History:The unavailability of the excellent Continental airplane engine used by the Sherman M4 and M4A1 'Sherman II', forced the Americans to install other engines in the hulls of Shermans. The version M4A2 (the British Sherman III) got a diesel engine from GM (Apparently GM stands here for Grey Marine, a boat engine manufacturer. It seems that the initials has often caused confusion with General Motors). Identification: Welded hull and cast turret. It is difficult to differentiate from the models M4 or M4A3 'Sherman IV', except for the flat engine top with extra filler caps and the absence of aeration slits at the rear of the hull.

The M4A2 was the only diesel engined version of the Sherman tank to see service in large numbers, mainly serving with the USSR as Lend Lease equipment and with the US Marines, the British and the Free French.

As a consequence of having a diesel engine, the M4A2 version's engine deck and back end is distinctly different from all other versions of the Sherman. Strangely though, not one major model kit manufacturer has seen fit to release a 1/35th scale injection moulded plastic kit for the mass market.

The lower half of the build goes together exactly as the instructions describe. Once this is completed, the lower half and the Verlinden hull can be combined. After this step is completed ,the rest of the build may continue per instruction again.

The Sherman was finished in a basic olive drab, and then weathered using lightened and darkened shades of the original color for effect. A basic camo cover of flat black was then added to the tank in a random pattern.

Everyone builds Shermans but few build the M4A2 due to the lack of conversions. Here is an example of a unique item that will round out anyone's Sherman collection.