Airfix 1/72 Sherman Firefly - in the box

[peebeep]

A few musings on what you get:

1. The main parts are nicely moulded, I especially like the look of the upper hull and turret.
2. The simplified running gear looks good and will be a real boon to those in a hurry or who can't be bothered with building up separate components.
3. I'm less keen on the built up VVSS, the return rollers and sliders will require careful cleaning up, these could have been separate parts rather than moulded to the main body of the VVSS.
4. The hull is provided with lifting eyes, but these are missing from the turret.
5. The curved flange around the gearbox housing is missing rivet detail.
6. The box art shows a hull mounted MG, these were not fitted to Fireflies, the guns were deleted and the space used for ammo stowage. The kit provides a blanking plate for the MG, yet step 43 invokes you to fit the gun, whilst step 44 shows the blanking plate!
7. The link and length tracks are a first for Airfix in-house design and they approached it in a slightly novel way. Instead of separate links to go around the sprockets and idlers, part of the track is moulded on, they are then individually fitted with curved elements, which is rather neat.
8. At the very start of the instruction steps you are invited to choose either the one piece running gear or the built up assembly. You should note that the one piece parts feature block treads, whilst the built up has chevron cleats. I've only seen pictures of Fireflies with chevron cleated tracks.
9. The kit supplies headlights, but not the cage guards that fit around them.
10. You get a separately moulded shovel, but other tools are moulded onto the hull. A neat touch is the supplied tracks and wheels to use as applique armour and the items for stowage. Some might be disappointed that the flat slab applique armour is not supplied, but it's really not difficult to fabricate from styrene sheet.
11. Decals are supplied for vehicles of either the Staffordshire Yeomanry, 27th Armoured Brigade in black/SCC15, or 3 Troop, A Squadron, Northamptonshire Yeomanry in overall SCC15.

What is clear from the overall look of this kit is that it's completely superior to the old Airfix M4. I may have a go at building this one quite soon to see if it goes together as well as the Cromwell kit from a few years ago, which is a sweet thing to put together. 

[Shaughan]

Thanks for that Paul. I must admit I was a little apprehensive after reading the workbench articles. Look forward to seeing your build.

[GStarsNan]

Coudl you please advise as to the paint colours needed for this model.  Am buying it as a present and wanted to order the whole lot together.  Thank you 

[peebeep]

Coudl you please advise as to the paint colours needed for this model. 

 

As quoted on the box lid (Humbrol reference numbers):-

 

Hu33, matt black

Hu53, gun metal

Hu110, matt wood

Hu155, matt olive drab