Scorpion and Paras in OP Corporate

[Tobby the Hun]

After I've been overtaken by a troop of Scorpion tanks on the M1 a few years ago I fell in love with those little gems. Pretty tanks they are, with incredible engines (to be honest I was half asleep on my bike, but nevertheless they are quite fast).  

But to build a GREEN Scorpion in Action you have to go back to the Falklands. The AFV Club Scorpy is a modernish one. so you can Ccange some parts to bring it down to the early eighties. Most obvious is the smoke charger with only 3 barrels on each side. The little vignette represents the morning after 2 Para´s epic Battle for Wireless Ridge, with one Corporal clearing an Argie sangar.

Could not find figures of that time, so I changed/aged some modern CMK Resins. Maybe gonna swap them, but the idea was, to honour the  boys (and girls) of OP Corporate. Hope at least one of them will like it....

 

 

[John_W]

Nice build.

For accuracy, that is a modern helmet cover, Falklands would have been scrim net. The paras also blacked out or removed beret badges during the conflict.

And that is an M16 SPR, not in service at the time, and never British issue.

Sorry...

[ivan-o]

Well done! that has turned out very nicely indeed.

[Dads203]

That's turned out really nice Tobby, some great details added, love the diorama base

 

You can improve a few details that you have already added, I used mixed dried herbs 

on cam nets to represent the garnish patches, just use a little PVA glue and sprinkle 

a little on to the net. It really adds to the texture and look.

 

Here is my link to a Spartan that I built a few years ago which shows how its done,  hopefully some use 

for a future build. 

 

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234975507-spartan/

 

DPM is not the easiest to paint but I would practice a little more with the figures, most of 

the issues I faced were with getting the shades and colours right, once I found those then it became quite easy 

to replicate in 35th scale. It also helped that I pulled out my old smock and hung it in the workshop so I could see the patterns.

One member has mentioned the weapons and kit you chose for the figures, I think Blackdog resin made a set of Falkland weapons and kit 

and comes with pretty decent SLR's and some 58 pattern pouches, I have a set somewhere so if I find it I will post some pictures for you but here is a link to the set 

 

https://www.bnamodelworld.com/model-figures-weapons-ammo-black-dog-bd-f35093?zenid=cf0b7c95d3e1f6556f2146577b9206e3

 

As for the helmet, I would remove the camouflage straps which are only found on the newer Kevlar type covers and repaint the DPM, in 35th scale 

the shape is pretty close to the old para type helmet, most of the Para's covered them in DPM cloth and a scrim net during the conflict. Alternately

if you can source some WW2 British Para helmets, they were almost the same as the ones used in the Falklands. Hornet make some really nice sets

so the link is below.   

 

https://www.historexagents.com/shop/hxproductdetail.php?ProductCode=HBH/5

 

CVRT crew helmets are bit more difficult to get hold of, I've noticed your commander figure is wearing what looks like a IDF helmet?

The Dan Dare type that was in service during the conflict is totally different to those and newer British helmets, I believe Castoff 

made a set a few years ago which came with SMG's , 58 Pattern webbing etc etc but they are now long gone, so finding correct period 

helmets is really going to be fun.

 

I hope you don't mind me chipping in but I can see you are going for the detail on this build. 

 

 

Cheers

 

Dan 

 

 

 

 

[Antoine]

Really nice!

I'd like to build something similar, with a Scimitar or a Scorpion, but first I've to learn more about those AFV and their Falklands campaign.

[Kris B]

Good job. Base with figures are a good add on. 

[Etienne]

Very nice diorama ... if you need some Falkland british infantry soldiers, there's a couple here :

 

https://accurate-armour.com/products/135th-figures/f45

http://www.blackdog-model.com/en/eshop-f35084-1-35-british-marines-falklands-1982-set--450

 

E

[bootneck]

That is a really good diorama setting; however, I would agree with the constructive comments about the weapons and helmet etc.  The main weapons being used by the Paras, and Marines, were the SLR, GPMG and SMG; all of which can be seen in the photo here.  Only special forces and M&AW (Mountain and Arctic Warfare) personnel carried specialist weapons, such as the Armalite etc.  Also note in the photo, the helmet's scrim net and colour of its camouflage. The helmet in the dio. is of a U.S. camouflage pattern. 

