drab in the SSHQ photo section. It looked very impressive.

Can anyone review it in terms of accuracy, detailing and what was the price?

The 21st Early M4 (it's not an M4A3) was pretty good in terms of accuracy, meaning there's no glaring errors on it. At least, nothing I can remember.

When it first came out at TRU, the price point was around $30, and when the re-paints appeared at Walmart, people often got one for less than $15.00

My only gripe about 21st's Sherman was their turrets does not have a BOTTOM. There's is a huge noticeable hole in the back of the turret, if you look at the back of the tank.

GOOGLYDOOGLY:

Thanks for the info.

Comparing photos of the 21st Century Sherman ($15--$30)to FOV's new Sherman ($20), the 21st appears to be the winner---more detailed, accessories, crewman, etc. and worth the extra cost.

Unfortunately, the 21st tank is discontinued.

Discontinued items are a killer. Of anything...

dragon53 wrote:GOOGLYDOOGLY:

Thanks for the info.

Comparing photos of the 21st Century Sherman ($15--$30)to FOV's new Sherman ($20), the 21st appears to be the winner---more detailed, accessories, crewman, etc. and worth the extra cost.

Unfortunately, the 21st tank is discontinued.

Actually, the BBI Sherman comes with more loose accessories and a better figure than any of the 21c Shermans. Its also a different variant. The BBI Sherman also has an opening engine. The 21c Sherman does have more stowage attached to the front. Both are great, however!

TMANTHEGREAT:

I'd opt for the BBI Sherman, but it's an 105mm. I'd opt for the 21st Century Sherman, but it's discontinued.
That leaves the FOV Sherman----that's not available at the Target nearest you.

Also, the BBI crewman looks mad...big-time mad.

I really like the BBI Sherman, and yes the crew figure does look mad. But hey, he is getting shot at by a Tiger tank, that can really make for a bad day.

The BBI crewman is excellent. He has a proper uniform(overalls) and the helmet is removable so it's easy to head swap him with another BBI figure to get rid of that road rage face..

GRUNT1:

The BBI Sherman commander needs to lose his "negative vibes" by taking mellow lessons from fellow Sherman commander Donald Sutherland.

Yes I agree, the BBI Sherman crew member is excellent.

Maybe the BBI employee responsible for the "Capt. John Madden"on the "Killer" P-51 also did their Sherman commander, too.

I took the head from my BBI Sherman commander and put him on an extra BBI infantry figure - which I use as a wounded soldier on a stretcher. The facial expression seemed more approporiate on that figure

***

Still, I have to give BBI some credit for going with the 105mm gun instead of the 76mm on their tank. At the time the BBI Sherman was first released, there were at least two to thee 21c Sherman variants out on the market (winter, COED, and olive) and the BBI Sherman fits in well with those without too much duplication

TMANTHEGREAT:

I asked this question on the Reference Room and got no answer, so I'll ask it here:

Can a Sherman with the 105mm howitzer, firing a HEAT round, knock out a Tiger in a frontal hit?

I'd love for someone to make a 76mm Sherman.

Or even a Firefly.

Unimax....please make your 1/16 Sherman as a 76mm Sherman... M4A1 76mm would be awesome.

In theory, the 105mm HEAT round would be sufficient to knock out the 100-110mm frontal armor of a Tiger.

But I have yet to find evidence of a Tiger I getting knocked out by a frontal hit from such a weapon.

Plus, since the 105mm howitzer was designed to be an indirect fire weapon (for infantry support), its accuracy is only for a few hundred yards. Way too close to a Tiger than you'd want to be.

There are three things I can think of wrong with the 21st M4.

1st as mention the opening in the back of the turret bustle botttom.

2nd the opening in the lower hull above the tracks

3rd the 50 Cal actually should mount to the commanders coupla so it can rotate with it, not to the top of the turret itself.

These are easy to fix problems. As for availability, they still show up on ebay frequently.

Neither Sherman was as good as they should have been, and why we've had such "winners" as M41 Bulldogs and Command Cars (I own both) while no improved Sherman (or Hellcat, or M10, or M5) is beyond me.