M4A4 Sherman VC Firefly, Halinski 1:25

[snake7]

I always thought that little door was for throwing the spent cases out of... but yea, pistol port makes sense too.

Yeh, me too
In a mater of fact they find it a weak spot and deleted it in later production, but returned by demand., for a reverse use of what you thought
Here is a citate from Wikipedia:
"Being a ballistic weak spot, firing ports are often reinforced with additional armor, and in subsequent designs reduced in number (BFV), or deleted (Sherman and Tiger I [January 1944]) Other armor is improvised such as slat armor to stop shaped charges or chicken wire to stop grenades.
However due to strong tanker demand they are sometimes brought back as happened with the Sherman. This was in part due to its use during ammo resupply in the Sherman, eliminating the need for an additional crew member to pass ammo through the loader hatch, instead being able to simply pass the ammo from the ground through the firing port.

 

[snake7]

Two more errors that i forgot to mention:
Opening rod handle is offset and must be parallel to locking pin.
You can see the issue here

And real one as it should be here

In addition, part #335a must be white.

Those little mistakes, but funny that concentrated all in one part.



Next i assembled loader hatch door, door stoper and opening cylinder

Back to routine, no mistakes here
Pay attention, that in instructions detail S123 must be flexible cord, like fishing line. That what i found in stash and was happy it fit.

Attached to the turret
Closed position

Opened position. Of course cylinder is operational

 

[Awry_Chaos]

Excellent work!

 

[micahrogers]

Truly AMAZING work on this.

 

[zathros]

I though that hole was for going pee.

 

[snake7]

I though that hole was for going pee.

Or throwing out cigarettes stubs

 

[snake7]

50.8 mm (2'') bomb thrower

Fitted well into the designated hole

View from outside. Outer edging will be glued later, when i will complete all turret outer details

 

[zathros]

I like the bomb thrower It's like, "Tank not enough for you, here's a bomb to top it off!". The parts and sections you have just built upon are soo incredible well done. Honestly, I've ever seen anything so well executed.

 

[snake7]

Thanks Zathros!

Radio set's control and junction boxes, binoculars case and big pouch (maybe for maps)

Wire diagram was strange. So i did a little research and wired it differently. I don't claim it is the correct wiring, but definitely better then in diagrams. For instance, 2 aerial antennas connected to radio set at the top and not from main plug at the bottom.
Here is an example. You can clearly see 2 plugs for aerial A and aerial B

Parts assembled, attached and wired. 2 wires that go down the turret - later will be continued into turret basket.

 

[micahrogers]

Exceptional work, as we have come to expect.

 

[snake7]

Took a little vacation with family and now back to the Sherman workshop
Baskets, baskets, baskets.
One with first aid kit, one with spare parts, one with MG ammunition and one is empty.

In addition added hatches locks

 

[Awry_Chaos]

WOW!!! Most impressive!!!

 

[mijob]

Its like candy it never stops with all the details.

 

[zathros]

Looks like your looking into or out of a real tank!.

 

[Awry_Chaos]

Looks like your looking into or out of a real tank!.

Are we sure it's not a real tank?

 

[mijob]

Its like candy it never stops with all the details.

 

[micahrogers]

Other than the petals that make the compound curve, this does look like a real tank. Those petals by the way, are perfectly realized. Absolutely GREAT work.

 

[snake7]

Thank you friends.

Finished outer turret details:
Gunners periscope with guard, ,metal vane sight and improved sight,
bomb thrower ring, loader hatch lock pin, three lifting eyes, 8 hooks for camouflage scrim (i suppose) and two bases for aerials 'A' and 'B'.

Some wire details were left to paint on site, for more convenient approach

2 aerials are fitted without glue, so i can take them out for transportation

Fun fact: 'A' set aerial could be made from one to three 1219 mm sections of aerial rod, depending on range required or chance of damage. So this aerial could be much smaller on real photos.

 

[Awry_Chaos]

Thank you friends.

Finished outer turret details:
Gunners periscope with guard, ,metal vane sight and improved sight,
bomb thrower ring, loader hatch lock pin, three lifting eyes, 8 hooks for camouflage scrim (i suppose) and two bases for aerials 'A' and 'B'.

Some wire details were left to paint on site, for more convenient approach

2 aerials are fitted without glue, so i can take them out for transportation

Fun fact: 'A' set aerial could be made from one to three 1219 mm sections of aerial rod, depending on range required or chance of damage. So this aerial could be much smaller on real photos.

EXCELLENT!

 

[micahrogers]

Truly Incredible. Those wire pieces are perfect. the aerials look good, but a thinner would be more to scale I think. Have you tried stretched sprue? You can get crazy thin but still stiff, segments using that method.