Sherman converting to Firefly

[971wright]

Hi Guys Have seen the Stug body All I want is the recoil and elevation units its a lot of money just to get these .Welshdragon has one but no buy it know its Over 20 pound and still 3 days to go.Chris If you need more info about the drive ring send me a E-mail and will send you more photos .

  regards pete

[DOG]

Outstanding work

[971wright]

Hi Guys Done a little bit more having to download this on grandsons computer mine is play up .
Take a look at the cuploa going to make it rotate tried to make it from plastic but the hinges broke so made it from metal also made a start on gun barrel havnt finished the back yet will make it to fit recoil unit and mantle that Im making this could take a little time .Your not seeing things it is a seven inch rule the hardest thing was drilling the barrel it took ages drill a little and back out with drill to clear the drill .

regards pete 

[grompix]

Fantastic Pete! Love the fully rotatable all-metal TC hatch too. This is going to be a stunning Sherman.

Cheers
Chris 

[septon]

looking good pete love the barrel and the muzzle brake looks spot on

[971wright]

Hi Guys  Done a little bit more to the turret finished the barrel and mantle also loaders hatch still more to do but its getting there .Looks like Im going to have to steal the recoil and elevation units from my Stug to carry on the build cant get hold of any at the right money so will steal them and replace them when Dave(forgebear)gets some in he said it would be a couple of weeks befor they come .

regards pete

[Gigantohawk]

Hi Pete,
There's a lot of very fine work going in to your tank mate. It's all looking really good and a lesson to us all in the art of model upgrading.
You know I like the look of accuracy and on that basis you are covering all aspects of this build famously well. I take my hat off to you Pete, it's going to be a stunner.
Well done mate, looking forward to more pic's and a completed model.

All the best,

Nick.

[grompix]

Really is looking brilliant Pete. Makes me want to rip my Sherman apart and start again! LOL. That mantlet is an engineering work of art, must have taken you ages to do but it really looks the business.

Excellent work Pete.

Cheers
Chris 

[971wright]

Thanks Nick Trying my best with this one always wanted to make a Firefly, so its taking time to do but Im trying to stick to the drawings as close as posible,but there are times when you have to make a compromise either for electronics or mantaince ,example is the mantle the 2 screws at the side are to far out according to the drawing but they hold the mantle on to the pivots, there will be to more things out on the mantle one will be the gunsight it will be bigger than drawing because it will have the I.R.emitter inside it also the M.G.will be out a little but cant be helped,the other thing that will be wrong is one of the periscopes on the turret will be out of scale to house sensor for battle unit .Apart from the items Ive just mentioned I keep checking and rechecking the drawing to see if Ive missed anything .Hope I can make a good job of the paint when I get to that point.

regards pete

[971wright]

Hi Guys Todays work and it wasnt easy Stug recoil and elevation units fitted in the turret .First had to make brackets to hold the recoil unit, then drill and tap mantle to hold it all together and make sure the barrel slides nice and easy.
That was the easy bit then had to see if I could get the elevation unit in with fingers like pigs tits not much room in a Sherman turret glad I made the cupola so it comes out it was the only way to get the elevation unit in then had to make a bracket to hold it in position.
pic 3272 the little screws just under the orange ring hold the recoil unit to the mantle.The other photos couldnt resist it had to let you see the turret on the hull I think it looks good worth the work and cursing comming together now .
Tomorrows work is fitting the wiring in the turret for the recoil/elevation and the sensors for the battle unit also the I.R.emitter in the mantle .
regards pete