NickR Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Hi Don't usually wander onto this side of the forum as do only aircraft but having done a couple of RAF ground equipment models for a diorama and used the AFV WIPs and RFIs for hints and tips I have been bitten by the urge to do a tank! If you were to advocate a kit (1/48 ideally) that fits this criteria, what would it be? Straightforward but enjoyable build Plenty of reference material Not too complicated colour scheme/weathering requirements Looks good when finished Thanks for your help and any links to inspiring versions in WIPs and RFIs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pte1643 Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 You could do worse than one of the Tamiya kits. OK, so there may be the occasional accuracy issue, but you can't fault the way their kits go together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Jones Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Probably can't go wrong with the Tamiya Cromwell in 1/48 or 1/35, these kits meet most if not all of the above criteria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 My first AFV was the old Mini Hobby Models AAVP-7a1 Amtrak, which was a piece of cake to build, although I'd advocate buying the newer Hobby Boss kit instead. It's basically a box on tracks, with very little to do other than build those two components... if you paint it desert stylee, you'll only have to spray one colour too I did mine in NATO camo though, which was easy enough to freehand, as it has a soft edge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lothian man Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 If 1/35 is permitted, then the new mould Tamiya Panzer II Ausf A-C (Polish campaign boxing) might do nicely. Hard plastic link and length tracks, pre-sagged over the return rollers, and only 5 roadwheels a side. Etched exhaust silencer cover but that's about it on the bendy metal front. Plus 3 infantrymen if you are minded to try them. Colour scheme = easy peasy dark grey, probably with troop-applied largish blotches of dark brown, no particular scheme. The contrast between the brown and grey is absurdly low - so low that it is often very hard to be sure from photos whether the brown is present, especially when the vehicles are dusty. I don't bother spraying for that reason, and as I've seen photos of crewmen using brushes to paint their Panzers of the grey era, but others may differ. Markings easy - can leave them off completely for the immediately pre-war year or two, else it's white crosses etc. Tankograd do a nice book on the Panzer II, and Concord do one on German Light Panzers. This kit was, I think, also the subject of a John Prigent article in Mil-Mod. Tamiya's original issue of this kit was as a slightly uparmoured Panzer II for the French campaign, but in it they got the idler wheel diameter a bit wrong. This was fixed in the Polish campaign kit, and I would hope that this has been corrected in the more recent issues of the French campaign kit, using the parts in the Polish campaign issue, but I don't know. The old Panzer II kit is still around - the Ausf F or G variant with the cupola on the turrent - bit it is not really recommended, as it is not quite state of the art (easy as it was, it was my first 1/35 tank in 1975 or so ...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 If 1/48th scale is a must just about any of the Tamiya tanks would be a good start. I'd go for one with the fewest possible road wheels, the Cromwell has been mentioned but the Crusader or T-34 are good starting points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basosz Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 1:48th? Tamiya for sure! I did their T34 a while back (See Linky Here) and if you look up "Shake 'n Bake" in the dictionary then you will find these kits. Basic construction took only a few hours. Very good starter kit, very good kit for someone with far more skill than I do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therollercoaster Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 (edited) The Tamiya 1/48th Cromwell can be a bit awkward to put together cleanly, its the way the plastic panels fit over the metal hull tub, you get a much better fit with all thier small scale armour if you take the time to sand and file the primer coat off the mating surfaces. The easiest to make is probably the Sherman M4/M4A1, fewer wheels to clean up and plenty of spares if you buy the M4A1! The Crusader versions are very nice too and the nicest of the bunch is probably the Austin Tilly, simple, excellent fit, and really captures the look of the real thing. You can make and paint it in a day! Edited December 16, 2011 by therollercoaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 (edited) If 1/48th scale is a must just about any of the Tamiya tanks would be a good start. I'd go for one with the fewest possible road wheels, the Cromwell has been mentioned but the Crusader or T-34 are good starting points. The absolute fewest wheels will be the M8 Scout Car (all of six), while if you want tracks, go for the Marder III (it has eight). The fewest you can get away with on a Crusader or T-34 is twenty. A Sherman has twelve. Edited December 17, 2011 by pigsty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Another vote here for the Tamiya 1:48 Sherman, beautiful kit that falls together. Here's, the Firefly I built this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelvk Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 I'd also say any Sherman (Italeri does a few reasonable ones) or a T34.