 

Various standard weapons in theatre.

 

Most figure models I've seen show the soldier/marine with full kit, including fully loaded bergen etc.  This was the case when moving across the Falklands and towards their next objective; but these packs would have been dropped at an FUP (forming up point) and the fighting would have been done without them.  I mention this as, although the fighting appears to be over in your dio. (beret being worn), I doubt if there would be any sangar clearing going on in full kit.

 

Different styles of helmet coverings used by Paras.

 

These constructive comments may come over slightly harsh, on what is obviously a beautifully constructed diorama, but it is dedicated in honour of those involved in OP Corporate and we do like to see these things represented correctly.  So, a change of weapons and application of the correct DPM and you'll have a dio. to be very proud of.  And darken that target beret badge!

 

Mike

 

[Widow 65]

Very nice, a great diorama.

[Jim Wasley]

Another nice one of your builds,really like the way you have presented it Cheers.

[Tobby the Hun]

On ‎19‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 22:23, Jim Wasley said:

Another nice one of your builds,really like the way you have presented it Cheers.

 

On ‎19‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 22:09, Widow 65 said:

Very nice, a great diorama.

 

On ‎19‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 18:55, bootneck said:

That is a really good diorama setting; however, I would agree with the constructive comments about the weapons and helmet etc.  The main weapons being used by the Paras, and Marines, were the SLR, GPMG and SMG; all of which can be seen in the photo here.  Only special forces and M&AW (Mountain and Arctic Warfare) personnel carried specialist weapons, such as the Armalite etc.  Also note in the photo, the helmet's scrim net and colour of its camouflage. The helmet in the dio. is of a U.S. camouflage pattern. 

 

Various standard weapons in theatre.

 

Most figure models I've seen show the soldier/marine with full kit, including fully loaded bergen etc.  This was the case when moving across the Falklands and towards their next objective; but these packs would have been dropped at an FUP (forming up point) and the fighting would have been done without them.  I mention this as, although the fighting appears to be over in your dio. (beret being worn), I doubt if there would be any sangar clearing going on in full kit.

 

Different styles of helmet coverings used by Paras.

 

These constructive comments may come over slightly harsh, on what is obviously a beautifully constructed diorama, but it is dedicated in honour of those involved in OP Corporate and we do like to see these things represented correctly.  So, a change of weapons and application of the correct DPM and you'll have a dio. to be very proud of.  And darken that target beret badge!

 

Mike

 

 

On ‎19‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 17:47, Etienne said:

Very nice diorama ... if you need some Falkland british infantry soldiers, there's a couple here :

 

https://accurate-armour.com/products/135th-figures/f45

http://www.blackdog-model.com/en/eshop-f35084-1-35-british-marines-falklands-1982-set--450

 

E

 

On ‎19‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 16:36, Kris B said:

Good job. Base with figures are a good add on. 

 

On ‎19‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 12:51, Antoine said:

Really nice!

I'd like to build something similar, with a Scimitar or a Scorpion, but first I've to learn more about those AFV and their Falklands campaign.

 

On ‎19‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 10:09, Dads203 said:

That's turned out really nice Tobby, some great details added, love the diorama base

 

You can improve a few details that you have already added, I used mixed dried herbs 

on cam nets to represent the garnish patches, just use a little PVA glue and sprinkle 

a little on to the net. It really adds to the texture and look.

 

Here is my link to a Spartan that I built a few years ago which shows how its done,  hopefully some use 

for a future build. 

