"Ersatz" Opel Blitz

There was a time 20+ years ago, when it was impossible to get your hands on a 20mm Opel Blitz and inspired by a post on Will's Wargames Blog I thought I'd share a couple of photos of two British vehicles that made their way into the miniature WW2 German arsenal.

This rehashed old Airfix Austin K6 was a solution, and the vehicle is still in my collection today from back then

Nowadays of course you don't need to go to such a ridiculous end as there are so many kits and ready-made options available.

Another "Ersatz" vehicle was this Opel Blitz ambulance bus below. This was a more recent concoction, using a die-cast Bedford OB Utility bus.  There are kits of the Opel Blitz bus available but at the time I thought that from a distance this could make the grade. 

Happy New Year to all you fellow modellers, gamers and toy collectors out there !

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.

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

Matchbox M-16 Half-Tracks

I've had these two Matchbox M-16 quad A/A kits sitting in a box for a good few years. Back when I built them the tracks broke and had planned to fix them but never got around to it.

(http://www.1-72-scale.com/2009/05/work-in-progress-matchbox-m16-half-track.html)





That was back in 2009 ...

and they've finally been finished today.



The tracks were replaced with some one-piece fixed track assemblies I got from two old wrecked Airfix Half-Tracks that came in a bag of "pre-owned" kits off ebay.



The original decals have long been lost - or used on some other kit - but I had plenty of stars in the decal spares box.

So , gven the time it's taken to finish these, it's clear I'm a very slow modeler - in spite of that, I'm pleased the way the old Airfix tracks work on these kits.

German officer with greatcoat and scissor binoculars

German officer with greatcoat and scissor binoculars mounted on a tripod. An iconic figure from the Revel Panzergrenadier set.

 He’s accompanied here by a Zvezda infantryman and Imex radiomain with a portable backpack mounted radio.




Vehicles are 1/72 MAC Distribution Opel Blitz 3t Radio Car Kfz. 305, Airfix / Heller 1/76 scale Opel Blitz & and old Academy 1/72 Kubelwagen.

Altaya Sahariana

This is an Altaya Sahariana currently on the workbench that was given to me by my good pal Carlos.

The Waterloo 1815 Italian drivers he stuck in there look really cool.

This is a first test post I'm uploading by email from my mobile.

So if you are reading this and can see the image ok, then it has worked !


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Sent from my mobile

IGB of Poland - Bedfords & Chevrolet C15

I'm posting some pictures of three 1/72 IGB kits of WWII British trucks that my regular wargame "enemy" Juan had bought specifically to use in some desert wargame scenarios.





Chevrolet and rear-view of the Troop Carrier



IGB Bedford Radio/Wireless Truck.

WW2 British Staff Car

It's not exactly Monty's Humber but I like the look of it to ferry some Brtish top brass around the wargame table.

The car's a 1/76 Oxford die-cast ready-painted model of some British car from the 30s or 40s, but the make and name of the particular car that its supposed to be escape me right now (I threw the box out after I bought it) so if someone in the know could please tell me what car it is I'd appreciate it.

Matchbox 1/76 LRDG Chevrolet

Matchbox LRDG Chevrolet dating from the seventies, it actually had "Made in England" stamped on the diorama base.

DAK - Work in Progress - Carlos (Brazo de Nelson Wargame Club)

I took some pictures last week of some 1/72 scale DAK stuff my mate Carlos has on the go when we met up at the shop where we usually game.

Repainted Altaya PzIIs



Repainted Altaya PzIVs



New Italeri Fast-Build Kubels + "Passengers"



Italeri DAK with head-swaps





Pegasus "German" Trucks





HaT German HMG Team conversions



Bunch of finished squads




Italeri Panzerjäger

Trumpeter Famo Halftrack

And a snap of the vehicle next to an Airfix Luftwaffe mechanic so you get an idea of the size.

Nebelwerfer Scratch-Build – Juan Reyes

Scratch-built Nebelwerfer

Our gaming group had a list of things we needed to build for some of the forthcoming games we had planned in the Disposable Heroes Arnhem campaign, one of those being a Nebelwerfer.

The old Esci kit still hasn't yet been re-released by Italeri and the expensive prices on Ebay for the old Esci kit made it a no-no, and resin or lead alternatives aren't really our thing, but Juan said he'd take care of it.





The rocket-tubes on the Nebelwerfer are made out of sprue, and the split-trail carriage, and wheel assembly are from the HaT Industrie German Pak-36 37mm Anti-Tank Gun.

The Steyr 1500A in the background is also another of Carlos de la Concha's Altaya-Repaints.

Aifrix Bedford QLD Conversion

Aifrix Bedford QLD Conversion by Doug Iovinelli

Second installment of some more really nice conversions by Doug Iovinell from San Diego. As per the boats in the previous post, I meant to put these on the main website some time back, but they got misplaced on my old computer and I only recently dug them out again (sorry about the long delay Doug).

"I have been slowly converting the Airfix Bedford, two months, into the QLD. The pictures should explain most of it. I used cardboard and a paper napkin for the tarpaulin. The back end is completely scratch built. It was fun painting it too. I have not yet decided what unit markings I shall paint.

Doug Iovinelli"