Sherman Firefly Tank Diorama by Rik Thistle - FINISHED - Revell - 1:76 - WWII

[Rik Thistle]

Having read through a number of the excellent plastic kit builds on this site I felt I should try my hand at it. I found the diorama compositions and weathering particularly interesting.

 

I built Airfix kits as a child but haven't been near one for decades. However RGL - Greg, on his Panard EBR11 build ....

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/35001-panard-ebr-11-by-rgl-finished-hobbyboss-135/  .... was kind enough to point me to Night Moves

https://www.youtube.com/@NightShiftScaleModels/search?query=guide .... for some tips.

 

I felt I should start at the bottom in terms of skill level required and financial outlay, so sourced the Revel kit below.

 

It comes with two paint colours, glue and a paint brush.

 

My attempts to scruff up (weather) the plastic and use a small chisel to simulate tank tracks across the bridge...those tracks eventually mostly got lost after I dumped a lot of soil on the bridge.

 

After washing the plastic in warm soapy water (to remove mould releasant) I applied a coat of matt Black spray paint.

 

Drilling holes in the 'wheels' so they would sit properly on the axle stubs.

 

As an aside, the Revell glue smelt really bad, as in toxic bad. The USB fan to the left was used to try to direct the fumes away from me, plus an open window.

 

The cannon parts about to be assembled on to the tank body.

 

And talking of toxic smells, the Humbrol putty (to the right) was even worse.

 

Filling in cracks and gaps with the putty.

 

And starting to add a bit of colour, plus a piece of dead Ivy that would become a 'tree'.

 

Tree planted, and tank (now camouflaged) eyeing up the bridge.

 

Transfers added. They are for the '2nd Fife and Forfar Yeomanry', Rheinland, 1945.

 

And the finished article. Yup, I threw every colour known to man at the diorama, and even a bit of plastic grass 😉

Above, I took quite a lot of pics of the finished diorama, but decided on this one since it shows the tank mostly in profile, with the tree adding balance on the left. Part of a knot fell out of the base half way through, but I feel it adds character...at least that is what I am telling myself.

 

Edit: I painted the base Black.

 

And being on a roll, I then decided to then buy the kit below.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

Edited December 19, 2023 by Rik Thistle

[king derelict]

That came out very nicely. Congratulations

Alan

[Rik Thistle]

Thanks Alan,

 

It was a fun build and I learned a little about building plastic models. Looks like I'm probably off to North Africa for the next kit...it should be warmer there.

 

Richard

[Old Collingwood]

Thats an  impressive  little  dio  -  very nice.

 

OC.

[Baker]

Nice work.

Originally these were Matchbox kits, http://www.matchboxkits.org/index.php?cPath=81_82

 

 

[Rik Thistle]

OC, Patrick,

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

I had a quick look at the history of the Sherman kit before I started building it and saw it had been about for decades. I didn't realise it was Airfix that had created the original moulds. I did see that Matchbox were involved somewhere along the line .... https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-03299-sherman-firefly--1324065   I'm now fascinated by the websites that keep track of a kit's history...they are doing a good job.

 

It's quite amazing how a product can be milked for so long, but if it has a market then fair enough. The details on the parts seemed reasonably sharp so I guess the original moulds have stood up well - they wouldn't make new moulds, would they?

 

For the few £s I paid for it, I'd say I got decent value out of it.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

 

Edit: Found the Airfix timeline also on Scalemates...https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-03299-sherman-firefly--1324065/timeline   I wonder how Revell and Airfix can sell the same product, but are separate companies?

Edited November 17, 2023 by Rik Thistle

[Egilman]

1 hour ago, Rik Thistle said:

OC, Patrick,

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

I had a quick look at the history of the Sherman kit before I started building it and saw it had been about for decades. I didn't realise it was Airfix that had created the original moulds. I did see that Matchbox were involved somewhere along the line .... https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-03299-sherman-firefly--1324065   I'm now fascinated by the websites that keep track of a kit's history...they are doing a good job.

 

It's quite amazing how a product can be milked for so long, but if it has a market then fair enough. The details on the parts seemed reasonably sharp so I guess the original moulds have stood up well - they wouldn't make new moulds, would they?

 

For the few £s I paid for it, I'd say I got decent value out of it.

 

Regards,

 

Richard

 

Edit: Found the Airfix timeline also on Scalemates...https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-03299-sherman-firefly--1324065/timeline   I wonder how Revell and Airfix can sell the same product, but are separate companies?

Companies have been known to license their molds to other companies, they also sell and trade them between themselves all the time....

 

The kit has a market in the HO scale area being 1/76th... There is a long history of them....

[Baker]

2 hours ago, Rik Thistle said:

they wouldn't make new moulds, would they?

Looking at the parts and the model, still the same as it was 35 years ago when I built my first one.

 

So you are the one who builds those beautiful machines