-
Modelers Alliance has updated the forum software on our website. We have migrated all post, content and user accounts but we could not migrate the passwords.
This requires that you manually reset your password.
Please click here, http://modelersalliance.org/forums/login to go to logon page and use the "Forgot your Password" option.
Airfix 1/72 Sherman Mk. Vc Firefly
- Thread starter Rhino
- Start date
Anyone else ever notice that he seems to always have the line "Do you mean to tell me!?".
Bronco Models' 1/35th Scale Humber Scout Car Mk. I came with a Michael Caine figure.Anyone else ever notice that he seems to always have the line "Do you mean to tell me!?".
Rhino
Super Moderator
Hmm. Quite so. Not very "Micro" then is it?
Do you mean to tell me, you imagine I bought this complex, intricate model kit for any reason than that?
I fear you've got the wind up rather badly, ol' chap.
Rhino
Super Moderator
I digress. I unabashedly took today off from tlarmodels.com
Yesterday I freshened the upcoming project page, posted the 10th Anniversary figure info and added non-TLAR model kits for sale yesterday. I also adjusted some prices on slow movers.
www.theshermantank.com
Since I know f#ck-all about Sherman Firefly tanks, this website is of interest for this project.
Airfix issued their new-tool 1/72 scale Sherman Firefly Vc kit in 2020. The plastic glues easily and sands readily. Assembly is straight-forward with molded on positive attachment points. 2 sets of running gear are included. Separate suspension, sprockets and link-and-length tracks OR running gear and tracks as assemblies. Airfix includes a jerry can. .30 and 50 cal. ammo boxes, extra track sections and bogie wheels to add some stowage.
The hint for "Forward" in the hull is kinda cute! I like my tanks to have a little heft to them, so I stuck a chunk of old wheel weight in the Firefly.
The hull lifting hooks and headlights are tooled in a very clever way! There is plenty of places that could benefit for towing rings, turret lifting hooks and headlamp guards to be made from wire, for added detail. No AA machine gun is included.
The fit leaves quite a lot to be desired in a few spots, but I built this wearing my 150 magnifier. That could be inadvisable.
Using the ship model "Black sharpie, c/a glue and sand' method makes short work of minor gaps. Bigger gaps (transmission cover to hull joint, fenders to drive housings, rear mud guards) require styrene strip and sanding.
The hull over the running gear is a wide open empty space. I don't think I will take the time to close it up.
The lid for the bin on the rear could have been better, so I worked on that, and added the hatch in the bottom of the hull.
If I built many armor kits, my opinion might be more valid.
I got this far today with out too much fuss. I have a metal 17-pounder gun barrel for this project, but the kit cannon barrel is pretty nice!
It was fun to goof off with somebody else's model kit again!
I'll bet you guys thought I would put all of Henry Turner's designed 3D printed sailing ships together, didn't ya!
Yesterday I freshened the upcoming project page, posted the 10th Anniversary figure info and added non-TLAR model kits for sale yesterday. I also adjusted some prices on slow movers.
#23 The Firefly: The Teapot With Teeth. | The Sherman Tank Site
www.theshermantank.com
Airfix issued their new-tool 1/72 scale Sherman Firefly Vc kit in 2020. The plastic glues easily and sands readily. Assembly is straight-forward with molded on positive attachment points. 2 sets of running gear are included. Separate suspension, sprockets and link-and-length tracks OR running gear and tracks as assemblies. Airfix includes a jerry can. .30 and 50 cal. ammo boxes, extra track sections and bogie wheels to add some stowage.
The hint for "Forward" in the hull is kinda cute! I like my tanks to have a little heft to them, so I stuck a chunk of old wheel weight in the Firefly.
The hull lifting hooks and headlights are tooled in a very clever way! There is plenty of places that could benefit for towing rings, turret lifting hooks and headlamp guards to be made from wire, for added detail. No AA machine gun is included.
The fit leaves quite a lot to be desired in a few spots, but I built this wearing my 150 magnifier. That could be inadvisable.
