Note to Self: British Tank Development WWII - Website/Article

 https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/britains-struggle-to-build-effective-tanks-during-the-second-world-war

New and Shiny from Airfix: Tiger and Sherman Firefly

At last Airfix have remade their Tiger Tank kit wit the "correct" bin bit at the back and it look beautiful. To add further to the appeal they have boxed it with a suitable opponent - the Sherman Firefly (see below, for once the box art does not deceive, the Tiger in the box also has a bin on it too):   

The Tiger sprue ()\see below, the sharp eyed will see two sets of tracks one simple the other complicated): 

In hushed reverence I started putting it together (see below, the pieces fit beautifully together .. gasp .. which I said several time during the making of this kit): 

The instructions themselves were also a work of art - clear and unambiguous (see below, the kit sort of started just building itself - akin to modern sets of Lego): 

Not a fast build kit but a clear and clean build kit that encouraged thoughtful assembly (see below, completed with the "Simple [four-piece] Track" system which just slotted over the spokes sweetly):

Spot the difference? (see below, the kit is so precision that I managed to assemble the second set of tracks - simply slot out the first (simple) set and pop over the twenty part tracks. Which was which in the previous photo and this? Am I messing with you .. (?) .. is there a difference at all?):   

Less photos perhaps, but an equally pleasant build the Sherman Firefly! I would now of course love to see the normal Sherman get a similar treatment (see below, although again there were two versions of the tracks I went for the simpler one piece casting, which tells a story of "quality" in itself - plus the Sherman layout does not lend itself to a "slot over" like the Tiger, you have to build one way or the other): 

Sigh, bucket list Tiger from Airfix done. Time for a cup of well earned tea me thinks!

VE Day Celebration: British Sherman V in 28mm

The Warlord Games British Sherman V (I originally bought it as armour support for my US infantry only to find out it was "the wrong type" [not used at all by the US] so I decided rather than "take it back" I had to go get some British Infantry to make as well - that is a current WIP project) has been luring on the shelf for far,far too long. Being bigger than my normal 20mm area of expertise, I suspected it was going to be a harder to make .. flashbacks to those 20mm Airfix Shermans of my youth perhaps .. but no it is a perfect low fuss wargame build (I was fearful of the Tamiya 1/35 fine scale modeller syndrome to be honest too). It reminds me of a PSC style build and only after I completed it did I notice the Italeri association (see below, the kit as per build instructions, I went for the basic Sherman not the Cullen "bocage strimmer" that could be useful in Chain of Command): 

Looking long and hard at the box art and some internet photographs (of a wargaming nature), plus several conversations with fellow 28mm wargaming Chain of Command friends who know far more about British Armour of WWII it was decided that the .50 calibre turret mounted HMG had to go. The clincher for me was more for aesthetics (using the HMG seemed ergonomically awkward - scenes from the battle of Caratan in Band of Brothers showed the, albeit US tank commander, standing on the rear engine deck firing the .50 cal HMG) and practicalities of painting the commander figure. There were  (see below, the Sherman V, minus the HMG-AA, but with ease of access to the tank commander for the paint brush): 

My eye now falls on the KV1 Russian tank which could come in useful at the up and coming (post-lockdown) restart of the Battle for Stalingrad Chain of Command campaign. 

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!

Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) A9 Troop (France 1940 Style)

Just to prove I can finish off at least building some kits the other two of the PSC A9 early war (BEF) RTR. I made two of the two pounder variants and one of the 3" Close Support (CS) type (see below): 

Yes I am very happy with them and (at present) resisting the urge to but another packet, although I have teh excuse to make teh Western Desert with sand skirt version ;)

Weekend Plastic Frenzy (1) Airfix Sherman

Well at the weekend I had the chance to write up an AAR for the blog or do a bit of hands on plastic modelling and the modelling won, first up was an old Airfix Sherman (see below, turret hatch open waiting for a suitable British tank commander figure to be found):

This means I am almost finished the basic 1944 RTR Command Decision OoB complement of standard tanks ;)

Modelling Note: The new Airfix tracks are a great improvement. They were really easy to glue together with "cheap pound shop" superglue! Dried white but everything is going to get painted over, so that ain't an issue,

Tiny Little Tau (Gun Drones)

Tiny companions to the Tau leader's Crisis battle-suit (see below):

In the background some tactical reading, Mark Urban's "Tank War" following the Dirty/Filthy 5th RTR. Starts off "Phoney War" (France 1940) where the 5th could claim only "one enemy tank kill" versus score of lost cruisers to mechanical breakdown, really good for The Desert War (1941-43), a bit of Italy (1944) [reece in particular] and excellent for Normandy to Hamburg (1944-45). 

