It Begins! My M4A1 based Sherman Firefly Build.

X82d Pathfinder · Post by **X82d Pathfinder** » Sun Aug 26, 2012 8:28 am

After the criticism from John about MATO showing on the bogie I have filed it off all six bogies. THANKS JOHN!

Now that I have that done, I have primed the bogies with etching primer. This makes the detail much more evident. I am tired of punched rivets for a while after 144 of them! Oh, and if anyone dares to mention I didn't put the rivets on the back of the road wheels I'll have to hunt them down and kill them!

Here is the final product. Won't be long before it's time for paint!
-Dan

DRAGONWAGON · Post by **DRAGONWAGON** » Sun Aug 26, 2012 8:57 am

Way to go Dan!! Much better this way.....BTW, did you notice that you didn't do the rivets on the backside of the wheels?? They should be there, you know....Hehehehe....

Great job, buddy....this is going to be a real beauty!! John.

X82d Pathfinder · Post by **X82d Pathfinder** » Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:25 am

John:

Winner, Winner chicken dinner! I know where you live John. Paybacks are a ... Well, you know the old adage!

I have to hollow out the exhaust and bend the brass tubing now to run to the smoker. I don't want to! I hate bending tubing! I saved the last couple difficult things instead of getting them out of way. I am still going to have to work on the turret rotation too. It's not smooth enough to go as is. I should have done what you did and painted the figures and equipment first.

-Dan

DRAGONWAGON · Post by **DRAGONWAGON** » Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:30 am

Dan,

A small tip on bending piping, you probably already know....Fill the tubing with fine coarsed sand, heat and bend, using the sand will provide the tubing from forming sharp knicks and bends.....

HTH, John.

X82d Pathfinder · Post by **X82d Pathfinder** » Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:49 am

John:

I actually have a tool for doing brake likes and such on vehicle restorations. However, I will try some silica sand in the tubing. I wanted to run them from the smoker so they're clean looking. I am also bending the filler tube so it's hidden under the fresh air intake cover. I can fill it with a syringe that way as well.

-Dan

X82d Pathfinder · Post by **X82d Pathfinder** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:50 am

I have been finishing up small items and some large. Here is the pictures of the primed hull and the details for the rear. I also added the side bolts that would hold the transmission to the hull, the tow hooks, the mount for the British tow hitch, the welded door stops, bolts, handles, not to mention the sponson welds. Enjoy.

DRAGONWAGON · Post by **DRAGONWAGON** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:47 am

Great progress Dan!! I love your attention for detail.....

John.

X82d Pathfinder · Post by **X82d Pathfinder** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:20 am

John:
Thanks! I think we're nearing the end run here, finally. The small, painful stuff is almost complete now. I have piles of completed componets awaiting paint. I just mixed two ounces of the SCC15. That should be enough to cover this well, with enough left over for touch ups. Thanks for the encouragement.
-Dan

X82d Pathfinder · Post by **X82d Pathfinder** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:52 pm

Eastern:

Thank you! I have wanted to do a Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär Sd. Kfz. 166. That may be my next project, however I am already working on a Calliope turret now, as well as a turret for a friend for a Sherman Crab II. I will probably break and do something else post completion of the firefly project to avoid burn out on subject matter.
-Dan

X82d Pathfinder · Post by **X82d Pathfinder** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:18 pm

I have been plugging away on the exhaust and finishing up the the screen that also belongs under the rear hull. I hollowed out the pipes and the flange. I added plastic strip and then made covers. I then sanded them back into shape. I will have a functional smoke unit on this sherman.

-Dan