Messages

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Showcase & Gallery / Re: Rubicon Models Panther Ausf G

« on: February 26, 2019, 12:21:17 pm »

Sorry, this is my first time posting photos to this site, so don't know how large I can make the images. If you click on the above pics of the Panther you should be able to see larger images. I added wire handles to the hatches in place of the plastic tabs, filed off the molded on tow cleats and tools on the hull sides and added scratch-built cleats and tools. I also added grills to the engine vents and fan housings on the rear deck - made from nylon bridal veil material found at a local sewing shop. The tow cables are made from silver silk twisted thread found at Hobby Lobby and glued to the tow cable ends that come with the stowage kit. I then washed the thread/cables with rust brown paint wash.

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Showcase & Gallery / Rubicon Models Panther Ausf G

« on: February 26, 2019, 12:14:45 pm »

This is my first Rubicon Models build, and first model build in 1/56th (28mm) scale. The aim of this build is to put the Panther into a diorama rather than game play, so I did some scratch-building and added some items from Rubicon's German Stowage Kit. The tank is presented as it might have appeared in February or early March, 1945, during the Wehrmacht's last ditch defense of the Rhineland. The tank is painted to represent several months in the field over the winter of 1944-45.

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Showcase & Gallery / Re: RM Showcase: Crossing the Rubicon 180531

« on: February 26, 2019, 12:07:01 pm »

Actually, US Army figures are fine for LTV crews in the Pacific Theater. The Army had a number of Amphibious tank battalions that crewed LTVs in most of the major operations in the Pacific. One unit in particular comes to mind, the Army 708th Amphibious Tank Battalion. They were formed in September 1943 from the 3rd Battalion of the 69th Armored Regiment, 6th Armored Division. The 6th Armored Division would remain the parent organization for the remainder of the war, but while the 6th Armored fought in Europe, the detached and redesignated 708th Amphibious Tank Battalion served at Kwajelein Atoll, Enowtek, Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa, and the Philippines. The Army 708th Amphibious Tank Battalion served both the Marines and Army, carrying elements of the 4th Marine Division ashore at Saipan and at Okinawa. In fact the 708th suffered more casualties than any other amphibious tractor/LTV unit at Saipan, including Marine Corps tractor units. The Army's 708th Amphib Tank Battalion ultimately was awarded TWO Navy Presidential Unit Commendations for its actions at both Saipan and Okinawa in support of the Marines.

There were a number of other Army amphibious tank units that also served with distinction in the Pacific, so don't be shy about using Army figures to crew your Pacific Theater LTVs. The Army was there, even taking the Marines ashore!