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).

Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) T70 Light Tanks

I simply could not stop myself, there were too many seductive blog postings complementing the Plastic Soldier Company on their T70's, so I got a packet (see below): 

They are brilliant, the kit fits together like a dream, have cool tank crew members (turret commander and driver) giving three dramatically different versions for a lovely variety of poses. The assembly time was literally measured in minutes. One construction tip if/when you use the driver figure, 'trial' the turret carefully with it as you have to let the gun rest in a slightly elevated position to be able to traverse over the driver's hatch cleanly. I made a mistake on my first model but luckily I could easily switch turrets with another model.

;) 

They also fit it well with my existing two resin T70's from Britannia Miniatures [aka the ones already base-coated in Russian Green] (see below):

The above gives me in Command Decision/Spearhead terms a Battalion HQ tank and two light tank companies, a third light tank company can be made from two T60's (see below, Britannia Miniatures resin kits) I also have to make a full light tank battalion (1942/43/44). Alternatively it's a strong T70 troop for skirmish level "reconnaissance" games.

I just keep hoping that the Plastic Soldier Company keeps pumping out these kits. My wish list of future kits would be:

• (British version) M3 Honey .. why doesn't Revell release this old Matchbox kit?
• (US version) M5 Stuart (as in teh sloping armour upgrade of the M3)
• Cromwell (OK, there are a lot of them about now but I know they will make a nice job of it and would probably give a 95mm Centaur version as well)
• German Panzer 35t

In the meantime I intend to get more of their existing range, as I seem to be having something of a 20mm WWII Renaissance at the moment

Plastic Soldier Company Pak 38 (50mm AT Gun)

Background: 

For a long time I have wanted a German Pak 38 50 AT Gun to service that mid-war period, but shied away from buying an expensive metal model. Hence my delight at getting my hand on (a pack of) four of them from the Plastic Soldier Company at what I consider a very reasonable a 'reasonable price'. In fact it gets better as there are two variants to make: the standard 50mm AT Gun (serving from summer/late 1941 to 1943 as the prime German AT weapon) and the 1944 France upgraded version that used a re-barrelled French 75mm (circa back to the 1940 original gun stocks that the Germans had captured from the French) on the 50mm gun carriage. Hence my plan is to have three standards and one 1944 ex-French special , as per used in the Normandy campaign.

I could not resist seeing the arms race progression (see below) from:

• Pak 36 and it 37mm calibre (aka the German Army's "popgun") [Far Right: Esci]
• Pak 38 and its 50mm calibre  (which looks the part, but failed on the Eastern Front horribly) [Middle: Plastic Soldier Company]
• Pak 40 and its 75mm calibre (which was a good gun even up until 1945) [Far Left: Esci]

The Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) one is fresh off the shelf, not even under-coated and is a 'mint' model, its crew are fantastic too. I am very impressed with the pSC craftsmanship :)

For the few remaining 'gaps' in my 20mm collection, where possible I will be using PSG  

2010 Review: Xmas and New Year Shopping Treats

I think I have the whole of this year's painting/modelling projects sorted out after a visit to Edinburgh's Wonderland Models

A great shop

Strolling through the isles, and it is SO, SO nice to touch and feel,  I saw kits/figures I had but only dreamed about and never seen as such in my local town model shop(s). For me it was 20mm heaven. In particular the Chinese manufacturer Caesar Miniatures:

Then Pegasus caught my eye, a crazy must have:

Then Plastic Soldier, who I had heard so much about but never seen:

And finally a new fast build Italeri kit I wanted:

Then my Xmas money was all out :(
That "no money" teenager feeling all over again!

I therefore could not get any of the new Airfix Truck kits they had in stock, the half dozen other Caesar and Pegasus kits/figures I liked, the tempting Valient Miniatures (German sets of intantry) or even start looking at the Hat or ArmourFast models. I also averted my eyes from their 1/600 and 1/700 naval kits.

Still I knew that I also have a Airfix Fairey Battle "in the post" coming to me :)

I left contented that a job had been done