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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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Up Detailing the Tasca Mk.Vc Firefly
OldWarloke
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Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 04:14 AM UTC
I'M going to up-detail slightly Tascas Mk.Vc Firefly
I have the RB Models Gun, Broncos track and the new Light Guards.





OldWarloke
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Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 04:19 AM UTC




ALBOWIE
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Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 10:40 AM UTC
For A Sherman V you will need to shave off the protruding bolt on the bottom of the the bogey. The CHrysler built M4A4 had a much neater (I believe) countersunk bolt here. Look at pictures of Fireflies and you will see what I mean (Disregard Restored Vehicles).
Al
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 01:12 AM UTC

Quoted Text

For A Sherman V you will need to shave off the protruding bolt on the bottom of the the bogey. The CHrysler built M4A4 had a much neater (I believe) countersunk bolt here. Look at pictures of Fireflies and you will see what I mean (Disregard Restored Vehicles).
Al



After consulting the SON OF SHERMAN book, about the bottom bolts you are referring to, The early bogies had hexagon bolts in that position later they were changed to self locking nuts on later production versions.
The kit that I am building is the later M4A4 with the cast in cheek armor on the right side of the turret and without the so called pistol port. So these bogies are correct.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 03:38 AM UTC
I usually do sherman and most other Armor with the sponson floors removed. This kit makes this easier as they are molded separate from the lower hull. I just had to remove some bracing and glue it into the upper hull. This makes installing the tralc a lot easier.


Exhaust deflectors and rear end installed.


OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 03:58 AM UTC





This doesn't get glued together untill the bogies and track are installed.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 09:02 PM UTC
The rear end is a lot of fun to put together.


I scratched a double angle bar support to hold the front extra wheels.


OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 09:08 PM UTC



The Gun is next.
ALBOWIE
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Posted: Sunday, June 28, 2020 - 09:46 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

For A Sherman V you will need to shave off the protruding bolt on the bottom of the the bogey. The CHrysler built M4A4 had a much neater (I believe) countersunk bolt here. Look at pictures of Fireflies and you will see what I mean (Disregard Restored Vehicles).
Al



After consulting the SON OF SHERMAN book, about the bottom bolts you are referring to, The early bogies had hexagon bolts in that position later they were changed to self locking nuts on later production versions.
The kit that I am building is the later M4A4 with the cast in cheek armor on the right side of the turret and without the so called pistol port. So these bogies are correct.



Check references as every Vc I have seen including many with the later turret have that feature.

Al
panzerbob01
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Posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 - 03:22 AM UTC
Pretty cool stuff, Don!

I'm not actually either much a Shermie fan nor very knowledgeable about the numerous variations and detail differences, so keep that in mind as I point at a detail opportunity on your bogies...

One thing I do know is that the central bogie mount block to which the swing arms and return roller/skid assembly are attached was a standardized casting designed to fit all bogie stations both sides of the hull. It was milled to be "universal": in particular, the return roller assembly bolted onto the rear side of of the block, using 4 big bolts. The block casting was drilled and tapped for bolts on both sides, with the return roller simply bolted where desired. This left a characteristic visible pattern of 4 empty bolt-holes on the front side of the mount.

Best I know, these un-used holes were simply left open....

So maybe drill those in and you can add a neat little historic visible detail without new parts or even scratch work!

Just an idea... And, sorta strange-seeming, to me, as while typically visible on about every vert-spring Shermie (the sort you are modeling) not all mudded-up, it is seldom done on Shermie builds, and not usually provided on kit parts by manufacturers...!

Just a thought and a suggestion for what it may be worth!

(PS: I did build a "Iwo Jima" Shermie back when... and only after getting it done did I discover this interesting detail that reflects the standardized assembly-line construction of this very, very common WWII tank! )

Cheers! Bob
ivanhoe6
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Posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 - 04:26 AM UTC
Goody ! Another educational subject, this time it's the Firefly.
During the quarantine I almost started my Asuka Firefly IC. This will be a great "how to"! Good choice in subject Donald.
Enjoy all your builds, very educational. Thanks for your efforts and sharing them too !
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 - 09:20 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Pretty cool stuff, Don!

I'm not actually either much a Shermie fan nor very knowledgeable about the numerous variations and detail differences, so keep that in mind as I point at a detail opportunity on your bogies...

