M4A4 Sherman VC Firefly, Halinski 1:25

[snake7]

Thanks Boris!


Front hatch towers assemble. Another thing that i met for first time - fragmented power frame.

I glued it first to inner skin, then skin to top and then outer skin.
Also there is another cushion inside + locking mechanism.

Couple of strips frame edges of hatch

Towers connected well to the body, no adjustments needed.

 

[zathros]

My jaw is getting sore from all the dropping!!

 

[snake7]

A little progress
Did the bow machine gun hole that is sealed.
The reason is - on Firefly there was room shortage for all the rounds for bigger gun, so the decided to cancel co-driver's place and put more rounds racks there and of course removed machine gun and sealed the hole.

Also auxiliary antenna mount casting. This was a little hard to assemble, because of complex shape. I did inner part step by step on the armor itself and outer part standalone and then glued it on armor.
I assume here is also a little mistake in design, because i was in need to adjust it in some parts, but maybe it's just me.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

That looks GREAT!!!

 

[snake7]

Thanks Rhaven

Some last bits of internal compartment:

• 2 air vents, nothing special
• 2 direct vision slots for driver and co-driver. Those could be popped up from openings outside
• Big shelf for storing protective driver's hood. This could be attached to the hatch above driver and was made from canvas
• Internal lights box with switches

That is the end with all internal parts!

 

[snake7]

Maintenance hatches covers and one for radiator fan.
Also couple of reinforcement hollow bars to strengthen hull floor

Here you can see my method to work with thin frame or ring.
First i cut only inner perimeter and then glued the cover on it. It gives easy holding and adjustments. And then i cut outer perimeter and cover with frame is ready.

Everything glued in place and bottom of a hull is finished.

 

[micahrogers]

Truly AMAZING.. this just keeps getting better.

 

[snake7]

Thanks Micah!

Another small detail - front fenders.
Nothing special, just to watch for straight angles when attaching.

 

[snake7]

And here i start another big stage in the model - suspension+wheels+tracks!

Tracks already done and waiting aside, so it's a half of assembling... Actually it's a half of whole model, if you count by parts

I started with drive shaft casing.
Spend 2 evenings to assemble those and in the end they will be all covered with sprockets. Halinski defined next level of "no shortcuts"

Fenders and casings are attached to their places

 

[zathros]

The amazement continues.

 

[snake7]

Thanks Zathros

For any of you, who wondered what are those ribs on drum casing - those are reinforcing ribs, so the casing won't band under tension power of moving track.
Thanks for this info to fellow comrade on local forum.

And i continue with front sprockets.
Those are with interesting shape and given in two types, as you can see on second photo. So don't do a mistake and cut them all, you need only eight.

After assembling them i connected a little chain of tracks to see how it seets on sprocket - looks good.

Dry fitted them in place. Will glue in later stage, when chain will be put on.

 

[mijob]

This is realy next level building. How is it possible to get those pretty cut lines. Everything is crisp and clear.
You are a master builder. thumbsup

 

[thegreek270]

I agree with mijob
how indeed did you cut this out ?
this looks like it was machined and not made by hand. Very clean cuts and assembly :Congrats::Bravo:

The Greek

 

[snake7]

I agree with mijob
how indeed did you cut this out ?
this looks like it was machined and not made by hand. Very clean cuts and assembly :Congrats::Bravo:

The Greek

Everything with an art knife and a hand

 

[zathros]

Superb. The tracks section mated to the sprocket assembly was just excellent in fit, and looks, it just can't be done any better.

 

[micahrogers]

Everything with art knife and hand

Nope, you got Pixies, running over the sheets with mini laser cutters, cutting them out for you...

 

[snake7]

Superb. The tracks section mated to the sprocket assembly was just excellent in fit, and looks, it just can't be done any better.

That was a crucial moment and i am glad it fit well Thanks

 

[snake7]

Next are idlers.
They very similar to roadwheels, just bigger. So now it was "training on cats" and later i'll must to build 14 more.

All parts are cut

And this is a middle stage of assembling, so you will see how i decided to put together parts.
You need to pay attention to the axes. They rolled on different diameter and and intended to different sides - one to idler and other to tension mechanism.
Also disks are a little bit different on both sides of idler and as a result they have different numbering.

Two idlers are done

Dry fit on to the tension mechanism. Will not glue it in this stage, so i can adjust tracks tension... like on real tank

 

[zathros]

When you see the parts assembled, the whole things looks like it weighs a few tons!!

 

[Boris]

Wow, simply wow.