John Van Kooten
Hi Maik,

I went through all of the books I have on Shermans but I could not find a direct reference to this tank called "Frantic", aside from the color drawing (probably the same you found). I did find MANY other named Shermans 😉 I have included the color drawing in the images below for future reference.

Other than that I did find a number of photos from 13th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division in Italy. So maybe even though it isn't exactly "Frantic", they could still be of some use?

13th Armored Regt., 1st Armored Div. followed the camouflage pattern suggested in directive FM-5-20B, which consisted of Earth Red over an Olive Drab base, with the lower halve of the barrel in a white wave pattern, as can be seen in image 004 below and what is basically in the color drawings of "Frantic".

By the way, for those interested:
The wave pattern on the barrel was to make the barrel look shorter / smaller than it actually was. This camouflage trick was used extensively on the Sherman Firefly, to make the barrel look shorter! That way the Germans were less likely to target them first. Which is exactly what the Germans did when they encountered a platoon of Shermans (in theory each Sherman platoon was supposed to have one Firefly): target the Firefly first, then take out the rest. Obviously because the Firefly was the only one capable to knock out the big German tanks (from larger distances / the front).

I must say it's kind of strange Eduard couldn't (wouldn't?) give you the information they have on this particular tank. All of the info they have is probably public domain anyway. Even more so, why isn't it included in the instructions? Seems kind of lazy of kit manufacturers today... they give you an amazingly detailed kit that (supposedly) was researched extensively but then they provide us with exactly zero background information... makes me wonder if some things are just pure science fiction? Not that that is terrible but at least give us something to go on or simply tell us that this is the case, right? 😉

Anyway, the images I have found for you 🙂 :

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[img3]
[img4]
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[img7]
[img8]

Maik Berlin
Hi John! Many thank for your research, but sadly I knew all of the pics 🙁
A couple of days ago I found an old topic on missing-lynx where Steven Zaloga stated that the colors used by the 13th Armored Regiment may be Olive Drab and Black and not Earth Red ...
So I need at least one picture of Frantic to make my own impression. One question is the color, another is the white counter-shading on the lower hull as shown in the Eduard instructions. What gun mantlet is used? What road-wheels? What boogies? Which tracks? 3-piece bolted or single-piece transmission cover? So many questions ...
You are right in saying that it is strange that the manufacturers of those high detailed kit don't gave you more background to their marking options, maybe a original picture, or even a source where to find.

John Van Kooten
Aaah, too bad it's of no use but better to try to help then not help at all 🙂

And yes, I know what you mean. Sometimes the amount of questions you end up with is larger than the amount of parts in the kit😉

Aaron River
why don't you try a US veterans site, there maybe some one on there that knows first hand? or google for an historian of US WWII Armour, and EMail them

Aaron River
primeportal.net/home.htm Try here as well you never know

Arne Greve
Hello John and Maik, I don´t believe, that every model kit company like EDUARD, Dragon, Tamiya etc. researched there kits, before they bring them on the market. The first opinion for them is, to share money. So, Maik, let your fantasy a free run. ;-D

Arne Greve
Aaron, the Primeportal is great, but where are fotos of the japanese Army? I saw only the Type 95 Ha-Go.