My Gift To You - Mato Toys M4A1(76)W

[Saxondog]

Very witty OZ,busted a rib laughing.It really is to bad as so many had high hopes for the SHERMAN,and swathdiver seems to of given them plenty of accurate information to produce a better model.But as has been said too MATO it's just a toy.Saxondog

[swathdiver]

Those who have ordered the Sherman are in for a real treat. No trickery or deceit on our end.

Over at RCU I started a thread identifying known issues objectively and countering some of the nit-picking with facts or more accurate information. We're also mentioning possible solutions and welcome participation by other budding "Shermanholics"!

Time precludes me from running duplicate posts on both forums right now.

[STEINER]

released just in time for Halloween, seems to be a bit of a trick and no treat.

Oz, LMA off at that, brilliant.

Gift, more like a booby prize. 8o| 8o| 8o|

[Militarymight]

I was really sorry to hear about the Sherman thankfully i decided some weeks ago not to committ to purchase any as i had heard rumours from my supplier in China that there were issues, but sworn to secracy. The reason it is like it is because mato, mattoro/ torro are toy makers mainly and this tank is a Toy designed to be used as a toy and not for us guys here. The market for us is too small at the moment to produce a accurate model at a low price thats why there is Tamiya. The toy market has more potential especially dads buying it for there ha ha kids for xmas.
Im sure the knowledge on here people will find ways how to correct the inacuracies of this tank. I have been told there is alot of after market spares and upgrades coming for this tank.
Dont hold your breath re heng Long making one as mato are initially the same company. They havent made the sturmtiger or king tiger have they.

so you have 2 choices guys pay for a Tamiya or prepare to upgrade the mato sherman.

[swathdiver]

Military Might,

Murphy and I didn't design this tank to be a toy. We're tankers and enthusiest like all of you. Take a moment and visit my review page at RCU where I counter some of these accusations with facts and research. This is the first of many releases from the Sherman Project and with your input and support, we'll improve the breed and be able to release more variants. My Commonwealth brothers, you have not been left out or forgotten! My plan was that 3 tanks out of the next 6 released were Shermans specifically used by you guys, the Achilles IC, Firefly Hybrid and Grant in no particular order.

It has come to my attention that the initial reviewer while entitled to his opinions may not be so objective. You see, the company he was in some way affiliated with was not selected to be a North American distributor at this time.

This sherman like our beloved HL Tigers is not perfect. Remember the 2003-2006 vintage tanks? The Tiger also has shape and size issues that we've either learned to live with or have developed fixes and just about everyone loves their Tiger despite the its warts. True?

Give it a fair shake, I think you'll grow to like it and become a "Shermanholic" as I have.

James

[STEINER]

Military Might,

Murphy and I didn't design this tank to be a toy. We're tankers and enthusiest like all of you. Take a moment and visit my review page at RCU where I counter some of these accusations with facts and research. This is the first of many releases from the Sherman Project and with your input and support, we'll improve the breed and be able to release more variants. My Commonwealth brothers, you have not been left out or forgotten! My plan was that 3 tanks out of the next 6 released were Shermans specifically used by you guys, the Achilles IC, Firefly Hybrid and Grant in no particular order.

It has come to my attention that the initial reviewer while entitled to his opinions may not be so objective. You see, his company was not selected to be a North American distributor at this time.

This sherman like our beloved HL Tigers is not perfect. Remember the 2003-2006 vintage tanks? The Tiger also has shape and size issues that we've either learned to live with or have developed fixes and just about everyone loves their Tiger despite the its warts. True?

Give it a fair shake, I think you'll grow to like it and become a "Shermanholic" as I have.

James

Swathdiver I have done just that.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_91844 ... tm#9211566

Posts (Page 8 ) 182, 185, 186, 187. make interesting reading.

[Militarymight]

I agree with you mate its a first attempt that will get better especially if you listen to these guys here. Im a german armour fan myself so dont really intend to buy the sherman at present but am willing to be converted so produce a model and convert me...

[Saxondog]

Swathdiver,you have been involved in something that no other tanker has had the privilege to take part in.I am confident in your abilities,but if you were to post an in depth dis-assembly and remark on the parts that are in the after market parts line-up this would certainly put an end to any miss-information or bias from others who may not have your unique experience with the MATO SHERMAN.It would also put an end to any escalation of hard feeling that may result from different points of view.Just my opinion on this unfortunat development.Saxondog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGqGgL5ASjw This link was sent to me by the blitz

[swathdiver]

Thank you Sax! The intent of my review on the other forum is to answer some of the criticisms as well as wring the tank out, find it's weaknesses and develop fixes with the tanking community that can be applied by everyone else and future releases from the Sherman Project.

Don't work for Mato, just like you guys who happens to have their ear and trust with elements of this project. Not involved in the aftermarket with companies like Schumo or Asiatam. This is one of many tanks that were designed over the course of several years. We also developed accessory and upgrade kits like the T49 3-bar steel cleat track with EECs for better flotation as an accessory, the T51 and T54 tracks equip other future releases. Some of the future accessories were things like 10-in-1 rations, E9 Bogie Spacing Kit with EECs on both sides of the track, Adapter kit for Tamiya hull, the metal VVSS upgrade and the air recognition panels and accurately detailed and dimensioned Allied flags.

One of my pet peeves was that differential cover. Economics dictated using the existing gearboxes and motors. A lower ratio box designed to fit within the confines of the other covers will equip future tanks such as the M3 Grant and M10 Achilles IC. Then there's also the advanced IR Battle electronics! The electronics equipping these tanks was developed for them back in 2007 and was intended only for the first or second releases while the investment in money and time was made to have a truly integrated battle system compatible with but offering more features then Tamiyas. These electronics are what the Army in WW2 called, Limited Standard.

Time precludes me from running duplicate posts on all the forums, tending to the questions, testing, reviews and real world stuff with the family and community.

This tank and the future Shermans that come out of the Sherman Project will improve with everyone's constructive effort to improve the breed and hopefully advance the hobby way beyond where it was just 6 short years ago when the first HL Tiger came out.

[Mackem]

Hi All, here's my two pence worth,

I've read the threads on this and other forums about this Sherman and I can honestly say that I have never seen the release of a new 1:16 tank greeted with such negative feedback. Any newcomer to this hobby reading these threads could be forgiven for thinking that all the other 1:16 tanks out there arrive perfect in every detail without a single fault. Now, we all know that this is definitely not the case, every single HL, Mato/Mattoro, Bandai, WSN, and Tamiya, yes even Tamiya, comes with a list of defects.

In my case what makes this hobby so intersting and enjoyable is figuring out how to correct these defects or seeing how others with more experience tackle and correct the defects and applying the fixes to my tanks. Bubbajoexx seems less than happy with his Sherman, but nevertheless he has already created a fix for the suspension units. ( A true tanker )

The simple fact is, that if all our tanks came without any defects we would not have a hobby. So lets give this Sherman a chance and enjoy following the build threads, where no doubt we will see fixes for all of its faults.

Cheers
John