 

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234975507-spartan/

 

DPM is not the easiest to paint but I would practice a little more with the figures, most of 

the issues I faced were with getting the shades and colours right, once I found those then it became quite easy 

to replicate in 35th scale. It also helped that I pulled out my old smock and hung it in the workshop so I could see the patterns.

One member has mentioned the weapons and kit you chose for the figures, I think Blackdog resin made a set of Falkland weapons and kit 

and comes with pretty decent SLR's and some 58 pattern pouches, I have a set somewhere so if I find it I will post some pictures for you but here is a link to the set 

 

https://www.bnamodelworld.com/model-figures-weapons-ammo-black-dog-bd-f35093?zenid=cf0b7c95d3e1f6556f2146577b9206e3

 

As for the helmet, I would remove the camouflage straps which are only found on the newer Kevlar type covers and repaint the DPM, in 35th scale 

the shape is pretty close to the old para type helmet, most of the Para's covered them in DPM cloth and a scrim net during the conflict. Alternately

if you can source some WW2 British Para helmets, they were almost the same as the ones used in the Falklands. Hornet make some really nice sets

so the link is below.   

 

https://www.historexagents.com/shop/hxproductdetail.php?ProductCode=HBH/5

 

CVRT crew helmets are bit more difficult to get hold of, I've noticed your commander figure is wearing what looks like a IDF helmet?

The Dan Dare type that was in service during the conflict is totally different to those and newer British helmets, I believe Castoff 

made a set a few years ago which came with SMG's , 58 Pattern webbing etc etc but they are now long gone, so finding correct period 

helmets is really going to be fun.

 

I hope you don't mind me chipping in but I can see you are going for the detail on this build. 

 

 

Cheers

 

Dan 

 

 

 

 

 

On ‎19‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 09:38, ivan-o said:

Well done! that has turned out very nicely indeed.

Thanks everybody for the feedback, positive or critical. Of course I knew the weapons and the helmets are wrong, but I could not find any proper figures ot the campaign. Don't like the blackdog ones. Hope some will appear on the market soon to jump on the little base. Until then I practise my DPM-painting abilities...

Cheers

T.

[Kallisti]

Very interesting, nicely done, its a difficult topic to model as there is a severe lack of good photos of the CVR(T)s that were in the Falklands. There were 3 Scorpions and 3 Scimitars plus one Samson recovery vehicle, all part of 3 Troop, 'B' Sqn, The Blues and Royals in action during the conflict. Most of the other armoured vehicles were lost with the Altantic Conveyor.

 

I did a build of 23A Scorpion a few years back and the build thread is here:

 

 

 

In order to get a more accurate version of the Scorpion, you need to modify the front deck and lower the grills, plus there was a field modification to attach a box over one of the grills to capture the hot gases for heating - you can see it on the front left of the vehicle above. I left the pipe off that connected the box to the rear as I could never find good enough photos of the destination of the pipe

 

I've love to build a model of the Samson but I've only ever found one photo of it and it isn't very clear. 

[ivan-o]

17 hours ago, Kallisti said:

Very interesting, nicely done, its a difficult topic to model as there is a severe lack of good photos of the CVR(T)s that were in the Falklands. There were 3 Scorpions and 3 Scimitars plus one Samson recovery vehicle, all part of 3 Troop, 'B' Sqn, The Blues and Royals in action during the conflict. Most of the other armoured vehicles were lost with the Altantic Conveyor.

 

I did a build of 23A Scorpion a few years back and the build thread is here:

 

 

 

In order to get a more accurate version of the Scorpion, you need to modify the front deck and lower the grills, plus there was a field modification to attach a box over one of the grills to capture the hot gases for heating - you can see it on the front left of the vehicle above. I left the pipe off that connected the box to the rear as I could never find good enough photos of the destination of the pipe

 

I've love to build a model of the Samson but I've only ever found one photo of it and it isn't very clear. 

What!! your not trying to flog him bar armour Kallisti? 

Edited November 22, 2017 by ivan-o

[Kallisti]

Falklands was too early  for it