Paintin Away

Just back from a Night Parade and since it was still quite warm I found some time to Base Coat my Matchbox 17 Pounder set, then apply a top coat.
I used two different shades of OD. The canvas colour is still to be decided.

Depending on the weather I might paint up the wheels and tools etc tomorrow.

Still unsure whether to add the Mickey Mouse Cam as of yet...

Restoration Project

With my Cell Camera working again I can get back to this post. I won a auction about three weeks ago, Item was described as '2 Sherman's ,one Churchill,two complete,one Sherman hull complete turret parts missing decals missing'.

Nice one I thought and put in a low bid, not really worrying about if I won, or lost. I won and it took a couple of weeks to arrive. Expected one Sherman to be partly completed, as in the description.

On opening the poorly wrapped excuse for packaging, I discovered that an attempt had been made on the Churchill as well. to tell the truth I was a wee bit miffed about that, hence the minor rant.

This isn't too bad, and can be corrected without too much fuss.
However the shear amount of super glue on the other side of the chassis looks bothersome.

The Sherman is a disaster, look at the gaps...

Super glue madness continues without delay...

I think the previous owner of the kit had the motto,'When in doubt ,spread it all about'. This could be tricky...

ANZAC DAY

Attended three ANZAC Day Parades today, but was home by 12.30 (Perhaps it was the three pints I had before breakfast). Blogging has been down a bit due to personal commitments at home, but my goal is 20-25 a month so I don't feel guilty about it.

I came home looking forward to getting out of my Uniform and posting an article about a auction I had received last week, but something is up with my sending pic's thru my cell...so that fell through. I thing I am coming down with a cold as well...I hate colds.

Instead I might watch a movie, and build a kit, but I haven't decided which one to steal from the stash, well just have to see what takes my fancy.

I did pick up a nice book last night from the Unit Library, 'The Guns' 1939-1945, by Ian V Hogg. During his career he wrote, co-wrote, edited, or co-edited about 150 books and sold well over 1 million copies.I have a quite a few books from this author and I enjoyed the way he explains his subject at a non technocrat level and often with some hidden wit, The book was published in 1970, so it's the same age as me...ancient.

Something I did note from the edition I have, is it contained a nice selection of photos, that seem to have been references to the Airfix decal makers, I had never seen any of the photos in the book before, but recognised the markings from my Airfix kits I may be wrong about this, but they seem the same to me.

Hopefully my problem with my server sorts itself out tonight so I can get a couple of posts in for the next few days.

Unimog Mini Mog

Spent two and a half days teaching Weapon Training, while on site I thought I would grab a snap of a Roco Unimog, a couple of which I use to transport my Modern African Forces.
We paint our Unimogs Dark Yellow, just like late war German Panzers, saves money and time for the tax payer when it comes to painting them white for UN duties I suppose.

As they are 1/87 scale, they look a little tiny next to 1/72 or 1/76 vehicles and troops...funny thing is, they have made something like 200,000 of them and none in 1/76 or 72 scale yet they made only 1300 Tiger I and every second kit is one.

More Modern Figures

Caesar according to Plastic Soldier review have released their Modern Chinese PLA and French Army Figures, that's great news for me as I have a soft spot for modern wargaming. But as you can see from the box, you only will get 35 figures, the amount of figures per box is dropping quite fast. (I can bet that the price will not reflect that little gem!)

I would wonder if they were originally going to put out a box for each Army, but decided to cut costs, and half the figure poses then combine the set, just to get it out there. With the French I will finally get to field the four poses with my ESCI Nato set from the 1980's.

The PLA figures will be the start of a new range of aggressor type Army for me or perhaps, I will be able to modify them to Modern US or even more Modern French as well?

JEEPS !!!

Since making the Matchbox 1/76 scale Jeep, I thought I would have a gander at some of the other makers Jeeps that I have on hand. It is not a definitive list by any means, as I just don't go out of my way to buy the many 4x4's kitsets out there. I tend just to pick them up as part of auction deals or when they are included in other model kitsets.

The Matchbox Jeep, built in the previous posting. The one on the left I have had since the early 1980's. The only kit I have with an awning, although the New 1/72 Airfix/Heller kit has one.

The original Airfix Jeep that comes with the Buffalo Ampib, quite a nasty kit with not much going for it. I have about four of these, which go with my British Para's. I will convert them into Para Jeeps at some stage.

The Fujimi Jeep, quite a nice kit, that comes with the Fujimi Sherman.

It comes with a .50 Cal on a nice strong mount, the wheel hubs are a bit disappointing but, it is a 100% better effort than the original Airfix kit.

