1990-1991 Gulf War 25th Anniversary Group Build

Test... 1... 2... 3... 4

Ok, things work on my laptop... that's a positive

waynec

 

stikpusher

Careful now Wayne, with 11B & me here, now there's more Grunts than DATs now in this place...  Especially since Rob decided to pop smoke a few months back...

 

 

 

 

don't forget Bish he drove FV-432s  IIRC.

Warriors mainly, but i was trained to drive the 432, though i first trained as a gunner.

So i can see 11B was a GRUNT, but what does 11B refer to.

So i take it its just on your mobile devise Stik. No, we certainly can't lose you buddy.

MOS, or Military Occupational Specialty. 11 series are Infantry, and 11B is Rifleman. 11C is Indirect Fire Infantry- Mortars, 11H, Heavy Antiarmor Weapons Infantry-TOWs. Every MOS in the US Army has a similar identifier. There are also additional identifiers for rank and skills identifiers. Example 11B2P is a Parachute Infantry Sergeant, 2 for the skill level of buck sergeant, and P for a soldier on jump status in an airbone unit.

Well it's  nice to see that I can post from my laptop... tomorrow I need to figure out why my desktop is not working with this site...

Thanks for the explanation Stik.

There certainly are a few bugs with this upgrade, more than i can remember from previous ones. Fingur'scrossed they will be able to get to it soon.

Anytime Bish. A reboot of my desktop seems to have cleared up the typing visibility problem. The odd thing is that it was only on this site. Not on any others where I participate. I posted there to make sure that was not the case.

You scared me, Stik. We don't need any more good people jumping ship.

Guys, it was not my intent to upset anyone. I apologize to anybody here that I did. I just encountered a problem on here that I never had before, and it was not happening on other forums where I post, so I immediately associated it with the recent forum changes made here. Who knows why it occured? I only know that it is gone for now. I do know that I can only do part of the stuff from mobile devices that I can on the desktop as I am not that tech savvy. So I truly hope that whatever happened is gone for good, and that the powers that be here correct all the gigs that forum members here have all already called out ASAP. 

No worries, Stik. An understandable reaction. You are human.

This is the CMK resin glareshield/ip base and included PE panel. Next I guess I start handpainting the cockpit tub, and then it'll be the point of no return decsion. To cut out the kit glareshield or wuss out and go with the kit cockpit.

The three glass displays are nice and glossy, just can't see it head on. I wonder if folks with 20/20 vision can see the color dots on PE with their bare eyes? I can't even see it with my Optivisor.

Well, I suppose it is time to at least post something on the new & improved website here. I managed to crack the Tamiya T-55 Enigma box. So here's a look inside.

Nothing special here. Just the box, instructions, info sheet, tracks and miscellaneous poly and mesh bits. The info sheet is mostly Japanese, but has a small English section on Iraqi T-55s, and a few photos and drawings. 

Then we come to the heart of the kit, which are pretty much the same as the Tamiya T-55 that was released a number of years back. Aside from the sand color plastic (yuck!), these sprues are identical to the kit's older brother, except for the hull and turret having a few mods to the mold to accomodate attachment points for the Enigma external extra armor. 

Finally, we get to the really new bits, these two sprues, which hold the add on armor, and the new Iraqi crew member figure. 

To sum things up, it looks to be a worthy variant of an already excellent kit. The sand plastic will make painting difficult to see what you're doing, so it will probably need to be primered before painting. I understand the 'peach' plastic is Tamiya's 'thing', but I wish it was just plain ol' grey, like other companies sprues. 

Finally, a word about the Enigma in general. The T-55 was widely produced in the Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact, and China, and Iraq obtained its vehicles from just about every source possible over a significant stretch of time. This means individual vehicles selected to be converted to Enigmas could have minor differences in equipment, fittings, and details from each other. Tamiya used an Enigma at The Tank Museum at Bovington as a pattern for this kit, so it may well not exactly represent the features of another Enigma. Doesn't matter to me, but if you are interested in representing an exact vehicle from a photo, you may need to do some work on the kit. 

Greg, nice work on the IP.

James,some nice info there, thanks for shareing that. Not seen this kit before or even come across this version of the T-55. Would i be right in thinking Enigma refers to the extra armour.

Super stuff James. Need to develop a handle for you.

The Tamiya T-55 is such a great kit. Get replacement tracks, you won't be sorry. I gaver up a restaurant dinner date on Fridays, ok with Ms. M.

Bish

 

James,some nice info there, thanks for shareing that. Not seen this kit before or even come across this version of the T-55. Would i be right in thinking Enigma refers to the extra armour.

 

As I understand it, the 'Enigma' name for this T-55 variant came about for the simplest of reasons - very little was known about it before the invasion of Kuwait. Other than it had been obviously uparmored, there were few hard details on it at the time, like what the extra armor was composed of, how effective it was, how many of these conversions were made, etc...Since there were a lot more questions than answers at the time, someone somewhere dubbed it 'Enigma', and the name just stuck for these uparmored vehicles. 

GMorrison

Super stuff James. Need to develop a handle for you.

The Tamiya T-55 is such a great kit. Get replacement tracks, you won't be sorry. I gaver up a restaurant dinner date on Fridays, ok with Ms. M.

