Rookie questions about building 1/35th Australian armor

Very clever! LMAO!

ScaleModeler_1973

Harold,

           I appreciate your and other fellow memebers having explained to me the distinction between 'Australian-operated' and Australian designed/manufactured vehicles. I knew/still know very little about my thread topic.  But I at least get it now that in many cases, we are just dealing with different markings/decals for the same tanks and artillery. Thanks too for referring me to the scalemates.com website: I am already finding it to be helpful/ chock full of useful information.

 

Harold

Harold,

           I appreciate your and other fellow memebers having explained to me the distinction between 'Australian-operated' and Australian designed/manufactured vehicles. I knew/still know very little about my thread topic.  But I at least get it now that in many cases, we are just dealing with different markings/decals for the same tanks and artillery. Thanks too for referring me to the scalemates.com website: I am already finding it to be helpful/ chock full of useful information.

Hello ScaleModeler_1973. As Skitpusher (Carlos) and Rod Gronovios have indicated few tanks except for the Matilda were indigenous to Australia. Most armor and field artillery used by Australia were British and American made and because of this when we think Australian armor, we are really talking about armor with Australian markings.

In the scale modeling hobby, Scalemates.com website is one of the best places to find specific model information. There are also several websites that feature 'build reviews' which can be helpful in deciding if you want to build a particular model. I looked but did not find many books on Australian armor perhaps because most are British and American.

One other point I would make is during some conflicts the Australian Army used American equipment that except for an American flag looked identical to American equipment. The picture below is an M109 Self-propelled howitzer like I was assigned to and it was used by the Australian Army in Vietnam.

Harold

Hi,

I don't know alot about Australian armor, but I belive that since Australia is south of the Equator you might need to build your model upside down to get it to come out right side up .  And since Australia is on the other side of the International Date Line you may either end up feeling a day behind on  your build, or is it a day ahead? 

PS.  If Australia is a day ahead, can you send me tomorrows winning lottery number.  I promise to split the winnings 50-50 (metric) or 50/2.54 to 50/2.54 in Imperial units. 

If you're willing to shell out $100+ for a resin kit or kitbash an M3 Lee, there's the AC1 Sentinel. Not cheap and I don't know how easy a scratchbuild it would be, but the Sentinel is the only tank actually built by and in Australia.

This site may help you: https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/by-country.php?Nation=Australia

Hello. I'm a little late on the reply here. But thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to my questions. (Wow - I now have a lot of information to help get me started with an Australian tank build). Hey, if anyone can recommend a good reference book for Australian armor, I'm all ears. I bet it would be interesting to read about its role/contributions during the wars (conflicts) of the 20th century. Happy scale modeling, folks!

Here is a link of what's available specifically in 1/35 that has Australian markings that is listed on Scalemates

https://www.scalemates.com/search.php?q=*&fkSECTION%5B%5D=Kits&fkGROUPS%5B%5D=%22Vehicles%22&fkSCALENORMALISED%5B%5D=%221:00035%22&fkCOUNTRY%5B%5D=%22AU%22

Off the top of my head, Dodgy, Steve5 and Aaron all know something about Oz related stuff.

Bill

Yes, for the most part, if you want to model an Austrailian tank, you buy a British or American tank and then get aftermarket decals for Aussie versions.

Some kits, like the M113A1 FSV are Aussie, and some kits include Aussie markings, but usually you have to get them yourself.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/star-decals-35-c1068-australia-tanks-and-afvs-in-ww2-part-3--1079257

Scalemodeler1973, I'm not an armor expert either but I'd send an email to one of these podcasts, "On the Bench" or the "Plastic Possee Podcast".  The On the Bench guys are located in Australia and I believe at least one of them served in the Austalian Armed Services.  The Plastic Possess Podcast has a lot of armor modelers in their group and between one of these podcasts you should be able to get your answer.

I don't build much armor, but if you research a specific tank you might find what your looking for.  After a few searches I came accross this kit:

https://www.amazon.com/MiniArt-35287-Scale-Australian-Interior/dp/B084D23S3K

We have some UK/Australian members that might be able to provide more info.