Got me thinking WWII again ;)

Matilda No.9

Waltzing Matilda No.9 has been put together (see below):

As per the hysteria of pre-WWI Dreadnought building competitions "We want ten!" (Psst, actually eleven for the Western Desert if truth be told, two for Russia and another two more for the Pacific in 2015, before Airfix stops selling the kit).

Command Decision: Western Desert OoB: 
I have three companies of three, so therefore by my reckoning I need a Regimental HQ Tank plus a modified Matilda II Close Support (CS) platoon tank!

Airfix Matilda II RTR: Count Reaches "Eight"

Progress to date: 

The "fighting elements" of a RTR (as per Command Decision 1940/41 OoB), two Humber A/C plus the Matilda II Squadrons and HQ

Still looks a tad "under strength" to me, missing a full Matilda II Squadron, three more tanks needed, or a HQ and three reduced Matilda II Squadrons, take your pick ;)

The Matilda IIs will only come alive when I put on their distinction Western Desert Camouflage Scheme on (aka the fetching Caunter Scheme).

First Models of the New Year - 20mm WWII Airfix Matilda

The Western Desert calls in 2015, so I want to expand the Matilda Squadron of three into a full (Command Decision III) Battalion/Regiment 1940/41, so the festive period saw me put together theses little old favourites from Airfix (see below):

A good start to the New Year's resolutions. This brings my Matilda II (Western Desert) count to eight. I reckon I need another three, one of which I will have to convert to a Matilda II CS (with a three inch howitzer - nicked from the spares pile from the Hasagawa Churchill I/II kits I have previously made).

Note I: Other Matilda II (Airfix) 'modelling' variants or should I say possibilities include the cool "Lease Lend" Russian Matilda (in a winter camouflage scheme), an Australian standard 2 pounder variant and finally the Australian Frog flamethrower tank (seeing as I already have a Matilda Hedgehog).

Note II: I intend to use my Esci Matilda II tank as a BEF version (to go with my two metal Skytrex Matilda I's I have), making a small plastic card "Vickers" mantle.

Note III: The Matilda Scorpion seems too advanced a project for me at the moment (too much fuss making the chain arms) , the Matilda CDL (Canal Defense Light) being too "wacky" for the wargames table (also contravening the Geneva Convention on indiscriminate optical weapons).

PSC Churchill 95mm (1/72)

The 1/72 AFV plastic kit "assembly rush" continues:

Despite having "a few" Churchills already I felt the irresistible urge for the PSC kit, or should I say kits as you get two to the box :)

You have plenty of variant choice:

• Churchill IV 6 pounder (already covered by my old Esci kits)
• Churchill V 75mm (already covered by my old Airfix kits)
• Churchill III AVRE (already covered by my old Matchbox kit)
• Churchill V 95mm CS Howitzer (a version I don't have)

The latter version being the preferred choice (in fact I made both kits in this version) to complete my range of combat Churchills (see one of my 95mm versions below):

For interest the PSC kit is shown alongside some Valiant 1/72, 1944 Normandy German infantry (which are known for being on the large side) for a size comparison (see below). Given the size of the tank commander you can see how large the Valiant "Germanic infantry cousins" are but, without the tank commander sticking his head out of the turret I think they would be fine enough to share the same space in a 'table-top battle'.

With respect to my 'other' Churchills Hasagawa have provided me with a troops of three Churchill II's (with pop gun two pounder of Deippe) and also one of the 'interesting' CS Churchill I's with two pounder in the turret and a fixed position three inch howitzer in the hull, a bit like the French Char B's. I have an Airfix and a Britannia Miniatures Crocodile, plus an Esci mine-roller Churchill III (although a friend claims these were never used in combat), this leaves only the Airfix Bridge Layer "missing", to be acquired at a later date.

As per usual no complaints for the PSC assembly and both kits were leisurely done in an evening, two hours max with plenty of breaks :)

Highly recommended .    

