Messages

1351

Work In Progress / Re: SdKfz 250 Light Armoured Halftrack - Updated 151127

« on: November 28, 2015, 01:09:08 am »

Were they used in Africa or were they too late?
Either way in going to need one for Normandie.

The SdKfz 250/9 wasn't used in North Africa.  However, the Alte version saw service in Normandy - there are several photos of them (mostly knocked out).  Most of the Alte vehicles were used on the Eastern Front.

1352

Work In Progress / Re: SdKfz 250 Light Armoured Halftrack - Updated 151127

« on: November 28, 2015, 12:11:33 am »

Sign me up for at least 2 of these!

1353

General Discussions / Re: On the Drawing Board - UPDATED 151126

« on: November 27, 2015, 03:18:28 pm »

That all makes sense.  I trawled through everything I could find on the SdKfz 250/9 (which is what I assume this for) and couldn't find a clear photo of the interior.  I did find one with what looked like twin 'bucket' seats, but it really wasn't easy to make out.  I would guess that, as part of the simplification process Ripley mentions, producing bucket seats out of pressed metal was probably easier.

1354

General Discussions / Re: On the Drawing Board - UPDATED 151126

« on: November 27, 2015, 09:04:13 am »

I couldn't make the seats out in that photo.  I just posted what I found - I don't know the answer on this one.

1355

General Discussions / Re: On the Drawing Board - UPDATED 151126

« on: November 26, 2015, 11:36:59 pm »

Here's the Tristar SdKfz 222 gun mount (from the PPMS site), which is supposed to be accurate.

This is for the SdKfz 250/9, right?  In which case it would be a late production type SdKfz 222 turret.

1356

General Discussions / Re: On the Drawing Board - UPDATED 151126

« on: November 26, 2015, 11:13:52 pm »

The only photo I could find of a real one:

1357

General Discussions / Re: Haunted by the past... M4 Turret Revisited!

« on: November 26, 2015, 12:14:39 am »

I was probably thinking of the E2, they apparently also had HVSS but late to post war:

Apparently not.  According to Hunnicutt's book on the Sherman, an HVSS version was planned in 1945, but it never went ahead because the M26 was in service.

I'd love to see either an M4A3E8 or an M4A3E2 from Rubicon.  I think Warlord is doing them both in resin, however a plastic kit from Rubicon would be far superior.  Of the two, I think the M4A3E2 might be the more popular with wargamers.  I don't think it would be practical to provide them both in one kit, unfortunately.

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General Discussions / Re: Haunted by the past... M4 Turret Revisited!

« on: November 24, 2015, 09:09:15 pm »

Or an M4A3 with HVSS and both turrets styles complete with all bits - similar to the T34/85 with spare T34/76 turret. I would assume the existing moulds would be replaced with one of the new turrets when economical.

I am not sufficiently knowledgeable about M4s to know if an M4A3E8 option would be compatible with an HVSS M4A3.

'M4A3E8' is the designation of the M4A3 with HVSS.  This version had the late 76mm turret.  I think it would be a nice kit.  Not many options though, and Rubicon likes to provide plenty of options.

1359

General Discussions / Re: On the Drawing Board - UPDATED 151123

« on: November 23, 2015, 10:44:16 pm »

Looks like a Jeep wheel....

1360

Work In Progress / Re: Jagdpanzer 38 Hetzer - TS1 Plastic Painted 151122

« on: November 22, 2015, 11:52:41 pm »

Looks great.  Although the paint jobs on a couple of these aren't up to your usual standard...

Have the Q4 releases been firmed up?

1361

Wish Lists / Re: British Tanks? What British Tanks?

« on: November 21, 2015, 10:53:07 am »

I wouldn't mind a Honey - especially with all the desert modifications (sand shields, stowage boxes, smoke dischargers etc).  But there are a lot of other vehicles I'd rather see first!

I'm pretty down on the Valentine - it just wasn't that important as a combat vehicle.  Let Warlord do one in resin.  On that score, I've noticed that Warlord's flow of plastic vehicles has really slowed down.  Rubicon are going beat them out of the gate with several kits that both companies announced, including the M8 and M10/M36.  They seem to have diverted a lot of their plastic production into their new BtGoA range (which I think looks pretty dire).

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General Discussions / Re: Haunted by the past... M4 Turret Revisited!

« on: November 21, 2015, 10:35:55 am »

That's a great site - I hadn't seen that before.  Lots of good info.  I don't agree about there being a lot of conflicting info - there are some grey areas, but it's pretty clear what the 76mm turret looked like - especially the later version.

Most of what's there supports my observations about Rubicon's 76mm turret - especially the proportions.  I can see a version of the commander's cupola which is closer to the Rubicon version, but it's still not accurate (look at the position of the hinges, for example).  Anyway, it's good to see you're working on this, as your M4A3 kit is otherwise still one of your best (in my view).   

1363

General Discussions / Re: Haunted by the past... M4 Turret Revisited!

« on: November 20, 2015, 09:37:19 pm »

Hmmm - you know how I feel about this one...

This is a good start towards rectifying the 76mm turret.  But there is quite a lot more needed to get it to the standard of accuracy of your current kits:

- It's still too square.  The actual turret was more rounded, and bulged out towards the lower sides.  From the top, the bustle was also more rounded.
- the bustle is too big.  The rear face of the bustle was noticeably narrower., and the underside sloped more sharply.
- the mantlet was also more rounded, and didn't slope forward as much.  It was also a bit bigger.
- the rear ventilator and mounting brackets for the .50 cal look right.
- the loader's hatch is probably right for an M4A3(76mm), which appeared later the the M4A1(76mm). 
- the commander's harsh is still wrong.  It was a shallow dome, and the hinge sat flat, not at the odd angle of this one.
- the .30 cal mount is rather odd; it should be a proper cradle, not the triangular shape on this.
- the aerial mounts are too big.  The right hand mount should be raised slightly.

1364

Showcase & Gallery / Re: My Panther D

« on: November 19, 2015, 09:03:55 pm »

I really like this.  The weathering is nice and understated (not every tank has to look as though it's sat in a wet field for 20 years), and suggests a newly issued Panther.  Did you do the camo by hand?

I'd suggest you do an M5 or M8 next.  They are very enjoyable to build.

1365

Work In Progress / Re: M8 Greyhound / M20 Armoured Utility Car - Decal Sheet Design 151116

« on: November 17, 2015, 10:25:21 pm »

As with your M10, the decals for the French version are for two different formations - the Regiment blinde de Fusiliers Marin used the Cross of Lorraine but not the white diamond on national colours. The circle around the white patch on the Cross of Lorraine should be blue.  Either way, French vehicles had their own fancy serial number preceded by the national flag.

It looks as though the M8/M20's bridging marking was "7", "8" or "9".