1:48 Sherman Firefly IC

The Eduard photo-etched set for the Sherman Firefly IC in 1:48 scale

This set of photo-etched parts is intended for detailing a model of the British Sherman Firefly tank in the IC version in 1:48 scale. It is not a kit of the tank: the parts of thin metal sheet complete a model you have already bought, in the places where plastic necessarily has to be thicker than reality. The maker is the Czech firm Eduard, which has a range of photo-etched sets of its own for equipment in this scale.

The real subject

The Sherman Firefly was the British answer to heavily armored German tanks: a powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun was fitted into a standard Sherman, and as one of the few Allied weapons it penetrated the frontal armor of Panthers and Tigers alike. The designation IC belongs to the version built on the hull of the Sherman I, unlike the more numerous VC version on the hull of the Sherman V. Fireflies served with British and Allied units in Normandy and during the further advance across Europe, usually one or two in a troop of ordinarily armed Shermans.

Usage tips

Separate the parts with a sharp knife on a hard surface and put them straight into a dish, so that they do not get lost. Make the bends in a bender or between two razor blades; thin metal will take only one correct bend, and repeated straightening tires it. They are glued with super glue applied with a toothpick. Before painting, degrease the metal and spray it with primer, otherwise the paint will not hold on the smooth surfaces.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who build Allied equipment in 1:48 scale
• Anyone after a more accurate thickness of guards, brackets and grilles
• More experienced builders who have worked with photo-etched parts before
• Builders of display case and competition models, where the detail is looked at close up

The set is an accessory for a model and does not contain the kit itself.