Hi Gents,

I just picked up the newly released orange boxing of the Firefly Ic Hybrid and there are markings from the South Alberta Rgt. 29th Armoured Recce Rgt. Very interesting. Kit has three different transmission covers??? Not much PE, except the light gurads and some smaller things. Tracks are of the rubber chevron style.

Cheers
Brad

Is the hull from the new Composite kit?

Well it's the hybrid, so I am thinking it maybe the older molding, but I can't tell for sure.

Brad

Hey Brad,
From looking at this Orange Box Specials page: Firefly Ic, it looks like the original kit with the addition of the DS tracks, a new .50 cal. and Master Box's British Paratroopers "Rigid Landing, Operation Market Garden".
The original kit's cast hull was extremely rough, almost like heavily pitted orange peel.
It also included:
1) a high bustle turret and parts for a PTO flamethrower tank,
2) the 60lb rockets used by Fireflys and Shermans of the Coldstream Guards and
3) the sprue with the .50 cal and hull and turret fittings from the Dragon's T26E3 or M26A1 Pershings.
The MB Paratroops are a nice addition, I picked up a set on the weekend.
Cheers

jjumbo

Only the North American releases offered the excellent HB turret. The tip to ID'ing the old hull is to look for excessive pitting even on the welded plates.
CHeers
Al

You're gonna hate me for this, but:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/5225

Hey Jim that looks something! im really tempted to spend some cash and finally buy one !

How does that boxing compare to the orange Cyber-hobby one I just got, is it a new mold? I have examined my upper hull and it is somewhat rough on top of the engine deck sides. Oh well, being new to armour is really frustrating, especially lacking the knowledge of these kits. I can discuss aircraft kits with the best of them, but armour models are another story for me. With a my meager as it is armour stash that I have, I am in the middle of building a Dragon King Tiger, as my son gave it to me for Xmas and asked me to start it. I am enjoying it, but I know nothing about the type. I think I'll just stick to Spitfires....

Cheers all

Brad

The NEW Tooling of the Firefly 1c is exactly that - not a rebox. Check out the News Report on it:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/5225

Using the same (basic) upper hull as in the (NEW) M4 Composite with the appropriate 'Firefly details.

The standard suspension parts which have been used in the recent M4s. DS tracks. New-tooled turret and gun parts are included.

Well, I quit then...I am sure I can get a few bucks for these armour models I have kicking around.

Thanks for this

Brad

Brad, the OB release is quite a good and sound kit. Yes, it isn't the latest and greatest but it has the latest an greatest Suspension and Tracks. The turret has been corrected from the earlier release and is pretty sound. A little clean up of the rough cast with wet and dry plus a little filler in the rolled plate pock marks works wonders. This was a highly regarded kit when it was first released and came with a good selection of Decals and from memory the "Tulip" 60 lb rockets of the Coldstream Guards examples.
If you are new to armour it should be a great project before you do the new one. At the price they ask for these it is a great buy and very good value. It is by no means an old dog like the original M4A4 and M4A3's from DML (Both long since corrected). The Hybrid and the M4A1 75 were always regarded as DML's better Shermans unti lthey re caught the Sherman Bug and disproved the Allied doesn't sell lie.
Cheers
Al

Thanks Al, perhaps I'll stop whinning and just build the darn thing.

Cheers
Brad

And therein lies the "real deal" Brad. Build the damn thing, enjoy it, don't worry 'bout little things....have fun. Once it's built, build a Spit....then, build another "Orange." "Cross-topic" building anly lends to better skills....which we all desire.

Looking forward to seeing you start and building.

HOWEVER, should you decide to try to weasle your way out of an armor build, let me know....I'd be interested in knowing what ya got!

Mike

The old hull in the OB kit does have its share of issues. They can be fixed, but it takes a lot of time (I've done it). If accurate hull shape is what you need, get the new release or a resin hull from Formations or CMD. But the soft detail and shape issues with the original OB hull literally disappear under a layer of track. IMO, the new OB kit should make a fabulous and inexpensive foundation for a late-war Canadian Firefly Ic covered in extra Sherman or Churchill track armor.
Greg

As luck has it, I found and picked one of the OB Fireflys at my LHS.
It's certainly an improvement over the old Imperial Series.
I haven't studied the sprues totally but I have noted one error in the instructions.
There's no mention of using the rear inserts V32 for the idler wheels V18.
Bound to be a few other ommisions too.
Cheers

jjumbo