Maurice

Hi does anybody know what fluid should go in the M4,M3 , and DUKW compass ?

I want to mount mine in my Firefly ,but there is only a little bit of fluid left in it .

Thanks already

there is supposed to be another surviver in Belgium , i will try to get pictures .

There used to be another one in the Newcastle aeria , is that the one from Beltring?

hi , here some pictures I took of how my firefly is comming on , Wiring has to go in first then battery box and storage bin, they are welded in in Firefly`s so not possible to reach afterwards .

Found front pannel for battery box , but now still looking for measurements for top of Box .

A non runner , look at tow rope on this WOT8

I got it years ago from Chris Muys , I just saved two tins before he put it in the chemical waste . It is still used up to today at BOAR .

About green one I still have some wich I can bring to Beltring , it is US OD , ex US germany stock .

I got some ex british army black canvas paint , it is like a watery emulsion that is very easy to brush in a pattern on canvas , it also will not harden the canvas , good stuf , better then blackboard paint.

top one is more interesting , body is longer , two rope holders in front of rear wheel

The last one still survives , it is in stock at the Dutch army as a spares vehicle , stood for years outside , and is in bad condition when the Army got it again .

It is not the conrods or so failing , but your bearings will melt at these revs , and then a con rod or another part gets play , and will exit the engine . I know several guys over here in Holland involved with tractor pulling using Merlins and Meteors in their machines , and they all have bearing problems if they over rev the enginnes , actually they explode now and then into bits . There are several shots on U tube were you even can see it happening .

so if a Commet would be driving for a longer period of time over it revs , then engine life is very short.

But these speeds are not even possible with modern Leopards with 1500BHP in them .

Even if it would go 50 MPH, the thing would be impossible to control , if you go in an achilles or sort at its max speed (30mph with GM`s ) you have already enough to do to keep it on the road , with the slightest corner you can loose it out of control if you are not experienced enough.

In my oppinion they were usually tidy till they went in front line duty , so most close up pictures show that they are fairly straight , so that what I try wenn I restore a vehicle , with WW2 vehicles the fact is that they all were almost new , max 4 years old , so they would not have 8 coats of paint on , and holes rotted in them .

So I agree if you restore it like new , then it will age again by using it .

Yes forgiven , but it is not fair , I saw the pictures from how the town got it , so I had to see it from a short distance , the turret wich was with the firefly project from the Weatcroft collection is the one wich came of this tank. I was 3 weeks to late to save the Multibank , it went for scrap .

The tank was restored at the same place as the Bastogne Sherman

The standard M4A4 is not standard , it is a firefly conversion with a 75mm retrofit, so it represents an American tank from the liberation of Mopertingen in Belgium (Americans never used M4A4 in Europe, exept a few flails)

Look at the gun crutch on the front glacis , it is the firefly bracket from the rear deck , the .30 mount is also openned up again , inside still remains of firefly fittings.

In the book images of war ,Sherman tank , there seems to be one M4A6 on page 122 in a British workshop , it has a different rear engine deck plate (2 pieces) , but not a casted front end . Later in the same book there is a quote that between October 1943 and february 44 75 have been constructed , and some were sent to the UK , US Army declined them .

Were would they have this information from ?

I know they had that special exhaust thing on the back , but never seen any action Shots of the real thing.

Is there still a M4A6 surviving somewhere ?

did somebody notice that the one on Utah beach has an M10/Achilles final drive housing?

You could be right , I was told they were > I got some from a chap who lives near Veurne (ww1 area) and said they used to have loads of them , already from before WW2 . They have no black printing . Found two in Ciney for 5€ each , and they have the black stencelling on.

Hanno 2 types of 100 round boxes were in use , the standard side opening box wich you see nowadays on restored vehicles , but there is also an earlyer WW1 box with canvas carying strap , and a latch lock,identical like on Sherman bins . these boxes are on stowage diagrams.

These pictures are of a wreck so you can see how full the floor was with ammo bins

here a picture of the orriginal T number on mine , the is a black number as well , and Link 1 of1 stencilling.

The pressing of the x is no problem , I can Use a 100 ton press , what worries me is the bottom to curl round on to the side.

The other week there was one 50 rond box for sale , but was 70 € , I need a buch of them for my M4A4 and M4 , so was thinking of making a form to press copy pannels and make them .

Yes , I have the same box ,in the stowage diagram you can see one model in the IC and the other in the VC , but I noticed on the ranges that either type was used in the IC and VC .

The Ammo bin behind the driver has a slide for 2 cal. 30 Ammo boxes , and one for 2 cal. 50 WW1 boxes ? wy 100 rounds there and these rare 50 rounds boxes in the rear right corner.

Yes please , But I haven`t counted how many go on the interior bins .(stil,haven`t asked Joop if he needs catches as wel)

What kind of front bin are you making ? there were two models , one with the flaps mounted on rods from front to rear , or from side to side.

They are all possible to make(time consuming) made out of plate and angle iron .

Did you also notice that the front bin can be dismantled on the front and rear so you can work on the brake band in front of it ? in several books they mention that on a firefly you can`t reach brake band , so this is not true.

You are right Adrian , do you need anny dimensions for the right side sponson bins? or the floor ammo bins ? if yes I can send them , I am just still looking for front and top cover patterns for battery box , and how to make new round ammo holders for in bin behind driver.