DRAGON MODELS LIMITED

Product Specifications.

7303, Firefly Vc. 1/72nd-scale styrene/multimedia kit containing 140 styrene parts, two DS-100 soft styrene track lengths, 49 photo-etched brass parts, four water-slide decal marking schemes and six pages of instructions in seven steps.

Introduction.

To the delight of many Braille-Scale modelers, DML continues to work their way through the US M4 medium tank series in 1/72nd-scale, following up their M4A3 76mm and M4A1 75mm with the ultimate English version, the M4A4 with 17-Pdr. gun, a.k.a. Sherman Vc Firefly. Although much in this kit is based upon the two previous releases, much is also brand-new, as this version uses the longer M4A4 hull.

Tracks.

The tracks represent the T62 type with a steel chevron and three rivets on the face of each steel link. They are rendered in a single length for each side, in DS-100 material, which is a soft styrene formula that will assemble with standard cements. Detail is more than adequate for the scale, with the tiny rivets and chevrons crisply-molded; end connectors are in the proper place between the links.

Suspension System.

The suspension system consists of the heavy-duty VVSS bogies with straight trailing arms for the return rollers. The road wheels are of the stamped, six-spoke type and are molded in pairs with each bogie's swing arms; because of this they cannot easily be swapped out for different types and they don't have any detail on their rear faces. These are then fitted to the back half of the bogies along with separate volute springs. Then the front half of the bogies, complete with return roller and swing arms is attached. This gives very good detail definition; the faces of the bogies also have fine casting numbers molded in place, a nice touch.

There are two different drive sprocket types. One comes with "solid" drive tooth rings, the other with the "open" style; although only one is called out for use, photos will be of help in determining which type the modeler may wish to use on his model. The idler wheels are also of the stamped style, with details front and back.

Hull.

The hull is properly longer than the standard type and through the use of a slide mold, has the mounts for the drive sprockets and idler wheels molded in place. The belly plate has nicely represented access plates, escape hatch lid and lateral stiffeners molded in. A separate grill is fitted to the rear to cover the exhaust system opening.

The front differential cover is the usual three-piece cast design, which comes in six parts for maximum detail definition. It is nicely textured but does not have any casting number details. This is a shame, since the way the parts are broken down these could have been easily included without resort to any unusual effort on the part of the kit's designers. The rear plate includes molded-on engine access hatch lid, as well as the large tow mounting and smoke bomb dispensers. The latter two items should have been separate parts for better detail definition. Molded-on "ears" for tow clevises (which themselves are all provided as delicate separate parts) can be removed and replaced with etched brass parts on both the rear plate and the front differential cover.

Superstructure.

This is of welded construction and features properly raised weld bead details throughout. It has a separate rear plate at the proper angle along with separate driver's and co-driver's hatch lids. These both have fine detail along with optional etched brass parts for periscope guards, hasps and lift handles. Personally, I'd remove the molded-on handles and replace them with fine wire as the etched items are necessarily (and unrealistically) flat. The armored plug for the bow MG is provided as the human in that station was replaced with 17-Pdr. ammo stowage; a bow MG is given but is properly called out as not for use. A full array of applique armor panels is provided for the superstructure sides as well as the glacis plate cast hoods; references should be checked to determine if the Firefly being modeled had these items in place.

The engine deck is nicely detailed and includes an etched brass grill. British stowage items such as a pair of fire extinguishers, gun tube bore swab staffs and first aid box are provided as is the travel lock for the 17-Pdr. gun tube. The long stowage box officially mounted on the rear plate is given as well as two short lengths of spare track; the latter could sometimes be seen fitted to the Firefly so, again, check those references. Small details abound such as separate vent cowls with etched brass screens, lift hooks, head- and tail-lamps, and horn. All have separate and finely-molded styrene brush guards, which can be replaced with provided etched brass items. Although they are very crisp, all tools except the shovel are molded in place; this is something that many modelers wish would be a thing of the past.

