Hybrid Firefly (update 8th Jan)

[Woz]

My KT's being painted so while I wait for the paint to dry I decided to start on my Firefly.

I intended this to be a quick build (not a hybrid) just mod the turret and a few bits on the hull, but the more I looked into them the more I wanted to change.

So started by cutting up HL and Mato hulls, then thought the transmission cover didn't look right so that needed sorting.



If I don't get too bogged done in detail then I may get it done for D-Day.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Evening, Dr. Woz.
You are off to a promising start, Sir.
regards,
Painless

[mcevoyi]

Hi there Woz

Its a fairly easy cut n shut to do ....but its always a moment of deep panic when you first make the cuts .....i did it two years ago with a tam hull ...

One small word of advice ...make sure you really reinforce the joint between the two hulls ...
I

[mcevoyi]

[Woz]

Nice FF.

Cutting the hull was a bit of a chop and pray moment but it seems to have worked.

[Woz]

Chopped up the transmission cover to reshape it



Then decided to give it all a cast effect (needs sanding down a bit more) also decided to go to work on the cast hull front.

[mcevoyi]

Hi Woz

What are you using to make the cask effect ?'

[Woz]

The pink stuff is car body filler (Davids P38) the grey stuff is Holts Knifing putty both from Halfords.

[Woz]

Got the two hull parts joined together. They are slightly different heights so I lined up the top of turret rings and I'll make up the difference with plasticard (the HL hull is a little shorter). Cut out the engine deck so I can swap it with the Mato one.


And the postman dropped these off.
I wasn't sure about getting these but I'm so glad I did.



The Firefly Hybrid was made with a M4 Hull (welded) with the front off the M4a1 (cast). Looking at this diagram I noticed that the Henglong M4a3 hull (Late 47) is slopped more at the back*. So thats for the chop (wish I'd spotted this before I stuck them together.)



After much googleing I've found that the M4 rear slopes at 10 degrees to the vertical and the M4a3 can be 10 or 22 degrees. The HL model is 20 degrees so look like it's chopping time.

[Woz]

Need to chop this much off the back to get the right angle



Got the gearboxes fitted. I need to remove the drive shafts to get the gears out but thats no problem.


With the top on (The transmission cover has just been slotted on for the photo.)


Side view showing the corrected rear hull angle.