I know of 4 Firefly kits in 1/35:

• Firefly Ic (Welded hull), Dragon
• Firefly Ic (Composite hull), Dragon
• Firefly Vc, Dragon
• Firefly Vc, Tasca (the best firefly kit out there AFAIK, but a bit more expensive)

Good to know.  No one seems to be doing a Panther yet . . . now I'm waffling.

Bruce: Wow, they look fantastic! Just finished my first model with the AK Interactive Olive Drab Modulation Set myself and though I still need practice with it am very happy with the results.

Bitbite: Good luck, the earlier Tamiya Sherman is a little long in the tooth but they're all good kits.

Tasca does a Firefly too but it's rather expensive of course.

Yes, I saw that one but is a little steep for me right now.  I'll find a Tamiya Sherman.  Thanks for the suggestion though.

you should join the EMS/FIRFIGHTER GB with the ambulance. and say hi to mikey if you do.

i don't have enough room for what i've already built

The only Firefly I found was from Dragon. I believe these boxing are their older kits with added extras such as figures. Its a bit more than the Tamiya kits, but less than the more recent Dragon kits.

www.hannants.co.uk/.../DN9110

Cool.  Tamiya it is.  Now to decide which one.  Thanks.

Thanks, Bish.  I've appointed Stick as my mentor, much to his chagrin I'm sure, so I'll check it out with him.  I was kind of hoping to do a Firefly (for something slightly different), but I couldn't seem to find one online in 1/35 from a maker that I knew.

I'd go for Tamiya as well. Their sherman kits are not as pricy as the Dragon kits and the overall fit is better. Dragon's kits are a bit more detailed though. I've also heard great things about Tasca, but I never got to build one of their kits, as they are bloody expensive: 60€ compared to 40€ (Dragon) and 30€ (Tamiya)

I have never built a Sherman, but I have seen many recommend the Tamiya kits. They have an early (190) and a late (250). I have no idea what the differences are and which would be suitable, I am guessing the late version, hopefully Stick can help you out.

Dragon also make a wide range of M4's, a few of which might well fit, but they are a lot more expensive.

Good.  Since we're all agreed on my last post, I'd like to do a 1/35 scale Sherman for this build.  Any suggestions for a reasonably good kit that doesn't cost too much?  Any variant is ok because as far as Shermans go, I only have a Jumbo in my collection right now and I know that doesn't count for this build.  

Thanks.

I'd like to suggest that all these finished models be given to me on June 6 because that's also my birthday.  Everyone ok with that? 

Looking good there Bruce.

Are you still working on the M3 or have I missed that. I do need to try and keep up.

OK, here comes the WC-54 Ambulance right off the LCT.

Painting the interior flat white and light green. The exterior is AK US Green modulation set.

And here's an update on the Water Tank Truck.

I just tried it, still fumbling my way,  I have several I'd like to post. The Tiger was a Dragon Kit, Late model  #304, blue with light yellow trim.  I'll get it...?

I don't know if part of the code is missing from that link, as its not working. To post pics, you need a hosting site, such as photobucket.

/Users/Terry/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Previews/2013/06/29/20130629-092550/sI7AHnORTTaGJe8DHWFuMg/IMG_0282.jpg

Bish, I just finished a similar Tiger. See if you can get to these jpg's. I really need to post some builds to the site.

I don't know how accurate you want to be, but if you do want to be as accurate as possible, the turret numbers might need altering. The kits decals have red numbers and they should be green,. When I did mine I added Zimmerite so I painted the side numbers on, white outlines and then filled in with green. And for the rear bin I added a kit decals and then just painted over the red.

I found this photo really useful. Its a colourized photo of a B&W image of 131 moving to the front.

Or you could just stick with the red numbers.

Bish, Tamiya 131 Tiger it is.

jibber, welcome aboard. Looking forward to seeing your build. Are going to do Tiger 131.

And I thought figuring out German armour was a headache. Some great info on the Allied armour there guys, keep it coming.

As a slight side note, the other half got a holiday brochure in yesterday for campsites in Europe for next year. And the one that took her fancy, with only a few hints from myself, is in Normandy, about 11 miles from Caen. We won't be going until late August, so will miss the 70th anniversary, but finally I will get see visit the sites over there. And I have been promised I can have at least two days to myself so wonder the museums and battlefields. Can't wait now.

No worries my friend ;-)

stikpusher

The M4 varaints that I listed were the ones used in the invasion and immediate aftermath. M4A3s did not start appearing in combat until around the end of the Normandy campaign. Until Operation Cobra, us forces were equipped pretty much exclusively with M4s and M4A1s. For Cobra the M4 105mm and M4A1 76mm started their combat debut.

Really, ouch I stand corrected then!

The books I was looking though didn't specify between invasion, post-invasion, and liberation of France.

The M4 varaints that I listed were the ones used in the invasion and immediate aftermath. M4A3s did not start appearing in combat until around the end of the Normandy campaign. Until Operation Cobra, us forces were equipped pretty much exclusively with M4s and M4A1s. For Cobra the M4 105mm and M4A1 76mm started their combat debut.

John: I"m sorry to hear about your mom, I think you'd said before her heath was getting worse.

Bruce: Nice to see a real 'tank' here!

stikpusher

jibber

Also, do the guys have a couple builds, I would like to add a piece of armor from both sides, such as a

Tiger and a Sherman?

Normandy saw most Sherman variants used- M4, M4A1, M4A1 76mm, M4A2, M4A4, and M4A4 Firefly. At least within the time constraints of this GB. In 1/35 Dragon, Italeri, Tamiya, and Tasca have all of those variants covered. You could also getfancy and do a conversion such as the Sherman dozer tank, DD tank, Crab flail tank, etc. And the Sherman derivatives- M10/Achilles GMC, M7 Priest HMC, M32 ARVs, M12 GMC. 

jibber

Also, do the guys have a couple builds, I would like to add a piece of armor from both sides, such as a Tiger and a Sherman?

Bish, sign me up for the Tamiya Tiger. Thanks again, I'll drop in some pics when I clear my bench.

Nice work, Bruce.  Don't think I've seen a  kit of a water truck before.  Interesting subject.

Very sorry to hear of your loss, John.  My condolences.

Well, it doesn't matter if someone else is building one. Occasionally a GB will work like that, but not often. And you can enter as many builds as you like. There were no Strum tiger's in Normandy. One Tiger kit I know will defiantly work in the Tamiya Mid production Tiger I. Vehicle number 131 of the 101st SS s Pz Abt would fit the bill, I built that kit a few years ago myself.

www.hannants.co.uk/.../TA35194

As for Sherman's, I have no idea about a good kit for that.