1:35 M4 “Sherman” 76 mantlet with M1A2 gun

PANZER ART 1:35 mantlet and gun barrel for the Sherman 76

An accessory for modelers of military vehicles in 1:35 scale from the PANZER ART brand. On a model of the Sherman tank with the 76 millimeter gun, the set replaces the front mantlet of the turret together with the M1A2 barrel, that is, the version with a muzzle brake. You thereby gain a sharper shape to the casting and a perfectly straight barrel with no parting line. The tank kit is not included in the package. The turret mantlet is moreover a part with a pronounced cast surface, which a plastic kit as a rule smooths out more than the real thing warrants.

The real subject

The Sherman with the 76 millimeter gun came about as an answer to the growing armor of German tanks. The M1A2 gun differed from the older version precisely in its muzzle brake, which reduced the recoil and at the same time changed the silhouette of the barrel, so that a vehicle is easily recognized by it in photographs. Vehicles with this gun fought at the close of the war in Europe and later in Korea as well.

Use

• cut off the original plastic mantlet and barrel and sand the area flat
• fit the parts dry and check that the barrel is in line with the turret
• glue with cyanoacrylate, which holds best on a joint between different materials
• wash the parts before painting and give them a primer, otherwise the paint may not hold
• fit the barrel at the end of the build, so that it is not damaged while handling

The set is intended for more experienced modelers. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.