BIG X Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 1 minute ago, Ratch said: Skytrex do decals for 2nd Northants Thanks Ratch - I have some of the decals you mention - see further back in the thread... The trouble is the lower blue portion is way too dark - navy - when it should be a mid blue. Really nice tank by the way - I'm sure mine won't measure up to yours - but I'm trying... The support and suggestion is really appreciated. BTW - what version of a Cromwell is yours - no turret - was it a clearance towing unit??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 Yes, an AVRE I'm happy with the blue of the tactical sign 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 Whilst I've been wittering tonight - I've also been whittling... The Airfix kit offers the option of an open hatch and as we are looking at a 'Recce' regiment it makes sense that some of the tank commanders would have they're heads 'above the parapets'. However, they don't offer a crewman. I found these pictures at work today... cool eh??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 The PSC Sherman I built last year had a tank commander - in fact as you get 3 tanks in the box - you get 3 commanders - but all in the same pose. So that's one sorted. The trouble is it's quite a slim line hatch and I think he had a big breakfast - so I've had to whittle his midriff down a little... 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 I had a further rummage around and found a set of German tank commanders and I liked this one - with his binoculars at the ready... ...obviously the head won't do - so 'off with his head' and another tummy trim... ...a bit of drilling... now - if you saw my recent Loyd Carrier build you may have spotted the passengers wearing berets... ...a couple of dabs of super glue later... that's better - but not quite right - he needs headphones - I must be mad 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 PSC are a moderately bulky 1/72 so you might find they look a bit chunky in the Airfix 1/76 kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 3 minutes ago, Sgt.Squarehead said: PSC are a moderately bulky 1/72 so you might find they look a bit chunky in the Airfix 1/76 kit. I've put them all on a strict diet and they are wearing corsets... 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I knew a gentleman called Reg Spittals. He commanded a Cromwell with the 2nd Northants after D-Day and had a couple of photos of his tank. The single star on the rear of the turret should be a stencilled, circled star on the engine bay doors, the serials on the turret should be lower and there were squadron signs painted high on the forward plate. He also gave some valuable insight into the Cromwell. The Commander's cupola could be rotated so that the hatch opened 'sideways', and he placed a sack of earth behind his head. This saved him when an artillery round landed on the engine deck, blowing the turret forward. A helmet was placed over the searchlight and chicken-wire was fixed over the turret to poke camo into. Of course, this didn't help much if you was crossing a cornfield. The outline of the turret was further broken up with the attachment of bags, spare wheels, jerry cans etc etc 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 I've never made 1/72 headphones - I don't know if anyone esle has either - if so please post some pictures - but here are mine... First I made a headband and chopped up a pile of rod - looking for something suitable... Bending that headband was trickier than I thought - as so many things in this hobby are... bit of trimming was required when it set - then on with the 'earmuffs'... I think he has a look of the F1 driver - that crazy Ozzy - Daniel Riccardo... Here's the test fit after they have been to 'fat club' - you know the first rule of 'fat club'... ...you never talk about fat club... I've put the third cover down - but I'm sure I could pop it out again... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 This is the Tamiya 1/35 kit 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 2 minutes ago, Ratch said: I knew a gentleman called Reg Spittals. He commanded a Cromwell with the 2nd Northants after D-Day and had a couple of photos of his tank. The single star on the rear of the turret should be a stencilled, circled star on the engine bay doors, the serials on the turret should be lower and there were squadron signs painted high on the forward plate. He also gave some valuable insight into the Cromwell. The Commander's cupola could be rotated so that the hatch opened 'sideways', and he placed a sack of earth behind his head. This saved him when an artillery round landed on the engine deck, blowing the turret forward. A helmet was placed over the searchlight and chicken-wire was fixed over the turret to poke camo into. Of course, this didn't help much if you was crossing a cornfield. The outline of the turret was further broken up with the attachment of bags, spare wheels, jerry cans etc etc All sounds massively interesting - I'm currently reading this... I don't know if you've come across it - it was written in early 1946 by the Division themselves and distributed to surviving members of the division and their families. 2NY only served with 11DIV until 8th August '44 when their duties as the Recce Regiment were taken over by 15/19 Kings Royal Hussars. It's an mazing book - tricky to find too - it's not like you can buy a modern copy or anything. It is an amazing tribute to men such as your friend Reg. