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Airfield vehicles – A universal tribute to the groundcraft


Toryu

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Good afternoon

 

For the diorama of the 1/38 B-17G I want to do, I've found  vehicles, but impossible to find the fire tanker truck.

 

Is a fellow has a clue hoe I can find it or modifying an existing one ?

 

Thanks in advance

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 6/2/2020 at 7:05 AM, Phigla said:

Good afternoon

 

For the diorama of the 1/38 B-17G I want to do, I've found  vehicles, but impossible to find the fire tanker truck.

 

Is a fellow has a clue hoe I can find it or modifying an existing one ?

 

Thanks in advance

US stations were equipped with Fordson WOT1 Fire Tenders, the only model of one that I know of is a Diecast one made by Oxford..... https://www.oxforddiecast.co.uk/products/ford-wot1-crash-tender-mickey-mouse-scampton-76wot001

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  • 1 month later...

 A quartet of Airfix airfield support vehicles. Thompson three wheeled fuel truck (repainted Oxford die cast), Austin Crash Tender, Commer GP dogsbody, Coles Crane, and  Bedford fuel truck converted to carry jet fuel. 

DSCN4550 DSCN1322.JPG DSCN1547.JPG DSCN4359

 

Edited by gamevender
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Just posted this as a separate thread, but thought I would post it here too.

 

Airfix AEC 0854 refueller. It was meant to try and represent the tanker seen in this photo;

 

49829160058_45bedfb999_h.jpgaec bowser by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

To that end, it has had a scratch built autovac tank, thickened radiator (with accompanying chassis modification!) and headlight.

 

Anyway, here it is, displayed on a piece of genuine hard standing from Leiston airfield;

 

50242192437_a1d320e3c6_k.jpg220 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50241332698_2527546edc_k.jpg221 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50242179372_d4bf20ff2a_k.jpg223 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50241319658_82cd5faebd_k.jpg224 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50241969451_a1aa8abeb9_k.jpg222 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

 

Edited by danbuoy
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  • 3 weeks later...

The aforementioned Tamiya 1/48 Opel Blitz 3 tonner - now finished.  Had a bit of trouble with the roof-line/door top fit (managed to minimise the gap, but couldn't completely eliminate it).  Anyway, here it is, with light weathering and random cargo.  Back to aeroplanes now, for the time being.. ;) 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I first posted this in Aircraft Modelling and @Toryu suggested I post it here as well.

 

This is the Airfix 1:76 Airfield Control Tower which first appeared in 1959. I had wanted one for a while, as I thought it would look good in the 1:72 / 1:76 cabinet with my planes and military vehicles. They are hard to find but I got one second hand a couple of years ago, I saw another build (here I think) that recommended a photo etch set from Flightpath and a neat set of posters, notices etc from Sankey. I used both of those.

8RAkNQal.jpg

 

The p.e. set replaces all the windows, doors and the ladder up to the roof - along with the little room on the roof (getting that square was a test). The kit windows are rather chunky. I also got some laser cut furniture from a model railway supplier along with the obligatory comfy chairs - you can never have too many comfy chairs 🙂

 

The p.e. set also provides replacement posts for the roof and walkway but I found those a bit two dimensional so in the end I used the kit posts. The railing is brass tube. 

 

The figures are from the kit (two in the room on the roof and one peering out of the first floor window) the rest are resin chaps from CMK and from PJ Productions.

 

I took a few pictures of the inside before attaching the roof so those are mixed in with the external shots.

 

That's about it really. Here's the pics.

all the best

Mark

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No.32 squadron received Hurricanes a year before World War Two broke out and was initially engaged on defensive patrols over France from British bases. The squadron were redeployed to Wittering in late May/early June to rest and regroup. They were only there for a week before going back to RAF Biggin Hill in time for the opening weeks of the Battle of Britain. P3522 was reputedly flown by Pilot Officer D. H. Grice
21 September 1932-3 January 1940: Biggin Hill
3 January-8 March 1940: Gravesend
8-22 March 1940: Manston
27 March-26 May 1940: Biggin Hill
26 May-4 June 1940: Wittering
4 June-28 August 1940: Biggin Hill
However, the squadron moved north to Acklington in August 1940 and did not return to south until December. 
28 August-15 December 1940: Acklington
15 December 1940-16 February 1941: Middle Wallop

Douglas Hamilton Grice was born on 15th June 1919 in Wallasey Village, Cheshire. He was in the Artists Rifles (TA) before he joined the RAF on a short service commission. He began his initial flying training at 8 E&RFTS Woodley on 29th November 1937. He went to No. 1 RAF Depot Uxbridge for a short induction course on 19th February 1938. Grice was at 5 FTS Sealand for intermediate and advanced training on 3rd March 1938. Here he was given the nickname 'Grubby', the original reason now lost. With this training completed, he was posted to 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 17th September 1938.