Airfix Matilda II

I remember this kit fondly from my childhood, despite the fiddly wheel arrangement that my tiny little hands had so much trouble with.

The Matilda II "Queen of the Desert" with turret hatches cut open ready for a tank commander to hop in (see below):

It is still a nice little kit that holds its own despite its age (see below):

So much so I made two using the excuse Airfix drop their kits in and out of production "so get them while you can" (see below)

Note: The tank commanders are from PSC via their Bren Carrier pack of three.

The crazy ambition is to work up to a CD II/III Western Desert RTR (ten in total required). I already have five at the moment so ten by the end of year (one of which has to be converted to a CS tank) does not seem too big an ask.

Why ... er I will get back to you later, as my DAK is minimal, but that could change. Mind you the ANZACs and Russians had Matilda's too.

Matchbox/Revell Sherman Firefly

It may be old but it is still a classic and a perfect match for my Airfix Shermans in my 1944/45 British RTR viz Command Decision orbat (see below):

That makes a total of four so I can up gun my formation with an extra Firefly troop as happened with teh Guards Armoured I believe.

It is gratifying that it still slips together like a dream despite its age :)

Footnote: 
PS Matchbox had the tracks dilemma sorted back in the 1970's

The Xmas Plastic Parade #1: Airfix Churchill Tank

Over the Xmas break I had a rather productive run as assemble some 1/72 and 1/76 AFV kits.

First was an old childhood favorite of mine, the Airfix Churchill Mk VII. The most impressive part of the Churchill VII to me was the 75mm gun, the thick armour was "nice" but not sloped which wasted a lot of protection potential (it just gave the crew ten seconds to bail) and slowed it down, still no match for a Panther, Tiger I or Tiger II, but a good "infantry support tank". The kit assembly was straight forward, the only extra fiddly bit was leaving the turret hatches open for a commander to poke out of. The tracks are awaiting the "staple" method of connection (see below, and yes I have not glued the track covers on yet, that would have been silly):  

The assembled product (see below):

This is the third tank of a Command Decision company the question I am trying to work out is whether I need a fourth? RTR (cruisers) have four tanks to a company, I am unsure regards to the Infantry Tank Brigades, as to whether they were so richly endowed, the Spearhead OoB suggests so.

Any thoughts and information appreciated?

Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) 20mm M5A1 Stuarts and Stuart Reece

I really like the Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) 1/72 or 20mm kits. They balance a very high level of detail in an easy assembly model. IMHO they are the best value and quality on the market. In addition you get plenty of 'out of the box variation' with the models. For example the 20mm M5A1 kit comes in three different 'models' (early, middle and late production types), with or without the "Sgt Cullen" patent "bocage" hedgerow strimmer, therefore the 'basic' number of permutations is six without breaking into a serious modelling sweat (see below):

In fact there is so much extra kit included in each box means that there is almost enough to make "double the number of models" which stands at a generous three as it is. The only thing stopping the 'six models for the price of three' is the lack of a turret and a couple of 'simple' body parts, namely a basic squarish box to attach the hull cover and tracks onto.

However as a 'M5A1 Stuart' without a turret is in actual fact a 'M5A1 Reece Stuart' British battlefield modification, the lack of a turret is therefore not such a big issue after all. It is just a case of scratch building a box of a body and then "milliputting" a round "front end" on. From this musing struck a germ of an idea that grew and grew. Thus began a plasti-card missing body part production line (see below):

I did briefly think/experiment on casting a "household DIY sealant productbased" body but my "injection moulding" capabilities were sadly lacking, but at least the 'undefined' shape that resulted convinced me I could make a basic "plasti-card' chassis to drop the extra hull cover onto (see below):   

Assembled together: the spare hull cover, spare tracks and 'custom' hull (see below):

The Result: 

The three M5A1 Stuarts in the background are fully complete and the three M5A1 Reece Stuarts in the foreground have the "outlined body construction" complete, needing just a little extra tidy up to the front and back "TLC modelling" (see below):

Concept proven to hold water methinks, Browning 50 Calibre HMG, sandbags, stowage and extra crew still needed.

