Small Scale Military Headquarters

Ebay item 320053781442

Battle Ready kit to upgrade your Sherman. Our own '69 Red Charger produced these years ago. Time to let mine go. A neat kit to give your Sherman collection some variety

Cool! Here it is...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %26fvi%3D1

"replace the 75mm turret on the existing Sherman, and upgun it with a 76mm gun. Take out those Tigers and Panthers!"

Interesting. I'm not hugely knowledgeable about shermans...this is not the same as the British Firefly version is it? This is an American mod used only by the US? I believe Fireflys were just used by the British, correct?

this is not the same as the British Firefly version is it?

The short answer is no, it's not the same. The Firefly was a uniquely British adaptation of the basic Sherman, which sported a 17 pounder gun in a specially modified turret. More info here.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_Firefly
The above kit is supposed to turn your basic XD M4 Sherman into a 76mm gunned T-23 turret version... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_Sherman
Trying to keep up with Sherman variants is a difficult proposition under the best of circumstances.

From looking at Hunnicut's Sherman Tome, This looks like an early development model. However all the photo's show the hulls used to be "composite" ie rounded cast front with squared off sides and rear and larger hatches. More like the BBI Sherman with rounded edges to the front armour.

Trying to ID shermans, however is not an easy thing. Can anyone else chime in?

This combo on a Sherman is sometimes called a Jumbo. While the 76mm gun was not an 88mm, it did have a higher velocity which at least gave them a chance with a side shot. Gun mantlet armor and turret armor were increased as well which gives the turret it's funky shape.

Mark

The Jumbos were Shermans, usually with 75mm guns, with super-thick armor on the front of the hull and turret. I've been clamoring for something like this for awhile, but it doesn't look quite right. It's not "square" enough for a Jumbo, it's far too big for a Firefly turret, and it seems a bit off of what a 76mm should be (though closer than the others). I don't own a BBI Sherman, but I'd be curious to see if that would work better.

but it doesn't look quite right. It's not "square" enough for a Jumbo, it's far too big for a Firefly turret, and it seems a bit off of what a 76mm should be (though closer than the others).

One thing I noticed is the gun mantlet and cover appear to be molded in one piece with the rest of the turret, which would mean the gun cannot be elevated or depressed, an unfortunate flaw IMO. The bidding is starting to get a bit pricey as well, but still an interesting conversion for someone who wants something different than what is currently available in an XD Sherman.

UPDATE 12/01/06.....Well the auction is closed and it cost somebody nearly 60 bucks to bring this kit home....OUCH! I would venture to say the seller turned a tidy profit on this one, you gotta love e-bay pure capitalism at it's very best, or worst depending on your point of view

Yes, it was nice to see it go as high as it did.

However, OstKetten, let me ask you, since I paid nearly $40 for both kits years ago, do you really think I made out like a bandit? Not trying to sound argumentative, but its not like these were $5 a pop when I bought them. My estimate is that I made, in profit, less then $10 when all is said and done, and this after sitting on these kits for probably about 5 years or more.

I have another set up for sale right now. If they go for their current price, I will have actually lost money, over-all, on the deal. I am just looking to move these for a fair price. I was thrilled to see the 1st set go as high as it did. I have no illusions that this 2nd set will do as well, and after all is said and done, I will most likely have lost money overall.

I am not here to defend E-bay, they don't need my help, but I do get a bit prickly over the assumption that I cleaned up, profit-wise, on the transaction.

OstKetten, let me ask you, since I paid nearly $40 for both kits years ago, do you really think I made out like a bandit?

Never said that you "made out like a bandit" so please don't put words in my mouth. If you paid $40 for that then I guess I'm mistaken, no need to get your shorts in a bundle over this. That's the way things go with e-bay, things often sell for way more than they sold for at retail, anyone who has been involved in this hobby for very long will back me up on that. All the best,

Scott

Look, not trying to make a big deal out of this, and trust me, my shorts are definitely NOT knotted, but you did say the following:

"OUCH! I would venture to say the seller turned a tidy profit on this one, you gotta love e-bay"

All I was trying to do was point out that for any future purchasers of these kits that they are getting quite a deal if they can snag one at under $35 or so.

Anyhow, no harm, no foul, it's all good. I just wanted to clear the record up on these kits and their worth/value/initial purchase price. I am against excessive profiteer's on E-bay as much as anyone.

(Sometimes I hate the Internet, because typed words don't carry emotion, and can be misconstrued as being inflamatory or aggressive)

What ever happened to Red69Charger? Does he still do some casting work? He did do a few customs that were very nice
about 3 years ago back in the groundpounder days.

Mark

Steve I believe still lurks around these parts from time to time.

His work was outstanding. I had purchased these kits from him, which are really nice for a small time, cottage industry hobbyist. I at one point had 2 of the machine gun bunkers he'd made, and they were just simply great pieces.

Ahh yes, the good ol' days. I remember this kit with the sand bags. He also made a hedgecutter if I recall. Didn't Red69Charger also make a Pionerwagen?

I'm getting all teary eyed and nostalgic. I remember his machine gun bunker. Truely great stuff.

Mark

Well 9th Waffen SS, it looks like I got your second kit. We will have to see what I can do with it. Definately worth it to me!

Mark