Sherman Firefly Ic 1st Hussars

[Johnny Canuck]

Hello Armour Guys
I hang around the Wireless Section most of the time. But, once in a while I do mess around with tanks and AFV, Canadian mostly.

Anyways here is my Sherman Firefly Ic 1st Hussars, 2nd Armoured Brigade 1944/45 ETO .



















JC

Oh pray don't tell! Brit Sh t's Cooler!

[Andrew]

Excellent. I cant believe the incredible detail

[maple_leaf_eh]

What scale is the model?

[tankbarrell]

What's the tube sticking out of the bomb thrower port?

[Maurice Donckers]

why is the track spanner on the rear plate ? usually it is mounted on the left hand fuel tank side .Usually all commonwealth sermons only had the starting handle on the rear .
And 3 piece final drive is also not factory fitted , so field mod ?
Good looking model .

[Maurice Donckers]

Another comment , the air scoops /ventilators on top of the fuel tanks should be the other way round , only on flails they were this way round , to prevent the soil swept up by the flail landing in to them .

[John McGillivray]

Was the welded hull Sherman I (M4) used to make Firefly tanks? I’ve seen the Sherman Vc and the Sherman Ic Hybrid with the cast front hull.

Also it looks too clean. Where is the dirt?

[Johnny Canuck]

Originally Posted by Andrew

Excellent. I cant believe the incredible detail

I like you!

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

What scale is the model?

1/6th Scale, or GI Joe size, or 2"=1 foot, tip to tail 50"+

Originally Posted by tankbarrell

What's the tube sticking out of the bomb thrower port?

2" Mortar. I seem to see the external bomb throwers on M4A4's and internal mortars on M4's and Hybrids

Originally Posted by Maurice Donckers

why is the track spanner on the rear plate ? usually it is mounted on the left hand fuel tank side .

Because that's where PZ (One of the builders) figured it should go. Neither of us are much for regs. Foolishly we put some silly 5' wooden sticks there instead.

Usually all commonwealth sermons only had the starting handle on the rear .

Never realised preachers were wind up!

And 3 piece final drive is also not factory fitted , so field mod ?

Yes, I concur, Sir, ya that's the ticket. Early M4's did have 3 piece covers as well as cast, depends on the manufacturer.

Good looking model .

Thanks really.

Originally Posted by Maurice Donckers

Another comment , the air scoops /ventilators on top of the fuel tanks should be the other way round , only on flails they were this way round , to prevent the soil swept up by the flail landing in to them .

Should be, but aren't are they, Crabs for dust, Firefly for bullets that's was my logic.
PZ wins the cookie he said some stitch would comment, you want a cookie too?

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

Was the welded hull Sherman I (M4) used to make Firefly tanks? I’ve seen the Sherman Vc and the Sherman Ic Hybrid with the cast front hull.

Yes. The debate would the transmission cover, the possibility that an early/mid M4 with 3 piece tranny cover might of ended up Ic was our hope.

Also it looks too clean. Where is the dirt?

This tank is fresh from Woolrich. Wait till we get into the backyard next spring.

Some of the photos used for reference, I've looked at way to many Sherman ass ends, sorta got to liking them. Had to stop at that point.
One thing I realised is there is no common denominator, heah! 50,000 plus build, all the same, not bloody likely.

M4 early production


M4 or M4A4 without some serious trig, a very hard call.


A 'Pristine' (adj:having its original purity; uncorrupted, unsullied, ) Ic


Bottom photo, again the tranny cover is not visible, front tank M4 Ic, rear 2 M4A4's check the bogie spacing.


Official British Stowage Diagram, never saw one even close to this ............yet.


My final reference, M4, 3 piece tranny (check the angular shape of the right side final drive housing), it's called Canuck and Monty obviously approves.



Geoff

[tankbarrell]

Originally Posted by Johnny Canuck

2" Mortar. I seem to see the external bomb throwers on M4A4's and internal mortars on M4's and Hybrids

Geoff

The bomb thrower barrel did not extend that far, it should not protrude beyond the turret top. The oval part around it is a retainer for a canvas cover.

[David Herbert]

There are several of us on this forum who have a very hands on knowledge of Shermans. Without that advantage it is very hard to get EVERY detail exactly right. The bomb thrower should not have a projecting tube, the three piece trans does not go with that hull, the road wheels are a post war design, grouser box vents facing the wrong way, the idler brackets are very wrong and many details are rather exagerated or slightly out of shape, Etc.

However this model reprisents a huge amount of time and work both in research and building and some serious craftsmanship to get it as good as it is. I for one congratulate you on achieving something that most people here could not or would not do. If you play with real tanks you don't have to worry about the exact shape of a casting as you have a real one to start with. Wether you built this from nothing or started with a commercially available model I think it is very impressive.

If you would like a private chat about some of the issues above, please PM me.

David

[tankbarrell]

Roadwheels are not post-war, just late war, there are wartime pictures of these in use. Grouser box vents were often fitted either way round, in spite of there being a correct way.

I agree about the model though, far better than I could achieve!

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

...

However this model reprisents a huge amount of time and work both in research and building and some serious craftsmanship to get it as good as it is. I for one congratulate you on achieving something that most people here could not or would not do. If you play with real tanks you don't have to worry about the exact shape of a casting as you have a real one to start with. Whether you built this from nothing or started with a commercially available model I think it is very impressive.
...

David

I'm waiting for the day when someone sniffs, pushes his glasses back up his nose, and finds fault with my restored Jeeps. I think I'll ask him to empty his wallet on the front hood before I let him leave.

[Johnny Canuck]

Thank you for all your comments. After a rough day.............. Thanks David.
Good thing there is a second one.

Geoff

This is a link video we made with the Montreal RC Tank guys. 2011. Should have sound on.

http://s105.photobucket.com/user/Joh...ml?sort=3&o=69

PS Okay so with the wheel thing, we threw in one odd one, a spooked type; and we were pretty sure the others were late war.

The idlers, on the next one should be corrected, so appropriate info on an M4 Ic, i.e. a picture, WD document, etc. would be appreciated so corrections can be made accurately.

PPS The video shows the same tank after its first rebuild 2010/11.
The original M4 is some type of Chinese resin, brittle, so they used lots. Basically everything is added except for the lower hull, upper hull, and the turret casting.

We found it. Salvage.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I surfed beyond the link given by Johnny Canuck. There are some impressive figures, and some nice WWII vehicle models. I like the Stag!