Jump to content

The Great Crusade (take two)


Recommended Posts

Some years ago, I started a project to model some vehicles from the fighting in France in 1944, but like many projects time and a change of interests overtook it, and it was abandoned.

 

However, the nagging urge to model the period remains. This time, I’ve moved up a bit in scale, and down a bit in detail, with the intention of using some of the vehicles manufactured for war gamers. This enables me to indulge my bodging style of “detailing “, or at least, adding fiddly bits.

 

First up, an Italeri M10:

 

51198973084_d12e3b81b2_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr
 

51198195981_ba8283aa4e_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr
 

51199259360_fa73efa6c6_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr
 

These are intended as robust quick build kits, and without my bodging would easily go together in an hour or less.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hacking about began with the forward hatches, supplied as little bathtubs (presumably to aide fitting figures?), at least the hatches themselves were separate.

 

Out with the chisel blade and off they come:

 

51198405238_3fa2b79032_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr
 

Opening the tubs means we need something inside, so a rudimentary drivers seat, transmission and forward bulkhead were fabricated - the seats are the bottoms of the kit tubs, recycled. The transmission is completely the wrong shape but will be barely visible, it’s a chunk of cut up toothbrush!

 

51198405198_3a7dfc70ed_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This next shot gives a idea of how little will be visible, especially as the assistant drivers hatch will be closed.

 

51198405153_e5eb3cf9f1_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr
 

Having dealt with the pointy end, some details for the gun tub were next - plastic tube to represent the ammunition stowage (I know in reality these are made up of two separate tubes with a central divider, but again, very little will be visible, as the final shot shows:

 

51199259175_d8c91da3ea_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr
 

51198196006_cdbeac11b3_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Although the kit allows for open hatches, they would end up at an odd angle. Pictures seem to shoe the most common open position as parallel to the hull front, so that’s what I did, slicing the kit “hinge” in half to better represent the real thing.

 

51198973069_70ae117afd_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

Finally for today, the turret dry fitted

 

51198973099_28e967b1b5_c.jpgM10 Tank Destroyer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don’t have a specific vehicle in mind yet, but will try and find a suitable prototype to follow, it has wedge not duck Bill counterweights so that will be one determining factor. OD overall for colour, although I’m aware there was a general move to black disruptive patterns as the campaign wore on. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, 06/24 said:

I'll need to do something about those sink marks on the turret

It's annoying finding stuff that needs correction after you've done loads of good work, posted a pic and then you see it. I keep doing it myself.....................

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, the camera is a harsh critic. However, in this case the turret hasn’t received any attention yet, I just zapped it with some paint while I was doing the hull, so I’ve not really lost anything.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

51199961437_4360ef0976_c.jpgM10 by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr
 

Starting to add the smaller details. Replaced the lift rings on the hull rear with fuse wire, as the plastic ones were impossible to clean up. They’re not quite the right shape but close enough. The radio aerial won’t be staying, but I’ve lost my supply of black nylon brush fibres (flexible and strong enough to stay vertical) so it’ll stay for now, and then I’ll cut it off and drill out once I find a suitably coloured dust pan and brush set!

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are some obvious simplifications (as one might expect for a wargames kit) but it’s not a bad model all the same. I’ve added a couple of tyre weights to give it a sense of mass, and will add dirt and stowage at some point. The odd patch on one of the counterweights is just some paint that hadn’t quite dried when I took the pictures.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Although I was reading something the other day which suggested that the air power effect was exaggerated, they didn’t hit much (compared to towed a/t, bazookas and tanks & tank destroyers) but had a disproportionate demoralising effect, which in and of itself was enough to hamper the panzerwaffe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was thinking more in terms of tank v tank !...but of course the Germans were hampered by all those other elements too.. I'd say the air superiority issue was the main thing still. The sudden success of the Ardennes counter offensive was only really viable due to awful weather = no flying !

Those models are looking excellent already.. 👍

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I wait for a chance to sort out more paint for the Tiger, I’ve made a start on my next model, the Rubicon Kubelwagen as a captured vehicle repurposes by its new “owners”, rather in the fashion of the Monuments Men movie. A Jeep trailer and a converted Jeep crewman add character (hopefully - he will get a head in time too!)

 

51216775869_334a10d218_c.jpgKubelwagen with Jeep trailer by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Before anyone points out that most Kubelwagens weren’t set up to tow, I’m assuming an enterprising maintenance park welded a standard US tow hitch onto the rear. Unlikely, but hopefully not impossible. In the film the Kubelwagen tows, but I presume that’s a reproduction vehicle.

 

https://olivercubbage.weebly.com/monuments-men.html

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No doubt you could gash something on the back....though tbh I'd think the kubel is just thin pressed steel with no real chassis, it is basically a VW after all !   ( the engine would be at the back too) .. You'd imagine the Germans would have given it some kind of tow hitch,  as they seemed to tow stuff with their vehicles quite a bit, maybe the rear engine malarkey made that awkward.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...