Falklands/Malvinas War 30th Anniversary GB

Pablo, You may indeed use that photo to paint your British figures.  All of the British forces wore the same camo--DPM--during the campaign.  There were several different types of clothing worn, including para smocks, cold weather (CW) parkas and trousers, temperate DPM smocks and trousers, wet weather jackets, but all were of the same camo pattern.  There may have been some Denison smocks among some old timers from the Parachute Regiment, but I have not seen any photographic evidence of this.  There was also a bit of difference in the coloration between very early DPM clothes from the late 60s-early 70s time frame and that in the early 80s, but not enough to worry about.  Do you have more pictures than this to go on?  Even today's DPM clothing is a close enough match to that in 1982, so they can be used as a guide as well.  Personally, I use the same colors for DPM that I use for late WWII German armour--sand, red brown and green; DPM has black splotches in addition to those 3 colours.  If you have access, Osprey's old but still good Battle of the Falklands, Vol.1 Land Forces is a very good, inexpensive book to use as a guide.  I think it has some of Mike Chappell's best British uniform paintings in it.  I still use my copy daily; I even bought an extra copy on e-bay to keep on my work bench!!  Hope this helps; please ask if you need any more info.  By the way, your photo is of Royal Marines.  The thing you may need check on, depending on the regiment you want to depict, is the color of the berets; that does change from regiment to regiment.  The major ones are Commando Green for the Marines, red(crimson) for the Paras, Rifle green for Gurkhas(sic), khaki tan for guards (Scot and Welsh) .  Some of our British military friends may want to correct my colour terminology; not quite sure exactly how some colours are referred to.  Best Regards to All!          

Pablo, spook is correct, the uniform worn by British military is basically the same. Even things like Para smocks are often worn by regular infantry. The only differences would be the flashs and shoulder patchs, i am not sure what they would have been back in 82. But for Marines it would just be a small green patch on the shoulder saying Royal marines. And you could certainly replicate that photo. In fact i was hopeing someone would, that is one of the most famous photos from the war.

Spooks, the only correction i would make would be that the Paras beret is Maroon. The RMP have red berets.

Bish, Thanks for correcting my colour error on the Para beret; for some reason I could not think of the word "maroon"; comes from being online at wee hours in the morning !!  It is close to "moron", which is what I feel like for making such a grave error; apologies to the Paras for this!!  Will stick my neck out further by adding that on the Paras right sleeves, they wear square Drop Zone (DZ) patches below their parachute brevet--red for 1Para, blue for 2Para and green for 3Para ; only 2&3 Para were in the Falklands.  As far as Gurkhas, 1st Bn,7th Gurkha Rifles were present.  They wore a black triangle on their right shoulders to indicate the 1st BN.; on their left shoulders they wore company indicator patches--square for B Co.,circle for C Co.,cross for HQ Co..  Keep in mind that usually only Para smocks and temperate DPM jackets were fully badged.  Many troopers did not have time to add insignia to cold weather parkas and jackets that were issued just before deployment; this is not to say that they did not exsist!  Many at least wore rank insignia on vertical chest tabs found on CW clothing.  By the way, a 120mm figure very similar, if not identical, to the above picture is made by Imperial Galleries.  They have a whole series of 120mm Falklands era figures that are great.  Would love to get some but are a bit hard to get and expensive here in the States (thanks to a very weak dollar!!).  Best Regards!     

Bish

I remember building the Airfix MiG 23 & Viggen about 20 odd years ago. At the time i thought wow, these are awesome. But at 12 euros, guess they will be useful for a few things.

whow ... a robbery instead at the same price receive six ejection seats k-36 from pavla for my 3 tandem russian fighters (mig-29ub ,mig-31, su-34)

today i done a test fitting of viggen and was not too bad (the shape of vertical rudder not convinced me) but raised panels everywhere  

actually  too many works on , for now they remains in the boxes but in future i'll try the viggen challenge!

finally another start! 

not expert in figures but first layers seems good

No worries mate, i had to think for a while. And my stable belt is Maroon as well, so i should know better. I am not 100% certain on the DZ flashes, there is one thats red and blue, but i am not sure if thats para artillery or one of the para battalions. There is a Para on the forum who would know. Also, i am not certain if they wore the flashs back in 82.

As for the chest rank slides, there were only introduced with combat 95, which begain to be issued in 1995. before that rank for NCO's upto the rank of colour/staff sergant were on the upper right arm. WO's were on the right cuff and Officers were on both shoulders.

