Panzer II

 This is the Tamiya 1:35 Panzer II that I picked up at the Yeovil Model show a couple of weekends ago from Crewkerne Models. 

I’m going to finish it with these Vallejo Afrika Korps colours that I’ve had in my stash since buying 3DGizmo resin figures at least 12 months ago for a Tiger I kit that’s still waiting to be built.

The dropper bottles in these themed sets from Vallejo are diddy little things, so it’s fortunate that the Panzer II is equally diddy! 

I don’t like to gripe but I’m going to. None of my 3D Gizmo  Afrika Korps resin figures fit my Tamiya Panzer II. The Commander’s aperture is no smaller than a Panzer IV or Tiger’s, why would it be when it is the right size for a 1:35 scale tank commander! Now I’ve loved 3D Gizmo for some years but, really, for £28+ I would have expected them to have done a little bit more homework here. 

The only fix I can see is to amputate the resin figures legs and do a bit of hip sanding … though I may just now go with the Tamiya figure and put it down to my long list of scale modelling experiences. I am starting to more frequently find these aftermarket bits and bobs a waste of money … perhaps it’s just because I’m beginning to be a bit of an old hand at this scale modelling lark! 

Using the Vallejo WW2 Afrika Korps AFV Camoflage set to paint my Tamiya Panzer II. 

Don’t know if it’s just the smaller bottles, they are diddy, but although badged their Air range, it was a little thicker and less easily spayed. 

Tamiya’s 1:35 scale Panzer II completed in the markings of R06, of the 15th Panzer Division, Afrika Korps. 

Used for reconnaissance rather than in an offensive role the full sized one was captured by the US Army on the surrender of the Axis forces in North Africa in 1943. 

I finished the kit with Vallejo’s Afrika Korps themed acrylic paints and weathered it with oils. 

LVT-4 Water Buffalo

Next in the bench is that Water Buffalo I picked up from Crewkerne Models a couple of weeks ago.

Such an unusual vehicle!

It is however another Italeri. Same soft plastic as the ‘Fury’ Sherman, equally erratic instructions and this one needs some SERIOUS tape to mould it into shape! 

Making progress with the LVT-4 Water Buffalo!

The kit itself is is a bit hit and miss for a 2000 tooled mould but I think the main issue for me is Italeri’s softer plastic which seems to suffer from warping, the need to drill out some of the holes and a less accurate fit. Italeri have unusually for them, added large pieces of PE for the machine gun pods. Although these add a bit of crispness, I’m not sure they are really necessary considering the lack of detail elsewhere. 

So, you’ll note that I’ve progressed to that favoured position of having it black primed ready for the Olive Drab and detailing. 

Oh yes, one final observation. This comes with no crew nor even hatch openings for the driver, so having seen archive pictures of them carrying SAS Jeeps across the Elbe in April 1945, I’m going to lay my hands on one of those nice Tamiya Jeeps to add to the finished build 

All now ready for some weathering and that SAS Jeep, which I’m looking forward to picking up from Crewkerne Models on Friday! 

I first primed this in SMS Surfacer Black followed by SMS Premium US Olive Drab. These paints are fantastic to airbrush, if not a bit smelly! Detailing has been completed with my go to Vallejo acrylics.

Tamiya’s SAS Jeep and Gecko Models British drivers (soon to join the SAS) for my Water Buffalo crossing of the Elbe, now acquired from Crewkerne Models and construction under way!

Water Buffalo, SAS Jeep and troops united. Now finally time for that weathering! 

Italeri’s LTV-4 Water Buffalo, Tamiya’s SAS Jeep and a couple of Gecko Models British Army drivers now complete this 1:35 scale ensemble. 

This finished look was inspired by a photograph of an SAS jeep sitting inside a Buffalo amphibious landing craft before the crossing of the Elbe on 29 April 1945.

It’s a shame the Jeep is now hidden in the Buffalo as there’s so much additional detail on it  that we’ll never now see … BUT … I know it’s there.

SMS paints were sprayed for the large areas, including the final mat varnish, Vallejo paints were used for brush painting the figures and detailing and Abteilung 502 oils for the weathering.

British Special Air Services Jeep

Tamiya’s SAS Jeep and Gecko Models British drivers (soon to join the SAS) for my Water Buffalo crossing of the Elbe.

I’ve managed to make a good start on the Tamiya SAS Jeep but won’t quite have it and the Buffalo finished for Sunday’s Yeovil Scale Model Show. 

There are slight changes I’m making to the desert raiding version that I built a few years ago and naturally the SAS troops will have to dress a little differently for the European campaign! 

I’ve loaded it with Jerrycans and ammunition boxes and had a go at adding some home made foil straps for that added detail. 

I then black primed and olive drab base coated it in my new goto SMS paints.  Next up, the fine detailing and SAS driver selection.

Crew and detailing hand painted with Vallejo acrylics ... but I'm not happy with the moulding of that camo net on the front bumper. I could make one from scratch which would be easy enough, but if I'm going to change it, let's try getting closer to the original with boxes. 

I found a couple of box pieces in my stash and using elastic thread as rope I don't think this looks too bad.

And for a comparison with the original photo I spoke of ....

The job is done ....

British Tank Destroyer M10 IIC Achilles

I've decided to kick off my VE-Day80 builds with a kit I purchased on a birthday visit to the Tank Museum way back in 2020 and which has been continually overlooked when I've reached for a 1:35 scale AFV since! This is its time.

This 17 pounder, Self-Propelled, Achilles is a British variant of the American M10 tank destroyer used across the European theatre between 1943 - 1945. Coincidentally, I've just finished reading Anthony Beever's book "Arnem" and the Achilles kept cropping up, so may be I was subliminally steered in this direction as I had originally pulled out the Fury Sherman and a Tiger! 

The build ....

I know it's a cliché, but one can't deny how good Tamyia AFV kits are. This is a 2016 moulding of an M10 with new Achilles parts added in 2019. Everything fits beautifully, the moulds are crisp and detailed and I'm loving it. I've got to the position now where I'm going to black prime ahead of giving it a coat of British Army Khaki Drab. The kit comes with an array of shells, bags and personal arms ... oh yes, and a number of figures to construct and paint. I can start tackling these while the vehicle's paint cures.

Adding some of the detail to my Tamiya M10 Achilles, including a rack of 17pdr shells. I’ve also dug out a couple of reference photos from the Bovington Tank Museum to get the right colours for those tracks. 

My new goto metallic Vallejo Liquid Metal sprays on beautifully. 

The finished model ...

I’ve finished this in the markings of 75th Anti-Tank Regiment, 11th Armoured Division, North West Europe, 1944-1945. The Regiment landed in Normandy shortly after D-Day and were involved in many of the major operations to liberate Europe.

De Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI

This is Tamiya De Havilland Mosquito Mk VI which I was inspired to build after this year’s visit to France where I saw evidence of 613 Squadron’s Mosquito attack on the Chateau de Trevarez, 30 July 1944. 

Unfortunately the decals I had for this build didn’t work out so I went with the boxed set, which isn’t all bad ...

as they are for 487 Sqn. (RNZAF) MM417, EG-T which in February 1944  took part in the amazing Operation Jericho!

SAS Jeep

This Tamiya SAS Jeep has been so much fun. For a 50 year old 1970s kit it builds beautifully. How Tamiya produce such quality from an old mould just amazes me.

Built out of the box with a few scratch built straps for bags, bottles, boxes and glasses, I think it looks just great. Hope you do too.