Tinkering with..... S&S Models 15mm Ural Radio Trucks

 

Slowly getting back into the detailing after the Xmas break, tinkering with the new 15mm S&S Models Ural truck Radio / Office body for the zvedza Ural truck.

 

Speaking with Shaun the body has been designed to be deliberately generic, there are multitudes of real world options it would keep him busy for at least a year.

Strictly zvedza truck is slightly late for the October War project, so am battling with my inner rivet counter  whether to use it or not ( will try the body on a QRF Zil at some point ...) , however it will fit in nicely for my Iran Iraq project. 

I've decided to build one "as it comes" from S&S !(the one with the lime green cast) and the other two I have modified the rear doors to depict versions with a rear wheel stowage.

I anticipate modelling a large radar array on one, and I expect a radio mast on the other. 

 

As you can see I've opened up the cabs on the zvedza trucks, moderate work and I may well regret this later when I have to glaze them! 

 

Anyway just a sort intro into the build..... 

October War - IDF - WIP - M113 command and TRV

Back to some work for my own collection, again more "back office" vehicles for the IDF in the Sinai. I have been working on the M32 TRV and the command versions of the M113.

The TRV is a basic Battlefront M51 hull with the addition of a Spare skytrex M32 superstructure/ turret. ( the remainder Skytrex M32 is destined to modified with the disc mineroller assembly, at some point.....)

As you can see there's a lot of plasticard additions, I haven't religiously copied any one reference, hopefully just enough to capture the vehicle in miniature.

Quite a bit of work required at the back end, again not up to Rivet counting standard but a good representation. I will add more detail in time, particularly the tarp covers and recognition panels, and it needs to be messier!

Not sure at the moment how to base this one, either as a standard base for game play or more of a vignette for table aesthics, either way I will need to convert some crew.

Here we have the start of two M113 command vehicles to serve as battalion and brigade commanders vehicles. The idf modified these quite heavily so there's still lots of work to do but my reference library is growing. I am finding it difficult in general to establish vehicle timelines with IDF modifications, the inevitable result of a adapting to continual war footing, so hopefully there's no '82 mods here.

I am building these with the top decks free as these will be a two part paint, interior and exterior so they are just placed on for the time being.

An interesting little detail is the commanders cupola rotated so that the hatch opens to the side. Opening to the rear will cause it to clash with the map board assembly. 

This does mean cutting the 50cal mount off, repositioning and adding a missing visor, detail that will inevitably lost!  also note the removed aerial guards another IDF mod.

I've started on the rear stowage boxes and as you can see some rudimentary benches and interior. These have been fabricated using the unused track guards! I'm not going too heavy on the interior detail, mainly what's visible through the hatches. 

These will be modelled, one as battalion command moving ( ramp up) with the top map board in use and the brigade one will be modelled stationary with two map board boxes deployed at the side, ramp down, again a dilemma on basing:

• the Battalion command will be a standard base, in keeping with rest of the battalion;
• the Brigade command will be a slightly larger ensemble, probably alongside a jeep, and at some stage a Revel Bell Huey will be painted up to represent a command "runner".  My current read ( On the Banks of the Suez :Adan) highlights the significant employment of helicopters to move officers between the various command groups.

As with all this work I will need to modify some figures but am keen to add a Peter Pig dog sculpt on brigade base !

As always, comments welcome especially to correct any build errors.

Neil

Arab Israeli - Egyptian ISU 152

More plastic from BF, suitably up detailed. Plastic set of five ISU 152's ( I have plans for the other two!) converted into Egyptian modified 152's plus the command version. 

I filled the hulls with polyfilla to add some weight, small touch, but then it's all about the little details!

As usual hatches drilled and opened out, together with plastic card hatches which are more in scale. 

Next up was to remove the handle mouldings ( see far hull above) and replace with brass rod. This was a bit of a tedious process and at the cost of several micro drills, but I think worth it in the end. (Yes I know I stopped at the handles on the engine deck, well for now anyway)

I added the front stowage boxes and fuel/water tank and also the rear fuel tanks with revised carrying brackets.

The command version is fairly simple, all I had to do was add some welding beads around the gun mantles blank.

The cages around the lights were complicated but I think I pulled it off! 

Based as per the SU 100s, although the command version may well get a bigger diorama style base to reflect its purpose. 

All three together, ready for priming and crewing. 

White primer, just a light unifying coat at this stage, as I expect I will be adding more detail before the paint stage, alongside the SU 100's . Need to work out what to regards crew, the BF plastic set is great but gives in five I can use directly, so I guess there's going to be some Peter pig head swaps......

Gaming?

Not sure if these ever crossed the suez in'73, but useful to have as options, maybe they'll provide a surprise for some SAM hunting IDF recce on the West Bank. 

I am considering developing this little October War expedition into another display game. Whilst I have been extremely successful in the past, time and real life has prevented me creating anything over the last year or so. Plans are afoot for possibly 26 foot of Sinai ! We'll see.....

And...