Using the ship model "Black sharpie, c/a glue and sand' method makes short work of minor gaps. Bigger gaps (transmission cover to hull joint, fenders to drive housings, rear mud guards) require styrene strip and sanding.
The hull over the running gear is a wide open empty space. I don't think I will take the time to close it up.
The lid for the bin on the rear could have been better, so I worked on that, and added the hatch in the bottom of the hull.
If I built many armor kits, my opinion might be more valid.
I got this far today with out too much fuss. I have a metal 17-pounder gun barrel for this project, but the kit cannon barrel is pretty nice!
It was fun to goof off with somebody else's model kit again!
I'll bet you guys thought I would put all of Henry Turner's designed 3D printed sailing ships together, didn't ya!
Nope, that reply, with Michael Caine's resemblance, was in response to Moon Puppy. Another notable resemblance is that of Putin which Meng, Trumpeter, and Tamiya include in their T-90 and Su-76M kits respectively.
Meng's special edition T-90A:
Trumpeter's figure from their T-90MS kit:
George Bush, Vlad Putin and someone else manning Tamiya's Su-76M
Sadly, all to 1/35th scale!
Also @Rhino, glad to see you use the sharpie/CA/sand technique. I do too! Not that I build many ship models or learned from them. It is a great technique so you know, that saying about 'great minds'...
Click to see VERY old thread on my Cuban M4A3 (76) HVSS from December of 2010:
Last, thank you. It is always nice to see another build review...
Yes, they culled collections for it and used M4A3 (76) both HVSS and VVSS, plus Fireflies based on different chassis, Marks II, IV and V.
"The Shermans used in the film were mainly sourced from the Royal Netherlands Army; a 105mm which was modified into a Firefly and a Sherman Dozer which had a plastic turret added.
The Belgian Army really came up trumps supplying two Fireflies, two 76mm Shermans and a 105mm as well as two towable hulks.
Wooden mock-ups and plastic Sherman replicas on long-wheeled based Land Rovers were also used."
M4A3 (76) HVSS with Michael Caine in the Humber Scout Car. Click to read the excellent article on the Tank Museum website:
Really good movie. At least they didn't have a 60+ year old playing James Gavin in that one.
Rhino
Super Moderator
And you WILL!I wanna see how this kit builds up
No hoisting points are on this cute, li'l Firefly model, so I installed some. Mantlet and turret both. I also added headlamp guards from a smaller diameter copper wire. The elevation action of the gun seems unlikely. After carefully installing the mantlet and picking a jaunty angle, this is where she stays!
I confess to having little fondness for assembling tracks, so my Airfix Firefly will be assembled with the one-piece running gear.
Painting the track assemblies is tedious, but I like the look of them so far.
TIP: Some carving of the hull attachment points was needed to fit the one-piece track assemblies! I imagine it would be the same on the link-and-length tracks. A little disappointing for a "new tool" kit.
This kit is being finished in Tamiya acrylics entirely.
I just sprayed the Olive Drab green, and my pre-shading efforts seem ineffective. You Armor guys use this technique more than I do, so it could be a question of experience.
Stayed tuned to see how it comes out once the paint is properly cured!
Now, Monday morning I will be back to work on tlarmodels.com
Look for a plethora of models kits not made by me to appear to feed your plastic passion!
"Shameless Goofing off with Airfix" will continue after my plumbing lay-off surrogate work day concludes.
Thanks again for looking in!
Already!?
Heavens Eagle
Well-known member
Nothing like a shake and bake kit
Rhino
Super Moderator
Not quite. Decals weathering and flat coat coming right up!
Impisi
Well-known member
as I said, already done
Rhino
Super Moderator
A long time ago, Scott Hackney advised buying a pair of reading glasses to work on small scale details. He was right. It took me a while to find just the right pair of 1.50+ readers. The Magni-visor I have is bulky and heavy, and had an LED light I never used. I kept conking it on my lamp and knocking the lens off.
Problem solved! I liked them so much, I bought a couple for the tools and accessories category on tlarmodels.com
I feel an overwhelming urge to pick up my guitar and sing "Peggy Sue" when I wear these.
Similar threads
