Easy Model M113A2

I probably shouldn't have, but at $8.00 NZD how could I say no. I have a problem saying no as the other package that arrived for me today will testify in a later post.

Nicely detailed and painted, its ready to go. My only complaint are the ariel guards which are like the JB Models/ Airfix kit in being solid masses instead of steel bars.

It carries the mid 80's until modern US NATO disruptive scheme which is still alright to blend into my MERDC M113A1's.

Being an ambulance and with myself too lazy to change I will add this into a MECH BN HQ Company.

PST ZIS 6

Possibly the worst kit I have ever constructed. Its a interesting build that seems simple but turns out quite tricky.

I tried to rebuild this the other day as it was very wonky and needed a major realignment.

Not much better really, look at those rear wheels, I really am ashamed.

Possible combo, the worst part about this is I have another one waiting to be built as the half track version.

AEC Mk II Armoured Car Scatchbuild

A quick post tonight, as having just spent three days in the field I have not had time for modelling. Gerard Davey of Hokitika has managed to construct for myself a MkII AEC Armoured Car for use as Command Vehicle for my Armoured Car HQ Squadron. Al kindly dropped this stunner off on Friday.

The complete model is scratchbuilt and even the wheels are cast. The only thing I have to add is a 6 Pounder or even a 75mm main gun, and a lick of paint. Fantastic work Gerard!

I had to google up information about this vehicle which was constructed from AEC Matador truck components and was well thought of by its crews, and served until replaced by the Saladin in the late 1950's. Cheers Gerard and well done!

Italeri Spitfire Mk IX Complete

Today's second post with Al throwing out a pilot for the Spitfire on the way past from his car, so I carried out a quick push and knocked the bugger off.

After painting the Rupert up I added the canopy and painted the rims.

Whoops I just noticed the tail wheel is missing, I must reattach that.

I added a fair amount of wear and tear on the paint job around the panel lines that would receive constant attention. Not too much I hope.

I then drilled a hole in the bottom for the stand, and that was that.

Very happy with the outcome considering the horror stories I had heard about it. I guess all the fix up work from the Kitech helicopters I constructed earlier this year gave me some good skills in fixing problems.

Model on.

Footbridge Engineering

I have been bumbling around making a few improvised foot bridges for my Engineers to construct. The Airfix Pontoon Bridge is a bit of a gem, but really a little on the large size for strictly Infantry Units with CD3.

So I decided to make something that only the Infantry can use for improvised crossings.

Boats are from the Matchbox Commando kit and the Revell German Engineers. Ice cream sticks and matches were the order of the day as well as a good sample of PVA Glue. These can be joined together as a long structure or just as is for either Allied or Axis forces. Since they are in segments, each turn can be broken down into progress. I do not think the construction can get much more basic than that.

Model on!

Italeri Spitfire Mk IX

Most of the construction complete. Dimitri from http://thecompletegreekgeek.blogspot.com/ warned me on a few issues on its construction and fit, but by actually not following the instructions and building it one side of the fuselage at a time I managed to cruise past any real issues.

However like most aircraft kits I build I did have to use a tad bit of putty. I also was disappointed to find that you can only build it with wheels down, and they are too thick to simply put in the wheel well without hanging out. My solution was to leave them off all together. You do not see the underside anyway.

Basecoat applied as well as the start of the disruptive scheme.

Disruptive scheme continued, as well as the matt yellow on the leading edges. I normally would not be naffed doing this but it really needs it to make it look like a Spitfire I think.

Decals applied. These were a dream to work with, no mess ups at all except for I did start too far forward with the rear band leading to the Squadron Code, Roundel and Aircraft Letter being a little too far forward as well. I will get over it rivet counters may weep however.

And here is where I am at. My bootneck mate Al has promised a pilot, so I will wait for one to show up before moving on with the canopy.

Model on!

