Crusader II Update - Models Constructed

The recent Crusader II 20mm WWII tanks move from recent acquisitions to recently built over the weekend (see below, nice little kits that went together without too much fuss at all):

No turret machine gun provided, I will improvise something later. However I must confess not to miss the fiddle it would have entailed (it would have been tiny) in the build. The only confusion was exactly where to fit the raised rear decking as not to obstruct the pipes leading to the exhaust unit. A dry assembly would (should) have helped (when will I ever learn I kinda ploughed on and hoped for the best - but it all came out OK in the end).

Which means if I follow the principle of building and trying to complete what you last bought (a dangerous thing for a wargamer to try and do) - I must explain to myself what [or rather why?] I bought the Warlord Games Classical Greek Phalanx for (Answer: "Mortal Gods m'Lord!" and that seems to be a very good buy) and also the Perry's 28mm WWII American GI Infantry (Answer: Guilty as charged - insanity - scale creep up to 28mm in a period I had already both covered in 20mm and 15mm, due to some very bad influences from Hartlepool and great cover art). I know in fact I will also but the US Infantry from Warlord Games [and perhaps a Sherman Tank!] as I am getting addicted to Warlord Games 28mm plastics. My excuse is that I am using them as a catalyst to jump start many other stalled projects - they simply get the juices flowing. There are some very talented sculptors out there! 

WWII 20mm British Crusader II Cruiser Tank ArmourFast

While picking up the M18 Hellcat I decided that the early 8th Army needed some beefing up, well I say beefing up (see below, either the Command Squadron or the start of a third Medium Company - he said talking in Command Decision OoB terms):

Again as there are two in the packet it is a bargain IMHO and so "two by two" I should finish off that early 1941 7th Armoured Division Tank Battalion!

1/72 ArmourFast M18 Hellcat US Tank Destroyer WWII

This made me a happy man, a US 20mm WWII M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer (see below, a long lost prize is found):

The M10 Wolverine and M36 Jackson have been acquired but I held getting the M18 as it was only available in expensive metal to my knowledge. I think now my WWII US Tank Collection is complete .. unless you want an M6 or T14. The kit is quick and simple to build (see below, it is a boon getting two kits in a box):

These will be perfect for those late 1944-45 battles into the Reich (see below, now get on with that painting):

My wish list of "tanks I want to get" (in 20mm) now is reduced to:

• American: None (Note: I am foolishly forgetting about the Pacific)
• British: Archer Tank Destroyer (probably end up getting a metal one)
• German: Pz II FlammPanzer (Pink Flamingo), Pz I "Heavy" Tank, Dicker Max SP Gun, (another) 35t, Pz IIIC
• French: To be fair "numerous" ones from Early War Miniatures inclusing a Char 2c
• Soviet: Aerosans
• Japanese: "Various little Tankettes", Type 28
• Hungarian: Turan
• Italian: L6, L3-33, M11/39

Not that big(ish) a list anymore!

(Sherman part of) WW2 US Tank Battalion WIP (Command Decision 20mm)

Only half as far on as the British late 1944 RTR is the US 1944 Armoured Division Tank Battalion (Command Decision OrBat). The manufacturers are going from top to bottom (see below):

• HaT (Armour Fast) x 2 75mm M4A3
• Esci/Italeri x 2 75mm M4A3
• Esci/Italeri x 1 75mm M4A1
• Revell x 1 76mm M4
• "Die Cast" x1 M4A3 105mm

Still in the bag is another Italeri/Esci M4A3 Sherman kit (actually the Sherman "Calliope" kit) to make which leaves me the option of getting the Plastic Soldier Company of three US 76mm (Wet Stowage) to "finish" the battalion off. As way of size comparison (funny as NZ was just asking this very question) the large 1/72mm kits fit in well with the Armour Fast and Esci/Italeri kits (see below): 

For both the US and British tank formations, these are still "post D-Day" formations and both would require and additional three 75mm Shermans to represent the early Normandy "hit the beach" and "breakout" formation.

So there's still a possibility of more Airfix and Esci/Italeri Shermans to make in the future ;)

Note: I should also point out that there is quite a lot of variation in the US Tank Divisions (as in between the Divisions designated as "Light" and "Heavy"). I am also just looking at the M4 Sherman contingent as the US tank battalions had an organic M3/M5 (Stuart) light tank company too.

20mm WWII Cromwell (ArmourFast)

This was a nice little kit (or should I say kits as they come two to a box which helps in the wallet department) that fits together like a dream, detailed enough to stand out of the box plus has plenty of customization potential :)

Literally made in minutes (although I spread it over two consecutive nights) and fits together very well, HaT/ArmourFast have learned their trade well. Once upon a time the only way you could get a Cromwell was either use a Matchbox Comet and pretend, convert said Matchbox Comet or buy a expensive Skytrex metal one or Cromwell Models resin one (that would get knocked out quickly on tabletop). Now you cannot help see them in plastic: Airfix(0), ArmourFast Hat(2), Revell(3) all do nice plastic kits, Frontline(1) do a cheap resin one and I even have another "unknown" resin manufacturer (1) with lovely clean lines (Note: My current totals are in brackets). I do plan to get at least one Airfix one on my way to a Command Decision 1944 British Armoured Regiment Order of Battle.

Pity I didn't have this Cromwell at Hoggerton Moor, it would have seen the Royalist Cavalry off. It was an impulse build, so painting may wait for an "inspirational moment". Like perhaps seeing a Cromwell in an episode of Band of Brothers or the like.  

More Shermans (ArmourFast and Tank Magazine)

Coming out of the box two at a time from the ArmourFast range, the Sherman M4A2 version, destined to be painted up in 8th Army desert camouflage for Operation Supercharge in the Battle of El Alamein 1942 project:

They will round up a composite tank battalion. To go with my:

• Three painted Hasegawa Crusader Mk III's.
• Three partially painted Airfix Crusaders
• Two unpainted Hasegawa Grants
• One Airfix unpainted Grant
• Two unpainted Matchbox (yes they are old) M3 Honey's. 

Against which I plan to throw an assorted bunch of Axis DAK and Italian armour + Anti Tank guns (the latter of which needs to be fleshed out somewhat).

Meanwhile in France near the borders of Germany:

This ("too bright a green" which desperately needs some weathering and application of mud) M4A3 Sherman of the 756th Tank Battalion of the US 5th Army. As its gun is shorter than my other US Sherman's it will probably be designated as the 105mm Howitzer of the battalion (yes, yet another 20mm Tank Battalion project).

PS: This was another £2.99 bargain at the Yorkshire Trading Company store:)

ArmourFast T34-85

Will this show of raw naked plastic ever end? Perhaps not, this time it was two banged together T34-85's from ArmourFast.

The T34-85 in its late-war guise needs numbers to intimidate. The ArmourFast boxes help by giving you two at a time, costing out in bulk the cheapest but as good as my Fujimi and old Airfix versions. It is a useful tank to have as its active life-span stretches well into the latter part of the twentieth century.

These I think are simply destined to become part of the late-war Red Army. 

 https://www.onthewaymodels.com/reviews/Armourfast/Armourfast_T3485.htm

In summary an easy build that I enjoyed doing :)