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Modeller Build Logs
Tasca Sherman Firefly Vc |
| By James Wechsler | | Started: | Dec 1, 2006 | | Updated: | Apr 29, 2007 |
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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.
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| Stowage and Details | Feb 6, 2007 |
Well I blew it earlier and forgot to take photos of the stowage when I added it to the vehicle so I’ll cover that and the painting aspects in this chapter. For a long time I used to paint each piece of stowage separately and then glue it in place after the model was finished. This process works well but is very time consuming. So lately I’ve been placing all of the stowage ahead of time and then brush painting it after the vehicle is painted but not yet weathered. I’ve found that I get the same results but in much less time.
Tasca doesn’t provide any stowage in the kit so you’ve got to get some aftermarket. Several companies make British stowage. Verlinden makes a generic set but you only get a couple of the British metal stowage boxes. Accurate Armour also makes a generic set with many of the British stowage boxes and also the tarps that fit on the left side of the turret. Of the two, the Accurate Armour set is a bit more unique. Accurate Armour also makes two different sets of 17 pdr ammo boxes, the wood ones and the metal ones. In both cases you 20 something pieces so maybe find a friend or two to split the set? Buying all three sets is pricey so hopefully Accurate Armour will come out with a combo of the two ammo sets and the stowage in a smaller quantity for use on a Firefly.
Fortunately I had a few pieces of British stowage left over so I didn’t end up buying any new sets. Originally I’d planned on using the tarp on the left side of the turret but after I’d fitted those Aber tie down handles I just couldn’t see covering them up. Similarly, I’d planned to use more stowage on the rear hull but I couldn’t bring myself to cover up the beautiful gun travel lock. In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t fitted the Formations mallet back there either since it’s totally covered.
One thing I always try to do with stowage is to choose items that are of different colors both to the vehicle and to the stowage pieces themselves. I’m not looking for wild color changes, just some variety to add a little ‘life’ to the model. In this case, there are black cans, faded olive drab bedrolls, a wood box and a Khaki tarp. In addition the British style metal stowage boxes are painted in green drab for more contrast. It’s subtle but noticeable on the model.
Finally I added a small tarp made from tissue paper and a bedroll to the back of the turret. Nothing fancy but a little more color for variety.
I dry brushed all of the items except the cans and wood box with Model Master Armor Sand to integrate it together and to the model. Later I went back and painted the straps in Armor Sand for a little more color distinction.
I also painted the other details on the model at this time. Mainly this was the tools. The basic metal parts were painted with Model Master Gun Metal and dry brushed with Model Master Aluminum. The wood parts were painted with Model Master Dark Tan and the straps in Model Master Italian Dark Brown. They look a little ‘bright’ at this time but they’ll fade with the filters and weathering.
I also painted the spare tracks in Gun Metal but dry brushed them in Model Master Dark Anodonic Gray for a more subtle look. The leather head pads on the commander’s hatch were painted in Model Master Signal Brown which seems to give a good leather look after filtering.
Up Next: The filter |
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