From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol. 0060 20/01/2001 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Revell M113 kit 2: Airborne 6pdrs 3: USMC M47s 4: DUKW in 1:35 injection 5: Churchills, 6-pdrs and 75mm 6: Jap tanks 7: Queries from Grant Parkin 8: 1/87th Roco tanks 9: Jap tanks 2 10: 1/87th Roco tanks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: MAFVA subs from Europe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Revell M113 kit The "Revell" M113 (actually titled "M113 A1 US Army"), the markings are from Fort Hood (1963), Vietnam (1967), Germany (1990) and ARVN (South Vietnamese Army) 1962. The vehicle is the 'plain vanilla' version with 0.5" m/g. It's labelled 'Made in Italy', so I'm sure it's the Italeri version re-boxed. Unlike some of the Revell 're-boxes' it doesn't appear to offer any new parts, except the decal sheets. Incidentally, Beatties are selling it at 20% off at present. Cheers John Harris -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Airborne 6pdrs Dear all, Are there any examples of the 'airborne' 6pdr guns lurking in UK collections or can anyone point me at reference photos or a good 'how-to' article on constructing the beast. I have the Resicast 'airborne' jeep and would like something to tow. Many thanks in advance. Cheers John Harris -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Maze [jmaze@neo.rr.com] Subject: USMC M47s >Ref. John B’s query about USMC M47 usage, the reference pics are on page 68 & 71 of >Hunnicutt's Patton book. > >MJH Mark, Actually, I was the one originally questioning this, per a reference in a new book "Marines Under Armor". Can you give me more details of what's in the Hunnicutt book before I request it by interlibrary loan? JohnM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Tony Scott [owners@snuggles.buyandsell.ie] Subject: DUKW in 1:35 injection My main interest is in making plastic kits, of both WW2 and post WW2 AFVs and always in 1:35. Does anyone know if the amphibious DUKW was or is made in 1:35 plastic and if so, where can it be bought? I do not like resin, in fact I find it most unpleasant to work with and only like the injection models, viz by Tamiya, Academy, Italeri etc.. Hoping I might hear some good news. Tony Scott There were rumours of a Tamiya DUKW a couple of years ago, but I have not heard anything since. Certainly the fact that they have done the GMC should reduce the amount of work needed but is anyone else closer to the news? Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Daniel Taylor [d-taylor@dircon.co.uk] Subject: Churchills, 6-pdrs and 75mm Hi Thanks Bob for the gen. on the ACV - just goes to show how misguided ones preconceptions can be. Point one. Unable to stick to a single subject, I have practically finished reading David Fletcher's book on the Churchill. For anyone who hasn't read it yet, it was quite fascinating. It has, however, thrown up one point on tank armament that I used to be clear on and am now not so sure. I had thought that the 75mm was installed in British tanks, specifically the Churchill and Cromwell, as an improvement over the 6pdr in that it had a useful HE round. This is the view perpetuated by Fletcher and he goes on to detail some very useful Tank Board discussion and crew feedback on the subject. My one concern comes about because of a document I recently came across - a history of the 34 Tank Brigade created in 1945. This is an attractively illustrated account of the brigade's time in Northwest Europe and includes some discussion on the point. It claims that the Churchill battalions under command retained 6pdr not because of any failing of the replacement scheme, but rather because the 6pdr, with its discarding sabot shot, was vital to the battalion's ability to knock out tanks. I'd be very interested to hear any observations on the subject. Point two. I'm a little confused also about the small 'cheek bulges' of armour that appear on either side of the main gun aperture on Churchill VII turrets. Some turrets seem to have them, others don't. The plans in Fletcher's book appear to imply that the 95mm version had the bulges and that the 75mm version did not. Most of the photos bear this out. Do any of you have better evidence on this? Many thanks, Dan Taylor I understand that 6pdr APDS was indeed superior to the 75mm AP (non-DS) round. Indeed, a troop commander in Notts Yeomanry (M4A2s in 21AG) told me that they used HE in preference to AP as the HE caused more damage and concussion than the AP shot, which tended to bounce off. At least HE would smash optics, tracks etc.. I imagine that given the choice, 6pdr might well be a preferable option, although it is interesting to find that the army tank brigades found AP performance of more import than HE, given their intended role. I met a chap who was in 6GTB last year so will see what light he can shed. I read in a letter (Mil Mod, about 1979, shortly after the Tamiya Croc appeared) once that the bulges were a post-war addition, although I have not managed to verify this. