Project: V6.0 Airsoft and IR Firefly Turret

[43rdRecceReg]

43rdRR,

As a consolation for this really, really big turd of a year, your turret is coming along superbly! Watching along with rapt attention!

Have a hopefully decent ending to this year!

Cheers,
Eric.

Many thanks, Eric- yes, this year could only be appreciated by an amnesiac. - and I'm working on it. Hobbies certainly help one to take the more pleasant side roads away from reality.
Here's a wee update. I've made the Loader's hatch support bracket from an off-cut metal sprue (from a Voyager PE pack), and a bit of styrene. When the JB Weld bond has cured, I can sand it into a better shape. This will be the last tweak before some other bits arrive, in the New year. So, I'll indulge myself with music, and my guitar (blues, jazz and folk), and the odd seasonal libation- or two.


Now it's time for a warm Mince pie with brandy-flavoured cream!

[43rdRecceReg]

Just a small update. I've added inspection plates to the radio box housing, and begun adding applique armour to the front of the turret. I've always found it to be a hair-tearer bending and shaping styrene, but somehow managed it with the 'Normandy Cowls' on the Comet and Cromwell. Here, what I've done is to get sheets of .2mm styrene with which to build the plate up, in easily bendable layers- a bit like plywood. I made a template first of all to cut the bits I needed. So far, so good. The 'welds' round the edges will follow (Fine Milliput), to conceal the lamination.

Whilst mooching around the 'net for Firefly examples, I can across this Aladdin's Cave of pictorial treasures. It's the 'East Coast Armory' build of an Armortek Vc Firefly in 1:6. It's simply eye-popping, and drool-worthy.


...and now for the eye-poppers:
https://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/view ... fly#p59003








Loads more on the Armortek thread, as well as Youtube links. All very, very humbling. I'm not even a fan of the Sherman- but I would lurve one of these.

phpBB [video]

[43rdRecceReg]

...and trying to usher in the New Year on a more positive note, I've ut some casting numbers on the turret (probably in the wrong place- but who cares? ):


After some 'weld' beads here and there, I'm going to daub Mr Surfacer (500) on parts of the turret to give it that acne-like, dimpled, pitted cast look. It could be a disaster...
but I hope it should work if it's stippled on carefully.

[43rdRecceReg]

I meant to mention, that I have some of the turret periscope 'cages' on order with Foregebear. They'll be the last bits of 'bling' I'll add to the turret. With luck, nothing will fall off the tank when it gets a bit of rough terrain treatment in the garden. Nothing expensive, anyway...

[Jimster]

Excellent build thread! It makes me realize that I always take the lazy way out instead of getting down to task. I will try to up my modeling game thanks to inspirational projects like yours. I just can’t seem to develop the necessary patience required.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning Roy!
This is an excellent project ( with the usual excellent results ) to have you jogging into the New Year, full tilt!
regards and following along,
Painless

[43rdRecceReg]

Excellent build thread! It makes me realize that I always take the lazy way out instead of getting down to task. I will try to up my modeling game thanks to inspirational projects like yours. I just can’t seem to develop the necessary patience required.

With a triumph like the Leningrad Tiger under your belt, Jim, you can reassure yourself that you really can Cut the Mustard, as we say (a more polite equivalent of "Kick ass..')- when the need arises.
As for the indolence, I'll confess I tend to hop from one project to another when the going gets tougher, and the 'tough' gets AWOL. Jobs like this one, however, are designed to stiffen up my hobbyist's backbone and resolve. Generous feedback- probably undeserved - also acts like a shot good in the arm. Luckily, not 9mm
On the latter, I wonder when I'll get my anti-Covis jab (sort of vaccine kevlar ).

[43rdRecceReg]

Good Morning Roy!
This is an excellent project ( with the usual excellent results ) to have you jogging into the New Year, full tilt!
regards and following along,
Painless

A timely confidence booster, as ever, Painless- and many thanks for dropping in.
Your good opinion is something I value

[43rdRecceReg]

Again, a little update. Here, I've added the periscope cages seen in the very first pic in the thread. They were supplied by Forgebear, along with the customary seasonal salutations, and very welcome Haribo Goldbears. What a true gent.
I've just bonded them in place with JB Weld two-part epoxy (for Metal- but superb for mixed material components). You can also see the coating of Mr Surfacer 500, which has been applied to simulate marks, and pitting, associated with the casting process. As with all additions, keeping the scale compatibility is always the biggest challenge.

Once it has all cured, I'll give the turret the lightest rub-downs with ultra-fine wet and dry. After that, there'll be more primer, and then some coats of British SCC15- Olive Drab.
Luckily, I have some remaining from the Comet and Cromwell projects.



For those with unlimited daring, and who wish to perform 'plastic surgery' on the bustle, have a look at Pathfinder's exemplary thread.

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=7885
For me, it's enough to get a decent approximation of the Firefly. The objective here is, of course, to have one that can not only fire BBs, but also to (IR) battle a bit. Once I've taught the dogs, or local sheep how to manage RC transmitters I can also join in the 'It's a knockout' fun. Sadly, no local bipeds (mostly Crofters) are interested. C
Und so ist das Leben.

[43rdRecceReg]

...and here's the turret with a coating of wet paint. Later, it will get the 'ageing' treatment (something I see in the hateful mirror, on a daily basis! )