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 I have been dreading this bit - those damn hatch covers - there really is nothing to locate them to AND there is that horrible pin mark - but I'll deal with them when the hatches are 'welded' in place and I have something to grab hold of - like the turret itself... The guys are slim enough now - but wobble about a bit. There is a 'seat thing' inside - so I've added a bit of sprue so they can sit on it... ...all in all I'm pleased with that - now I better get to bed - I've been up since 5am - hopefully some more work and updates tomorrow - sorry make that today 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Great progress - love the defected commander figure and the scratchbuild headphones Grr - hatches! I've lost count of the number of times I've had to wrestle the carpet monster to retrieve one when it's pinged out of my tweezers. I now superglue them for a bit of extra strength, rather than use plastic glue. Seems like a good solution for the decals - be interested how the PSC ones turn out. All the best Ben 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 8 hours ago, BIG X said: All sounds massively interesting - I'm currently reading this... I don't know if you've come across it - it was written in early 1946 by the Division themselves and distributed to surviving members of the division and their families. 2NY only served with 11DIV until 8th August '44 when their duties as the Recce Regiment were taken over by 15/19 Kings Royal Hussars. It's an mazing book - tricky to find too - it's not like you can buy a modern copy or anything. It is an amazing tribute to men such as your friend Reg. No I wasn't aware of that book, though my interest is particularly the Northamptonshire regiments. Reg joined up in 1939 and saw his first action on D-Day +6 (IIRC). He went right through to Berlin and had three Cromwells blown up under him and lost several crew members. Reg himself passed away a couple of years ago. He was a lovely man who visited local schools, telling the children about his wartime memories. I was fortunate to meet him at the Northants Military Modelling Society and was invited to his home to see his photographs and memorabilia. RIP Reg. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 19 minutes ago, Ratch said: No I wasn't aware of that book, though my interest is particularly the Northamptonshire regiments. Reg joined up in 1939 and saw his first action on D-Day +6 (IIRC). He went right through to Berlin and had three Cromwells blown up under him and lost several crew members. Reg himself passed away a couple of years ago. He was a lovely man who visited local schools, telling the children about his wartime memories. I was fortunate to meet him at the Northants Military Modelling Society and was invited to his home to see his photographs and memorabilia. RIP Reg. Here is the list of fallen from 2nd NY during the Normandy Campaign... L/SJT R W ADDINTON 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR W T ANDREW 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE CPL L C ATKINSON 18/07/1944 CAEN TPR W S BARKER 26/06/1944 CHEUX L/CPL A BARKER 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE L/SJT A E BAYLISS 19/07/1944 CAEN LT A C BOUCHER 19/07/1944 CAEN L/CPL R A E BRADSHAW 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR W H BREEN 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR T H BUCKBY 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR C B BUCKLEY 02/07/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE SJT M H BURGESS 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE CPL H BURROWS 03/08/1944 ST MARTIN DES BESACES CPL R CLARKSON 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR R COLLINGHAM 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR C N L COLLINGS 18/07/1944 CAEN TPR M E COOK 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR W H COOK 04/08/1944 VIRE CAPT M COOKE-HURLE 03/08/1944 VIRE TPR F W CORE 03/08/1944 VIRE CPL R COUZENS 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE SJT W E S COVENEY 12/07/1944 CHEUX L/SJT E W COX 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR P DAVEY 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR F DEVER 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR H F B DILLON-TRENCHARD 28/06/1944 CHEUX 2/LT R E DOLBY 03/08/1944 VIRE L/SJT F J DRIVER 31/07/1944 ST MARTIN DES BESACES TPR A S EAVES 19/07/1944 CAEN LT A H EHRENFELD 03/08/1944 VIRE LT E R FLETCHER 28/06/1944 CHEUX TPR E F FRANKLAND 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR W FRENCH 31/07/1944 ST MARTIN DES BESACES TPR W GRAHAM 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR E S GREEN 28/06/1944 CHEUX TPR G F A GUY 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR C E HANMAN 26/06/1944 CHEUX TPR J HEALY 26/06/1944 CHEUX TPR L HICKEN 28/06/1944 CHEUX LT J G HOBSON 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE L/CPL F HOLMES 31/07/1944 NOT LISTED TPR F A HOMEWOOD 03/08/1944 VIRE TPR W H J HOWARD 03/08/1944 VIRE L/CPL J HUTCHISON 03/08/1944 ST MARTIN DES BESACES CPL A JEFFERSON 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR P A KING 30/06/1944 NOT LISTED TPR H F LAVENDER 31/07/1944 ST MARTIN DES BESACES L/CPL S H LEIGH 31/07/1944 ST MARTIN DES BESACES LT F C LOWINGER 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR E M MacGREGOR 03/08/1944 VIRE TPR B MADDERN 26/06/1944 CHEUX LT P J MANTON 04/08/1944 VIRE TPR R J MARTIN 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR M M MARTIN 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR R W T MARVEN 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR E MEADOWCROFT 19/07/1944 CAEN L/CPL B MITCHELL 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR R W C MORROW 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR A MUIRHEAD 26/06/1944 CHEUX TPR J NIBLOCK 18/07/1944 