Codename: Sherman 2016 - 3pc Differential Housing Conversion 210122

[ripley]

Also remember , some applique armor was available in kit form to be  field installed by the Field Workshop Unit , so the position could vary  . The plates  installed at point of manufactor would be all the same . It would add to the parts count , but I would like these plates as iduvidual  pieces for ease of building specific tanks from wartime pictures

[Rubicon Models]

First test shot for the M4/M4Hybrid Sherman... Note our new layout for the plastic sprue too!



Enjoy!

[ultravanillasmurf]

Intriguing.

So there is an M4, M4 hybrid, M4 105 and something else.

My thought would be an M4A1 hull (assuming there is a blanking plate for the hull MG for the Firefly).

[H0ffmn]

It's possible. Both the M4 hybrid and M4A1 are listed as Work in progress/3D prototyping in their production schedule.
I would hope that the  'not for your eyes....yet' sprue would be related to the M4, maybe a early direct vision hull or turret.
I don't  think Rubicon will include
a M4A1 hull on to this sprue, they had stated earlier on their M4A2 post that they were going to include the three piece bolted transmission cover and early M-3 type suspension in their upcoming M4A1 kit.

[ripley]

Maybe a M3 Lee / Grant hull  .... he said hopefully Better yet a Ram hull

[Pinky]

I noticed a blanking-off piece for the hull MG on the Hybrid sprue.  So the mystery component (which is the presumably another hull, judging from the size) isn't for a Firefly.  Intriguing...

[ultravanillasmurf]

Maybe a M3 Lee / Grant hull  .... he said hopefully Better yet a Ram hull

That would go better with the M3 suspension (Ram gets my vote).

[Rubicon Models]

Had not been updating this for a whole month due to busy schedule with our Q3/17 releases.
These are the two favours of the Firefly IC using our new 75mm turret sprue!







Enjoy!

[ripley]

Fantastic , going to have to build one of each as I can't decide on a favourite

[Pinky]

Great to see the Hybrid Firefly.  The hull shape looks very good.

The applique armour on the right side of the turret was very rare on Fireflies and doesn't seem to feature at all on Hybrids (Warlord got this wrong on theirs).  I hope it's optional.  I also wish you'd fix the radio box (the protruding boltheads are wrong on this type), since you've got the other details right.

[ultravanillasmurf]

Nice.

The driver's hood appliqué looks slightly chewed, is that intentional?

[Pinky]

The driver's hood appliqué looks slightly chewed, is that intentional?

I think that's just the chipping.  It's a discussion for another time, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a photo of a WW2 tank with this kind of chipped paint (although Rubicon's painter has been more restrained than many you see).  It's a technique that European modellers pioneered a while ago, and which is now endemic (it came late to WH40k).  Everyone thinks it's realistic, but it's not - except perhaps on vehicles which have been overpainted for desert use or whitewashed.   

[elias.tibbs]

I just paint mine factory fresh with a wash. Can't be arsed with all the extra effort

[Ballardian]

 They look very good & I'll happily take one over the WG offering.
  As for 'chipping', while it's a viable technique for adding interest to a paintjob, (I've certainly used it) it is very easy to overdo (not that it is on these examples). In fairness, most of the established 'weathering' painters in print (such as Mig Jimenez, Reuben Torregrosa or Adam Wilder) do all they can to state 'less is more', short of printing it all caps. Unlike scratches, which could conceivably occur on almost any surface of the vehicle, 'chipping' - intense localised wear, should only be applied on 'high traffic' areas of the hull/turret where many boots, hard edged kit or objects in the enviroment regularly rub (& exhausts where I suppose it could be better refered to as blistering/flaking).

[Rubicon Models]

For years, there is only ONE M4 Sherman plastic tank

You will soon have a new CHOICE which provides you with multiple build variants in a SINGLE plastic kit!



...just two choices from the various possible builds!


Enjoy!