Kit guide · United States

M4A3E8 Sherman 'Easy Eight' kit guide

An honest guide to the Warlord Games plastic kit: what's in the box, the build decisions to make early, painting, and what it pairs with on the table.

Nation

United States

Role

Medium tank, late war

Scale

28mm (1:56) plastic

Price at Warlord Minis

$47.99 CAD
as of October 25, 2026

What's in the box

From the manufacturer's product page. Check the box when you open it.

• One plastic M4A3E8 Sherman tank
• Stat card and order die
• Assembly guide
• Decals for US and Canadian vehicles
• Damage markers

The real vehicle, briefly

The M4A3E8 is the late-war Sherman with the 76mm gun, welded hull and HVSS suspension, which gives it the wide-tracked look. Warlord notes it reached the front in December 1944, in time for the Battle of the Bulge, that more than 2,500 were built, and that it went on to serve in Korea. The kit can stand in for any 76mm-armed Sherman. Canadian decals are included because Lord Strathcona's Horse used the type in Korea.

Build plan

1. Wash and sort the sprues

   Wash the sprues in warm soapy water to remove mould release, let them dry, then check the parts against the instructions before you cut anything.

   Build photo slot: Wash and sort the sprues
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

2. Lower hull and running gear

   Clip parts close to the part, not the gate, and clean the nubs with a sharp hobby knife. Dry-fit the lower hull and tracks, then glue. Let the running gear set fully before you handle it.

   Build photo slot: Lower hull and running gear
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

3. Upper hull and details

   Add the upper hull, then the small details: tools, lights and machine guns. Leave the most fragile parts until late so you don't snap them off while handling the model.

   Build photo slot: Upper hull and details
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

4. Turret and options

   The hull machine gun is fitted, and there's an optional pintle-mounted heavy machine gun for the commander's hatch. Decide on the pintle gun and commander before you close the turret.

   Build photo slot: Turret and options
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

5. Prime and paint

   US olive drab. Start dark, lighten panel centres, then pick out the white star and unit codes with the decals. Mud on HVSS bogies looks right, as does a dusty lower hull for winter 1944-45 or Korea.

   Build photo slot: Prime and paint
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

6. Decals and finishing

   Gloss-coat the decal areas, apply the decals with a setting solution, then seal everything with a matt varnish before weathering.

   Build photo slot: Decals and finishing
   Reserved for our own photo of this step. We don't use stock or AI-generated build photos.

Tools that help

Sprue cutters, a fresh hobby knife blade, plastic cement (thin and thick), tweezers, and a decal setting solution. That's enough for this kit.

What it pairs with

M4A3E8 Sherman Easy EightThis kit.View at Warlord Minis →M3A1 Half TrackCarries a US squad alongside the tank.View at Warlord Minis →US Rangers 2024US infantry in plastic.View at Warlord Minis →US Army Breakthrough - US Army DealBundle that already includes this tank.View at Warlord Minis →

Unit profiles and points come from your game's rulebook and army lists. We don't reproduce them here.