Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Getting the right colour

This is one handy tool , simply type in what colour you are after , tick what paint brands are available at your local store , and it will give you all the similar colours plus a sample of what it should look like live
You can even download the software to use at home without being online
Check it out here http://paint4models.com/

Many modellers have their favorite ranges of paint they like to use on their models but seldom do the kit makers include those references implicitly. Now you can, in real-time, see direct comparisons* between over 25 different standards and ranges.

For example, Airfix kit instructions use Humbrol references for painting information but you want to use Testors Model Master on your kit. No problem, simply click to select Humbrol and Testors and you're done. Want it sorted by Testors color number - simply click on the heading and its done.

Built-in color swatch: Many colors have RGB approximations available, click on the row to see a color swatch where available.

Movable columns: Prefer to have the paint name column before the number column - simply drag the columns where you want them. It really is that easy.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Aussie Military Models Gallery

Australian modellers are scattered all over the web in various sites , clubs and forums , there is a lack of dedicated Aussie AFV Forum.
Most Aussies show their stuff on international sites or make up their own pages , a lot of stuff we will never see.
I will start compiling a list to pages featuring Aussie themed builds , many are in my favourites now but it will be good to have them in one place for easy access.
Good inspiration for " those about to build " and a good place for a browse

ASLAV-25 - Trumpeter + Mouse House - 1/35
ASLAV-25 - Trumpeter + Arms Corps - 1/35
ASLAV-25 - Various builds
Bofors Gun 40mm - Wespe - 1/48
Centurion Mk.5/1 RAAC Vietnam - AFV Club - 1/35
Centurion Mk5/1 Wreck - Tamiya - 1/35
Centurion Mk5/1 - Tamiya + Mouse House - 1/35
Crusader Mk2 - Tamiya - 1/35
Leopard AS-1 - Tamiya + Italeri - 1/35
Leopard AS-1 - Various builds
LVT-4 - Italeri - 1/35
M198 150mm Gun - Aussie Armour
MII3A1 - Various builds
M113 MRV - AFV Club - 1/35
M3A2 Grant - Tamiya - 1/35
M88 Recovery Tank - AFV Club - 1/35
Matilda Frog Flamethrower - Tamiya + MR Models - 1/35
Matilda Mk2 - Tamiya + Firestorm Models - 1/35
Matilda Mk2 - Tamiya + MR Models - 1/35
RAAF Staff Car - Tamiya - 1/48
Saladin FSV - Tamiya - 1/35
Sentinel AC-1 - Cromwell Models - 1/35
Stuart M3 - Tamiya - 1/35
Stuart Light Tank - Hybrid - 1/35
Universal Carrier Mk 1 - Tamiya - 1/35

More - Australian Models at Track-Link

Radio controlled models by Oztruck



Thursday, August 26, 2010

Battle of Hamel Diorama



" at the final objective there was a fierce struggle with elements of I Battalion 55th Regiment. A solitary tank followed by swearing ANZACS crushed resistance "

While researching the Mk IV tank , I read about the Battle of Hamel in WW1 and found a great subject to build upon.
After years of being led into massacres by British command the Aussies were finally given a go under the control of General Monash

The Australian were given 2 British tank units and were accompanied by Americans who had never been in combat before , each American was paired up with an Anzac.
The troops moved forward towards Hamel under a creeping barrage of artillery fire , backed by the tank units , supply drops were made by aircraft and supply tanks easing the task of foot soldiers.
The Germans were completely overwhelmed and the town was taken in 93 minutes !

Some other amazing facts were:
* This was the first time tanks were used successfully in battle with ground troops assigned to each vehicle
* This was the first time Australian troops and the entire operation were under Australian command
* This was the first time the Americans fought alongside Australian and British Forces
* This was the first time aircraft were used to re-supply ground troops and update battle plans
* The was the first time supply tanks were used to re-supply troops




There is much more about this amazing battle but I will fill the page up quickly , so onto the dio




Using an Imex 1/25 display case as a base I set out the landform with Builders Bog , I like the bog , it dries quick and can be sculpted and sanded easily.
I used some walls from the Italeri ruined walls set , added some rubble and building debris made from small stones , sprue and match sticks, tree is real from my backyard.
The figures are HAT WW1 ANZAC Infantry and the Lewis gunner on the grassy knoll is from the WW1 ANZAC Heavy Troops set also from HAT





Read more about the Battle of Hamel here

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Male Mk IV Tank

Model: Emhar Mk IV Male Tank
Scale: 1/72








Not a bad model from Emhar , good detail and it went together ok , instructions were a bit confusing only giving you a rough idea of how bits attached and the model was lacking on lugs to accept parts , one part was cast incorrectly but at this scale is barely noticeable and fixable.
The ditching rail was a bugger to glue together and I made a ditching beam from the sprue which is handily the right shape.Bit of old chain tarted up nicely with a rust treatment

4 options for decals including " captured German " , but I wanted to make it look like a Mk IV from the Battle of Hamel , after some research I decided on painting it in Khaki Brown and hand painting the markings ( markings were done by hand in the field ), an AWM picture of a tank at Hamel shows the unit number H 52 so I made a fictional H 17 mainly because they are the easiest to paint by hand at this scale !