CAEN SJT W E J NOBLE 04/08/1944 VIRE MAJ G F PECK 19/07/1944 COURMELLES CAPT W J M RAYNSFORD 26/06/1944 CHEUX CPL W J RICHINGS 04/08/1944 VIRE L/CPL J T ROLLINSON 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR R W ROWLANDS 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE SJT A SCOFIELD 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR J SCOTT 04/08/1944 VIRE LT N P SHARPE 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR R SHEARER 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR H SINCLAIR 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE L/SJT J L SMITH 19/07/1944 CAEN L/CPL E H SMITH 16/08/1944 NOT LISTED SJT N A SPENCE 18/07/1944 CAEN LT W G SPRY 30/06/1944 CHEUX CPL I B SUTHERLAND 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE TPR W J THOMAS 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR F THOMPSON 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE L/SJT F W TITCOMBE 16/08/1944 NOT LISTED SJT J O TOOLEY 19/07/1944 CAEN TPR D UTTING 03/08/1944 VIRE L/CPL J W WARREN 20/07/1944 NOT LISTED TPR S J WETHERELL 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE LT S J WHITE 19/07/1944 COURMELLES TPR D H WHITE 03/08/1944 VIRE CPL F J WOOLEY 30/06/1944 BRETTEVILLETTE 2/LT R C B WYMAN 04/08/1944 VIRE When you consider each of these entries represents a human life - it is very sobering that so many lost their lives in such a short period of time - it is right that we remember them and remember them well... Which Regiment did Reg serve with after August '44 - when 2nd NY was disbanded??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I thought he was with 2NY right through, and now its too late to ask 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 6 minutes ago, Ratch said: I thought he was with 2NY right through, and now its too late to ask After leaving the 20th Armoured Brigade in 1943, the 2nd Northamptonshire Yeomanry was converted to an Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment and assigned to the 11th Armoured Division. The regiment landed in Normandy in June 1944. In August, it was disbanded and it members were drafted to other regiments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 13 hours ago, BIG X said: OK - TOO LATE - 2sets ordered - but not using the 15mm code on the picture - using the link that @Sgt.Squarehead posted - thank you for the link and I'll report back on their quality. I hope they turn up quickly - I have zero patience... WELL DONE PSC - ordered these decals about 10pm last night and by 10am this morning they are confirmed as 'shipped' - smashing service - if they come first class I might get them by weekend - better get some painting done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 36 minutes ago, BIG X said: WELL DONE PSC - ordered these decals about 10pm last night and by 10am this morning they are confirmed as 'shipped' - smashing service - if they come first class I might get them by weekend - better get some painting done you gonna go for the supplied tinlets? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 32 minutes ago, Lawzer said: you gonna go for the supplied tinlets? no way... I have 'previous' with humbrol plastic pots... ...cost me a pair of brand new jeans too 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 6 minutes ago, BIG X said: no way... I have 'previous' with humbrol plastic pots... ...cost me a pair of brand new jeans too I won't ask........ 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 Day 5 - I started today with a little light wheel scratching - these are the front rollers... ...these go on the outside of the tracks and marry up wit a set on the inside. To be fair, they didn't put up much of a fight... ...here they are - ready for some primer / scc15 and tyre black around the edges. exciting stuff eh... Then it was on to the mother of all boring jobs though - 60 of these... Just getting them off the sprues was a herculean task - plastic pinging everywhere... So here we have what can only be described as a 'bucket load of fun'... scrape / scrape / scrape - polish / polish / polish - yawn / yawn / yawn... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 It's all coming back to me now... ...why have I never been interested in build AFV's??? Ah yes - I'd heard loads of stories about people spending hours and days laboriously piecing together endless lengths of tank track. Now there is something to be said for carefully trimming and sanding a wheel until it looks perfect - but 60 - c'mon - you cannot be serious. Anyway... After this super exciting task was complete I decided to have a test fit of one of the sets of inside wheels. It all looked good - until I came to take them off again... ...this one simply won't come off. Looking on the bright side it has helped me decide how I am going to handle the rest of the build... So here is where we are up to... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 (edited) That's some wheely fantastic work (get it ).... I love that last shot - VERY organised.....if that were me there would just be a pile of rumbled up bits..... Edited February 1, 2018 by Lawzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 On 28/01/2018 at 20:57, badger said: And don't get me started on why no chippy down south does gravy on chips!!!, or breaded fish, or proper mushy peas!!! Ben (a proud northerner exiled to the south!) I was half way through my tea tonight - when it suddenly hit me... @badger - this is for you mate... ...Mrs X thought I had gone round the bend - but I just couldn't resist getting a shot for you. Flippin Gorgeous... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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