Grice was detached from 32 to RAF Northolt for an Air Fighting Instructors course on 23rd October 1939 rejoining 32 on 1st November. During the Battle of France the squadron used Abbeville as a forward base from 18th May 1940. On that day Grice probably destroyed a Me110, on the 19th he destroyed a Me109, probably another and damaged a third and on the 22nd he destroyed another. He was shot down by return fire from He111's on 8th June in Hurricane P3353. He glided 15 miles and landed near a small village, 10 miles from Rouen. Finding no one in the village, he returned to his aircraft and met some British soldiers, who drove him to Rouen. With another RAF pilot, he was given a car and driver and they drove from aerodrome to aerodrome until in a few days they had travelled 400 miles across France. At Dreux, HQ of the Expeditionary Air Force, they were put into a DH Rapide, which was going to Hendon. On reaching Le Havre the aircraft was diverted to Jersey, from where they flew on next day to Hendon. Grice rejoined his squadron on 11th June. Awarded the DFC (gazetted 25th June 1940), he was decorated by the King on 27th June at Biggin Hill.
On 4th July Grice was shot down by Me109's and made a forced-landing not far from Sandwich golf course. To his astonishment Grice was greeted by an Army officer who had served with him as a private in the Artists Rifles. On the 8th he claimed a Me109 probably destroyed and on 12th August he damaged a Do17.

On the afternoon of the 15th Grice was shot down east of Harwich in flames, having been attacked from behind as the squadron was about to engage hostile aircraft. Tracer bullets smashed the instrument panel and passed into the gravity tank. Grice was using oxygen which ignited, blowing off his goggles and burning his face and both wrists. The gravity tank exploded. He baled out, landed in the sea, had difficulty freeing himself and was almost drowned. He was rescued by an MTB, landed at Fexlixstowe and admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital at Shotley. Although Grice was unaware of it at the time, his prolonged dip in the sea was a boon, the salt water aided the healing process of the burns Grice had suffered to the face and the wrists. His Hurricane, N2459, crashed into the sea at Pye Sands, Pennyhole Bay, south of Harwich.

On 14th October 1940 Grice reported to Biggin Hill for posting to 421 Flight. With 421 he flew a W/T test on the 14th, in Hurricane Z2327, and on the 15th he flew a spotting patrol in Hurricane Z2352. These were his only flights with 421 and he took up duty as a Controller at Biggin Hill very soon afterwards. Grice was a Controller at Northolt from June 1941 until February 1942, Senior Controller at North Weald until December 1943, Senior Controller at Tangmere until August 1945, a Controller at 11 Group until February 1946 and a Staff Officer at HQ Fighter Command until he retired in April 1947 as a Wing Commander. He was made an MBE (gazetted 1st January 1946). 
Grice served articles with the London firm of solicitors Gamlen, Bowerman & Forward. In 1951 he joined McKenna & Co, becoming a partner of the firm within a year. Grice specialised in work for the construction industry and counted Taylor Woodrow among his clients. He retired in 1982. Thereafter Grice devoted much time to his garden at Hunters Green, Chalfont St. Giles. He also bought an electric organ and taught himself to play it. Grice died on 24th March 1998.
 

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17 hours ago, Mark Harmsworth said:

......The p.e. set also provides replacement posts for the roof and walkway but I found those a bit two dimensional so in the end I used the kit posts. The railing is brass tube.......

 

That's about it really. Here's the pics.

all the best

Mark

 

 

Model boat handrails are a good alternative. They have some nice brass pre-drilled posts and use thin brass wire for the railings.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just finished this Esci Dodge WC52 weapons carrier, and to add to my airfield vehicle collection, have done it in Eighth Air Force 100th Bomb Group markings;

 

50513579572_27a538bd77_z.jpg20201021_163054 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50513580062_d2f6580606_z.jpg20201021_163113 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50513580427_1238c3a965_z.jpg20201021_163133 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50513581037_4dfe2e1045_z.jpg20201021_163146 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50513417391_8e0e48ff19_z.jpg20201021_163206 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

 

50513583837_be58052c34_z.jpg20201021_163319 by Dan Hardy, on Flickr

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  • 4 weeks later...

Who worked harder than the armourers ? be it re-loading fighters whenever they needed to be or those loading bombs in all conditions  . . . 

