Small Scale Military Headquarters

I am thinking of getting a 1:18th scale Sherman tank. I am more of an airplane guy, and I would like some opinions on the current Sherman models that are out there. Which one do you guys like? Thanks for the help.

I'd say the bbi Sherman or 21st.'s / New Millinium Toys "white-washed" , Motorworks diecast one.

v MG

The bbi Sherman has more detail (opening engine hatch with detailed engine) and comes with a bunch of great accs. and a very nice figure. However it is only available in winter wash and has a howitzer. Get both as they are very different.

I echo the other guys. But if you only want one Sherman, I'd say go with 21st. Their M4 version is the more common Sherman.

I'd agree it's best to get both.

BBI's is a better model overall in detail terms, but there's definitely something cool to the heft of the die-cast 21st winter-washed M4. Both are unique models used in the war though, so I think both have their merits. I say buy both, as both are supposed to be winter decoed. Grab some 21st tankers and load 'em up.

just take a look here :

viewtopic.php?t=7600&highlight=sherman

and this is what you can do with 21st Sherman :

viewtopic.php?t=9520

phil

Thanks for those links, lots of good info. Looks like I will get both the BBI and 21st Century versions.

German tanks were better..

oh sorry, wrong thread.

aferguson wrote:German tanks were better..

oh sorry, wrong thread.

The BBI Sherman is the best in overall terms of paintjob, detail, and functionality. The 21c Sherman is a close second. If you decide on the 21c Sherman route, the COED, new OD Green, and the winter versions are the best looking.

I second the diecast Winter Camo Sherman from 21C (If you decide to go the 21C route).

Here's what I did with mine.

Could someone please post a picture of the BBI and 21st Century Sherman tanks side by side? Thanks.

Definitely get the BBI Sherman then the Motorworks diecast winter-washed version. You won;t be disappoiunted in either of those pieces.

Can you guys tell me where I can find a BBI Sherman tank? Are they available online?

B24guy wrote:Could someone please post a picture of the BBI and 21st Century Sherman tanks side by side? Thanks.

viewtopic.php?t=7600&highlight=sherman

it's the link from above. Cannot do better !

phil

Hopefully this is only slightly off topic, but can someone educate me on the "howitzer" concept for tank guns that the BBI Sherman is equipped with?

I must be missing something - at first glance I'd think a Sherman with a 105 mm gun could blast a Tiger with an 88 mm gun, but obviously there is more to it than that. Is the 105 mm howitzer a lower-velocity gun used more for infantry support than tank killing?

howitzers typically fire a shell at low velocity. They are used for artillery bombardment type activities and fire a high explosive shell. The shell doesn't have much penetrating power, so it's not very effective for combat against heavily armoured tanks.

Anti tank guns fire a shell with little if any explosive in it, but the shell travels at very high speed and usually has some type of hardened tip on it. These shells destroy by kinetic energy alone. The shell penetrates the tanks armour and in so doing sets off fuel, ammumition etc. Just the energy released from the impact alone is enough to accomplish this.

Really big guns, with huge high explosive shells can wipe out a tank, the same way the dropping a bomb on a tank will destroy it. The US 105mm could certainly do damage to a tank but was far from ideal for tank to tank engagements.

M4(105) Sherman howitzer were mainly used for fire support and were always attached to HQ company.

phil

aferguson wrote:howitzers typically fire a shell at low velocity. They are used for artillery bombardment type activities and fire a high explosive shell. The shell doesn't have much penetrating power, so it's not very effective for combat against heavily armoured tanks.

Anti tank guns fire a shell with little if any explosive in it, but the shell travels at very high speed and usually has some type of hardened tip on it. These shells destroy by kinetic energy alone. The shell penetrates the tanks armour and in so doing sets off fuel, ammumition etc. Just the energy released from the impact alone is enough to accomplish this.

Really big guns, with huge high explosive shells can wipe out a tank, the same way the dropping a bomb on a tank will destroy it. The US 105mm could certainly do damage to a tank but was far from ideal for tank to tank engagements.

Thanks for the info guys! So it sounds like a Sherman with a 105mm howitzer is pretty much akin to a self-propelled artillery piece. Good to know!