|
|
Modeller Build Logs
Tasca Sherman Firefly Vc |
| By James Wechsler | | Started: | Dec 1, 2006 | | Updated: | Apr 29, 2007 |
|
OK, I’ll admit it, when I got the opportunity to do a blog using Tasca’s new Firefly kit I was giddy with excitement. I’ve got Tasca’s Pz. II Luchs, and I’ve built about three of their Sherman suspension sets, and two of their 0.050 cal MG sets. Tasca has yet to disappoint.
Now as a total Shermanaholic, I’ll admit that the thought of building a Sherman model that requires only a little bit of extra work is hard to fathom. I mean what is Sherman modeling without a bucket of aftermarket resin parts, replacement tracks, and a huge photoetch sheet? It’s … like modeling German armor (noooo don’t say it’s true)! There, I’ve said it. 2006 has been an allied modeler’s dream and Tasca’s Firefly is the grand finally of the fireworks show.
But in many ways I’m glad to be doing a blog using a great kit. My last two blogs involved extensive use of resin conversion and scratch built parts to make unusual Shermans. So they were heavily focused on construction tasks. Yet I’ve noticed that most of the comments I receive when I post photos of my models are requests for more information on how I do my painting, weathering, and groundwork. So for this blog I will spend less time on the construction tasks and more time on the painting, finishing and techniques for making simple ground work.
Up Next: The Construction Starts.
|
|
|
|
| The Painting Begins | Dec 21, 2006 |
Before I start on this chapter I must offer my apologies. I fully intended to have a chapter on the stowage but I forgot to take pictures before I painted. So I will add a chapter later on that covers the stowage and the way I painted it.
The starting point for painting is the barrel counter shading. Not all Fireflys had this but the one I’m making did and it really looks cool. Firefly crews started to counter shade their barrels in hopes of fooling the Germans into thinking they were standard 75mm guns. The Germans had quickly learned to shoot the long barrel Shermans first so the Firefly crews were highly motivated to hide there true nature. Whether the counter shading worked is unclear.
The counter shading is basically white on the bottom and a lighter green on the top. There were some more complicated schemes but this is the one that was appropriate for the model I’m making. The painting was done in the field by hand so I thought I’d try the same method.
First I painted the barrel in white and gave it a heavy flat coat for protection. Then I sketched the pattern I wanted using a pencil. I used Testor’s Faded Olive Drab enamel for the green. It took two coats but the result is what I’d hoped for.
Up Next: Basic painting |
 |
|
|