A tribute to those armourers who loaded all types of bomber aircraft, typically a David Brown tractor towing a number of bomb trolleys  . . . 

 

DB-Tractor-with-bombs-2.jpg

 

DB-Tractor-with-bombs-3.jpg

 

DB-Tractor-Bombs-3.jpg

 

DB-Tractor-bombs-4.jpg

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11 hours ago, Mancunian airman said:

Who worked harder than the armourers ?

 

... the modellers do! 😀  This is a wonderful trolley train. Great figure painting, too. Which scale is it?

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I have been putting together ground equipment and vehicles for my selection of 1/48 dioramas that I use to display my Cold War jets.  At @Toryu’s suggestion I will add some pictures here if that is ok.

 

it started with a Wattisham inspires HAS and the need to have ground crew & vehicles to go with it.  The start was with ESCI and Hasegawa sets, but vehicles to go with that are few & far between.

 

In RAF mode

 

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And USAF mode

 

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I have a new barn now too

 

rDUEts0.jpg

 

And a wider set of buildings

 

g5zubzv.jpg
 

I hope you like them & thanks for looking

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In the 1950s the RNZAF formed two LAA Sqns manned by Compulsory Military Training (aka National Service) personnel. They were equipped with WW2 era 40mm Bofors using Chevrolet 4x4 trucks as gun tractors.  

 

51051428426_7631615508_z.jpgimg018_zps528dbfb4 by tankienz, on Flickr

 

The Chev is a 1/35th Italeri GMC converted to 4x4 and featuring a short body and detail parts from U-Models 4x4 Chev towing a Bronco Canadian Bofors put together as a birthday present for a former unit member now in his 80's.  

 

51096472325_cc31028a9c_z.jpgfullsizeoutput_1c07 by tankienz, on Flickr

 

51095669026_a9414b712c_z.jpgfullsizeoutput_1c09 by tankienz, on Flickr

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  • 4 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
On 4/3/2021 at 7:03 PM, bar side said:

A couple of bits I missed off my last post

 

a0yhyc2.jpg

 

and the Harlan tug & weapons trolley 

 

v9xNFVO.jpg
 

well trolley - now it’s a weapons trolley

 

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Sorry but this is so wrong. The RAF never  used the American MHU 141 Bomb trolley and missile tree as depicted in the image, they only  used the UK "Type S " Bomb Trolley with 8010 missile transportation racking.  Very very different. Also the Sparrow  missiles would be transported without wings and fins fitted.

 

Selwyn

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1 hour ago, Selwyn said:

The RAF never  used the American MHU 141 Bomb trolley and missile tree as depicted in the image

Selwyn: nevertheless, I'm greatly enjoying the images put forward by Bar Side and other bold modelers, who are doing what they can with limited interest from the companies in this all-important field: GSE/AGE.  As for me, I'm civilianizing the JB Models Bedford Tactical Refueler and using bits from Airfix's old Matador refueler to create a towed bowser.  Lots of room for fun, even if accuracy is not 90 percent.  Alex

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7 hours ago, TheyJammedKenny! said:

Selwyn: nevertheless, I'm greatly enjoying the images put forward by Bar Side and other bold modelers, who are doing what they can with limited interest from the companies in this all-important field: GSE/AGE.  As for me, I'm civilianizing the JB Models Bedford Tactical Refueler and using bits from Airfix's old Matador refueler to create a towed bowser.  Lots of room for fun, even if accuracy is not 90 percent.  Alex

Im enjoying them to but this one isn't 90% its at best 50% (the land rover!).

 

Selwyn

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10 hours ago, Selwyn said:

Sorry but this is so wrong. The RAF never  used the American MHU 141 Bomb trolley and missile tree as depicted in the image, they only  used the UK "Type S " Bomb Trolley with 8010 missile transportation racking.  Very very different. Also the Sparrow  missiles would be transported without wings and fins fitted.

 

Selwyn

No no that was the RAFs attempt to break the Land Speed record with a rocket assisted Land Rover.  It was unsuccessful.🤪  Although some queried if they should claim the world record for the fastest ever laid oil drip line😁 

Edited by dcrfan
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27 minutes ago, dcrfan said:

No no that was the RAFs attempt to break the Land Speed record with a rocket assisted Land Rover.  It was unsuccessful.🤪  Although some queried if they should claim the world record for the fastest ever laid oil drip line😁 

Well if you are going for the record suggest that you make sure the missiles are strapped down tightly and I suggest you put the guidance fins on the landy!

 

Selwyn

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