In Box Review of 1/35th Scale MP Authen-I-Kit
Injection Molded Plastic Conversion Kit
Classic Sherman Series
M4/M4A3 (Mid-production Vehicles)
Cat no 20101
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 199x
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 199x
Out of production
HISTORY:
The Sherman tank, including it many variants and related vehicles, was produced in larger numbers, and was more widely employed than any other WWII Allied armoured vehicle. It was used in every theatre of operations, by every major Allied nation, and could be seen in numerous camouflage and marking schemes.
Heavily modified and upgraded. Both during and after the War, it has seen combat as recently as the conflict in Lebanon, the Indo-Pakistani Wars and the Arab-Israeli Wars.
The Sherman tank, including it many variants and related vehicles, was produced in larger numbers, and was more widely employed than any other WWII Allied armoured vehicle. It was used in every theatre of operations, by every major Allied nation, and could be seen in numerous camouflage and marking schemes.
Heavily modified and upgraded. Both during and after the War, it has seen combat as recently as the conflict in Lebanon, the Indo-Pakistani Wars and the Arab-Israeli Wars.
THE KIT:
MP Models International Inc. is based in Finksburg, MD.
This kit came in an end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Sherman tank, that is posed against an all-white background. It is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on the sides of the turret.
It says what I have in the kit’s title, above. There is a red pointed ball with yellow NEW it. See back panel. Cat No. 20101. Not a complete kit. Contains certain parts only, shown on the back panel. For ages 10 to adult. Made in USA.
One side panel of the box gives the history of the Sherman (seen above) and: Our continuing series will bring you the more common, as well as some not-so-common, WWII and Post War variants. Optimized for use with the Tamiya M4A3 Sherman, kit no. MM-222, they can be used, with modification, on any other 1/35th scale Sherman chassis.
MP Models International Inc. is based in Finksburg, MD.
This kit came in an end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Sherman tank, that is posed against an all-white background. It is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on the sides of the turret.
It says what I have in the kit’s title, above. There is a red pointed ball with yellow NEW it. See back panel. Cat No. 20101. Not a complete kit. Contains certain parts only, shown on the back panel. For ages 10 to adult. Made in USA.
One side panel of the box gives the history of the Sherman (seen above) and: Our continuing series will bring you the more common, as well as some not-so-common, WWII and Post War variants. Optimized for use with the Tamiya M4A3 Sherman, kit no. MM-222, they can be used, with modification, on any other 1/35th scale Sherman chassis.
The other side panel of the box continues with: Your Authen-I-Kit contains new, easy to assemble, accurately detailed parts, which will enable you to convert your models into versions not otherwise available. With average modeling skills, you can now have the variety of subjects, previously available only to the advanced builder. Skilled modelers will also appreciate the ease of assembly and further convertibility afforded by the use of injection molded plastic.
Authen-I-Kit is not a complete model by itself. It is designed to be used with other kits, produced by MP or other model manufacturers, to give the model builder a wider choice of subjects, while enabling him/her to use normal cements and modeling tools (not included).
For ease of assembly, to allow for the interchange of parts, without cutting etc., kits of the classic Sherman series are designed to fit the Tamiya or MRC/Tamiya M4A3 Sherman, kit MM-222 or MM-222A. With some modification, they can be used with 1/35th scale Sherman kits produced by any other manufacturer.
MP Models street address in Finksburg, MD is supplied.
On the right side of the bottom of the box, there are line drawings, showing: the upper hull, M4A3 engine deck, M4 lower rear plate, M4 engine deck, M4 vent cover, M4A3 upper rear plate, drivers’ hatches, M4 upper rear plate and M4 air cleaners, that are the dark-green parts in this kit.
For ease of assembly, to allow for the interchange of parts, without cutting etc., kits of the classic Sherman series are designed to fit the Tamiya or MRC/Tamiya M4A3 Sherman, kit MM-222 or MM-222A. With some modification, they can be used with 1/35th scale Sherman kits produced by any other manufacturer.
MP Models street address in Finksburg, MD is supplied.
On the right side of the bottom of the box, there are line drawings, showing: the upper hull, M4A3 engine deck, M4 lower rear plate, M4 engine deck, M4 vent cover, M4A3 upper rear plate, drivers’ hatches, M4 upper rear plate and M4 air cleaners, that are the dark-green parts in this kit.
