In Box Review of DML 1/35th Scale
U.S. Sherman Vc “Firefly”, ’39-’45 Series
Kit no. 6031
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1994
Out of production.
I paid $27.98 for this kit after it was marked down from $34.98.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1994
Out of production.
I paid $27.98 for this kit after it was marked down from $34.98.
HISTORY:
The Sherman Firefly was a tank used by the United Kingdom and some armoured formations of other Allies in the Second World War. It was based on the US M4 Sherman, but was fitted with the more powerful 3-inch (76.2 mm) calibre British 17-pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon. Originally conceived as a stopgap until future British tank designs came into service, the Sherman Firefly became the most common vehicle mounting the 17-pounder in the war.
During the war, the British Army made extensive use of Sherman tanks. Though they expected to have their own tank models developed soon, the previously rejected idea of mounting the 17-pounder in the Sherman was eventually accepted, despite initial government resistance. This proved fortunate, as both the Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger and Cruiser Mk VIII Cromwell tank designs experienced difficulties and delays.
After the difficult problem of getting such a large gun to fit in the Sherman's turret was solved, the Firefly was put into production in early 1944, in time to equip Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group for the Normandy landings. It soon became highly valued, as its gun could almost always penetrate the armour of the Panther and Tiger tanks it faced in Normandy,[2] something no other British Army tank could reliably do at that time.
In recognition of this, German tank and anti-tank gun crews were instructed to attack Fireflies first.[citation needed] Because the Firefly had a visibly longer barrel, crews tried to camouflage it so the tank would look like a normal 75 mm-gun Sherman from a distance. Between 2,100 and 2,200 were manufactured before production wound down in 1945.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: United Kingdom
Designed: 1943
Manufacturer: Detroit Tank Arsenal (Chrys. Corp)
No. built: 2,100-2,200
Mass: 34.75 long tons (35.3 tonnes)
Length: 19 ft 4 in (5.89 m); 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m) overall
Width: 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m)
Height: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Crew: 4 (Commander, gunner, loader / radio-operator, driver)
Armour: 89 mm (turret front)
Main armament: QF 17-pounder (76.2 mm) gun, 77 rounds
Secondary armament: .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine gun (generally not mounted), coaxial .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning M1919 machine gun, 5,000 rounds
Engine: Multibank or radial engine petrol engine depending on chassis used, with 425 hp
Power/weight: 12 hp (9 kW) / tonne
Suspension: Vertical volute coil spring
Operational range: 120 miles (193 km)
Maximum speed: 20 mph (32 km/h) sustained, 25 mph (40 km/h) at bursts
The Sherman Firefly was a tank used by the United Kingdom and some armoured formations of other Allies in the Second World War. It was based on the US M4 Sherman, but was fitted with the more powerful 3-inch (76.2 mm) calibre British 17-pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon. Originally conceived as a stopgap until future British tank designs came into service, the Sherman Firefly became the most common vehicle mounting the 17-pounder in the war.
During the war, the British Army made extensive use of Sherman tanks. Though they expected to have their own tank models developed soon, the previously rejected idea of mounting the 17-pounder in the Sherman was eventually accepted, despite initial government resistance. This proved fortunate, as both the Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger and Cruiser Mk VIII Cromwell tank designs experienced difficulties and delays.
After the difficult problem of getting such a large gun to fit in the Sherman's turret was solved, the Firefly was put into production in early 1944, in time to equip Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group for the Normandy landings. It soon became highly valued, as its gun could almost always penetrate the armour of the Panther and Tiger tanks it faced in Normandy,[2] something no other British Army tank could reliably do at that time.
