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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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| The Upper Hull | Dec 5, 2006 |
You would think that attaching the upper hull to the lower hull would not require an entire chapter. And in this case it doesn’t. But in the world of Sherman models, the upper to lower hull attachment has become a major source of headaches. Tasca has fortunately engineered this kit so all of the parts actually fit together. Other than the very latest Dragon Shermans, this has not been the case. And when the hull parts don’t fit, you get to do some really annoying filling and sanding. So again, it was really nice to be able to simply assemble the parts and do just a little local seem filling and sanding.
The upper hull itself is really well done. As you might expect, the rear hull has the engine access panel as separate parts, again looking forward to an aftermarket engine. What’s really nice about the hull is that the welding is the correct, raised welds and is subtle but prominent enough that it will stand out nicely when drybrushed. Since it’s inevitable that comparisons will be made between the Tasca Firefly and Dragon’s, I’ll state that this is a major point of differentiation. I have redone the welding on more Sherman kits than I can remember and it takes about 2 hours for an experienced modeler. Unless you get some type of Zen experience from it, it’s also super frustrating to be wasting time on redoing all of the welding.
So thanks Tasca for not putting me through this again.
About the only thing I did was to add the weld line around the rear plate which is not present because the rear plate is a separate part. I used a 0.010 inch styrene rod. Then I softened it up using Tentax and made the welding look with a sharp putty knife.
Up Next: Hull details - Rear Hull |
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