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan-o Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Hi Don't usually wander onto this side of the forum as do only aircraft but having done a couple of RAF ground equipment models for a diorama and used the AFV WIPs and RFIs for hints and tips I have been bitten by the urge to do a tank! If you were to advocate a kit (1/48 ideally) that fits this criteria, what would it be? Straightforward but enjoyable build Plenty of reference material Not too complicated colour scheme/weathering requirements Looks good when finished Thanks for your help and any links to inspiring versions in WIPs and RFIs AFV Club scimitar would be an excellent first build,it goes together like a dream,tons of reference books and photos try plain military web site for them. You also have different colour schemes to play with. Check out the RFI and you can see what it will look like when finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcn Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Tamiya 1/48 Greif Piece of cake to put together and scrubs up nice. Modelzone had it on sale a couple of weeks back too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 The old Panzer II kit is still around - the Ausf F or G variant with the cupola on the turrent - bit it is not really recommended, as it is not quite state of the art (easy as it was, it was my first 1/35 tank in 1975 or so ...) On the other hand, if you're in dipping-toe-into-water-to-see-if-I-like-it mode, you could probably do worse than the old Tamiya 1/35 Panzer II F/G. Although eclipsed by the new Tamiya Panzer IIs, it's not at all bad and it's available for just £9.99 (ie about a 1/3 of the price of the new ones) in Hobbycraft, so you won't be breaking the bank if you don't like it. And desert camouflage should be straightforward to apply. http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/shop/tamiya/page/3 Whatever you choose, I hope you enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denstore Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Why not the new Panzer II in 1/48? It's a beautiful little kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 Straightforward but enjoyable build Plenty of reference material Not too complicated colour scheme/weathering requirements Looks good when finished I would recommend you tamiya's 1/35 Renault UE. A very nice little kit, which, appart maybe for the references, suits your wishes very well. Here's a the PMMS review. And if the camo option does not suits you, then look for something different: Hannants or Bison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeley Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 On the other hand, if you're in dipping-toe-into-water-to-see-if-I-like-it mode, you could probably do worse than the old Tamiya 1/35 Panzer II F/G. I second that, that's what I chose to do earlier this year as a first AFV build (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72276) Dead cheap, and with a few figures that you can also practice figure painting on, if you wish. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted December 18, 2011 Share Posted December 18, 2011 (edited) Never done a 1/48 armour kit but, as Antoine says, the Tamiya 1/35 Renault UE is a sweet little kit. Pete Edited December 18, 2011 by Buzby061 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickR Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 Well fellas!! Thanks for the repsonse. There are some great suggestions and great looking examples of people's work. Knowing from plane experience that Tamiya can rarely be faulted and considering I only really have space for 1/48 - Tamiya it is! As I like to focus British subjects, and considering it is has been mentioned for being striaghtforward, a Cromwell it shall be. These RFIs also helped swing it (hope the authors don't mind me using their work) Cromwell 1 Cromwell 2 Cromwell 3 The number of wheels seems to be an influence on difficulty, why is that and what must I look out for? Thanks again fellas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne rc Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 I can see that 1/48 is a good scale for you if you already build aircraft in that scale, Once you cut your teeth on a Tamiya Cromwell, try some other firms 1/48 armour is growing and at last British subjects seem to be on the up, dont be put off by roadwheel numbers. Its just more clean up time and more time to paint tyres. Also you have the scope of dioramas involving, say 2 or 3 vehicles plus building/ruin in much less space than a 1 tank plus building dio would in 1/35....Italeri and Hobby boss I think are doing some nice Shermans and more figures are available in this scale nowadays. Good luck just take time with getting road wheels set straight and painted before you work on the tracks, Im mainly an AFV person, but Im getting into some planes for a change. And already Ive found that some great people on here are only too willing to help me. Same goes to you, any armour questions just ask Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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