Sherman M4A1 Cast Hull Tank

The Paul Heiser Models Sherman M4A1 cast hull tank, in HO 1/87 scale.

Because the Americans wanted to make as many tanks as they could as quickly as possible they looked at the industrial capacity of the nation and then made alterations to the basic design of the Sherman tank so they could get as many factories as possible producing tanks. 

Many companies were good at welding and so they produced the rather boxy Sherman tanks, but others were skilled at making large castings.  So they altered the Sherman design so they could make cast hull Sherman tanks.

They were essentially the same as the other Sherman tanks but the hull was cast rather than welded.  It used the same gun and engine as the other Shermans.  In this case it used the same Ford engine used by the welded M4A3 tank.

This flexibility in design is one reason why the US was able to make just shy of 50,000 Sherman based vehicles, mostly tanks during World War Two.

It's also why the US was able to supply the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France and many others with Sherman tanks.

This model fits together very well and has the early production narrow mantelet.  The Roco 202 Sherman is even earlier production without the side protection on the gun at the mantelet.  The two parts are interchangeable so you can backdate this tank even further if you wish.