Small Scale Military Headquarters

It was like a scene out of "American Pickers" I was at a garage sale to buy something totally unrelated when I spot on a shelf a dirty, dusty and to me what looked like a strange version of a 1/18 Sherman Tank. It had a larger than normal size cannon and some road wheel detail I never saw before as well as metal tracks It was also one of the few things there "not for sale". I made my purchase and with my cash still in his happy hand, made my plea for the tank. I was successful and without delay scooped up the tank to head to the car and was surprised that it weighed a ton and the bottom was all metal. He then told me it was motorized, thought it was made in the 70's or 80's and showed me how the top came off and there was a big motor and a lot of bits and bobs, including the broken off .50cal. inside. He had gotten it years ago from an estate. It wasn't until I got home that I started to realize it looked way too big. It was. I opened the top and there was the writing that said "Tamiya 1/16 scale" See the photo next to my 1/18 21stC. Sherman. A huge rookie armor mistake though it is really cool and has some great detail including working springs at the road wheels. See pics.

SWEET COUP !!!

Apparently the cannon is accurate and suppossed to be a 105mm Howitzer. So, is that WWII or Korea?

It's got the HVSS suspension system so it is either late WWII or Korea IIRC.

This tank model has lead me to research the 105mm version. I'm curious about why the short barrel and would the 105 be more effective against Tiger/Panther armor than a Firefly? Or was this just designed for mobile artilery bombardment?

As far as I know, the 105mm Sherman was designed for mobile artillery bombardment and close up infantry bunker buster support.

The short barreled guns were not be as effective against Panthers/Tigers, as the long barrels, even at lower calibers.

TTT

It looks like the elite force WWII Sherman,but the only difference is that yours have wider tracks and mud rails on the side of the tanks.
A few of this where made and used in 1945.

This is what you have:



Nice Find!!

yes it's 1/16, can spot the size difference immediately. As TTT said, the 105 howitzer armed shermans were for mobile artillery support at division level. They were provided with anti tank rounds as well, some of which came with the BBI 105mm sherman, but these rounds were not very effective due to the low velocity they were fired at.

The Tamiya kit is based on the updated M4 radial engined Shermans. The US army decided to update the M4 with a 47 degree front plate that included the larger driver and co-driver hatches. It was easier to produce then the old multi piece 45 degree front plate and was better armoured. The first model produced was the Howitzer version. The next would have been the 75mm version.. Before the 75mm could be introduced it was decided that the M4A3 with the V8 engine would become the standard chasis for US Army use. The M4 with the 75mm was too much duplication and was canceled.. The BBI is a M4A3 V8 engined Howitzer. Both the M4 and M4A3 could be found with the reguler suspension or the HVSS. The Howitzer Shermans was usually refered to as an Assualt Gun .

Thanks to all for the info on this beast. My 1/18 Panther doesn't look so intimidating sitting next to this 1/16 hulk.