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Sherman firefly 1c hybrid hull
asmodeuss
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Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 02:38 AM UTC
Hi everyone!
I'm starting a cyber-hobby firefly 1c. I hope you will enjoy this build and i hope to that you will drop in to comment my mistakes and good move.

First step the wheels, iddlers and sprockets. I had to suppose that the iddlers where in two parts since there is no step 2 in the plan... 1,3,4,5 etc. Hmmm Dragon plans always on the spot! (hey! theyre in colors!)

Got a pic of a road wheel, turned out the rubber is not as crisp as we are used to see.
Here is some pics










The plan on this build is to go acurate. So dont hesitate to
comment, and critisim is most welcomed!



Enjoy,

Phil
BBD468
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 04:08 AM UTC
Hey Phil,

Great start to your build. Im really looking forward to this project. Sherman Firefly and the 105mm are my favorite shermans. Ive built the Tamiya M4A3 105mm already so im watching you close bro. You might be the one to convince me to get this kit...no pressure. Have fun man!

Gary
asmodeuss
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 04:23 AM UTC
I've seen this on a thread here, I think it was one of the Jeff's when building a sherman rollers a good way to build it was withouht the wheels in and then cut the axles leaving a small niple on each side so the wheel could snap in. It seem pretty wise (i think) So i'm trying this. This way i can paint the two parts separetly thuss, better finish and more details.
Take a look I'm doing a test one one before doing the others...not completly insane yet.



Any toughts?

Phil.
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 06:25 AM UTC
Not a bad way to make sure you can paint inside the bogies.
BBD468
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 06:40 AM UTC
Hey Phil,

Nice tip right there. Let us know how that works out. Ill have to add that to the Play book.

Gary
asmodeuss
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 07:38 AM UTC
Thanks guys.
Worked like a charm! This will save some time paintwise.



Hi Jesse. Nice of you to tag along What are you up to these days?

Phil.
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 07:55 AM UTC
Hi Phil, not to distract your thread too much... I've been really busy with 'life' from February through most of April, so here's the plan for now.

Dragon SdKfz 7/2 armored cab - currently about 85/90% assembled. Should start getting paint next week. Basic build, nothing special. I may post a few photos over the weekend.

Bronco Chaffee - gathering information as I'll be leading our Atlanta AMPS chapter '2012 club build' this year.

The Chaffee is a long slow build so everyone can follow along, so I'll have other stuff in the works in the meantime.
asmodeuss
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 08:04 AM UTC
Distract all you want Jesse this is a friendly thread!
Some nice pieces you working on there!, you have a link for your chaffee? I would like to follow that.

Model on.

Phil
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 10:17 AM UTC
I'll see what I can do for the Chaffee once I start the build for real.
asmodeuss
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 10:32 AM UTC
Hi guys! I'm looking for a rear end pic of a brit firefly 1c
Having trouble finding a clear one. If anyone as photo I could use as reference it would be much apreciated!

Thanks
Phil.
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 10:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi guys! I'm looking for a rear end pic of a brit firefly 1c
Having trouble finding a clear one. If anyone as photo I could use as reference it would be much apreciated!

Thanks
Phil.


http://the.shadock.free.fr//sherman_minutia/firefly_tank/index.html
asmodeuss
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 11:08 AM UTC
Thanks Jesse! But I already got this one... it is a standard hull. I need pics from a 1c hybrid wich have a slightly diferent back and front hull for that matters. In your opinion, would it be accurate to assume that it would be the same as a composite m4?

Thanks Jesse glad you got my six!

Phil.
BBD468
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 11:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I'll see what I can do for the Chaffee once I start the build for real.


Hi Jesse - I would love to follow your chaffee build as well. Its a cool litte tank. Im curious how good the bronco kit is. I know the Testors/Italeri kit was crap to build. luckly i had a lttle photoetch to help it out.

Phil - Sweet! Looks like it worked out perfectly. By the way i like that you damaged the rubber on the wheels. Nice call!

Gary
junglejim
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 11:24 AM UTC
Here's a photo of a standard US Composite Hull rear end. It's a standard M4 rear, not the M4A4 as seen in the other link. I'll have to check my Firefly book to see if there's any peculiarity's for the Firefly.
HTH,
Jim
asmodeuss
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 11:50 AM UTC
Thanks Jim!
Man! that looks just about right with the kit, i've pics on toadsman but it was a old hybrid hull all banged up.
Wath is the book you are refering to?

Thanks again.
Phil.
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 12:43 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks Jesse! But I already got this one... it is a standard hull. I need pics from a 1c hybrid wich have a slightly diferent back and front hull for that matters. In your opinion, would it be accurate to assume that it would be the same as a composite m4?

Thanks Jesse glad you got my six!

Phil.


The 1c hybrid is a M4 rear. What are specifically looking for?
asmodeuss
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 01:25 PM UTC
I was looking for those two oddly shaped box on the uper sides near the rear hatch. and some details on the extra tuggs but those I had. If you look at Jim's post you'll see what I mean.

Thanks again mate.

Phil
goldnova72
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 02:09 PM UTC
I believe those boxes are called louvre covers . They stowed the grousers ( track cleats ) under them . Some were open , some covered by wire mesh . Some Shermans had none ,just an oval plate over the hole ( M4A3 75mm ) . And the DDs had them facing backwards , to keep out water ?
junglejim
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Posted: Thursday, May 03, 2012 - 02:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Wath is the book you are refering to?

The Firefly Bible, Barbarossa's Sherman Firefly. The modelling section is a bit dated but still a good book if you're remotely interested in Fireflies.

Jim
asmodeuss
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2012 - 02:52 AM UTC
Jim R. Thanks for the infos, much apreciated. Where did you get those info btw? I would love to have this kind of intel.
Jim C. That book seems to be a must have! I'll make sure to get one as soon as I can.

Here is a small update.





Thanks for watching.

Phil.
ericadeane
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2012 - 03:22 AM UTC
Jim R: I believe Phil is speaking not about the grouser cover vents on the engine deck but the air cleaners which were mounted vertically to the rear bulkhead, right? That's what is mounted in the upper right and left corners of your last picture? If so, then those are air cleaners.
asmodeuss
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2012 - 04:13 AM UTC
Indeed Roy, upper left and right corner. Thanks for the clarification!

Phil.
Totalize
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2012 - 04:54 AM UTC
Looking forward to seeing this one.

Nice progress so far Phil.

Totalize
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2012 - 05:05 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Jim R: I believe Phil is speaking not about the grouser cover vents on the engine deck but the air cleaners which were mounted vertically to the rear bulkhead, right? That's what is mounted in the upper right and left corners of your last picture? If so, then those are air cleaners.


Just to add to Roy's comments I believe the air cleaners were either round or the square type. Can't tell you which, if either, was more common.
asmodeuss
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Posted: Friday, May 04, 2012 - 06:06 AM UTC
After some debate and clarification with you guys (thanks alot) I've decided to go with the kits air cleaner(square ones)But the caps ties were not to my liking. The kit provide only four when it should have 8. I've scratch the center arm of the ties with wire and borrowed buterfly nuts from a flakpanther kit I've built. I know it is german butterfly nuts but if you don't tell I wont Had some fitting issues with the boggie attachment: very loose but manage to make em strait using a ruler as a guide. Same problem with the air cleaner attachment point wayyy loose.

Here are some pics.







Thanks for the help and interaction! feel free to comment.

Phil
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