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

9th Cav Egypt 1942 Diorama






" On Patrol " diorama featuring the Crusader and Stuart tanks of the 9th Division Cavalry in Egypt 1942 , this was the first time Australia had been equipped with modern tanks , before that it was a mixture of Vickers Light Tanks and Bren Carriers.
The Aussies also used captured French Vichy R-35 Tanks , Italian M13/40 Tanks and Light Tankettes.
Tanks used were painted in Desert Sand scheme with no markings apart from the standard tank numbers.
Diorama is made using an Imex 1/25 scale display case , land form made with Builders Bog , Italeri ruined wall section , Hasegawa fuel drum added.
Information sourced from Anzac Steel

M3 Stuart Light Tank

Base Model: Hasegawa M3 Stuart MK 1
Scale: 1/72




Another nice little build from Hasegawa , good detail but flaws in the turret ring area , tricky joining the tiny tracks using a hot knife !
Disapointed with with the rear wheels as the spokes are filled in
Painted in North Africa Khaki , black wash , Tamiya weathering kit applied



Matilda Mk II

Base Model: Italeri Matilda Mk II
Donor Model: Airfix Matilda Hedgehog
Scale: 1/72 , 1/76







Tricky to make this one , the wheel bogies are a bugger ! Based on Matildas used by the Aussies in New Guinea , scratch built an anti mine mesh screen for the rear deck out of flyscreen , left the fuel tank off
Nearly cut the barrel off trimming the sprue bit doh !
Painted in Olive Drab and given the black wash treatment , rusty bits came out nice on this one , I'll weather it some more when it goes on a dio
Decals pinched from the Airfix Hedgehog kit , they fit ok with a tweak or 2



Crusader Mk II

Base Model: Hasegawa Crusader Mk III
Scale: 1/72

Nice little model from Hasegawa , fun to build , had to mod the gun mantlet to look like a Mk II as thats what the Aussies used , tryed to make the sand skirts from scratch but failed miserably so we'll go without !
Based on the tanks issued to the Australian 9th Cavalry in Egypt 1942
Painted in North Africa Khaki , dark wash + weathering





Maus Diorama

Model: Easymodel German Maus WW2
Figures: Italeri WW2 Anti Tank Crews ( German )
Scale: 1/72






Pre built Easy Model Maus re painted in German Dark Yellow and brushed with a dark wash , minor weathering.
Figures from the Italeri Anti Tank crews set , base set on an Imex 1/25 model display case with clear plastic dust cover
Tree $2.50 whoopee !
Decals from a 1/35 Panther set I think



Monday, August 16, 2010

Deagostini's Combat Tanks Collection

I am currently collecting the Deagostini Combat Tanks Collection , available from your local newsagent or by subscribing to Bissett Magazines in Australia , each fortnightly issue includes a magazine and a 1/72 scale die cast / plastic model housed in a plastic display case , at around $19.99 per issue it is quite good value , extra binders for the magazines and display cases are available to purchase from the distributor.
Back issues are available and this is appealing to wargamers and colllectors who can order multiple units of tanks.
After consultation with the Combat Tanks Collection forum members Deagostini announced that models from the Panzer Collection would be merged with the current collection taking it to over 100 AFV's
Quality is good overall , lower hulls in metal and turrets and adds on done in plastic , not as good as Dragon or Hobby Master some may say though they do have some extra detailing others dont , parts fit is the major letdown for this collection along with the odd wonky wheel.
For sheer variety , nothing beats this collection for the price in my opinion.