Am working on some QRF Mi-8 "Hips", lot of work needed,  but I think they'll come out fine. 

Arab Israeli - M577

As with just about everything I'm building for the 1973 war, I've had to do some detailing to make it suitable for the IDF. Information on '73 M577 is scarce so this mod is probably a mixture of fittings from '73 examples to '83 and possibly later. The M577 will be my HQ stand primarily for my M107s but can stand in for the M109 battery as well ( both will use the M548 ammunition vehicles) I think the M50 battery will have a M3 command track to go with its lorry supply train.

So...what I could pick up in the forums is the lack of antenna guards on the roof and removal of the rear stowed tent assemblage. Obviously the vehicle sides have the usual paraphernalia but I really like a reference with tubes holding artillery ranging poles so I took so artistic license.

I started with the Battlefront/ flames of War Vietnam version.

 As it comes before modifying

View of rear tent assembly

Start of adding mods, revised roof hatch and side stowage

The tent coming off was a right pain, should have used the dremel

Most of detail added and installed in base. Have decided all the AIW vehicles will be based, bases bought from warbases, excellent service!

I've added the ubiquitous rolled cover sheet, used to disguise and cover the vehicles when stationary. 

The initial primer coat shows up any surface problems (below) , so this is now ready for its foundation colours.

I think it needs a commander figure either talking to driver, or possibly with binos on the roof ( although I suppose the hatch his shut!) or maybe going in the rear. I have some spare dogs from Peter pig so this may be the opportunity to use one!

Progress is slowly coming on, notable updates

- Urdan copulas moulded by S and S models and work really well on the BF M48

- Khurasan M60s assembled and in the process of up detailing

- M50 left hand side track section complete so that will be off to Shaun soon. Looks like my first complete vehicle  will be on S&S model product list pretty soon!

- IDF artillery loads competed, and moulded, both tubes and shells, should have loads of Cold War applications, again they will be in the S&S catalogue.

Arab Israeli - Yom Kippur - developments

Been quiet for a while, trying to balance a new job, real life and  commissions, I'm not on top of things but it's getting better.

This is just a post to show some random developments, firstly an Urdan Coupola for my M48's. These will be off to S&S models this week to add to their rapidly developing 15mm range, heavily influenced by what I need for '73 :o)

Also working on some M109 vignettes, this is a test piece and needs more detailing. Each vehicle will have an accompanying M548 with more of the ammunition stacks and I'm working on some shells on ready use crates. Figures are BF Vietnam and chassis is QRF

And finally a teaser on my Egyptian air defence, a lot more work to do on these but you get the picture.

The MT55 is complete and available from S&S models, am currently finalising the M50 Hvss spg as the BF is the '67 version. Probably later in the year will see the Gilllois ferry, both water line and on road and the MTU20 Avlb. 

I've made some decisions and have decided to focus on the Sinai for starters and to base my vehicles. I'm opting on mdf bases from warbases. 

I'm slightly out of my comfort area but also working on Skyhawks, MIG 21's, 19 and 17's

These are stripped 1/100 diecasts, I'm working on weapon loads and am converting pilots out of BF and Peter Pig tanks commanders. This will go on magnetic flight stands.

The MIGs are plastic kits.

Some may find my starting points for my armies as strange (Avlb, artillery parks, air defence and planes!) But rest assured the M50's, Centurions, M60s and M48s will all come in time......

MT55 part 2 - off to S&S models!

Now on a roll! All the bits are now complete, have managed to make the components flexible enough to depict the bridge either stowed or deployed. Only have two bridge sections at the moment but you should get the idea!

Close up of the deplored front arm. The piston has been made extended so you can cut it down to the housed position. You need three of these.

Close up showing the t55 hull mods, all are placed on at the moment

These are the securing frames that go between the individual bridge sections. The pistons will be duplicated to reflect the two attached to the top of the assembly

Finally all the bits, some will require duplicating. I've done all I can now so I'll deliver it to shaun to see if it can be moulded. I am aware so of the bits may need changing to be able to mold them, but let's hope not too much.

15mm MT55 Bridgelayer

Been busy this afternoon with a bit of a side project! I'm currently building up forces for the Yom Kippur war and needed a few MT55 for the Valley of Tears scenario.. Anyway not being one available in 15mm I had a chat with Shaun at S&S models to see if he could help. Essentially I am building a modification to a Khurasan t55 ( should also work on the Battlefront version), shaun will hopefully run the casts off.

Here is the MT55 will two loose bridging section and the start of the front arm assembly 

 

Side view it get the angles right. I plan to have the bridges cast as shown and also deployed, but only have the two at the moment

Here's most of the work completed today. The main hull top is a place on piece, you will just need to shave off the existing drivers hatch.

Still a few bits of detail to add on the hull but the big bits are done. 

Am now puzzling with making the extension arms and rams moveable, but will probably end up with just a stowed position for now, to make the bits work for a deployed bridge is possible but is probably beyond what most people want from a conversion, espeacially in 15mm.

Comments welcome