Ratch Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 This is a little project I've been meaning to do since 2010. In March of 1945 the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry was re-equipped with eight Mk II & twenty-four Mk IV LVTs making 3 squadrons in readiness for the crossing of the Rhine. Each Mk IV was issued with 6pdr Anti-Tank ramps. All LVTs were fitted with one .300 and one .500 Browning and one 4" smoke discharger. All Buffalos to be painted olive drab under unit arrangements and 79 Armoured Division Signs will also be painted on. Four stencils will be issued by CREME to Brigade HQ. The figure box was given to me in 2013 by ATF member mart567 and includes Tamiya and resin bits. An infantry rifle section normally consisted of ten men: The section commander was a corporal armed with a Sten = Figure D Six men armed with the Lee Enfield rifle No. 4 Mk.I Second in command was the lance corporal armed with a rifle, commanding = Figure A Two men – the No.1 carried the Bren gun and a small pouch of tools = Figure B the No. 2 carried the spare barrel case for the Bren = Figure C I've assembled figures A & B 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted October 27, 2020 Author Share Posted October 27, 2020 Also in the box were these two figures that come with the Tamiya Churchill (plus one I had previously) All four Dragon figures are now assembled I'm not sure of the provenance of this four I added the Jerry cans, but I'll probably use something else. This five are Tamiya's British Infantry On Patrol, that I previously used with my Cromwell And this five probably originate from the same set but have alternative heads and other parts I don't think I'll use the French civilians and I'll select the ten figures to represent the section disembarking the Buffalo. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Cool, especially the figures. What percentage of UK troops were issued with the newer, turtle-style Mark 3 helmets by that time? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 Absolutely no idea. The 51st Highland Division were being carried and here's a picture of them in Feb '45 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_(Highland)_Division#/media/File:The_British_Army_in_North-west_Europe_1944-45_B14454.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 The 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry completed their training with LVT Buffalos in Holland. On 21st March 1945 they transported men of the 51st Highland Division over the Rhine as part of Operation Turnscrew within the framework of Operation Plunder, near the town of Rees (Germany). Sprayed some skin tones and started on the LVT. [/url] Gave it a rough spray too. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 The tracks were welded together with a hot soldering iron and then primed with Vallejo Acrylic 74604 German Dark Yellow RAL7028 Polyurethane Surface Primer. I sprayed the worn areas with Vallejo Model Air 71072 Gunmetal (Metallic) then masked up The tracks were airbrushed with Vallejo Model Air 71028 Sand Yellow FS30475 + Vallejo Model Air 71033 Ochre FS33637 RAL1006 RLM27 + Vallejo 26518 Matt Acrylic Varnish I went over the tracks with Vallejo Game Color 73200 Sepia Wash To muddy them I used Mig Pigments P232 Dry Mud, P028 Europe Dust, P249 Fixer and Vallejo 26518 Matt Acrylic Varnish to fix them. I used Vallejo Game Color 73202 Pale Grey Wash with Vallejo Model Color 70822 150 German Camouflage Black Brown RAL8019 FS37056 and dry brushed the tracks. I went over the high points of the tracks with Mig Pigments P231 Gun Metal Here's what they look like in situ. I had problems with the track joints separating and had to re-weld them several times. One track also split where there is no joint and was repaired the same way. Also the 'rotating' drive wheels broke off while fitting the tracks. These are being re-glued and I will make another attempt to fit the tracks tomorrow. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted October 30, 2020 Author Share Posted October 30, 2020 It seems that the LVT could carry thirty troops, I don't think I'll go that far. In the end I stitched the tracks together with invisible mending thread. And did a bit of painting on the figures. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 Fantastic start Ratch, this is going to look really nice when you’ve finished. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 Cheers @Ozzy a bit more colour on the troops A frustrating session on the LVT. As I fitted the upper part of the hull, the right-hand track split. In fact it split in two places - and the front drive sprocket separated and needed re-gluing. Out with the sewing kit again 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 2, 2020 Author Share Posted November 2, 2020 I've been dry-brushing variations to the uniforms. I just had to see them in the LVT 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Today I've put the finishing touches to the figures. This is the Dragon element. