1:35 British Sherman Firefly hessian tape N°2

Camouflage from jute strips for the Sherman Firefly in 1:35

This item is not a kit of the tank but an accessory set for modelers who want to complete a model of the British Sherman Firefly tank with camouflage made of jute strips. The marking N°2 suggests that this is the second form of this subject in the manufacturer's range.

The real subject

The Sherman Firefly was a British conversion of the American M4 Sherman medium tank into which a long 17-pounder anti-tank gun was successfully fitted. With it the British gained a machine that, as one of the few Allied tanks, could deal with German Panthers and Tigers at normal combat ranges, and from the Normandy landings onward Fireflies were distributed one at a time among ordinary troops. That is exactly what created a problem: the long barrel gave away the most dangerous vehicle in the troop from a long way off, so crews tried to break up its outline. From this came the British field practice of pulling jute strips and camouflage nets over the turret, the hull and above all the barrel, often together with painting the front part of the barrel so that it looked shorter from a distance. In period photographs from Normandy and from the advance that followed, this look is one of the most characteristic of all.

What the set is suited to

Camouflage from jute strips is one of those details that turn a model of a Sherman into a particular vehicle of a particular unit at a particular time. At the same time its soft texture makes a pleasant contrast with the smooth areas of cast armor. The set suits a diorama from Normandy and from northwest Europe and combines well with figures of tank crews in 1:35.

Who the set is for

• Modelers interested in British armored vehicles of the Second World War
• Builders of dioramas from Normandy and northwest Europe
• More experienced modelers who combine accessories with a base model
• Collectors of Black Dog accessories in 1:35