M4 Sherman Late (Big) Hull Hatches (Tamiya)
Modeling the U.S. Army in WWII

Tiger Model Designs
353022

There's a bit more detail on the inner sides of Sherman hull hatches than plastic kits allow. If you're building your tank with the hatches open, this update set gives you a pair of well-detailed pieces to use on Tamiya's M4A3 Sherman, and can also work on Italeri's M4 Okinawa Sherman.

The set includes two carriers of periscopes and fittings from TMD 353018, enabling you to have the periscope positioned in or out of the hatch. You also get a pair of very delicate periscope guards, which are a good option for modelers who don't like flat photo etch guards and don't want to piece together bits of wire or stretched sprue.

The pieces are smartly detailed. The hatches have serial numbers and screw heads and holes to receive wire grab handles that you'll need to provide. The periscopes and holders are similarly well rendered.

Take care when you remove the pieces from the sprues; it's better to cut off a little extra of the carrier than get too close the pieces. The lock tabs on the hatches are attached to the carrier and need some TLC to remove.

This item does not come with instructions, so you're going to need a good photo or two of both sides of the hatch to get things properly located. That's a significant omission, in my opinion, since not everyone has the desire or means to acquire a library of references.

This set is superfluous if your Sherman is buttoned up, but a definite asset if it's opened for business.

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Modeling the U.S. Army in WWII © 2002—2007 Timothy S. Streeter