In recognition of this, German tank and anti-tank gun crews were instructed to attack Fireflies first.[citation needed] Because the Firefly had a visibly longer barrel, crews tried to camouflage it so the tank would look like a normal 75 mm-gun Sherman from a distance. Between 2,100 and 2,200 were manufactured before production wound down in 1945.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: United Kingdom
Designed: 1943
Manufacturer: Detroit Tank Arsenal (Chrys. Corp)
No. built: 2,100-2,200
Mass: 34.75 long tons (35.3 tonnes)
Length: 19 ft 4 in (5.89 m); 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m) overall
Width: 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m)
Height: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Crew: 4 (Commander, gunner, loader / radio-operator, driver)
Armour: 89 mm (turret front)
Main armament: QF 17-pounder (76.2 mm) gun, 77 rounds
Secondary armament: .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine gun (generally not mounted), coaxial .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning M1919 machine gun, 5,000 rounds
Engine: Multibank or radial engine petrol engine depending on chassis used, with 425 hp
Power/weight: 12 hp (9 kW) / tonne
Suspension: Vertical volute coil spring
Operational range: 120 miles (193 km)
Maximum speed: 20 mph (32 km/h) sustained, 25 mph (40 km/h) at bursts
THE KIT:
DML (sometimes called Dragon) is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Firefly moving past a destroyed German Pz.Kpfw. IV that has its turret knocked-off. A second Firefly is behind it. Forest –covered hills are in the background.
The Firefly’s are both overall olive-drab. The one in the foreground has a symbol that is 2 triangles atop each other. They are red with a white border. However, on the kit's decal sheet, the top triangle is yellow and the bottom one is red. It has a large red number 12 outlined in white on the sides of its turret.
Two crewmen are looking out the top of the turret. Both wear black berets. One man has headphones on and other man goggles.
The second Firefly shows no markings. Its commander is looking out the top of the turret. He also wears a black beret and headphones. Two British infantrymen are atop the deck of this tank. They wear steel “Dish-pan” type helmets.
The upper right corner of the box says: Unassembled model kit.
One side-panel of the box gives the history of the Firefly, over-this kit contains plastic and photo-etched parts to construct one Firefly model. Paint and glue are not included. With English instructions. In 6 languages, including English.
Followed by Marco Polo Import Inc.'s street address in City of Industry, Ca. They were the U.S. importer for DML when this kit was released. Their FAX number also is provided over the kit’s copyright date of 1994.
DML (sometimes called Dragon) is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of a Firefly moving past a destroyed German Pz.Kpfw. IV that has its turret knocked-off. A second Firefly is behind it. Forest –covered hills are in the background.
The Firefly’s are both overall olive-drab. The one in the foreground has a symbol that is 2 triangles atop each other. They are red with a white border. However, on the kit's decal sheet, the top triangle is yellow and the bottom one is red. It has a large red number 12 outlined in white on the sides of its turret.
Two crewmen are looking out the top of the turret. Both wear black berets. One man has headphones on and other man goggles.
The second Firefly shows no markings. Its commander is looking out the top of the turret. He also wears a black beret and headphones. Two British infantrymen are atop the deck of this tank. They wear steel “Dish-pan” type helmets.
The upper right corner of the box says: Unassembled model kit.
One side-panel of the box gives the history of the Firefly, over-this kit contains plastic and photo-etched parts to construct one Firefly model. Paint and glue are not included. With English instructions. In 6 languages, including English.
Followed by Marco Polo Import Inc.'s street address in City of Industry, Ca. They were the U.S. importer for DML when this kit was released. Their FAX number also is provided over the kit’s copyright date of 1994.
The other side panel of the box shows 3 color photos of the model made up.It is in the cover art scheme. However, it further shows a marking of a red square on the front of its left front fender, that has white 743 on it and is outlined in white. On the forward end of its sides there is a red rectangle with white VELIKIYE LUKI on it. Followed by a repeat of Marco Polo’s address and the kit’s copyright date.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 6 medium-grey parts trees and 3 jet-black ones, a steel PE fret and the decal sheet in 7 sealed clear cello bags.
There are 2 instructions.
The main instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 14” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white illustration of the box art, over the history of the Firefly in 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in the 6 languages.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 7 gives a grand total of 21 assembly steps.
Page 8 is the parts-trees illustrations. Some parts are shown here as being blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
At the bottom of the page the copyright date for the kit is shown as 1995. Different from what is said on the box’s side-panel. Printing was done in Hong Kong, over decal application instructions, in 6 languages, including English.
The second instructions consist of a single sheet, printed on one side and the same page size as the main instructions.
It is a marking and painting guide. It shows four 4-views of the Firefly.