Zvezda 61 K 37mm AA Gun

I finished this off yesterday with the painting of the crew figures.

While I had no issues with the wheels that Al had I did have a issue with the figures hands on the handles and dials. Not a major bit a little fiddly.

Overall ten out of ten for this kit and well done Zvezda for producing it. Nice that it can cover a long period of service as well.

I might pick up another one of these later on to complete a Unit, but being a AA gun it is not a real priority.

Weekend Update

Just a quick update of my weekends progress. Image free due to problems with my uploading on my home broadband line, you will have to just put up with my ramblings.

I was away most of the weekend but in a burst last night I managed to finish the Zvevda 37mm Soviet Ki-61 AA Gun, and have 95 % finished the 122mm Howitzer. The crew for the Howitzer still needs touching up and based.

I also last night started the Italeri Mk IX Spitfire that Dimitri from http://thecompletegreekgeek.blogspot.com/ warned me about. To tell the truth its not as bad as I thought it might be, sure I will need to add some filler but I have to do that with most aircraft kits anyway.I have completed 90% of the build and tomorrow I will start the painting.

Not much progress tonight as the River is in flood and I had a steady stream of visitors stranded coming to visit.

Thats about it, for now. Model on.

Pre Christmas Haul

Behind the scenes, Al and I have been carrying out some pre Christmas shopping. We stumbled across a Auction for nineteen 1/72 unbuilt kits at a very nice price of less than $5 NZ each, and at a price like that how could we resist. They arrived earlier this week and yesterday Al came around and we had a divvy up of the kits. To be fair to each other we did not take all the kits as there were some that did not interest either of us or we could not be bothered with. These we put back on a auction site to dispose of...And make more cash to buy other kits.

So this post is what was chosen and aquired by myself. Above a Italeri Mk9 Spitfire. I have not got much in the way of Mid-Late war Allied aircraft, so this will fill a large gap.

Another Spitfire from Italeri this a Mk5b which will probably get posted to my Allied far east forces.

To compliment my Mid - Late war Allied aircraft is a Airfix Tempest, I would have rather had a Typhoon, but this will do nicely for a while

Yipes another Huey, this should round off my Airborne Battalion lifts. It will be built as a Slick rather than a gunship.

The T-6 will be built as a generic COIN aircraft covering early post war.

This tracked AA gun from UM goes straight into the Mid -Late war German Panzer Grenadiers.

And lastly this tracked sIG will fit in for Late war Germans somewhere.

Not a bad haul, and something to restock the hoard with. If you think I did quite well, you should see what Al's end of the bargain was!

2nd Dual Purpose Position

For those of you who are not yet bored with the latest run of Coastal Defences, here's another dual purpose position.

For this one I added a air raid shelter at the rear.

Again this is suitable for a large calibre gun and crew stand.

Or a anti aircraft gun and crew. I might yet add some sandbags to the entrance of the air raid shelter.

Model on!

Nissan Hut

The latest scenery project is a Nissen Hut type structure.

I borrowed/stole this from the youngest son. Simple kids army toy set building painted up and based.

Thousand of these and their American cousins (the Quonset) were constructed during WW1 until WW2, so they can cover a good period range, and many countries.

The doors should really be on ends of the building, but that's rivet counting I think.

Nothing more than a piece of eye candy or perhaps a target, but I think it belongs on a wargame table, the boy however now its been painted and based thinks different!

Dual Action Structure

Again another scatchbuild using balsa wood. The base can take either a AA gun or a ex Naval gun type.

Here with a 40mm Bofors. In NZ these mounts usually had a 3.7 "AA Gun, but when was the last time you saw this fantastic weapon in plastic...Never I bet.

The poster paint is a bit thin on the base, and I have since given another coat.

4, 5 or 6"Gun, hash build from Airfix 88 Flak and ESCI M12 Howitzer.

This type was usually mounted on the top of terrain features giving the weapon an unrestricted arc.

Model on!