Bish, Did some checking; DZ patch colours stated are correct for 1982.  Believe you are correct about the scarlet over blue patch being for airborne gunners--7 Para RHA (pg.26,The British Army 1965-80, Osprey MAA #71).  Arctic windproof  combat smocks in the so-called RM pattern did in fact have rank chest tabs as well as a tab on the back as well in 1982.  There is photographic evidence to back this up.  I have one book which shows MG Jeremy Moore wearing such a garment during/after the surrender.  Also, on pg. 35 of Osprey's Men at Arms series book #156 The Royal Marines 1956-84, there is an excellent photo showing this tab on the back of a smock worn by a Marine of 42Cdo. searching a prisoner. Like all uniform articles, these smocks were worn by all regiments participating in the battle, not just the Royal Marines.  I realize the chest rank tab did not become standard until the 95 combats were issued (no. 8 temperate and no.9 tropical dress--I have examples of all combat smocks going back to the 68 pattern!) and I suspect that some troopers may have been "illegally" modifying their standard DPM uniforms with this feature--like military men in all services do (I did some "modifying" to my Air Force BDUs!).  They were on garments in 1982 though, either officially or unofficially!  I hope I'm not being a know-it-all; just like  to provide proof that I'm not pulling this from my *** (comes from writing research papers in history and being a former intel weenie!).  Pablo (or anyone)-do you know what markings may have been on Mercedes G-Wagons sent to the Falklands by Argentina?  I have a picture of a long wheelbase there but have read that the short wheelbase versions were sent as well (had just been added to the Argentine inventory).  Would like to do Revell/Germanys kit as one.  Many thanks and best regards!       

Thanks spooks. I thought they might have had them but wasn't 100% certain. I know Infantry regiments have been wearing them along time, i know mine did when i joined in late 90. But most have a very small flash, mine is just a glider on the upper right arm. But alot of non Infantry unit have been adding flashs in the last 10 years or so, and as i didn't work with paras until the late 90's i wasn't sure if these were a new thing for them as well.

In fact, ye your right about the rank slides. These items, which of course are not standard issue throughout the army, and i guess its possable that they may have just been issued when needed and ye, they would deffinatly have been modified.

And passing on information like that is deffinatly not being a know it all. The sad thing is i probably know more about WW2 German uniforms than i do about modern British Army uniforms, and i have been in 20 years. I am far from an expert. I know what i have worn and been issued, but other than that its largely guess work or what i have noticed on my travels.

Hello usafspook

 here I you put a few links in order that you see if they serve the photos you, am not a specialist in behiculos of the army, am a specialist in planes, like that for that I hope that this could help you a bit.

http://foro.aacvm.com.ar/viewtopic.php?p=1807&sid=425aa914832c3d7c757ee76a2070b29f

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh141/invmil/MERCEDEZBENZMB-230.jpg

http://foro.aacvm.com.ar/viewtopic.php?t=327&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15&sid=94c3ce5e1764b7bbc0ce8333f942e150

I wait be able to have helped yourself a bit.

Thanks to all for the help, I ask if they know where I can see photos and as it is my first time in figures do if someone knows where there is some guide of they paint this type since of unifomes.

 Regards

 Pablo

Pablo, Thanks for the pictures very much!  The second one is exactly what I need!  It appears to have the naval insignia at the bottom of the door--looks to be the same as that appearing on the LVTP-7s used during the invasion.  The other pictures are great in showing 'in-action' situations.  Was also interested in seeing the M35 'duece-and-a-half'--I thought I saw them in newsreels.  Now you have given me some more subjects to consider!!  Thanks again!!  Best Regards, Doug Burch 

a poor update for the super etendard

two layers of mat black on cockpit and seat, and white dry brush to aid find the pieces

bsyamato  You might not have much to show, but what you have is looking good.

Yes, any update is a good thing right now. I'm still trying to get a few other projects off my bench before digging into my Sea Harrier.

sorry, actually i have not computers on workbench, usually i use it for all references .. 

Hi all,

My Airfix Sea Harrier arrived today, the new tool in the red box edition:

My first impression is that it's pretty good, they're certainly trying, though the recessed panel lines are so heavy I wonder if the "crazed trencher" who used to work for Martchbox has escaped from whatever penitentiary he was sent to for crimes against the hobby... I shouldn't be so snarky, I used to love Matchbox kits. The cockpit is sparse, with decals foir instruments, but there is a stick, and there is a seat, at least. Under a closed lid it should be okay. The decals look very good, and the painting instructions are very visually engaging, on separate colour sheets.

The box art, a triumphant Harrier with an Argentine Skyhawk going down in the background, really reminds me of the classic Airfix box art by Roy Cross, with victorious Spitfires front and centre, and Messerschmidts going down in flames in the background. National pride, I guess, as well as a statement of what actually happened (in this case there was no reverse at all, IIRC...)

I'm not sure when I'll get to her, but I may have an Extra Dark Sea Grey F-4K coming along in the not too distant future, and it makes sense to pursue them as a pair, it saves loading the AB twice!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Nice to see you got the kit. I have been woundering what these new tooled Airfix kits were like. I am after a 72nd MiG 15 and torn between the Airfix kit and waiting for the eduard ones. But doesn't sound like the cockpits have improved much since i last built one of there kits. As for deep panel lines, well thats one of the things that sticks in my mind when i think of the matchbox Chinook i am building. I keep thinking they can't really be that bad, then when i look at it again, yes they are. Isn't it time this guy was locked up again.

