Hey guys,

I decided that all of my already build kits need to be at a decent level before I start any new kit. :-)

Next up are two fireflies. One is from Tasca, the other one is from Dragon. I build and painted them both several years back, I love Fireflies but I always felt a didn't do a good job on both. they actually really sucked. :-)

On the Tasca I removed the appliqué and the front tracks, on the dragon I removed the front tracks and working with putty to fill some holes. I never saw those front tracks on fireflies in Normandy, shou'd these beaded or not?

The Tasca one will become A Canadian - 4th canadian armoured divivison - firefly, the dragon I will build as a British Spitfire of the 27th armored brigade. For the decals Ill be using the firefly set from bison. anyone has pictures of both fireflies?

I also bought a stowage set from legend, which I will add to both fireflies and will also use for my yet to build Tasca firefly with cast cheeck armor. The legend set is huge, so I will have enough for 3 tanks.

Next up will be the drilling of the drain holes. Any other things I could do to get them to look more historically correct before I start the paint job? All tips are welcome, especially since I've just started with the renovation.

Thanks!

Dave

Tasca


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr

Dragon


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr

The drain holes:

Dragon:


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr

The Tasca


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr



photo by ddepickere, on Flickr

A bit of repair on the Tasca


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr

What do you think? Which look best? Which one needs some repair?

Thanks!

Dave

I was a bit confused. :-) I still have a dragon firefly ic in my stash, which I'll do as a Canadian firefly.

Those two, well, I'm still doubting.

One will definnatly be option G of the bison decals, a vc of the 27th armored brigade. For the other one I'm doubting between belvedere - original Tasca decals - and option K of the bison decals, being a vc of the 33rd armored brigade. Alas the former has the additional turret box, which the Tasca doesn't have...

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Dave

Very small update: the two girls, fully painted, decalled and gloss coated.

All ready for wheatering!

Thanks for looking!

Dave


photo by ddepickere, on Flickr

The two girls look very nice. Why do you have tracks on one and not the other? Looking forward to seeing some weathering.

Hey Matt,

Thanks for your comments.

The dragon one has individual tracks, which I haven't had the guts to start on.

I'll order some Tasca vinyl ones, so as long that they don't arrive, the dragon has to do without.

It's been really trial and error with those two, but I learned a lot from rebuilding and remodeling them, so I won't make all the mistakes I did here again. Well, I hope.

Anyway, I think they turned out ok, and with some wheatering and some stowage they might as well turn out much better then I was hoping for.

Dave

Looking good, but the one on the right, is that a 30 in the bridge weight circle decal? Firefly's are 33 tonnes. It should be a 33.

Kevin, that's indeed 30...

I have no idea what went wrong. I used the Tasca decals for belvedere on this one. Damn, guess something more I need to fix.

Dave

Companies sometimes make mistakes, the 30 would be for the standard M4 Sherman. They do look great. I have built one Firefly, and am thinking of a couple more....

Yep, you're right, I just double checked in the box and I used the right decal, being the 30. It also clearly states in the manual that it should be 30...

However, I checked online on 1999.co.jp, and there the manual says 33! So, they've must have corrected it over time. My kit is 4 years old or so.

I think I'm just gonna weather the 0 away.

The Tasca kits are great, I still have a firefly with cast cheeck armor in my stash and the Dragon ic. Fireflies are my favorite WWII era tanks.

I'm currently working on tascas Sherman III and the engineering and eye for detail is just so great. And it all just works and fits! I just love them!

Dave

Dave, those are now two very sexy Fireflies! Looking foward to you progress.

Gary

It took me over a year, but the two finnaly got a wash.

With ome luck, more to come.

Dave



Untitled by ddepickere, on Flickr


Untitled by ddepickere, on Flickr

Dave, Really a year's worth of work that was well worth the effort. They're coming out great.

You've done what I've thought about doing on my very 1st armor model I built a few years ago, but just didn't have the will power to tear down, strip, re-paint, and weather, a Tamiya M113. I once thought it looked good. Then ok, then just so os, now I've pushed it to the darkest corner of my display shelves, as it's become a eye sore.

After seeing your before and afters, I'm going to give it a shot. I really have nothing to loose at this point.

Joel

Thanks Joel! And I'd say, just do it!

If the 40 models or so I have build over the last 15 years, there are only 3 that I consider finished.

All the others are WIPs. :-)and one day I'm gonna finish them all. wish me luck.

Dave

Dave,

You got it !!

Good Luck on your grand Quest.

Joel