The first 4-view is the cover art scheme (already described above) But it’s color is called out as being overall grey and not the olive-drab shown on the cover art. It has a red square with white no. 173 on it, on the left side of the front and rear of the hull and a the insignia of the 2 triangles atop each other on right sides. It has a yellow 3 and large triangle on the back of its turret. It was with 3rd Group, Northamptonshire Yeomanry,France 1944.
The second 4-view is overall olive-drab. It has a yellow number T-14905 on the forward end of sides of its hull, a red square with a white no. 53 on it on the left side of its front and rear and a red square with yellow horizontal bar with a yellow 1 on it on the right side of its front and rear. It was with 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment, 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, Buron, France 1944.
The third 4-view is overall olive-drab. It has yellow T230012 on its hull side, followed by large yellow RYZERZI. On the sides of the turret there is a yellow outlined square with a yellow arrow on it. It was with the 1st Krechowiecki Lancers, 2nd Polish Armoured Division, Italy 1944-45.
The fourth (and final) 4-view is in a wave-pattern camouflage of middle-stone and light-green, with small dark- green spots on the mid-stone areas. It has a white skeletal German cross on the sides and rear of the turret and the hull sides. It was captured by the German Army on the Western Front 1944.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the bottom and top etc. (26 parts) Three parts are excess.
This kit holds 6 medium-grey parts trees and 3 jet-black ones, a steel PE fret and the decal sheet in 7 sealed clear cello bags.
There are 2 instructions.
The main instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8 ¼” x 14” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white illustration of the box art, over the history of the Firefly in 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints, in the 6 languages.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 7 gives a grand total of 21 assembly steps.
Page 8 is the parts-trees illustrations. Some parts are shown here as being blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
At the bottom of the page the copyright date for the kit is shown as 1995. Different from what is said on the box’s side-panel. Printing was done in Hong Kong, over decal application instructions, in 6 languages, including English.
The second instructions consist of a single sheet, printed on one side and the same page size as the main instructions.
It is a marking and painting guide. It shows four 4-views of the Firefly.
The first 4-view is the cover art scheme (already described above) But it’s color is called out as being overall grey and not the olive-drab shown on the cover art. It has a red square with white no. 173 on it, on the left side of the front and rear of the hull and a the insignia of the 2 triangles atop each other on right sides. It has a yellow 3 and large triangle on the back of its turret. It was with 3rd Group, Northamptonshire Yeomanry,France 1944.
The second 4-view is overall olive-drab. It has a yellow number T-14905 on the forward end of sides of its hull, a red square with a white no. 53 on it on the left side of its front and rear and a red square with yellow horizontal bar with a yellow 1 on it on the right side of its front and rear. It was with 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment, 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, Buron, France 1944.
The third 4-view is overall olive-drab. It has yellow T230012 on its hull side, followed by large yellow RYZERZI. On the sides of the turret there is a yellow outlined square with a yellow arrow on it. It was with the 1st Krechowiecki Lancers, 2nd Polish Armoured Division, Italy 1944-45.
The fourth (and final) 4-view is in a wave-pattern camouflage of middle-stone and light-green, with small dark- green spots on the mid-stone areas. It has a white skeletal German cross on the sides and rear of the turret and the hull sides. It was captured by the German Army on the Western Front 1944.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the bottom and top etc. (26 parts) Three parts are excess.
Medium-grey letter B tree holds the turret and gun parts etc. (30 parts) Three parts are excess)
Medium-grey letter C tree holds: final transfer covers, rivet bands etc. (15 parts) one part is excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey trees that are also marked as being letter C. They hold: road wheels, drive sprockets and idler wheels etc. (21 parts) One of these trees is co-joined to the first letter C tree.
Medium-grey letter D tree holds more wheels and leaf springs etc. (69 parts) 26 parts are excess.
There is no letter E tree.
There is no letter E tree.
There are 3 identical black letter F trees. They hold individual track links.
The brass PE fret letter MA holds the headlight guards etc. (8 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents.There are no crew figures provided.
I have some detail sets from my company I will add to the model. These are for the .050 Cal. M2 machine gun and are a photoetch set for the M2, the ammo boxes and a set of cast metal ammo boxes.
I earlier did a review of Dragon’s Firefly IC version, here on AMPS.
Nice detail. Highly recommended.