My collection so far:

M1A1HA Abrams (USA 2003) AMX-30 (France 1982) C1 ARIETE (Italy 2002)
Centurion Mk.III 1950 Challenger (UK 1984) Chieftain Mk 5 (UK 1975)
Merkava III (Israel 1990) Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 171) (Germany 1944 Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 141) (Germany 1941)
M48 A3 Patton 2 (USA 1968) M4 Sherman (USA 1944) T-34/76 (USSR 1942)
T-55A (USSR 1968) Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz.181) (Germany 1943)T-54 1978
Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 161/1) (Germany 1943)Panzarj�ger Jagdpanther (Sd.Kfz. 173) (Germany 1944)Leclerc Mk 2 (France 1997)

M2 Bradley (USA 1991) Churchill Mk.VII Cromwell Mk. IV (UK 1944)
Flakpanzer Gepard Leopard I A2 M13/40 1942
Paladin S.P. Howitzer M26 Pershing (USA 1945 StuG. III Ausf. G (Germany 1944)
AAVP7A1 (SA 1991) Cruiser Mk. VIA Crusader II (UK 1942) Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger II Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182) (Germany 1944)
LVT (A)-1 Alligator 1944 M3 Grant Mk I 1943 Puma (Sd.Kfz. 234/2) (Germany 1944)
T-72M1 (USSR 1981) T-80 (USSR 1990) Type 61 (Japan 1993)

The latest update on the collection order , 110 issues and models are planned at this stage , as of last year due to request from CTC Forum members models from the Deagostini Panzer Collection are being merged into the CTC , the Panzer collection comprises of some 60 AFV's

1) Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 181 ) 13./Pz.Regt “Grossdeutschland” Neuhammer (Germany) -1943
2) Challenger 1 UK Mainland Division ( United Kingdom) – 1984
3) M4A3 Sherman 756th Tank Battalion 5th Army ( France) - 1945.
4) Jagdpanther (Sd.Kfz. 173) Sch Pz.Jg.Abt 559, (Luxembourg) - 1944
5) M1A1HA Abrams 1st USMC Tank Battalion (Iraq) - 2003
6) T-34/76 130th Tank Brigade 21st Armoured Corps (USSR) - 1942
7) Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 171) 1.SS-Pz-Div. «LSSAH», Normandy (France) - 1944
8) Chieftain Mk.V BAOR, Brussels (Belgium) - 1979 Paint scheme is dark green and black
9) Merkava Mk.3 188 'Barak' Armoured Brigade (Israel) - 1990
10) M48A3 Patton 2, 1st Marine Tank Battalion, USMC, Da Nang (Vietnam) - 1968
11) Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf.G (Sd.Kfz.141) Sidi Rezegh (Libya) - 1941
12) Leclerc T5 501-503‘eme RCC (France) 1977
13) T-54 Czechoslovakian Army Vitava River Sector (Czechoslovakia) 1978
14) Centurion Mk3 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars Seoul (Korea) 1950
15) C1 ARIETE 132 Brigata Corazzata “Ariete” Norvara (Italy) - 2002
16) Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 161/1) 20.Panz.Div. Kursk, (USSR) - 1943
17) AMX-30 501éme RCC (France) - 1982
18) T-55A Polish Army Prague (Czechoslovakia) - 1968
19) Churchill Mk.VII 6th Guards Tank Brigade, Normandy (France) - 1944
20) M109A6 2nd Infantry Division (Mech) (Germany) - 1994
21) StuG III Ausf.G (Sd.Kfz. 142/1) Fsh.Pz.Div.” Hermann Goring” Nettuno (Italy) - 1944
22) Leopard 1A2, 4th Regiment Carri Brigata Meccanizzata “Centauro” Bellinzago (Italy) 1998
23) M26 Pershing 33 Armoured Regiment, 3rd Armoured Division (Germany) - 1945
24) M2 Bradley 24th Mechanized Cavalry Division (Saudi Arabia) - 1991
25) Cromwell Mk. IV: 11th Armoured Div (France) - 1944
26) Flakpanzer Gepard RDF Army Leipzig (Germany) - 1979
27) M13/40 Divisione Corazzata “Littorio” El-Alamein (Egypt) - 1942
28) Type 61 10th Tank Battalion, 8th Division, (Japan) – 1993
29) Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma 11.SS-Fw-Pz-Gren-Div “Nordland” Narva (Estonia) - 1944
30) T-80BV 4th Guards Tank Division (USSR) - 1990
31) Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger II Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182) s.SS-Pz.Abt 501. (Ardennes) - 1944
32) Cruiser Mk. VIA Crusader II: 1st Armoured Div., Tripoli, December 1942
33) AAVP-7A1 1st USMC Division (Kuwait) - 1991
34) LVT (A)-1 Alligator: US 708th Tank Battalion, Saipan (Mariana Islands) - 1944
35) T-72M1 1st Guards Armoured Division (USSR) - 1981
36) M3 Grant Mk.1 8th Army Tactical HQ Tripoli (Libya) - 1943
37) M60A3 5th Infantry Division (Germany) - 1985
38) Matilda MkII 7th Royal Tank Regiment Bardia (Libya) - 1941
39) LAV -25 "Piranha" National Guard New Orleans (USA) - 2005
40) IS-2 104th Arm. Regiment 7th Guards Armored Brigade. Berlin (Germany) - 1945
41) Leopard 2A5 Einsatzbataillon 1 Mechanisiertes Baterie. Orahovac (Kosovo) - 2000
42) Panzerjäger Tiger (P) Elefant (Sd.Kfz. 184) 1.Kp.Isch.Pzjg.Abt.653 Anzio (Italy) - 1944
43) Sd.Kfz 7/1 with Sd. Ah 51 Trailer: 24.Pz.Div Don River sector (USSR) - 1942
44) SU-85 13th Polish Artillery Regiment Berlin (Germany) - 1945
45) Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 161/1): 19.Pz.Div Sgfonovo (USSR) - 1942
46) Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf.B (Sd. Kfz. 186) Jagdtiger sch. Pz.Jg.Abt.653, Heidelberg (Germany) 1945
47) KV-1E 109th Armoured Division 43rd Army, Bryansk (USSR) - 1941
48) Sd. Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. D 12.SS-Pz.Div. “Hitlerjugend” Cliff (France) – 1944
49) Sd. Kfz. 250/5 Afrikakorps Tobruk (Libya) - 1942
50) Chieftain MK V, British Army off The Rhine, Berlin (Germany) 1984
51) Steyr RSO 0/1 + Pak 40 anti-tank gun 2.Pz.Div Normandy (France) - 1944
52) FAMO (Sd.Kfz. 9) - 88mm FLAK 37 26.Pz.Div. - Netuno (Italy) 1944
53) Somua S-35 1st DLM Saint-Ouen (France) - 1940
54) Sd.Kfz. 234/4 Pz.Jg.Abt.294 Ukraine (USSR) – 1944
55)Sturmmörserwagen “Sturmtiger” Pz.Stu.Mr.Btr. 1002 Miden (Germany)- 1945
56)IS-3 Heavy Tank. 21st Armoured Division, Ismailia (Egypt) - 1973
57)Sd.Kfz.232 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (8 Rad) 5.Le Div. Agedabia (Libya) - 1941
58)Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger II Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182), Porsche turret, sch.Pz.Abt.503, Normandy (France) 1944
59)Sd.Kfz. 7/2 PanzerKorps “Grossdeutschland” (USSR) - 1944
60)Steyr 1500A/01 + 20 mm Flak 38 Pz.Gren.Div. “Grossdeutschland” Poltawa (USSR) - 1943
61)Jagdpanzer "Hetzer" (Sd. Kfz. 138/2) Pz.Jg.Abt.744, Moravia (Czechoslovakia) - 1945
62)AMX-30B: Academy of Armoured Troops (Greece)
63)Sd. Kfz. 222 10.Pz.Div. Tunis (Tunisia) – 1943
64)Panzer IV L/70 (Sd. Kfz.162/1) Pz.Gren.Div. “Feldherrnhalle” Budapest (Hungary) - 1945
65)88 mm Flak 37 2.Pz.Div – Moscow area (USSR) 1941:
66)M21 193rd Tank Battalion 10th Army (Germany) - 1945
67)Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F (Sd.Kfz. 121) 21.Pz.Div Gambur (Libya)
68)Hummel (Sd.Kfz. 165) Pz.Div Feldherrnhalle, Budapest (Hungary) - 1945
69)Krupp L2H143 (Kfz. 69) + Pak 35/36 3.Pz.Div. Berlin (Germany) – 1938
70)Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär (Sd.Kfz.166) Stu.Pz.Abt.216 . Rome (Italy) - 1944



For the complete list to date see this post at the official CTC Forum - FULL LIST HERE


F.A.Q


1. How many tanks in the collection ?
 A. At last update there is 120 models planned containing models from the Panzer Collection merged into the CT collection after issue 42
2. Where can I get them ? 
A. They are currently available as part of a subscribe only part works in various countries , early issues are sold at newsagents and buyers are encouraged to subscribe to gain later issues , you can also source them on Ebay and some online stores but at increased price and no magazine usually.
3. Can I buy back issues and multiple tanks for waragmes ?
A. Yes in most cases just contact the distributor in your country

LINKS
The Combat Tanks Collection UK
DeAgostini UK

The Combat Tanks Collection Australia
Bissett Magazines Australia

The Combat Tanks Collection NZ
Combat Tank Deliverys for New Zealand Subscribers

DieCast72 Panzer

DieCast72 Combat Tanks Collection

Altaya Panzer (France)

Altaya Chars de Combat (CTC Fance)

Combat Tanks Collection Forum