One thing I do know is that the central bogie mount block to which the swing arms and return roller/skid assembly are attached was a standardized casting designed to fit all bogie stations both sides of the hull. It was milled to be "universal": in particular, the return roller assembly bolted onto the rear side of of the block, using 4 big bolts. The block casting was drilled and tapped for bolts on both sides, with the return roller simply bolted where desired. This left a characteristic visible pattern of 4 empty bolt-holes on the front side of the mount.

Best I know, these un-used holes were simply left open....

So maybe drill those in and you can add a neat little historic visible detail without new parts or even scratch work!

Just an idea... And, sorta strange-seeming, to me, as while typically visible on about every vert-spring Shermie (the sort you are modeling) not all mudded-up, it is seldom done on Shermie builds, and not usually provided on kit parts by manufacturers...!

Just a thought and a suggestion for what it may be worth!

(PS: I did build a "Iwo Jima" Shermie back when... and only after getting it done did I discover this interesting detail that reflects the standardized assembly-line construction of this very, very common WWII tank! )

Cheers! Bob



i always do that on the VVSS Shermans , Here's a Pic from my Meng build here on Armorama.


I'll be doing the same here, just havent got arround to showing it yet.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 - 09:23 PM UTC
Now on to the Gun.
I'm using the RB Models metal gun barrel, it's a little longer than the kit gun.

To use the RB gun you have to cut the kit gun barrel as shown, then drill it out to take the thinner part of the RB gun.

There's a nut and washer to hold it in the kit part.

OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 - 09:30 PM UTC
The gun is done.

Mounted to the turret.



The light guards are next.
Donald
ivanhoe6
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Posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 - 10:47 PM UTC
Donald, in image 21 there is an object with PE that looks like an open tool box to me. Any idea what that is ?
OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 - 01:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Donald, in image 21 there is an object with PE that looks like an open tool box to me. Any idea what that is ?


It looks like it could be a tool box as to its location.
As for me the instructions said to stick it there, so I did.
Maby some of our Brit friends will know.
Regards.
Donald
jon_a_its
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Posted: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 - 01:24 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Donald, in image 21 there is an object with PE that looks like an open tool box to me. Any idea what that is ?


It looks like it could be a tool box as to its location.
As for me the instructions said to stick it there, so I did.
Maby some of our Brit friends will know.
Regards.
Donald



British installed smoke candle box. It was activated from within the tank.
There are two of, installed back-to-back.
ivanhoe6
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Posted: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 - 06:31 AM UTC
Thanks Jon & Donald ! I too thought it was some sort of tool box. Now I know.
RLlockie
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Posted: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 - 07:02 AM UTC
There were actually six bolts attaching the return roller bracket, four on the end and two on the top of the bogie truck. One of the top two is covered by the skid but one is exposed - the return roller bracket will show where they go.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 - 08:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text

There were actually six bolts attaching the return roller bracket, four on the end and two on the top of the bogie truck. One of the top two is covered by the skid but one is exposed - the return roller bracket will show where they go.



If the two bolts you are referring to are under the skid ?
According to the Son of Sherman book those two are used to plug/ cover the spring adjustors, they were usually left flush with the top of the bogie casting, and with a little dirt usuallt weren't easily visable.
As for the skid it was held on with four bolts, two in the front under the curved end and two on the rear end holding down the end of the skid and top of the return roller bracket.
I'm not trying to be a smart ars it's just what the book says.
Regards.
Donald
RLlockie
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Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2020 - 05:36 AM UTC
No, the skid is indeed attached with four bolts, all vertical.

The return roller bracket assembly is attached with four horizontal and two vertical bolts. One of the latter is hidden by the skid but one is visible, although not too obvious.

Good point about the spring adjusters but those are in the middle, aligned with the spring axes. Agreed that they are not always visible.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2020 - 07:44 AM UTC
Maby these will help clear it up.




If you follow the color lines you can see that of the 4 bolts on the upper rear by the rear of the skid.
2 go through both the end of the skid & edge of the return roller arm, while the other 2 just go through the edge of the return roller mount.
Hope this helps.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2020 - 09:10 PM UTC
I'm using the MJ Minitures Headlight Guards on this build.

To get them off their carrier just score below the weld bead until they come free.


While the thin Krazy Glue wouldn't work in a test the thicker Gorilla CA in the micro dispenser worked fine.

OldWarloke
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Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2020 - 09:19 PM UTC

After painting , the bogies were installed on the lower hull.



I'm working on the track next, I'll be using the Bronco Track.
In my opinion the kit track is too stiff.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Friday, July 03, 2020 - 09:34 PM UTC
Here are the parts for Broncos T62 all steel track.
according to the Son of Sherman Book this wasn't a very common track and was used by the British mostly.





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