Tamiya US Medium Tank M4A3 Sherman - 48207
(Radio Controlled Model Review)

  Released by Tamiya on November 1, 2008, the 1/35 R/C US Medium Tank M4A3 Sherman (#48207) came with a 4-channel radio system.

  The lower hull has been designed using a number of RC parts. By changing the attaching angle of both left and right wheels with the equipped die-cast tension shaft, you are able to adjust the tension of the tracks. Additionally there is only one gearbox controlling both the turret rotation and gun barrel elevation.

  Approximately 50,000 of the U.S. Medium Tank Sherman M4 were produced and led allies to the victory during WWII. The main model was the M4A3. The tanks were armed with 7.5cm guns and were fitted with Ford V8 gasoline engines and were divided to early version which were produced from June 1942 and late version which were produced after February 1944. Late version models featured improved front armor plate, commander's cupola, loader's hatch and ammunition stowage with additional water jackets surrounding them. The U.S. M4A3 Sherman fought with the Allies at the Pacific theater throughout the war.

Rating: 4 RCScrapyard

Choosing a Transmitter

   When you first started in RC, you may have purchased a package that came with the car kit, motor, battery, charger, ESC and radio system complete. The transmitter was probably just a basic steer wheel, or stick type, with nothing more than forward, reverse, left, right and simple trim settings to centralise the servo and ESC.

   After a while, as your enthusiasm grows and your experience increases, you will want to move on to a better radio system, with more setting options, but where do you begin?

   Choosing the right transmitter is a personal thing. It has to feel right, have the balance you like, not be too bulky for your hand size and have all the features you might need to set up your car to your driving style.

Driving On Road

   The basic driving style most commonly used for all forms of on road, tarmac and carpet racing, involves using the full width of the road available, and cutting each apex as tight as possible, whilst keeping complete control of the car on the track. The style, often referred to as "Rounding" looks quite simple to those watching, but to get it right needs good hand eye coordination and lots of practice.

   Consider a 180 degree turn. As you enter the corner, start with the car positioned close to the outside of the track, then as you approach the corner brake hard, but not too hard, just enough to slow the car so you maintain control and smoothly guide the car across the point of the apex, gently sweeping round until you are approximately 75% around the corner. At this point, gradually increase the throttle out of the corner, under full control and guiding the car to the opposite outside line. By the time the car is pointing straight on the track, you should be at almost full throttle, before you brake hard again for the next corner.

   Developing this driving style comes in stages.