Hongwell Diecast Jeeps (below) are 1/72 scale but really seem more to be 1/76, can be found quite cheaply every now and then, I picked up four for 15$...nice.

Already painted and decaled, they quickly built up my Allied Forces, the windscreen pivots and wheels go round, my only gripe would be that the tyres seem a little on the chunky size.

Missing from the list is the Academy and Hasegawa versions, from what I have seen the Academy kit looks good with plenty of extras. I have fears about the Hasegawa on the scale issue. I have not seen a Hasegawa kit yet that is actually 1/72, they all seem huge compared to other 72 scale vehicles.

Matchbox Willy's Jeep

The Matchbox 1/76 Jeep.
Another hassle free two hour build.

I really like the wheel and hub detail.This kit is a huge improvement compared to the Fujimi and the First Airfix Jeep (that comes with the Buffalo).

Another thing about both the Matchbox C8, and the Jeep from this set is the attention to the working detail, such as the choice to place the Load Tare Disc over the left headlight, and the masses of rifles and ammo boxes.

Matchbox 17 Pounder Gun

Plastic's only 17 Pounder Gun.

Detail of the Breech, Matchbox's detail is a huge improvement over the likes of the Airfix 6 Pounder which make up my Anti Tank Platoon.

I have left the Trail Arms open with free movement, as I intend to use it in Wargaming, A wee bit of slop, but still quite strong.

The Gun Shield looks massive, compared to the barrel and Wheels. A real one below shows that although the Wheels seem to be a little under scale, the Barrel is definitely too thin.

The Wheels off the ESCI 25 Pounder would vastly improve this kit. A nice two hour build.Tomorrow the Matchbox Jeep.

Matchbox Morris C8

A few months ago I picked up Matchbox's Morris C8, 17 Pounder and Jeep set. I didn't really want it, but it was so cheap I couldn't resist. I doubt if I will ever field a full Battery of 17 Pdr guns, but one on attachment to my 6 Pdrs won't go astray.
This is one of Matchbox's larger combo kits, and on opening the box, it is easy to be put off by the large number of pieces. The truck itself is a fairly easy build but the wheels and axles are a wee bit tricky, and the bonnet assembly did not seem to match where it was supposed to align too. I decided not to fit in the rear cargo compartment all the weapons, ammo boxes etc, there is quite a bit ,in the 'boot', these will find there way into the spares box.
It really looks like it is from a 'Mad Max' movie, the 17 Pdr is on the list for tomorrow.

News from the North

Wonderful day for modelling today, heavy rain outside, fire roaring, Kids at their Mothers, Man vs Wild marathon on Discovery.

Picked up a Txt from my Mate Dave at 2.30 this morning, he was working on his latest kit, the Hobby Boss 1/72 Morser Karl Great 040/041 Initial Version, I am worried to think how he will include this on the Wargaming table!

He also had picked up a set of Revells LRDG compo (Ex Matchbox), I have myself been toying with grabbing this set, probably the most popular 1/76 scale kit ever produced, especially popular with us Kiwi's, as the LRDG was basically a New Zealand outfit.

And lastly he purchased the Airfix Jungle outpost set. Such a shame that the bases are no longer included in these sets.

Matchbox Kfz69 Completed

The completed duo.
I am very happy with this example, the frustration on finding the windscreen assembly missing has lead to a quick opportunity to dress up this vehicle.

All those spares do manage to find homes if you are willing to endure.

Matched up with Fujimi PAK gun, I couldn't bring myself to start the Matchbox guns on the sprue when I had these lying around. Well worth the effort, the Matchbox Kfz69 is a effortless kit with still plenty of life in it.

Matchbox Kfz69 Base Coat

It's one on the morning...do do... do do

I have based coated my trucks Panzer Grey.

All the Troops are painted...

I am well on my way...do do...do do

I have always wondered what Fritz, the Airfix Officer was getting out of his pocket?

His monocle I suppose.

Matchbox Wespe Battery

The Matchbox Wespe, one of the things that always impressed me about Matchbox was their idea that they didn't have to produce just what everyone else was producing at the time. The Wespe is a prime example, its not sexy like a Panther, it wasn't build in huge numbers like the Mk IV or T34, the Wespe was a simple Self Propelled Gun, build in limited numbers. (under 800)
3 gun battery.

I used a late war Czech Cam pattern.

The box top shows a Wespe in a desert setting, and the kit comes with a palm tree dio, I doubt if any of these made it to the desert as it entered service in mid to late 1942, but it makes for a nice picture.

These lack any foliage for concealment against air attack, I probably will add some at some stage.

I have a spare MkII hull which I may convert into a ammo carrier...or I may just buy another kit.

Crewman come from the spares box, Matchbox,Esci,Airfix and Fujimi.