The front fenders are molded in place, while there is a choice of either styrene or etched brass for the rear set. The mounting strip for the sand shields is molded on to the lower superstructure side edge, but the bolt heads are represented in place instead of there being empty holes. The pattern does not match photographs since all are evenly spaced apart. The shield sections were in three parts and the pattern should reflect this by having the two bolt holes from each adjoining section closer together.

Turret.

This is a low bustle type with the upper shell from a slide mold so that the pistol port hatch opening can be molded opened up; a separate lid is provided, but it should be noted that sources show these were welded closed on many a Firefly. The gun mantlet framing is a separate part for fine definition, while the inner and outer mantlets are also separate parts that properly depict the style seen on the Firefly. The gun tube is one-piece with a pre-opened bore and opened muzzle brake, again due to the use of a slide mold; the co-axial .30 cal MG is also represented on the mantlet. The rear of the turret features separate radio box (with three square pads on top), as well as a separate stowage box. There is an applique plate for the turret cheek with nice weld bead detail; again, check references to see if it appeared on the Firefly to be modeled.

Detail parts include separate lift rings, periscope rotator plates (with separate covers), gun sight, cupola hatch ring (with separate lids) and loader's hatch lid. Etched brass periscope brush guards, blade and vane sights, hatch lid handles and a "stop" for the loader's hatch lid are also included. I believe the latter is part MA-21, which is shown improperly placed in the instructions; the modeler has been warned! It would have been an easy thing for the manufacturer to have foundry casting numbers present on the turret roof, as they were commonly seen. But, none are present.

There are two extra .50 cal. M2 HMGs, one of which has the carry handle on the barrel. They come with separate grips, pintle and one ammo box/tray assembly. They will come in handy for other kits in this scale, since they were seldom seen in use on British-Commonwealth M4s; note that I did not say "never"!

Molding, Fit and Engineering.

A basic fit check of the major components showed no problems. There are no ejector pin marks visible anywhere, to include the inner hatch lid surfaces, and there are no shrink marks anywhere.

Accuracy.

The kit appears to match scale plans published in reference number 5, below, quite well. All the proper British bits are given with the exception of the round guard for the antenna base (this could easily have been done in etched brass). Although not an accuracy issue, I will repeat that in my opinion, all tools should be separate parts. When one considers the other very fine bits provided in the box, this should not prove to be an insurmountable obstacle to the kit's designers. Likewise, foundry casting numbers could have easily been included.

I maintain that such small improvements would raise this very fine kit many levels above all others in this scale.

Instructions.

These are typical for DML and are clearly-rendered line drawings. This is a relatively simple model and the instructions reflect this; I had no problems with them except where noted regarding the loader's hatch lid (above) and the decal placement (below). Colors are, as usual, coded to match Gunze and Testors paints, while the markings information is presented as a set of four-view, full-color profiles for each subject vehicle.

Decals and Markings Information.

The water-slide decals are from Cartograf and are crisply printed, in excellent registration and well-saturated. Carrier film is thin and cropped close to the edges of the designs. The main problem with them is that they are relatively uninspired and cover only two Allied Fireflies, with the other two schemes representing captured German machines. While I understand the need to provide German markings as a selling point, really, things could have been lots better in this regard. Allied markings include:

" White 22, 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers), 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, France 1944, overall Olive Drab.
" "Velikye Luki", red/white 12, 3 Troop, A Squadron, Northamptonshire Yeomanry, France 1944, overall Olive Drab.

These markings as well as the German markings are confirmed in various references as being accurate. However, I doubt very, very much that the captured German Fireflies had the large, ringed Allied air recognition star on their engine decks as shown in the instructions; the modeler is advised not to use them if modeling one of those.

Conclusion.

This is an excellent kit, on par with the previously-released M4A1, and sure to please Sherman fans as well as those specifically interested in British-Commonwealth AFVs of World War Two.

Highly recommended.

Frank V. De Sisto

- Frank De Sisto