1:35 M-50 Sherman Early Pattern

M-50 Sherman in the early pattern, 1:35 from RYE FIELD MODEL

A modern injection-molded kit of the Israeli Sherman conversion, which the manufacturer offers in the form corresponding to the first batches. The model in 1:35 scale allows for several building options: you can choose the shape of the transmission cover, the version of the headlights, the style of the drive sprockets and idler wheels and the form of the hull access features. That way more than one particular machine can come out of a single box.

The real subject

After the 1950s Israel lacked modern tanks, and the solution was the conversion of American Shermans. A French 75 millimeter gun taken from a light tank went into the turret, and with it an extended turret bustle with an ammunition stowage. The vehicles carried the designation M-50 and in Israeli practice they were distinguished as the first and second production pattern. The early variant kept the original suspension with volute springs and narrow tracks. The tanks went through the fighting in Sinai as well as the Six-Day War and stayed in service long after the Sherman had been retired elsewhere.

Building recommendation

Start with the running gear and leave the wheels free to turn until you have finished the tracks. Build the turret and its bustle separately, as the gaps are easier to fine-tune without the hull. A desert scheme calls for delicate work: tint the light base with several translucent coats, apply dust pigments from the bottom up and use metal chipping sparingly, otherwise the vehicle looks shabby.

Whose collection the vehicle suits

• lovers of Middle Eastern conflicts
• collectors of Sherman derivatives
• builders who appreciate optional parts
• modelers preparing a desert scene

You will find the tank in the box broken down on sprues, with no finish. Add the chemistry and the paints according to your own habits.