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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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Dragon DML M4
jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Monday, March 09, 2009 - 06:43 PM UTC
I just finished my M4, well, almost. The tank I was modelling, from the 4th Armored, had T48 tracks and the kit doesn't. I thought that I had some AFV club track, but as it turns out I didn't have quite enough links. Right now I 'm using some Tamiya T48 (from THEIR M4) but it really doesn't fit, so I ordered some T48s from Dragon USA.

I really enjoyed the build. I have read some of the criticisms of the kit, and some seem valid but others weren't a problem, at least for me. The weld seams on the hoods, for example, are covered up by the applique armor. I build my tanks "buttoned up" so the recesses on the hull hatches aren't a problem, it does look like the hatches could be filled. The exterior hatch detail is quite nice, especiaily the seperate springs. I was concerned about the plastic periscope guards but they are quite well molded, you really don't need p/e replacements.

The instructions are poor, if this is your first Sherman you might want to get a book like Squadron's "Walkaround Sherman Tank" or the Tankograd series to help with details like placement of the applique armor, etc. I do have a criticism about the decals that I haven't seen elsewhere, the lack of unit/vehicle codes. I knew that I would have to make my own from Archer's, but it is an omission. The stars though are very nice, thin, and, applied over a gloss coat and then hit with dullcoat show no silvering.

I may post some photos after I get the DS track, I would really recommend this kit.
ppawlak1
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: March 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,973 posts
Armorama: 1,843 posts
Posted: Monday, March 09, 2009 - 07:03 PM UTC
Thanks John !

Sound like a nice kit.

Now let me think......

The Dragon M4 here, with a Formations Firefly Turret, gives me the Firefly below doesn't it ?

I'm thinking "BEKAS" or "RYCERZ I" from the Hussar Productions "Polish Shermans Part 3".

Cheers

Paul


jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 07:01 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks John !

Sound like a nice kit.

Now let me think......

The Dragon M4 here, with a Formations Firefly Turret, gives me the Firefly below doesn't it ?

I'm thinking "BEKAS" or "RYCERZ I" from the Hussar Productions "Polish Shermans Part 3".

Cheers

Paul



Paul,

Sorry, I don't have that book. I do know that most Fireflies were based on the Sherman V (M4A4 for us Yanks) Tasca reportedly makes the best Sherman V ( I haven't built one) . Som Fireflies were made on the Sherman I (M4) but some of those were based on the M4 hybrid hull, which has a cast front like the M4A1 (Sheman I) and a welded rear hull. I don't know if this is the case with your Fireflies.

John
ppawlak1
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: March 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,973 posts
Armorama: 1,843 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 07:43 AM UTC
Thanks John.

Yes I know about the VC and the Composite Hull Firefly's. These ones above are both based on the M4 from what I understand,

Paul
thebear
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: November 15, 2002
KitMaker: 3,960 posts
Armorama: 3,579 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 09:20 AM UTC
Hi Paul ...If you want to build Rycerz I and you are already ordering the firefly turret without the pistol port ,you should order the british cupola to go with it ...

Rick
exer
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Dublin, Ireland
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 09:36 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Thanks John !

Sound like a nice kit.

Now let me think......

The Dragon M4 here, with a Formations Firefly Turret, gives me the Firefly below doesn't it ?

I'm thinking "BEKAS" or "RYCERZ I" from the Hussar Productions "Polish Shermans Part 3".

Cheers

Paul



Paul,

Sorry, I don't have that book. I do know that most Fireflies were based on the Sherman V (M4A4 for us Yanks) Tasca reportedly makes the best Sherman V ( I haven't built one) . Som Fireflies were made on the Sherman I (M4) but some of those were based on the M4 hybrid hull, which has a cast front like the M4A1 (Sheman I) and a welded rear hull. I don't know if this is the case with your Fireflies.

John


RYCERZ was built on a welded hul M4. There is a terrific Rossagraph book detailing the Sherman Firefly Ic including a build of RYCERZ using the Tamoya M4 Rossa History & Model - Sherman IC Firefly
thebear
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: November 15, 2002
KitMaker: 3,960 posts
Armorama: 3,579 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 09:56 AM UTC
Yep well done but he did forget the british cupola ..you can just see it in a few of the pictures in the book ..well more like you don't see the half moon shapes of the regular hatch..Great book for anyone wanting to do a IC.Recommended but wish they had touched on the Hybrid while they were at it ..

Rick
ppawlak1
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: March 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,973 posts
Armorama: 1,843 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 07:51 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Yep well done but he did forget the british cupola ..you can just see it in a few of the pictures in the book ..well more like you don't see the half moon shapes of the regular hatch..Great book for anyone wanting to do a IC.Recommended but wish they had touched on the Hybrid while they were at it ..

Rick


G'day Rick !

Apparently Rycesz I had a standard cupola until the end of the war (so I've been told). At the Loreto parade on August 15, 1945 it had the new Cupola.

Anyone disagree, or think the Dragon kit won't do the job on the Polish machine above ?

Cheers

Paul
ALBOWIE
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: February 28, 2006
KitMaker: 1,605 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 08:59 PM UTC
Paul, the new DML M4 whilst not as perfect as DML claim is the best M4 in 35th and one of their nicest Sherman kits making it quite suitable to convert to a Firefly 1c (Welded). I had a look through Gawrych's Sherman 1C Firefly by Rossagraph and it appears that the Brit cupola was present in the Loretta Photos and the post war exercises but do not seem to show up pre this as you indicate.
The only problem I foresee and it is easily remedied is that the sharp nose transmission whilst included in the kit has a really poor fit with the Final drives as recently discussed on ML. This is easily fixed by using italeri fianl drives which fit well.
The Rossagraph History and Model book is highly recommended for 1c Fireflies - particularly welded ones of the Polish II Corps in Italy The ISBN is 83-89717-50-6 and the Author is Wojciech J Gawrych.
ppawlak1
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: March 14, 2006
KitMaker: 1,973 posts
Armorama: 1,843 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 09:26 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Paul, the new DML M4 whilst not as perfect as DML claim is the best M4 in 35th and one of their nicest Sherman kits making it quite suitable to convert to a Firefly 1c (Welded). I had a look through Gawrych's Sherman 1C Firefly by Rossagraph and it appears that the Brit cupola was present in the Loretta Photos and the post war exercises but do not seem to show up pre this as you indicate.
The only problem I foresee and it is easily remedied is that the sharp nose transmission whilst included in the kit has a really poor fit with the Final drives as recently discussed on ML. This is easily fixed by using italeri fianl drives which fit well.
The Rossagraph History and Model book is highly recommended for 1c Fireflies - particularly welded ones of the Polish II Corps in Italy The ISBN is 83-89717-50-6 and the Author is Wojciech J Gawrych.


Thanks Al You're a legend !!

I'm going to build a few Polish Sherman's starting with Firefly's. VC, then IC, then Hybrid I think....

It looks like this kit will do for the IC

I have quite a few Formation bits in my stash including several types of Firefly turret. I guess I'll need to get the book from Jadar if they have it (Amazon ? - ooops $US74 there ).

Cheers

Paul
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