Repurposed Diecast Matchbox Superkings Scammell Contractor

A repurposed old diecast matchbox Scammell Contractor as a postwar British tank transporter.

I'd planned on doing this for some time after a wargame buddy of mine Iván gave me lovely old diecast model from the Matchbox Superking's range a couple of years ago. He knows I'm a sucker for these old toys, whatever condition they're in.

Made in England in 1971 .... and by the look of it, in that 52 year period the toy's obviously been through a lot ! 

Paint scratched, grille's disappeared, busted up at the bottom, and God only knows what happened to the wheels, looks like someone's been at it with pliers, or even the dog's had it. 

Definitely what some e-bay descriptions would class as "played with" condition.

This Superkings version originally had a trailer and carried two long construction pipes, and also there were some other versions, such as one without a trailer that was a wrecker too if I'm not mistaken.

I had a trailer in mind using a Chinese 4D Models KrAZ-260B Russian tractor / tank transporter that also donated replacement wheels.

Stripping off the 52 year old pink metallic paint before I gave it a new paintjob didn't go as well as I planned, the paint was pretty resistant and was certainly made to last.

Even though I left the paint remover on for 24 hours, it wasn't 100% successful. It did get quite a bit off but there was still a lot of paint left so I had to resort to using a little fine wet sandpaper to get most of the paint off the leading edges where the model will get the most handling. 

The remaining pink paint lost all its shine and went completely matt, so I did in the end have a decent base for the undercoat.

I used a matt black enamel spray undercoat. Nothing fancy, I've found that the cheapo enamel spray paint I can get from a local tat shop is pretty good strong resistant stuff, albeit very strong smelling - not something you can use in the house though.

I added the replacement wheels and an engine grille was made from a cut-down plastic window shutter I found in the spares box

Once undercoated, it was painted in an olive drab base colour and finished off with an amber beacon on the cabin roof made from a repainted diode.

I realise it won't get much use on the wargame table, but we can use it as clutter scenery for some kind of future game scenario.

Besides, it was an enjoyable process getting to grips with an old toy like this and trying to give it a new lease of life

Some work in progress - M35 Truck by 4D Models

I posted about these kits some time ago (HERE) and recently saw a good offer on the internet for a set of five so being a sucker for cheap-as-chips offers that are too good to refuse, well of course I ordered them - and just got them a couple of days ago.

I did a bit of chopping up and these reliable workhorses might be able to serve in a few modern game scenarios in other roles rather than just as the basic truck

I had an old 1/87 scale Roco Dragon Wagon that I was never going to use so I cut off the cab and swapped it for the M35 cab.

Hey presto !  An M275 Truck Tractor that it can now also be used to tow this military container.

I'm pretty sure the M35 wouldn't be suitable in this role for towing a huge load like this, I don't think it's powerful enough, but I might be wrong, and please feel free to leave a comment in the comments' section if you do know. 

In any case, in spite of any inaccuracies I can live with them as these are just gaming models.

However, this next configuration really is pure fantasy. A long wheelbase and multiple wheels. 

The platform and crane came off a toy. Be kind to me, in my mind's eye it looks at least feasable. 

Next step will be painting, I'll try and update this article once they're painted with some pictures.

Keep safe all.

Hell's Angels in 1/72 scale

On a previous post  I mentioned on the blog that I'd seen some Hell's Angels / bikers in plastic in 1/72 scale in a board-game based on a series called "Sons of Anarchy".

I've never seen the series and I only played the board-game once, but what really interested were the figures.

My good mate Carlos was having a clear-out during the lockdown and when we got together after the distancing restrictions had eased he came round and gave me a dozen or so of these bikers. Lucky me !

I test painted a couple of them over the weekend and they do look the business.

The figures all have the same pose unfortunately, but I think that with some cutting and converting, a few head swaps, and maybe cannibalizing the Italeri 1/72 German motorcycles and combos, I could get a nice gang of marauding bikers for a near-future / post-apocalyptic / zombie-dawn-of-the-dead kind of game scenario.

New toys : 4D Models M35 truck in 1/72 scale

I wanted to share some pictures of two new toys the postman brought direct from China a couple of weeks ago.

They're sturdy little models that go together quickly.

I found that the little steel pins that are used as axles for the wheels are too long.