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Construction has continued on the LVT-4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 6, 2020 Author Share Posted November 6, 2020 I have fixed the ramp. My references for the 1st Northants show a fully guarded m/g. I scratched this together. Then did a bit of painting. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Tip Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 Looking very good Ratch! I remember trying to do the Buffalo many years ago, and I had so much not fun with those tracks that at some point I went berserk, an the kit was irreparably ehm, damaged. Then again, I wasn't half as skilled as I am today (so, regarding nowadays' abilities, "not skilled at all"). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 6, 2020 Author Share Posted November 6, 2020 Thanks @Johnny Tip I understand your frustration - I was pretty close too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 Turning to the base I had to decide what the vehicle should sit on. There are good pictures on-line of Buffalos wading through water and emerging onto the riverbank, but I do not think the poses of the troops are suitable for these scenarios. The almost relaxed walking poses are more suitable for disembarkation. I could find only one image of an LVT with a lowered ramp; three Buffalos are in the picture, parked on a flat track behind a huge dyke. Only one vehicle has the ramp lowered and may be loading a motorcycle and sidecar. Again, not ideal. A scene beside a river could be interesting, but would the troops be disembarking that close (surely the LVTs moved a way inland to not hinder following units). My limited number of figures intimate that over half of the thirty have already alighted and taken up positions on land, so a landbound scene would be required. I placed the LVT on a piece of hardboard and marked out an area of 14” x 8”. This represents an area of approximately 41 feet by 23 feet. Having the LVT on a flat board would be unrealistic, so I cut several pieces of expanded polystyrene from a block and scattered them over the board (which was placed rough side up for better adhesion). I took a sheet of plaster bandage and cut it to fit on the board. This was placed appropriately and sprayed with water then pressed down over the lumps using a sponge. I wanted to add texture to the ground. I had some plaster and foliage left over from Treemendous, so mixed them with water and used a pallet knife to spread over the base. I was concerned that this may not hold the added materials to the board, so poured PVA over this to aid adhesion. I then used Artisan water mixable oil colours 076: Burnt Umber, 317: Indian Red and 744: Yellow Ochre to colour the soil. Over this I spread dried tea leaves, a little Javis Countryside Scenics JS17 Scatter Heath Green and various natural plant detritus collected on woodland walks. Diluted PVA was used to fix the scatters. A little teaser of where this is heading... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 8, 2020 Author Share Posted November 8, 2020 The base has dried. I turned it upside down and shook it to recover any loose scatter - and nothing fell off 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 9, 2020 Author Share Posted November 9, 2020 I've been playing with pigments 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 It was with eager anticipation that I entered the modelling room only to be greeted by this sight I presume this was caused by the White Spirit used with the pigments. I was reasonably happy with the effects of the first session. Another application followed. It will be with trepidation when I see how it has dried tomorrow 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickE Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 If you still have problems with the tracks Model Hobbies are selling workable tracks for £16.19 plus postage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 Do you have a link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickE Posted November 11, 2020 Share Posted November 11, 2020 Sorry to have got your hopes up I have just had a look on the model hobbies website and they are sold out. There is a set for sale on ebay.com: https://www.ebay.com/c/940695494 but they don't show up on ebay.co.uk, which is unusual Also there is a set for sale by lucky model . https://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=AF%2035226 These are made by AFV club so they may not fit your kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 11, 2020 Author Share Posted November 11, 2020 Thanks @MickE I did a google search and found the AFV Club tracks at Super-Hobby.com - expensive, but I've ordered 🤑 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 17, 2020 Author Share Posted November 17, 2020 And they've arrived 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 They've been washed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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