Superb build mate and the painting with that weathering is wonderful, what a terrific example of a Firefly 
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Calling this one done. Added some mud to the lower hull and running gear and gave it an overall dusting. Might try my hand at te Hessian netting for the barrel.Dug out an old base I refound. Except for the assembly of the running gear this was a joy to build. If I were to do it again I might opt to get an AM set. I think Asuka makes one. Comments and thanks for looking.
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The RFM bogies assemble in almost the exact same way as the Asuka ones, the only real difference being that RFM wants you to put two springs in while Asuka provides both a sheet of sponge rubber you have to cut to size to fit inside, and hard plastic spacers. Using the ejector pin nodules I pointed out earlier makes the RFM suspension a good deal easier to build, because at least the springs won’t be pushing things apart.
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Ok, first attempt at camo netting with Hessian tape. How does it look? Too long/short? Too many not enough strips?Too wide/narrow. Need to tone down the colors but do they look ok? Not averse to having another go at it if it’s too out of wack. Input/advice please. Thanks.
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The main issue I see with them is that they appear like they’re stuck to the outside of the camouflage net, when, IIRC, they would be woven into that net on the real tank.
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At the back of the turret, there is a ring structure and something that looks like a flower vase. Are these antenna bases? If one or both are for an antenna, why is there not one attached? If not for antennae, what are they?
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Very nice thus far! Agree that the strips need to look like they’re woven through the net but what you have there looks spot on for size and length of the strips.
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With the “flower pot”, do you mean the round, recessed area in the left rear of the turret roof? Inside that is the base for the “A” set aerial. The ring is a “cage” around the base of the “B” set aerial, to prevent it being hit by things that may damage it. (The British No. 19 wireless set, that was installed in British Shermans and many other vehicles, had an “A” and a “B” radio integrated into a single unit. They operated at different frequencies, each with its own antenna. “B” was short-ranged, “A” had longer range.)
The Sherman’s turret was designed specifically for this, as the contemporary American radio set installed in US tanks had only a single antenna, which went in the “flower pot”. But at the request of the British, a location was provided on the right rear of the turret roof to fit a second antenna as well.
However, the model in the photos only has the bases fitted, no antennas (yet?).
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I have low shelves, therefore no antennas.
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Based on the feedback on the barrel wrap I have decided to forgo hessian netting and strips. Not feasible for me to weave the strips into the netting.
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Looks nice to my eyes.I think hessian strips adds a lot of character to Shermans etc.I know Black dog etc do hessian clad Firefly turrets in resin.Im sure i recall a guy on Missing Lynx site making his hessian out of Ally foil but boy i think that could be tedium.
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You could probably fit a “B” aerial, in 1:35 scale it’s only 14.5 mm or 17.5 mm (depending on which source you believe: some say it was 20 inches/51 cm long, others say 24 inches/61 cm). The shortest antenna for the “A” set would be 35 mm in 1:35, as it came in four lengths of 48 inches/122 cm each.
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