Firefly project

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:40 am

Hi guys,

here is my next project. A Sherman Firefly.

Still a lot of work to do but it slowly start to take shape. I have used Cast-a-Coat on turret an transmision block. Will have to use it on some other parts. Welding lines must be improved. The gun is from Tamiya 1/16 spare part.

phil

1958Zelda · Post by **1958Zelda** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:27 am

Very nice!very detailed

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:30 pm

Nice job

MG40K · Post by **MG40K** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:51 pm

Pretty cool, can't wait to see when it's done!

grunt1 · Post by **grunt1** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:39 pm

Yes!! Can't wait to see it with the first coat of paint.

Btw, who has 1/16 gun barrels laying around.. lol

GooglyDoogly · Post by **GooglyDoogly** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:42 pm

Beautiful work! The Firefly is my favorite Allied tank, and you're doing a great job of making one.

Der Kommandant · Post by **Der Kommandant** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:05 pm

Fantastic!!!!

zonetoys · Post by **zonetoys** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:34 pm

Oh, I thought it was one of these!

Well, I like yours too!

immeww2 · Post by **immeww2** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:41 pm

Awesome!!!

kevrut · Post by **kevrut** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:22 am

Another great custom.
Looks cool so far.

normandy · Post by **normandy** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:56 pm

Phil, your Firefly looks Great!
This is the first time I've heard about Cast A Coat looks like I'll have to check into it. Its from the U.K. ?
Well keep up the Good work..... oh and your Panzer IV was Very Cool as was the story that went with it.

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:22 pm

Hi guys,

thanks for your positive comments

Normandy, you can find Cast-A-Coat here :

http://www.thesmallshop.com/index.php

And here is a cool tutorial :

http://cammett.websds.net/tutorials/cast.htm

It's realy easy to use and it gives very good cast effect. I used it on my 1:35 model and it fit nice with bigger scale. I used it to do the anti-slip surface on my 1:18 M1 Abrams.

Antena base, rear mounted storage box, welded plate on .30 mounted hull added. Still have a lot to do. Will take pics tomorrow.

phil

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:03 pm

I didn't realize it was a 1/18 at first, then I read 1/16 barrel and was like wtf..oh..yea.

Really at first I couldn't see the point of converting a M4 to a firefly for 32x when 21st made one..but that moot now.

great work so far.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:12 pm

You're off to a great start!

I've thought about taking an FOV 1:18 Sherman and doing a similar conversion. It already has the second turret hatch and the correct frontal glacis, more-or-less, without all the stowage.

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:20 am

Hi guys,

the 1:16 barrel is not too off-scale, hopefuly.

So here is the rear storage box :

The antenna mount :

and the air intake grill :

I plan to give a texture to the armor plate also but not with Cast-A-Coat.

Lot to do but it turn nicely I think.

phil

Der Kommandant · Post by **Der Kommandant** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:27 pm

Looks great!

HardenSteel · Post by **HardenSteel** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:29 pm

Looks great!

It's nice to see someone else doing a Firefly.

Very nice work. I like all the different stuff your doing.

Here is my reference site if your interested:
http://news.webshots.com/album/550215107uuEOgt?start=0

It's all pretty accurate 1/18 scale.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Great stuff!

hd

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:17 pm

HardenSteel wrote:Looks great!

It's nice to see someone else doing a Firefly.

Very nice work. I like all the different stuff your doing.

Here is my reference site if your interested:
http://news.webshots.com/album/550215107uuEOgt?start=0

It's all pretty accurate 1/18 scale.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Great stuff!

hd

Hi HD,

you have done a great job on yours ! I realy like all details added as tracks and opening hatch on it. Thanks a lot for the link

BTW, what gun did you used ? Is it a home made one ? How did you make the gun travel locker ?

As you see, I still have a lot of things to do on mine.

phil

HardenSteel · Post by **HardenSteel** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:09 am

Hi Phil.

The main gun was custom made by one of my club members -
exactly to scale. (He's actually a ship guy, and real rivit counter!).

I think if you shortened slightly the metal barrel you have
(from the back end) and reduced the size of the muzzle end cap,
you'd be pretty darn close to scale without a lot of work. You can reduce the opening easy enough.

If you don't have access to a lathe, you could do
some reduction via drill in a vise and sand paper of various
fine grits - ending with oil & emery cloth polish.

The gun travel lock was heavily modified from the
1/18 M48 Patton. Granted, it's one of the few things that's
not completely accurate, but it ended up hidden under all
the stowage, anyway.

The Commander's copula ring was cut away from the turret
and can rotate. So, the 50 cal can be repositioned to suit taste.

Although you can't see it, the engine grills do open - that's
where I put the battery access. The switch is under
the armoured guard for the radiator (the lights all work)
Of course, there is now so much stowage, that I just
don't bother.

One day, someone will make a 1/18 scale British tank
with British Tanker's , so I can actually finish this project.

The American Tankers will eventually be used for another tank project.

HD

The pericopes actually work! ( They could use more detail, though ...)

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:30 am

I forgot about this post. I guess if I do this one I may step on some toes so maybe I should not do it.

Exther Mega ?

Harden Steel ?

Should I just do the M-10 TD ?

hotrodrock · Post by **hotrodrock** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 2:05 pm

Maybe I misunderstood your intent pickelhaube. I thought you were considering a firelfly kit of some kind for sale to members. Aren't all of the above fireflys just these individuals projects for a single firefly of their own?

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 2:44 pm

pickelhaube wrote:I forgot about this post. I guess if I do this one I may step on some toes so maybe I should not do it.

Exther Mega ?

Harden Steel ?

Should I just do the M-10 TD ?

Hey Pickel,

you're not walking on my toes. This is a stand alone project for myself. You can do a Firefly as a kit for sale, there is no problem with me.

Take care.

phil

thehun · Post by **thehun** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:30 pm

Very Nice Custom

Hun

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:56 pm

thehun wrote:Very Nice Custom
Hun

Comming from a Custom Master like you, I realy appreciate !

Now here is another view of the project. Hull has been textured then sanded to give a better appearance and steel effect. It will nicely contrast with casting effect on turret and transmision block.

phil

HardenSteel · Post by **HardenSteel** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:14 pm

Hey Matt,

I do think you should do the Firefly kit if enough board members want it. I'd try your kit out.

Since, I already have one and most of the components to do another, I preferred the idea of a doing an M3 Grant. However, that would not help everyone else.

I should note that without the 17 pounder and accompanying mantlet, the rest of the kit will convert any Sherman to a British style Sherman used by some many different countries.

Count me in for the m113 conversion kit.

If you can make individual working tracks for the Sherman, you will really advance 1/18 allied model tanks.

Or make the T23 turret so we can covert to the 76mm.

Phil,

You Firefly is looking very excellent. Really nice detailing! Great shots of the transformation.

Tip: If you cut off the mantlet extension on the driver's side (including the angle part) and glue it on the other side to close the gap on the gunner's side (fill in as required) - voila you'll have a pretty accurate Firefly mantlet without having to make a new one! Simple. It just happens to be the correct size to fill the blank.

Look at picture Pre Firefly conversion A, then pictures Sherman5 and Sherman12.

If you look really hard at Sherman12 mantlet you can see where I've added the removed strip before final finishing. (I don't like to make these conversions too obvious)

I think we need something to give the Panthers and Tigers to think about!

HD

Oh and I want a Comet, Centurion, Tempest or Typhoon and a Harrier...

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Firefly project

Firefly project

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