It Begins! My M4A1 based Sherman Firefly Build.

[X82d Pathfinder]

Has anyone seen these yet? I would love to have a set, however the Mato supplier in Canada doesn't return E-mail.
I think I'll drop Dave a PM, I bet he knows when and where!
I would rather start with these right out of the gate instead of working with the plastic units.


-Dan

[X82d Pathfinder]

Well, I decided to set up YouTube to show the elevation and the recoil of the Firefly 1C turret I just completed. I have yet to add the cast texture as I will save that for last, or until I am stuck awaiting parts again. I'd love feedback for those who wish.

-Dan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVAhkQko4DU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[sassgrunt]

This continues to be a great Firefly build, Dan. I am taking notes & saving pictures to help me with my own - all of your details are both well thought-out and well executed. I enjoyed watching the video of how smoothly the barrel recoils & elevates, too. And you're right - it does look funny sitting on the larger Tiger hull; I didn't realize the difference in size between the two turrets.

With these new metal bogies, and the option of converting a Tamiya sprocket to work with these tracks; all we need now is a metal idler wheel for a pretty bullet-proof set of running gear.

-Mike

[X82d Pathfinder]

Mike:

Thank you again. I used all the reference material I could find. Many color photos of the different variants that I could find. I did what I could with the idler. I had the idlers bored on a lathe to 7MM and used 7X4 MM flanged bearings. Being the plastic on the Mato idler is so thin, I reinforced them with Miliput before having them bored out. It worked well. I'll post pictures of that tomorrow.

I agree that Mato, Impact or someone else needs to come up with a metal idler bracket and idler wheel. If they do release the T54 metal tracks it will be almost a necessity for durability reasons.

The metal componets will be the answer to Tamiya durability. I look forward to seeing them.

-Dan

[X82d Pathfinder]

I finally completed the turret. I tried to catch all the details I noted on the protptype. I even put the spot light cover on with the retainer chain. Anyway, here it is in Tamiya primer post completing the cast texture with Mr. Dissolved Putty. I'm starting the hull before I do the suspension next, Enjoy!

-Dan

[X82d Pathfinder]

I completed both of the fire extinguishers common only to commonwealth armor.
A bit of plastic tube, plastic hex rod, a punched circle and brass .028 rod.

-Dan

[sassgrunt]

You have an ability to pull off the detail-work very well! I look at your goal-post bracket (first time I ever saw anyone do that), the antennae bracket/guard, drilling out the holes in the TC's sight, and the modifed periscope guard; and I am just blown away by the realism.

And you are so casual about it, like how you said you made the extinguisers - "I just used a little bit of this and a little bit of that" - I wouldn't have been able to do as good a job if I'd have had a KIT to work with!

I will look forward to seeing your work on the hull - I know that it will be worth watching as well. Thank you for sharing your efforts. -Mike

[X82d Pathfinder]

Mike:
Surprisingly this build has come along pretty easy thus far. I am hoping it continues to be enjoyable. I haven't been frustrated enough to throw parts.. Yet. LOL

My real concern will be when I start the suspension in earnest. I will either take a little bit from YHR, Tailend Charlie and Grimmarmazet, or I will work from the metal bogies and make a spring cover. I will have to see them before I figure out how to go about modifying them. I think I have figured out in my head how to make the YHR/Tailend charlie modification work much better.

Anyway, thank you for the compliments and I am glad you're enjoying the build. I see few other comments here thus far.

-Dan

[X82d Pathfinder]

Hello all:

I apologize for the long break in posting. I have just got back into this in earnest. I will be posting updates and pictures again here in the next few days. I'm not too far from paint.

Has anyone worked with the Nick Aguilar M4A1 cast upper hull? What was the fix for turret to turret splash shield clearance issues? It seems to rub around the bottom edge. I noted that Grim had built an M4A1 75 sherman with these parts. I presume he had the same issue.

Anyway, as always. This is my first modified build. Any suggestions are always welcome.

-Dan

[DRAGONWAGON]

Hi Dan,

Thanks for posting this excellent SBS! Since I'm new in this 1:16 hobby (Normally I'm in the 1:35 statics) this thread is a great help for me.
I'm starting my Tamiya m4(105) very soon, when all the ordered AM has arrived, and will use your project as a guide (that is: if you don't mind....)

Thanks for posting and keep the progress-pics coming please!

Grtz, John "McSherman"