Hi all,
Just thought I'd post a pic of my latest project.
I'm building a Canadian firefly using a Mato sherman with a tammy turret, metal suspension, sprockets and duckbill tracks.
She's nowhere near 100% acurate (although I do plan to make a hybrid hull in the future) but she'll be close enough for me
cheers
Frank

Very nice work Frank! You guys really know your Shermans.


~ Jeff

Thanks Jeff, like I say she's not 100% she's more how I think she should look and I've got a little more detail to do on her.
I'll post some more pics when there's some more done.
Frank

Those metals suspension are great. I Just added them to one of my Shermans.

Why di dthey do away with the bow MG on the Fireflies? Was it simply because the tank was intended as a Tank Destroyer?

I think it was for ammo storage. The 17pounder ammo was a lot bigger than the std 75mm shells.

never found a good sight for fireflies....any sugestions?

Dan were you get the metal suspension from is it a Mato part.

Thanks
Jimmy

ok I found the answer it is a Mato upgrade.

Jimmy

I am in the process of fitting a set to a Tamyia Sherman hull modified to USMC deep fording as used in the Pacific. Just waiting for the metal sprocket and idler wheels to finish it off. I have the duck bill track also. I hope to post a build log soon.

I am very interested in this build. I like the Firefly!

Herman, I would love to see how you go about mounting the suspension and the idler set-up on the Tamiya hull. Sounds like a great build too!

she's about ready for paint

Where did you pick up the 17 pounder barrel ?

Thanks,
Danny<br type="_moz" />

Looks great!

It's hard to tell from the pics but did you trim down the trans cover from where Mato extended it?

nice i can't wait to see it painted

Hi,
The barrel was made for me by a friend as finding one was proving a bit tough.
I have changed the transmission cover for a tamiya one, I think it's one of the best mods you can do to the Mato sherman, it takes a bit of fettling but it's worth it.
Here's a pic of it done on my other Sherman

just run a check on Evil bay on firefly barrel for sherman.

It is quite surprise to see that a 1/35 barrel price is almost the same as the 1/16's [X(]

Herman,

Check Phil's site(RCTankwars) he has the idler and sprocket from Mato for the vvss suspension. Along with the duckbill tracks and suspension itself

Mike EOT

I found these guys who do a barrel.
[link]http://mitosal.com/M4Sherman.html[/link]

Thanks for the link

First coat of paint on

Thank you for the info that Phil is carrying the metal sprockets & idlers, Mike. I have been waiting for such things, but didn't know they were out yet. Can anyone post a picture of what the inside of the idler looks like? (The photo at RC Tank Wars and at Mato Mart just shows them assembled). I am curious if they can be adapted for bearings, or if they simply look exactly like the stock plastic ones do. Thank you. -Mike

I just got mine in the mail from Phil today. I hope to have time to install them tomorrow. I do not have a set of the stock ones, but they are two piece with screws holding the front on and a single hole in the back one for an axle. Hope that helps.

Hi Herman. Yes, that explains it well, I think. Thank you. It sounds like - just like with the plastic idler - you use the same hex-head bolt through the inside piece, and thread that into the idler mount on the hull. I have had mixed success trying to fit the plastic idler with bearings, and I guess I'll have to go through the same thing if I get these. I'm just surprised that these wouldn't have already come with bearings - that is the one place that they're really needed. Still in all; they've got to last longer with metal tracks than a plascit idler will. -Mike

Ya SEE I knew eveyone would love the tracks with the Duck bills on them. Hats off to Mato.