Page 1 of 2

M4A3E8 and Firefly barrel length

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2025 11:21 am
by Gmhgq
Hi All
I'm currently building a 1/10 firefly, trying to find the correct dimensions, as the print file I have I believe is too short.
I did see somewhere a length of 4.18 meters, but have also seen others say just over 3 meters.
Anyway Can someone point me in the right direction please.
Cheers

Re: M4A3E8 firefly Barrel length

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2025 11:37 am
by Ecam
Just for clarification (not trying to be a putz). The M4A3E8 was the American designation for the Ford powered HVSS (horizontal suspension) 76 mm late war Sherman (often refered to as the "easy eight"). The Firefly is the British regunned lend lease Sherman (like the M4a4 "VC" Firefly) with the 17 pounder. Which barrel length are you after?

Re: M4A3E8 Firefly barrel length

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2025 12:43 pm
by Ecam
I looked up both the 76 and the 17 pounder and they are surprizing close (4.18 17 lb. and 4.03 [meters] for the 76). However that would include parts that are headed back in the turret (gun on a stand). I measured some of my models and the measurement as they leave the "rotor shield" - visible barrel when installed and scaled to full size: 17 pounder 3120 mm (I'm horrible at metric - typical Yank) so 3.12 Meters(?). The 76 just shorter at 2880 mm. That includes the muzzle brake on the 17 - no brake on the 76 mm.

This is measuring a model not a real E8 or VC - did they get it right?

Re: M4A3E8 Firefly barrel length

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 7:29 am
by Gmhgq
Please forgive my lack of knowledge regarding Sherman's, More into German stuff.
Ok so looks like I need the Easy 8.
Also any ideas on barrel diameter at Mantlet, I have searched without any luck.??

Re: M4A3E8 Firefly barrel length

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 7:36 am
by Gmhgq
Ecam wrote: ↑Wed Oct 01, 2025 12:43 pm I looked up both the 76 and the 17 pounder and they are surprizing close (4.18 17 lb. and 4.03 [meters] for the 76). However that would include parts that are headed back in the turret (gun on a stand). I measured some of my models and the measurement as they leave the "rotor shield" - visible barrel when installed and scaled to full size: 17 pounder 3120 mm (I'm horrible at metric - typical Yank) so 3.12 Meters(?). The 76 just shorter at 2880 mm. That includes the muzzle brake on the 17 - no brake on the 76 mm.

This is measuring a model not a real E8 or VC - did they get it right?
Ok so I’m a little confused for example Fury ?? E8 or Firefly, as both have muzzle brakes?

Re: M4A3E8 Firefly barrel length

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 7:50 am
by Ecam
Sure let me do a bit of gathering. Full size or 10th scale measurements?

That is why I asked for clarity, and unusually you went the opposite way than I expected. The Firefly was built on three models of the Sherman that the US offered the Brits (stuff the US Army didn't care for). However a quick search of the forum and you'll find a build or two on other Sherman models as well, including the M4A3s and E8s.

The E8 was the best gunned Sherman the Army fielded (unless you include the M36B1 - and no Painless, I don't call that one a M4). I'll find some measurements and references like: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/ and on that site a page toward the 76 turret specifically: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minu ... rrets.html

If you ever wanted to learn up on the Yank Tank you could spend hours - nay, days there!

Re: M4A3E8 Firefly barrel length

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 7:52 am
by Ecam
Fury - E8 (Sort of - Hollywood, but close enough). Early E8 was brake-less (one that I modeled and most of the early 76 mm, non E8 Shermans) but most M4A3E8s DID have a muzzle brakes. The E8 made it to Korea in the 50s in big numbers too.

Re: M4A3E8 Firefly barrel length

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 8:40 am
by Gmhgq
Ecam wrote: ↑Thu Oct 02, 2025 7:50 am Sure let me do a bit of gathering. Full size or 10th scale measurements?

That is why I asked for clarity, and unusually you went the opposite way than I expected. The Firefly was built on three models of the Sherman that the US offered the Brits (stuff the US Army didn't care for). However a quick search of the forum and you'll find a build or two on other Sherman models as well, including the M4A3s and E8s.

The E8 was the best gunned Sherman the Army fielded (unless you include the M36B1 - and no Painless, I don't call that one a M4). I'll find some measurements and references like: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/ and on that site a page toward the 76 turret specifically: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minu ... rrets.html

If you ever wanted to learn up on the Yank Tank you could spend hours - nay, days there!
1/10 scale.
There's plenty of info But nothing that i can find with Actual Gun measurements

Re: M4A3E8 Firefly barrel length

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 8:45 am
by Ecam
Remember models not the real thing. A few of the residents here in the US have guns but not many have E8s parked out back - I'd love one but not yet.

VC on the left, E8 on the right;

Image

M4A3E8 left, M4A1E8 right (real tank but no photgraphic proof they went to WWII but were in Korea - (Army used the M4A3 toward the end of WWII because of the better Ford tank engine).

Also in the back ground the VVSS Verticle Volute Spring Suspension. The E8 was Experimental HVSS Horizontal Volute Spring System.

Image

Unique muzzle brake on the British 17 pounder;

Image

Typical 76 mm muzzle brake;

Image

Measurements to follow...

Re: M4A3E8 Firefly barrel length

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2025 9:03 am
by Ecam
M4A1E8 is a Nick Aguilar turret and barrel.
M4A3E8 is a Mato offering. Measurements differ slightly so I'll give both and you can decide.

Scaled to full size, for 10th move the decimal one to the left (180.64 [1:1] = 18.064 10th)

.............................................Nick Aguilar.................Mato

Dia at mantlet..............................180.64 (mm)............184.32

Dia at muzzle before lock collar.........146.56...................131.84

Barrel length mantlet to collar...........2560......................2579.2

Muzzle Brake length incl. collar.........422.56...................453.12

My muzzle brake-less M4A3E8 is obviously too long... will fix that soon.

Sorry for all the decimals but forum won't let me "Tab".

IF Firefly measurments are needed just let me know...