|
According to David Harper at Trakz, this set was created to go with their M4A2 hull conversion. That set uses the Academy M10 as a base, so a turret is needed to make an M4A2. Additionally, Trakz intended this turret to be a basic item that the modeler could detail to match a particular tank.
The set includes a two-piece resin turret casting, an early commander's ring cupola with separate hatches, an M34A1 gun mount, three turret lift rings, the commander's sight blade, and an aluminum M3 75mm barrel. The parts are well molded without holes or bubbles, but there is a gob of resin in the hatchway. While the turret has a decent texture inside and out, the other cast pieces like the cupola hatches, gun shield, and rotor shield do not. There are no foundry symbols, mold seams, or part numbers on the parts, save some small characters on the hatches. This was a deliberate decision by Trakz to make the parts universal.
The set has raised some controversy in the hobby as it is obviously a Tamiya turret and parts with some modifications. In response, David Harper wrote me: "The Trakz turret is not a direct copy of the Tamiya product. For one it has been completely re-textured, the shell ejection port has been added along with all of its surrounding mounting details and the lower turret bustle piece has been mated to the turret itself and separated from the lower turret ring piece. The turret front lifting lug has been replaced with a correct piece." (I'll leave it to the reader to decide if there is an ethical issue in the production. I should add that everyone else -- with the notable exception of Chesapeake Model Designs -- has used the Tamiya turret as a base to some degree.)*
That being said, the rework by Trakz has added two problems for modelers. Firstly, the gun opening has been "plated" over, so you'll need to do some cutting to fit any sort of gun trunnion (more on that later). Secondly, the bustle has been completely plugged, so you are in for some grinding work if you want to show the interior.
The barrel is OK in shape, but it's a good 3 inches too short and does not include the cylindrical section at the breech end. Finally, it has a straight conical contour with no muzzle flare. This would not be appropriate for the vast majority of wartime "early" tanks as the flared tube was used until about 1944 when the large hatch hulls entered production.
The kit does not include any instructions because Trakz believes "our customer base and the customers this type of product is aimed at, know enough about the makings of a Sherman to assemble this simple kit." I beg to differ because there are things that I had to research:
> Which way do the cupola hatches go in the ring?
> Where do the rear lift lugs go?
> Which way does the gun mount go?
These questions can be found with enough digging, but they could be easily shown with sketches on an index card.
The biggest flaw with this set -- and it is big -- is that it can't be assembled or completed! Keep in mind that this was intended to be used with the Trakz M4A2 and the Academy M10. Even so you will still have to raid yet another set or kit for the following:
> Some sort of trunnion or mount for the gun. As delivered, there is no way to physically attach the gun and rotor shield to the turret.
> A barrel clip for the cupola MG. A slot is provided (which is wrong, actually) but nothing to go in it.
> A coaxial cal. .30 MG.
> Periscopes and covers. Again, the holes are there but no parts.
Maybe it's just me, but two separate conversion sets PLUS raiding second kit for detail parts seems a bit much when other companies provide everything in one box. Even Trakz acknowledges this as they wrote me, "looking back on the whole issue we would of been better off giving the turret with the hull . . . and raising the conversion kit price accordingly."
For that reason -- the fact that the conversion just doesn't accomplish what it sets out to do -- I gave this set just two stars. Although the pieces provided are usable as starters, there is just too much work required to make an accurate representation or even to complete an M4A2 conversion.
If you are interested, I have included below a list of the detail problems I noted with the set. However, unless I mentioned it in the text above, I didn't use them in my evaluation. This set has problems enough without getting into an argument about whether my comments are just "nit-picking."
Thanks to Saul Garcia for the review piece.
(*) A good indicator is the diameter of the turret at the base. Tamiya apparently misapplied the casting draft to their measurements such that the base is barely 79 scale inches in diameter when the real casting was at least 80 inches with a machined undercut at the bottom to get down to 80.
Detail Issues
Turret
> No drain holes in antenna sockets.
> Sharp edge between roof and bustle. This should be a 9-3/4 inch radius.
> Gunner's periscope opening too narrow.
> Bump on left front next to gun opening. Should be 5-5/8 long by 1-1/8 high.
> Turret has a smoke mortar hole but no spotlight mount. These features appeared at about the same time.
> Ventilator is blended into turret roof. Should be welded on.
> Missing three lower bedroll loops on bustle.
> M4A2s used specific "brands" of turrets with specific symbols and mold marks, some had different lift lug configurations.
Gun Shield and Rotor Shield
> No cast texture or markings
> No lift screws on top.
> Not certain that this style (no bolts on one side) is appropriate.
> Hole must be bored out to use metal barrel.
> No way to attach to turret.
Cupola, Hatches, and Vane Sight
> No hole in ring for bolt removal.
> No barrel clip.
> No texture on hatches (castings).
> No lift handle nor any indication where it should be attached.
> No rear vane to go with fixed blade sight.
> Blade sight has bolt detail. All info indicates they were welded.
Barrel
> Too short.
> No cylindrical section.
> Conical, not flared.
|