Bish -- I'd describe the cockpit as being where Hasegawa was 30 years ago...  The panel lines, well... I have a strange impulse to fill them all in, but rescribing them is not on the cards. I have Phantoms waiting in line for that, and if I'd fancied rescribing a Harrier, I'd have pulled out the Tamiya 1:48. Scratching lines into curved surfaces is still a bit beyond me, frankly. Yep, must agree -- what is the problem with tooling engraved lines??? They can do it perfectly in the Far East, the West seems to have a hernia, with the exception of Revell Germany. Oh, and Eduard...

M/TB379

I guess the Airfix market is more aimed at those who might not pick up a modern Hase kit. While i generally try and avoid Aifix kits, i would never knock them. Without them, hardly anyone would be coming into the hobby. I know i cut my teeth on them.  Those far eastern kits are certainly better kits, but then they have a price tag to go with it.

Maybe each manufactuer represents their home nation. For Airfix, its cheap and cheerful.

Yep, that's the same kit I will be tackling first for this GB. I'm not a modern jet expert, so all I can say is that the shapes look good to me, and it seems to have quite a bit of detail for a 1/72 kit. The cockpit is what it is, an opportunity to do some bsyamato-style scratchbuilding, or cover it up with the canopy. And yes, "The Trencher" seems to have a hand in it... but the overall kit is well worth the money I paid for it.

The funny thing is comparing it side-by-side with the other kit that I picked up for this, the Special Hobby Pucara. Limited run at it's best - PE and resin details that'll probably induce weeks of squinting, darn-near perfect panel lines, decals also look great. But it didn't end up costing much more that the Airfix kit. (maybe due to the obscureness factor.)

I finished up the double cockpit, lots of detail and crowded.

Thats looking good bondo. And shows that you don't need big scale to get a nice detailed pit. Are those seat belts and the handles on the head reast AM or from the kit. Please tell me those yellow and black handles are pre coloured.

All from the kit and started out their life as stainless steel.

Here's a couple of linkies to photos I used.

http://www.patricksaviation.com/files/photos/full/10973_7775.jpg

http://www.modelersite.com/Jul2004/English/Pucara_Eng.htm

It seems to me that the aircraft really strapped in the pilots, with a combination of gold and blue nylon belt material.

great clean work bondoman!

So you painted the yellow and black on those handles. Thats some work.

on the kitchen room i done some progress on the gr3

just glued some pieces toghether and modded the fit of main gear, the kit want to glue in before to close fuselage, i disagree with this and changed the housing for the gear:

kit fits good ,not perfect but good! i like this plane! The one from matchbox was one of the first kit i builded

a strange thing, i don't see the tail cone in none of sprues! i fear something like alien adduction  

Great work Bondo! So far it looks like a grat cockpit, don´t forgt to add weight, AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! this is a big tail sitter.

Let me know if you need pictures of a particular part of the plane, I have tons LOL.

Do you know wich particular aircraft are you going to model? what about th colour scheme?

best rgards

Jere

Nice work so far! I always enjoy the looks of th Harrier, too bad that there is no new kit in 1/48 scale, I have to build one for my Malvinas war collection.

Hope you find th lost part.

best regards

Jere

Hi there guys,

This is my first post with advances in my project.

Last week I started my Super Etendard 1/48 kit. I will use the Heller kit, plus a Neomega resin cockpit, and two aftermarket decal sets, one from Aerocalcas and on fron Condors.

So far I started to paint the cockpit, I still hav o paint the fin details and do some weathering.

The IP is actually from a Etendard IV, but I don´t feel like I want to modify it since little will be see once finished.

I made some cuts in a couple of inspection doors of avionics compartmets, I plan to do a littl scractbuild here and there.

I will post better pics in a few days, still I think it will b a slow build bcause I´m working on a Sabre too...

well that´s all

bst regards

Jere

el_jere

Nice work so far! I always enjoy the looks of th Harrier, too bad that there is no new kit in 1/48 scale, I have to build one for my Malvinas war collection.

Hope you find th lost part.

best regards

Jere

 

way to do a conversion , i see one from an av-8a i think

you opened some maintenance panel on the sue? GREAT!

Also good looking cockpit only the picture are far

Nice start on the Harrier. Do you think you can scratch the missing part if it doesn't turn uo.

jere, great start, cockpit looks very good indeed. Not heard of any of those companies. Do you know there website addresses.

Great start on the Pucara Bondoman! I still can't believe the amount of detail in the cockpit zone. Resisting the urge to crack mine open... MUST FINISH OTHER KITS FIRST!!!

bsyamato - from what I've seen out of you before, dealing with a missing tailcone is not really a big deal! Nice to see one of the Harriers started up.

el_jere - the cockpit fort the Super-E look great, there was a lot going on inside that single-seater.

Bish - web addresses for the decal comanies - have a look here: www.aerocalcas.com and here: www.condordecals.com.ar