Greetings all,

Just received an email showing the Tasca Firefly VC - anyone know anymore about this kit? Can't read Japanese but fairly certain it is 1/35.

Edit: PICTURE REMOVED FOR GALLERY SPACE

There was also a link in the text regarding an M4??

Cheers

Al

This is the long awaited Tasca Sherman kit. which has been the cause of much speculation and guessing. I thought it would be a mid production M4 but it's a Firefly VC with houseboat fittings. If it's up to the standard of their Sherman suspension sets then it'll be a beaut. I wonder how expensive it'll be? The suspension sets go for €16 at HLJ
http://www.tasca-modellismo.com/seihin/firefly5c/firefly5c.html

A little more info on the Tasca Firefly at
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/newf.htm

Kazutaka Yokota wrote in a post at Track-link "later this year"

From the blurb on PMMS


Wow what does that mean?
And a commander figure, Maybe by Yosci or one of the other Japanese master sculptors - sweet.

Hi, no idea Pat - applique armour??????

Looks very good indeed - be interesting to see what price it comes on the market at.

Saw the stuff on PMMS, thanks Tom.

Well more good news for Allied modellers. It is certainely going to be an interesting year, what with the Mk III due out before the new Dragon Ic - the more choice the better.

Cheers

Al

"Sand seal, body of increase armoring being attached production possibility"


I would interpret the text to mean optional sandshields and add-on armor.

Judging by the photos, looks like a sharp kit. Wonder if the tracks are MKs? Unusual to see them molded a different color from the rest of the kit. If it's anything like their Luchs, it'll be a very nicely engineered piece.

I'm gonna ask a Japanese friend of mine if he'll translate the page for us.

Some more info regarding the kit a post or two down on this page:

http://www.planetarmor.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2506

Okay, I got the translation from the Tasca website.
It basically gives the history of the developement of the Sherman Firefly in the first large body of text.
The second body of text talks about the model that they are producing. They mention the following features:

- approx. 400 parts
- photoetch parts
- clear resin periscopes and lights
- 360 degrees of rotation on a turret that installs by "clicking" it into place for tank/truck disguise
- choice of wireless radio box and muzzle
- 2 types of tires to choose from
- possibilty of sand seal and applique armour
- 1 commander figure
- instructions and 4 options of decals

The company cautions that these pics are of a prototype model, and that this model does not contain the photoetch parts or clear parts that the production model will.

The last section of the page talks about how they took care to take samples from many real Shermans to get their product right. The rear idler is formed by piecing together three parts molded via slide injection to help adjust the tension of the tracks. The lights and tow cable ends have been tirelessly replicated via slide injection molding.


Damn the cost, I'm getting one!

Hi Folks,

Thanks for all the feedback and the links. Looks like it's going to be a great kit.

Cheers

Al