1/72nd Scale Israeli Shermans

Israeli Shermans

The Israelis used a number of variants of the Sherman tank. Unmodified, 75mm-armed Shermans were designated as M3 Shermans. Unmodified, 76mm-armed Shermans were designated the M1 "Super Sherman". Those Shermans re-armed with the French 75mm high velocity gun were designated M50, and those tanks re-armed with French 105mm guns were designated M51. Note that only the M1 was called "Super Sherman" and none of the Israeli Shermans were ever called "Isherman". That was a name created by the media.

Early M50s retained either the Sherman's original engine, or was re-equipped with the Continental R-975 gasoline engine from the M4/M4A1, regardless of the hull type. So it was possible to see an M4A3 or M4A4 Sherman with the engine deck of an M4. Later M50s switched to the Cummins diesel engine, and had a redesigned engine deck. Early versions also had the VVS suspension, and later versions had the HVSS. It was possible to see unusual combinations of these early and late features. Several Sherman versions were converted to M50s, such as M4s, M4A1s, M4A4s, and other welded hull versions.

Variant	Manufacturer	Medium	Type	Rating	Comments	Links
M50 (late)	CPL Overby's Motorpool	Resin	Kit	****	Conversion for Dragon. Includes hull and turret (based on ESCI) optional diesel engine deck, and much stowage.	Preview
M50 HVSS	Modell Trans	Resin	Kit	***	All resin kit. Hull based on MR Models; turret based on ESCI. Suspension is underscale (1/76th).	Preview
M50 HVSS - Chile	Modell Trans	Resin	Kit	?	Chilean variant with high velocity cannon. All resin kit.
M50 Turret	Modell Trans	Resin	Conversion	****	Conversion for Italeri/ESCI. Includes turret (based on ESCI) and diesel engine deck.	Preview
M50 Degem	Modell Trans	Resin	Conversion	?	New turret and upper hull conversion for Dragon VVSS Shermans.
M50 Supersherman Mk.II	Modell Trans	Resin	Conversion	?	New turret and upper hull conversion for Dragon HVSS Shermans.

All M51s mounted the HVS suspension. Some early tanks had the original engines, but most were re-engineered to take the Cummins diesel engine. Most M51s were converted from M4A1 (76)W HVSS, though some were also made from M4A3 (76)W HVSS. Patterns of stowage boxes and other equipment on both the M50 and M51 hulls were very specific, and not random, as depicted by many modelers.

Variant	Manufacturer	Medium	Type	Rating	Comments	Links
M51	Commander Series	Resin	Conversion	?	Hull was modified from ESCI M4A1. Turret was modified Hasegawa M4A3E8 turret. OOP
M51	CPL Overby's Motorpool	Resin	Conversion	****	Conversion for Dragon.	Preview
Sherman M51	Exokit/Retrokit-FR	Resin	Kit	**	Modified from Revell M4A1. Closer to 1/76th in scale. OOP	Preview
Sherman M51	Solfig	Resin	Kit	**	Same as Exokit.
M51 Israeli Sherman	Fine Scale Factory	Resin	Kit	***	Modified from ESCI M4A1 (hull), Hasegawa (suspension), and Revell (turret). OOP	Preview
M51	First Aire Model Factory	Resin	Conversion	?	Conversion for Hasegawa. Hull is modified from ESCI, turret modified from Hasegawa, wheels from 1/76th kit. OOP?

Variant	Manufacturer	Kit #	Medium	Type	Rating	Comments	Links
IDF Sherman Ambulance HVSS	ModellTrans	72221	Resin	Kit	?
IDF Sherman Ambulance	Retrokit-GB	72004	Resin	Conversion	?	Conversion for ESCI/Italeri.