Sherman Firefly Mk. Ic 'Hybrid Hull'

[Lucky13]

Too see if I can get the inspiration back up and running again, I've decided to start on Dragon's hybrid hull Mk. Ic Firefly....
Workload, weather and no heating/hotwater, really messed it up.
As never really built a tank before, it should be fun...I hope.
Anyhoo, have test fitted some things, would this be a good way to go, glue these together and paint them or, how do you guys do it?

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Looks interesting Jan but I have no idea. I've never done one either. You've got me wanting to do one now but I'm going to stick with the planes for a while. Hope you get the juices flowing again man.

 

[Wurger]

Looking very good Jan. Keep working on.

 

[Airframes]

Looking good old chap. I normally paint the road wheels, and especially the tyres, before assembly - it makes access easier later, depending on the set up of course. On, say, a Panther, these can be done at any time before fitting, which is usually as late in the build as possible. With the Sherman's VVSS bogies, then it's easier to paint the wheels, and the bogie assemblies, then assemble the wheels / bogies.

 

[Lucky13]

Right.....well, these wheels are easy enough to gently get out of there, they're not glued, as I wasn't sure how do this...seem like it was a smart move (I know, I'm surprised too)....cheers lads!

Did them all tonight...

 

[Wurger]

 

[Lucky13]

Doing a bit of building and test fitting.... Build what I can for now, as I don't have khaki..

 

[Wurger]

Nice.

 

[BombTaxi]

Very nice 8) What have you used to texture the front hull?

 

[Lucky13]

Nothing BT, that's how it's molded in the kit.... 8)

 

[BombTaxi]

Interesting. I always assumed that that part of the hull would be smooth - wasn't it all a single casting on the 'real thing'?

 

[Lucky13]

Nope, this is a 'Hybrid' as it's called, both rolled steel and casted....

 

[BombTaxi]

I see... and now I see why Dragon AFVs are so chuffing dear!

 

[Lucky13]

Same goes for Tasca, which they say does the best Shermans in 1/35...

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Fit looks rather good.

 

[BombTaxi]

I'm actually gobsmacked by the texture moulded into the glacis. I always wondered why Dragon kits were so dear, but now I'm beginning to understand...

 

[Lucky13]

Vallejo's Model Air, Khaki Brown acrylic paint # 024, would that be correct for this one? Will get that one together with some other stuff from Modelhobbies if so...

Still to get one of their 'Zimmerit' molded kits, said to be good! 8)

 

[Lucky13]

Tooling around some more.....now, R/R me thinks.

Now, as they don't offer anything plastic solution for the thingmajigs for the lights, I need to find something with the right shape and bend these....oh well.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Lucky13]

Ta much Wojtek....

...and a bit more done.