14th AD M4A3E8

Interestingly enough, the Dragon HVSS in their later M4A3 and M51 kits is a really nice bit of kit. The rest of the model isn't up to the same standards, which is unfortunate but what we've come to expect from Dragon. With the sandbag kit, though, a lot of those issues are completely masked.

Patton, as is well known, was not a fan of the sandbag armor treatment. He felt it placed too much strain on the tank's transmission and suspension, and if the tank was going to be driven 5,000 miles he was probably correct. But the few tanks which went from Normandy to the end covered something like half that, and those tanks were rare. I'd be surprised if any of these up-armored tanks ran more than 500 miles in all. It's also likely that Patton was against the idea as he thought it smacked of cowardice and lack of faith in the equipment; a well known psychological blind spot of his. But he seems not to have grumbled about the extra weight when written-off tanks were scavenged for armor plate to make expedient Jumbos.

Looking good, can'y wait to see more

I seem to remember Patton being quoted as saying the sand bag armor was "un-military looking" and "messy"..... might be why he approved of extra plate armor.

I think I have the same book, plus that pic's been published a few times. It's a GOOD pic.