;)

Plastic Soldier Company M4A1 (British) 75mm Shermans and my RTR Project

Hot on the tails of constructing the Russian T70's from the Plastic Soldier Company I made three of the (commander type) M4A1 Shermans for my late-1944 RTR project (see below):

Again they are very impressive, though it has to be said on the big side of 1/72 (certainly in close company of Airfix 1/76 and 1/76 Matchbox kits). There is a slight bit of confusion on the packaging as it incorrectly states that US (76mm) and British (75mm) versions can be made, but in fact only the latter British kit can be made (which was thankfully what I wanted). The kits go together well and are sweet being assembled in less that half an hour (nearer fifteen minutes if truth be told). The instructions are clear with only a minor discrepancy in the assembly of the front of the hull, the kit being actually simpler with one 'cast' front (the instructions showed two ribbed, riveted struts, similar to the Airfix models).

The late (as in Firefly equipped) 1944 British RTR project now has amassed the following tank complement as per the Command Decision OrBat (see below):

Note: Each row is a "Squadron" with:

• Plastic Soldier Company Sherman M4A1 75mm  x 1
• Airfix Sherman M4 x 2
• MatchBox (Revell) Sherman M4 Firefly x 1

The "Command Squadron" is a:

• Airfix Sherman M4 x 1 (I will have to 'tart' it up with a commander figure found from somewhere)
• Britannia Miniature (resin) 105mm M4A3 Sherman (with a 'too American' looking tank commander)

Still missing from the OrBat is the a (AA) Crusader Tank and the Sherman ARV, which until I can "metal-up" with these up vehicles I will sub in the 'plastic' Airfix Bofor 40mm AA kit and the Scammel Tank Transporter, as they only play minor "supporting roles" on the tabletop. Still lots of WIP to do (including decals) but the tanks are assembled (I even have a spare Firefly [though at time of writing 'unmade'] kit in the bag to add in if need be [I was thiking of the Hell's Highway, Market Garden Operation], as the officers of the British Guards Armoured Division apparently had managed to acquire some 'extra' spares with that useful 17 pounders - it's useful to be well connected with procurement).

Recent Ancient Fury but WWII is Not Forgotten

Time TravelingWargame Interests
From: 5th Century BC to 20th Century AD

Confession: I recently was in a model shop and couldn't help myself acquire the kit that "was never there as a boy" (anybody know that feeling?). For love nor money you could not get it in plastic as a boy, the British Cromwell, a much maligned medium tank (when compared against a German Panther tank). The nearest you could get would be a tricky Comet conversion that perversely 'downgraded' its wargaming fighting potential. True I already have some in ArmourFast, Revell and two makes of resin but I do like the new Airfix moldings so I am a happy camper (see below):

The second item was a reunion with an old friend, the Airfix T34/76 or T34/85, two kits for the price of one. This is an old mold but still a classic (see below):

Now I somehow have to make some time to make them, perhaps if I get "lost" in the garage for an hour or two ;)

20mm Painting Tray Distraction

Remember that 20mm Cromwell I recently made from HaT's ArmourFast? Well the nice thing about ArmourFast models is that they always come as part of a double act, two to a pack. The other Cromwell was just staring at me from the yonder side of the painting tray and I fancied a twenty minute fast assembly as a break from the small scale painting (see below, back rank, leftmost two for the HaT models). So I had what you wold call a bit of a WWII 20mm 'distraction break' from the WII 1/300 and 1/285.

 
The above and below comprises my 20mm Command Decision Order of Battle 1944 "Cromwell" British Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) ensemble. In total seven Cromwell's so far and a strange looking thing called a Challenger (an extended Cromwell that housed a 17pdr in its 'high' turret). I need a further four Cromwells (probably sourced as another two from HaT ArmourFast and the other two from the new Airfix kit), an ARV tank(?) and a Crusader AA tank. Note: I already have three Sherman Firefly's to add in as the company "Tiger Killers" for the RTR, the Challenger only being used in the Armoured Reece Regiment of a 1944 British Armoured Division (so I can technically field a full company tank force from that formation).

I may also need a Centaur 95mm Howitzer variant too to plug into RTR, unless they were still specialised Royal Marine (RM) formations as per D-Day(?). Still plenty of "make" to do with the above. A friend from the Hartlepool Club asked me when I last played Command Decision (in anger) as he had only seen me play with 1/300 or 1/200 kit using BGC and to be fair (and to my shame) it must be over ten years ago now. That is something I shall have to try and rectify this year.

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.