On the left side of the bottom of the box, there is more history;
Although the Sherman was designed with a cast upper hull and was intended to be powered by a modified Continental radial aircraft engine, shortages of both prompted the production of variants using welded hulls and other types of Engines.
Except for the lengthened hull of the M4A4, the external differences between the M4, M4A2 & M4A3 were primarily in the area of engine decks, exhaust systems etc.
The parts in this Authen-I-Kit allow for the conversion of the Tamiya late production M4A3 into mid-production (actually late-production dry storage) versions of the radial-engined M4 and the Ford engined M4A3. These were the tanks preferred, along with the M4A1, by the U.S. Army, and were extensively used by American forces in Europe.
British and Commonwealth units also used large numbers of M4’s, some of which were converted to Fireflies. Both versions could also be seen in the hands of post-war users, primarily the Israelis.
Although the Sherman was designed with a cast upper hull and was intended to be powered by a modified Continental radial aircraft engine, shortages of both prompted the production of variants using welded hulls and other types of Engines.
Except for the lengthened hull of the M4A4, the external differences between the M4, M4A2 & M4A3 were primarily in the area of engine decks, exhaust systems etc.
The parts in this Authen-I-Kit allow for the conversion of the Tamiya late production M4A3 into mid-production (actually late-production dry storage) versions of the radial-engined M4 and the Ford engined M4A3. These were the tanks preferred, along with the M4A1, by the U.S. Army, and were extensively used by American forces in Europe.
British and Commonwealth units also used large numbers of M4’s, some of which were converted to Fireflies. Both versions could also be seen in the hands of post-war users, primarily the Israelis.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds two dark-green trees of parts, that are not alphabetized.
One tree holds: the upper hull, driver’s hatches, M4 air cleaners etc. (12 parts)
The kit holds two dark-green trees of parts, that are not alphabetized.
One tree holds: the upper hull, driver’s hatches, M4 air cleaners etc. (12 parts)
The second tree holds: the M4A3 engine deck, M4 lower rear plate, M4 engine deck, M4 vent covers, M4 upper rear plate, M4A3 upper rear plate etc (12 parts)
The instructions consist of single-sheet, folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5” x 7” page format.
Page1 gives the history of the Sherman.
Page1 gives the history of the Sherman.
Page 2 & 3 show a couple assembly steps and drawings of Sherman tank kits, with shaded areas that tell you what to erase or modify.
Page 4 tells you what color to use on your Shermans and a listing of book titles about the Sherman that are on the market.
You are told to look for other Authen-I-Kits: No. 20202, a Firefly turret, No. 20203, a M4A4 hull and 20204, a Easy 8 Suspension.
You are told to look for other Authen-I-Kits: No. 20202, a Firefly turret, No. 20203, a M4A4 hull and 20204, a Easy 8 Suspension.
There is a kit catalog, also in the kit. It is a single-sheet, folded in the center to create 4 pages in 8 ½” x 5 ½” page format.
Page 1 lists Adversary Series kits.
Another street address for MP is supplied in Westminster, Maryland U.S.A.
Page 2 & 3 lists Classic Sherman Series kits.
A M4/M4A3 hull conversion, kit no. 20202.
A Easy 8 Suspension & Track, kit no. 20204.
A M4A4 Hull Conversion, Kit no. 20203.
A Firefly, Kit no. 20201.
Page 1 lists Adversary Series kits.
Another street address for MP is supplied in Westminster, Maryland U.S.A.
Page 2 & 3 lists Classic Sherman Series kits.
A M4/M4A3 hull conversion, kit no. 20202.
A Easy 8 Suspension & Track, kit no. 20204.
A M4A4 Hull Conversion, Kit no. 20203.
A Firefly, Kit no. 20201.
Page 4 lists kits in the Adverary Series
An Israeli M50 Sherman, Kit no. 10101
An Israeli M50 Sherman, Kit no. 10101
A second page has a paragraph about the company and their goals for the modeling community. It is written in the English, German and French language.
The detail on these part is very good.
Recommended.
Recommended.