RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

dgsselkirk wrote:

43rdRecceReg wrote:

Exhibitedbrute wrote:That would certainly be the easiest option but the hull would still need to be extended, which I can provide measurement for from my own firefly

Only Fireflies based on the M4A4 hull (Vc) need to go to the chop shop. Hybrid (1c), and M4 (1c) don't need a longer chassis. In fact, the M4 Ic should just fit on the M4A3 lower hull.
That's a precedent for leaving the hull/tub undoctored- should it be needed.

tis true... now just have to find those for reference...

Here's Tamiya's 1/48 scale M4 Sherman 1C Firefly. It's a pity they didn't offer a 1/16 version.


I guess, the only issue with using the M4A3 as the basis for an M4 !C would be the angle of the glacis plate. Otherwise, the lower hull wouldn't need much reconfiguration.

Without knowing what variant it was, that’s the one I hoped to make out of this thing.
I will look around for a lower & if there is one available at a realistic price, I might still go ahead at some stage.
But, if anyone has a need for this thing I have, let me know.
I’d happily swap it for a couple of Russian figures

Here's the M4 1c Firefly variant (Sherman 1, in British terms, HB). Someone here used the M4A3 chassis to build a Firefly. I cana't find the thread, but I know he had to alter the angle of the front glacis plate.
Other than that, you won't need to get the saw out.


There's a whole 46mb pdf of Fireflies to be downloaded here:
http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers.html
Click on the "new! 'Shermans' new" link on the left, then scroll down the variant listings on the right. From the right column, there's a download link. The file's too large to upload here, but the pic I've just posted came from it. This one looks like it has the 'high bustle' type turret.

That is a real rare one, IC AND High Bustle turret...

dgsselkirk wrote:That is a real rare one, IC AND High Bustle turret...

Just what I thought, Dean Apart from fitting a rectangular loader's hatch (not too much of a scratch challenge), a scratch built radio box (easy enough with styrene sheets), a new mantlet etc, the stock
airsoft or IR turret could be used. The later Cupola would be needed, but that's available as a metal accessory, I believe. Other tweaks are not beyond the average RCTW 'improver'

If you download the Firefly file, you'll see pics of several M4 Ic's. There's even one with a 105mm gun fitted. It's all Firefly, except for the barrel and mantlet...

A couple more of the relatively rare M4 IC Fireflies:




The Shadock.free.fr pdf has loads more Fireflies in the 46mb download. I'd say it's an essential file for any Shermano-fanatics

BUT the big one is making those small hatches and configuring them onto an M4A3 with the large flat hatches is truly a bitch! I know, I did one before I created my kits...

43rdRecceReg wrote:the pic I've just posted came from it. This one looks like it has the 'high bustle' type turret.

Look again, that's a low bustle

High Bustle (75mm turret)
Low Bustle (75mm)

Looks high to me.
The majority of turrets fitted to the M4 (Sherman 1) were all high bustle, including those destined to morph into Ic Fireflies. In any event, using a high or low bustle turret to make an M4 Firefly conversion
seems valid.

Nope, that's a low bustle.
1. It has the downward slope at the top down towards the radio box.
2. There is only just enough clearance underneath.
3. Greater clearance wasn't introduced for small hatches like that one has.
4. Was only low bustle that needed the introduction of a loaders hatch, high bustle turrets came with loaders hatches. And that one has the British hatch addition.

The majority of turrets fitted to the M4 (Sherman 1) were all high bustle

This is only true of M4 105's and M4 Composites. Small hatch M4's ceased production just the high bustle turret was introduced.