Fortunately I was able to cut them down with some strong cutters.

Next to an Academy 1/72 scale M35 Truck (on the right). They size up ok

The box-art is little surreal. Apart from being a mirror image of the truck (and now a right-hand drive model), it seems to be parked in the smouldering ruins of some old central European city.

A nice model that will most likely find its way into some modern skirmish games.

You can see some more information about this kit on Ey's excellent "1/72 Multiverse" blog on the following link :

http://72-multiverse.blogspot.com/2019/05/4d-quick-build-models.html

Lockheed AC-130 Hercules Gunship - Toys for wargaming

My imaginary near-future "Seven Star Nation" has just received a valuable asset in the form of a Lockheed Hercules AC-130 Gunship



Ok, so it's a toy, ..... but it's a huge, strong, and very sturdy toy, AND it scales out really well with my 1-72 scale forces.







I saw it advertised on "Wallapop" a couple of weeks ago and the guy who was selling it lived near me so I sent him a message and when I got this off him I was really really pleased to find that it wasn't some cheapo flimsy toy.

I didn't know who the manufacturer was at the time, and according to the guy who sold it to me, it's about 15 years old, maybe even a little more. At first I though it might be from the Micro-Machines range, but I couldn't find any pictures of it online but I was later told that it's a Galoob "C-130 Warbird" from their Battle Squads sets.

It comes with two 1/72 scale pre-painted crew figures, who look very similar in style to micro-machines figures.

It has a cargo bay door that opens and closes too, and the 20mm figures and vehicles here just how well it scales out.



All in all a great addition to the Seven Star Nation's forces.

Modern / Post-Apoc ; Police - SWAT - Paramilitary - 1/72 - Finished

These new recruits have just graduated off the Police Academy painting table (see previous post here) and are ready for action in a forthcoming modern / dystopian future / post-apocalyptic wargame.

1/72 Scale Secret Service Agents / Bodyguards Conversions

The 1/72 "pistoleros" conversions from a previous post are now painted and finished, and in their black suits, they couldn't be anything else but Secret Service Agents

So below in their new job they're posing here flanking a couple of high-ranking politicians.

The guy with the red-tie is loosely based on someone who seems to be constantly in the news recently....

Figures are all 1/72 scale Dapol hard-plastic railway worker figures, with some modifications and all with completely new heads.

Modern / Post-Apoc ; Police - SWAT - Paramilitary - 1/72

Working at present on a bunch of generic modern-day Police / SWAT/ Paramilitary Law Enforcement types for modern / post-apoc game scenarios

These are a mix of figures from various brands, Esci US 1990s Infantry, Zvezda US Infantry, Revell US & German Modern Infantry, an Esci / Italeri US vietnam war figure, Orion Modern Russian with a headswap, even a couple of Matchbox 1980s British Paras have snook in there.

The guys with the cops' typical peaked caps got their heads from the Revell Kriegsmarine WWII German Navy set. The heads were added as per this article on the MiniatureZone website.

The armoured vehicles are repainted Matchbox Hot-Wheels cars. 

The cars were given new wheels taken off some old Russian trucks.

More pictures will follow as work progresses on these guys.

Modern "Pistoleros" - 1/72 scale conversions

Two suited Uzi toting figures that could be either good guys or bad´uns.

These are conversions from a couple of different sets. Anyone hazard as guess as to which sets have been used to make the figures ? 

New additions to the stash

I've never been one to look a gift-horse in the mouth, so when my mate Iván said he was having a clear-out and that he had some modern stuff in 1/72 for me, well,.... I just couldn't say no.

A partially built Esci T-62 - very nice indeed. This MBT can be used by a variety of nations in a multitude of game scenarios.

 

A new unbuilt Trumpeter Zil 157 Fuel Truck -  will be a nice addition on the table for modern game scenarios we've got in preparation.

Two BTR-70 in resin. The box looks home-made and the parts look like resin copies of resin copies. God only knows where Iván got this, where it was actually made, or how it will go together. Resin kits are way down on my favourites list, but I'm game to give it a try and see how it goes.

And finally, (DRUMROLL) the icing on the cake - "UK Falklands" it says on the outside of the box !

I'll unbox these in another post, and they´re well worth waiting for - all very nicely painted up by Iván.



Cheers till the next time,

John