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Cooper, Mike [Mike.Cooper@reading.gov.uk] Subject: Jap tanks Dear All Well, there's a thing... I'm just re-painting a Ha-Go and a Type 94 Tankette! 1/ Bellona book - not as good as Tomio Hara's two profiles on the subject. I have copies... 2/ Kits - look not for conversion articles. Yea! what you seek in 1/76th can be found in the Ostmodels lists - they do most Jap tanks bar those covered by Fujimi. Nice quality, but be patient on delivery as they have to come from Tasmania! If you're not in Reading this may not be a prob. I've just ordered another Ha-Go, and armoured car and a Ka-Mi amphib light tank. 3/ Crusader book - I have one, and can happily photocopy the conversion articles, but I feel the rest of it is superseded by David Fletcher's Osprey on the type (dodgy plates and all) I have Ostmodels Cat. on my hard drive (I think), but can easily give folk their e-mail. Anyone like my distilled notes on painting Jap tanks? By the way, has anyone heard of an overall brown being used on artillery and softskins? Mike Cooper Reading UK I seem to recollect that Ostmodels are resin, however. Gary Wenko is an enthusiast for things Japanese, so I will ask him about the colour issue. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: john.baumann@talk21.com Subject: Queries from Grant Parkin 1. When did Army & Navy Modelworld magazine start, & did it have any good 1/76-1/72 conversion/s-build articles in it which are worth looking out for? (I've got the last issue Apr88). ANSWER: This started in May 1983 and ran to April 1988. Then it became Military Hobbies which ran from May 1988 until Dec '94/January 1995 when it became defunct. >From Peter Bailey 2. Can anyone confirm that Bellona did a book about Imperial Japanese Tanks? I've seen it advertised in an old copy of Mil Mod, but haven't heard or seen of it myself. ANSWER: Yes, it's very basic, each page contained a picture and a few words on main AFVs. I have a copy (-somewhere buried in my library). 3. Does anyone have a copy of the old Airfix title Classic AFV No.1 Crusader for sale? I can swop a spare No.2 Lee/Grant if need be. ANSWER: Try Barbarossa Books. Otherwise, Peter Bailey is willing to copy plans (or parts) but note this is for 1.32 scale modelling. SAE to: 8 Vicarage Drive, Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9HA. 4.Can anyone point me in the direction of good conversion/s-build articles for Japanese tanks in 1/76? Apart from the Airfix and Fujimi Chi-Hi/SPG offerings, models of these machines are none existent in plastic (I won't pay resin/white metal prices as I'm on a limited modelling budget) ANSWER: This is true. US Casts (via Chiltern Miniatures) & Ostmodels have several items but these are resin. These companies and Cromwell seem to have cornered the market so you may just have to bite the bullet and buy direct. On the other hand, if you enjoy scratchbuilding, then MAFVA members may order plans via myself, as I am willing to photocopy material on file. An A4 SAE will secure more plans than you can handle, on the understanding that members reimburse my cost. Please be specific. 5. Is there a website dealing with Italian WWII tanks and softskins? This is another area thin on the ground outside of Italy itself, and as I don't speak Italian, translating of Italian books (if you can find them) is very hard! Also any conversion/s-build articles about Italian tanks would also be helpful. ANSWER: Again: the above applies. John Baumann -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: john.baumann@talk21.com Subject: 1/87th Roco tanks Continental Models no longer have the franchise in the UK. Peter Bailey is looking at this one for you. John Baumann -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Cooper, Mike [Mike.Cooper@reading.gov.uk] Subject: Jap tanks 2 Dear All Promising website - http://member.nifty.ne.jp/takixxx/tanks.htm Gives organisational details, unit markings, pictures and history. There is a 120mm How conversion of the Shinhoto Chi-ha I'd not seen. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: john.baumann@talk21.com Subject: 1/87th Roco tanks 2nd ANSWER Ray Warner, 15 Station Road West, Stowmarket, Suffolk. Tel 01449-675289. Some older stock was advertised, very reasonably priced, recently in the commercial press. John Baumann -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: MAFVAHQ@aol.com Subject: MAFVA subs from Europe Hi Guys, Please let folk know that the UK Banks have pulled out of the Eurocheque system. As from last Tuesday, 16th Jan, they are no longer valid to pay into the Banks here without having to pay a hefty clearing charge. So this is not now an option to pay MAFVA subs. Pity. Gary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Visit the Miniature AFV Association website at http://homepages.go.com/~mafva/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume