Sherman Firefly Vc 1:72 Airfix 02341

Plastic military model kit: Sherman Firefly Vc 1:72 Airfix 02341

The Sherman Firefly Vc 1:72 model kit from Airfix is an excellent choice for history and modeling enthusiasts who want to recreate one of the most famous tanks of World War II. The Sherman Firefly was a British modification of the American M4 Sherman tank, equipped with a powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun that allowed it to effectively combat German Panther and Tiger tanks.

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Model length: 11 cm
• Model height: 3.75 cm
• Model width: 3.6 cm
• Number of parts: 88
• Contents of the kit: sprues with parts and decals
• Painting options: 2 schemes

Painting schemes:

1. Sherman Firefly Vc Staffordshire Yeomanry, 27th Armoured Brigade, Operation Goodwood, Normandy, France, June 1944.
2. Sherman Firefly Vc 3 Troop, A Squadron, Northamptonshire Yeomanry, Normandy, France 1944.

History and significance of the Sherman Firefly: The Sherman Firefly played a crucial role in the Normandy campaign, being one of the few Allied tanks capable of effectively combating German heavy tanks. Its production began in early 1944, and by the end of the war, between 2,100 and 2,200 units were produced. The Firefly was particularly valued by British and other Allied commanders for its ability to penetrate the armor of German tanks at standard combat ranges.

This tank was often used in a ratio of one Firefly to four standard Shermans, making it a valuable target for German tank crews and anti-tank guns. To complicate its identification, British crews often camouflaged the long barrel of the gun by painting it in bright colors, aiming to make the Firefly resemble a standard Sherman with a 75 mm gun.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.