Black Dog’s 1/72 scale fabric camouflage Firefly kit was conceived many years ago, but it was difficult to produce due to the lack of suitable model kits for配合 (the compatible Dragon Firefly IC had long been out of print), making it somewhat of a long-cherished dream.
This year, with the guidance and assistance of a Sherman tank enthusiast, various Dragon Sherman model kits and 3D-printed conversion parts were purchased. By cannibalizing parts from different sources, this valuable “Frankentank” was finally assembled.
Following this, Sherman Firefly IC and VC versions with turret fabric camouflage will also be produced (using original Dragon hulls). Stay tuned for updates.
Does this mean that you, or someone else, is planning a production of Sherman tank kits, or do you mean that these will be your own builds? As a point of interest, Airfix has also released a 1/72 Sherman V Firefly, but it is nowhere near the detail, or quality of the Dragon kits.
My wording wasn’t precise enough - I meant “planning to build these models,” not “producing them.” I’ve heard a bit about Airfix kits, but they seem to lean more toward being pieces for tabletop wargames rather than scale models.
Great Fireflies.Fabric camouflage looks excellent.A good way of producing Fireflies is to use the Airfix turret for the 17 pounder turret and use a Heller kit hull.The M4 d day kit has the cast hoods to make the welded hull 1c.Another source is “Friendship models”.Ian produces resin hulls and turrets and Composite hull 1c can be made again with Heller hull.Tracks can be got from OKB Grigorov but all adds up to a costly build.Would be nice if Dragon re releases the Firefly kits or some other company making them.Id like also a nice El.Alamein M4a1 in 1.72nd .
The main problem with Airfix’s 1:76 scale kits here is that most of them are ancient. They were good in the 1970s, OK in the ’80s, but really obsolete today. (This based on the few Airfix AFV kits I’ve built in my life — Matchbox is the nostalgia brand for me ) Their more recent 1:72 scale kits are a lot better, simply because they’re new-tool.
Their new-tool Firefly kit is certainly light-years ahead of their '60’s Shermans, but is still woefully behind other manufacturer’s qualities. If only Flyhawk, or Vespid were to make a new series of M-4’s. Or if Dragon was to re-release their’s.
Trumpeter’s M-4’s are generally acceptable, but I don’t believe they ever released an M-4A4, or Sherman V. Certainly not a Firefly.
I considered using the hull part from Heller’s M4 kit for modifications, but I think it still doesn’t compare to the older Dragon M4 kit in terms of detail. So, in the end, I went with Dragon’s M4. Also, I recall that the Heller kit doesn’t include a composite hull, does it?
As far as I know, the possibility of Dragon re-producing the M4 series is extremely slim. Many of the molds are gone, which is truly a pity. Their older M4 series can be said to be top-tier, even though that was over a decade ago. Around 2021, they re-released a batch of M4A1/M4A4 kits, replacing the photo-etched parts with 3D-printed components, but the mold craftsmanship declined compared to the older versions.
I don’t think it’s very likely that Flyhawk will produce 1/72 scale M4/Firefly kits either, as 1/72 scale isn’t their main market focus. Trumpeter’s M4 series offers good affordability, but as you mentioned, they don’t have M4A4 or any variant of the Firefly, and there’s still a noticeable gap in detail compared to Dragon’s older kits.
Ive never made a Trumpeter M4.UM models make many variants but sadly the detail can be very toylike more suited to wargames i feel.But i guess there are possibilities to cross kits.Real shame about Dragon moulds.I think when i go to model shows next year i shall get as many Dragon Shermans in 72nd i can find.Im guessing enterprising 3D guys could produce hulls etc.But again there are quality issues.I found a good way to make a direct vision M4A4.I took the Airfix firefly hull and cut the cast hood section away.Then i took the DV section from a Heller glacis and it fits nicely.A friend sadly retired and stopped casting otherwise i could have got him to produce some Firefly hulls and turrets for my own usage and fellow modellers.
When there are no other options, Trumpeter’s M4 series actually offers decent value for money. As for UM, I wouldn’t choose their kits unless absolutely necessary… Heller’s interchangeable front armor design is truly ingenious! I’m currently planning to use my last Dragon M4A4 kit combined with Black Dog’s resin camouflage tarpaulin-style turret to create a Firefly VC. Smaller components like the turret hatch and gun mantlet will be 3D-printed. I’ve actually managed to find some reference images that will be perfect for this project.
) Their more recent 1:72 scale kits are a lot better, simply because they’re new-tool.
