Sherman VC Restoration - T289477

[Tim Bell]

My Firefly is now in the workshop, work having started to re-manufacture or restore all of the internal tin-work (Battery Tray, Tool and Stowage bins, Ammo Bins etc).

I will run a few pics here to update as time goes on.

The final restoration will be to repaint to represent 21st Canadian Armoured Regt (GGFG) from whom this vehicle is recorded as having been struck off service in June 45.

Any photos of Fireflies with GGFG in North West Europe will be most welcome to help ensure the markings are authentic.







Cheers

Tim

[maple_leaf_eh]

The receipt clearly shows it is property of the Government of Canada. Will you be returning it the the Canadian High Commission in London?

[Alex van de Wetering]

Tim,

Excellent. I noticed the last picture on the facebook page of a french restorer and I know it had to be your Vc.

Are you going for a Ford GAA?

regards,
Alex

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

The receipt clearly shows it is property of the Government of Canada. Will you be returning it the the Canadian High Commission in London?

They sold it to the Belgian army after this receipt was produced... so though it is not impossible to consider that the vehicle could make its way back to the Canadian government... they will need to consider parting with some hard cash if they want it.

Tim

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Tim,

Excellent. I noticed the last picture on the facebook page of a french restorer and I know it had to be your Vc.

Are you going for a Ford GAA?

regards,
Alex

Alex

Correct - this is with a French restoration company - I don't have the knowledge, skill or equipment to take on a restoration of this size and weight.

We will be fitting a GAA in lieu of the multibank, which unfortunately I have not been able to find yet. The GAA installation will be sympathetic and hopefully we will not need to modify the vehicle to make it fit.

I have a facebook page for the vehicle - facebook.com/T289477 - some updates will go there too.

Cheers

Tim

[tankbarrell]

Originally Posted by Tim Bell

in lieu of the multibank, which unfortunately I have not been able to find yet.
Tim

I'm pleased to see you are not totally resigned to the GAA!

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by tankbarrell

I'm pleased to see you are not totally resigned to the GAA!

Adrian

The GAA is merely because I want to have a vehicle on the road next year.

If a Multibank comes along, then I will look to replace the GAA.

Unfortunately Multibanks are not that easy to find... unless you have any spares?

Cheers

Tim

[Alex van de Wetering]

Tim,

Well, judging from previous work they did, the hull is in good hands.

I think the french guys that restored the Firefly Vc about a year ago, also fitted a GAA. And if I remember correctly one of the M4A4's that was restored by military classic vehicles in Catz, Normandy also got fitted with a GAA....could even be the one that was included in the Normandy Tank museum auction and ended up in a suburb in the US....you know....the one that landed on the Normandy beaches and made it all the way to Berlin...

It seems several people are looking for a Multibank or Multibank parts. Where did the French leave all those Multibanks when they converted their M4A4's to Radial engines???

Alex

[Peter Samsonov]

I was just in Normandy last week, very disappointing that there wasn't a single Firefly

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Tim,

Well, judging from previous work they did, the hull is in good hands.

I think the french guys that restored the Firefly Vc about a year ago, also fitted a GAA. And if I remember correctly one of the M4A4's that was restored by military classic vehicles in Catz, Normandy also got fitted with a GAA....could even be the one that was included in the Normandy Tank museum auction and ended up in a suburb in the US....you know....the one that landed on the Normandy beaches and made it all the way to Berlin...

It seems several people are looking for a Multibank or Multibank parts. Where did the French leave all those Multibanks when they converted their M4A4's to Radial engines???

Alex

Alex

Definitely it is in good hands - an experienced tank restorer with eye for detail.

The Sherman VC restored in France last year was fitted with GMC diesels.

The Sherman from the Normandy museum which sold to the chap in USA had a GAA.

Good question - where did all the Multibank engines go.

Scrapped is my guess.

Tim

[tankbarrell]

I've seen an advertisement from the 1950's for 50 Multibank engines new in boxes. Chris Wilkinson told me he remembered them being available and offered for sale by more than one dealer but there was no interest so were scrapped. He did have parts, many of which went into my engine.

[John McGillivray]

There is a Firefly being restored in France. See their Facebook page for lots of photos etc.
https://www.facebook.com/RaspilairRestauration/

[Tim Bell]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

There is a Firefly being restored in France. See their Facebook page for lots of photos etc.
https://www.facebook.com/RaspilairRestauration/

Thanks - Am aware of this one... he had a lot more holes to plug than I do - especially in the turret.

You will find my restoration here - www.facebook.com/t289477

Cheers

Tim

[Lance Wiebe]

The GGFG was an Infantry Regiment.
According to my sources, the 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment was the Elgin Regiment.
Here is a link to their museum website.
http://www.theelginmilitarymuseum.ca/the-elgins.html

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Lance Wiebe

The GGFG was an Infantry Regiment.
According to my sources, the 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment was the Elgin Regiment.
Here is a link to their museum website.
http://www.theelginmilitarymuseum.ca/the-elgins.html

The Foot Guards are now an infantry regiment, and they are an integral part of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa every summer. But .... in The Big One, the regiment reroled to armour as the 21st Canadian Armoured Regiment. Technically you are correct, but not correct for the period when they had tanks.

Their wartime tank Forceful used to be on the front lawn of Cartier Square Drill Hall. By coincidence, one of the veteran crewmen was going to explain something about Shermans to a TV news lady, and when they arrived for the story, a crew from the War Museum had loaded his tank up and were driving off with it! The story changed on the spot. Forceful is now under cover in the War Museum.