As announced by Rye Field Model on the 4th of November 2025, this is their latest offering of some World War II Tank. A Mk2 Super Sherman to be exact. The kit boasts of extensive photo-etch parts and even 3D printed details, complete with workable tracks. Not knowing much about this tank, except it or rather, its variation was used in Brad Pitt’s Fury movie, the rumblings in that post led me to do a Wiki search where, its design history was quite interesting.
When I first started scale modeling decades ago, the Sherman Tank was already there. And as the years go by, it is still there, except with more plastic parts and better molding. It was not until in the 90’s that Dragon started the ball rolling with photo-etched parts which greatly enhanced the model. Then came the resin upgrades and eventually, 3D printing. And so, by 2025, the Sherman Tank is still here and to be honest, it’s like flogging a dead horse with different types of lashings and variations of the horse.
Do I really want it?
Well, not really. Looking at the images from Facebook, it is really tempting because there are so many parts for that model. For some, more parts, even if it’s microscopic, means better accuracy. Sadly, after removing the 3D printed guns, the photo-etch and the workable tracks, there is only the tank left and,… it has no interiors. In other words, to put it bluntly, the model is just a hollow shell for you to decorate its outsides.
For me, interior matters. The fun comes in when you assemble and paint the interior parts which somehow, ‘teaches’ you to visualise and imagine the life inside that tank. Never mind if that area will not be seen after you close it up as the experience is there and only there for you. Personally, for me, its ‘raw’ material for if I want to scratch-build stuff. Unless I am making a diorama, there is no point in hanging stuff off a plastic shell. But if you trawl through their Website, some models such as the RM-5043 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.J Sd.Kfz.161/2 or even the RM-5093 LEOPARD 2A6 Interior Set is worth a look