 

I've gotten a start on working on the lower hull/running gear. Maybe some pictures later on if I get some more done. Not sure on any extras for this one. Nothing 'in stock' in the stash right now. I'm one of those annoying armor builders referenced in a Q&A question in the September FSM - I'll probably build about 90% of the kit before I start painting anything. It just seems the natural way to build armor, but I can see how people that are used to other kinds of kits might find it an odd way to work. 

MJames70

 

 

GMorrison

Super stuff James. Need to develop a handle for you.

The Tamiya T-55 is such a great kit. Get replacement tracks, you won't be sorry. I gaver up a restaurant dinner date on Fridays, ok with Ms. M.

 

 

 

 

I've gotten a start on working on the lower hull/running gear. Maybe some pictures later on if I get some more done. Not sure on any extras for this one. Nothing 'in stock' in the stash right now. I'm one of those annoying armor builders referenced in a Q&A question in the September FSM - I'll probably build about 90% of the kit before I start painting anything. It just seems the natural way to build armor, but I can see how people that are used to other kinds of kits might find it an odd way to work. 

 

That does seem to be the state of affairs with armor.

MJames70

 

Bish

 

James,some nice info there, thanks for shareing that. Not seen this kit before or even come across this version of the T-55. Would i be right in thinking Enigma refers to the extra armour.

 

 

 

 

 

As I understand it, the 'Enigma' name for this T-55 variant came about for the simplest of reasons - very little was known about it before the invasion of Kuwait. Other than it had been obviously uparmored, there were few hard details on it at the time, like what the extra armor was composed of, how effective it was, how many of these conversions were made, etc...Since there were a lot more questions than answers at the time, someone somewhere dubbed it 'Enigma', and the name just stuck for these uparmored vehicles. 

 

That makes sense. I was in an Anti tank platoon in the mid 90's and we did a lot of AFV recignition trainiung and we never came across this version.

I am about the same with my armour builds. About the only thing not on when i start paiting the main colours are the tools, tracks and wheels and any otehr littles bit that are not the same colour as the tank itself. I do the same with aircraft

Bish

 

 

waynec

 

stikpusher

Careful now Wayne, with 11B & me here, now there's more Grunts than DATs now in this place...  Especially since Rob decided to pop smoke a few months back...

 

 

 

 

don't forget Bish he drove FV-432s  IIRC.

 

 

 

Warriors mainly, but i was trained to drive the 432, though i first trained as a gunner.

So i can see 11B was a GRUNT, but what does 11B refer to.

 

Bish,

In the American Army, an

11B is an infantryman, mostly light infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and Rangers in 'light infantry" units.

11C indirect fires infantryman.  These are the mortar men at the company and battalion level that run organic indirect fire systems, such as the 4.2 inch mortar and 81mm mortar.

11H Anti-armor infantryman.  Back in the days of the M113-based TOW CAPS and ITVs (M901) These guys made up the organic TOW missile anti-tank company in a mechanized infantry unit, Echo Co.  11Hs were also found in the light infantry battalion's AT company, Delta Co.

11Ms are Bradley infantry combat vehicle crewmen.  In a heavy infantry battalion, Bradley Combat Team (BCT), and mechanized infantry division, these are the guys that specialize in Bradley crews: driver, commander, and gunner.  The dismount infantry squads are also 11Ms, but perform 11B functions.

11As are infantry officers assigned to any and all infantry units: light, airborne, air assault, mechanized, and Bradley.

Clear as mud, right???

TAD

Here is where the puma is in the build. 

Shoulda checked the post before I put something up!!  Thanks for getting the correct verbage into the MOSs, Stick!!

Tal Afar Dave

 

Bish

 

 

waynec

 

stikpusher

Careful now Wayne, with 11B & me here, now there's more Grunts than DATs now in this place...  Especially since Rob decided to pop smoke a few months back...

 

 

 

 

don't forget Bish he drove FV-432s  IIRC.

 

 

 

Warriors mainly, but i was trained to drive the 432, though i first trained as a gunner.

So i can see 11B was a GRUNT, but what does 11B refer to.

 

 

 

 

 

Bish,

In the American Army, an

11B is an infantryman, mostly light infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and Rangers in 'light infantry" units.

11C indirect fires infantryman.  These are the mortar men at the company and battalion level that run organic indirect fire systems, such as the 4.2 inch mortar and 81mm mortar.

11H Anti-armor infantryman.  Back in the days of the M113-based TOW CAPS and ITVs (M901) These guys made up the organic TOW missile anti-tank company in a mechanized infantry unit, Echo Co.  11Hs were also found in the light infantry battalion's AT company, Delta Co.

11Ms are Bradley infantry combat vehicle crewmen.  In a heavy infantry battalion, Bradley Combat Team (BCT), and mechanized infantry division, these are the guys that specialize in Bradley crews: driver, commander, and gunner.  The dismount infantry squads are also 11Ms, but perform 11B functions.

11As are infantry officers assigned to any and all infantry units: light, airborne, air assault, mechanized, and Bradley.

Clear as mud, right???

TAD

 

WOW, glad we don't have that, i would have never kept up. You mention the 11H in Mech and ligt Inf battalion,s but what about the Armoured Inf battalions, do they not have an AT unit. And you have a whole company dedicated to AT.

I was 3 of those during my time, a 11B, 11H and 11M. Plus a few other jobs as well.

B_one fixer

Here is where the puma is in the build. 

 

Nice to see this coming along B_one. I recall my first flight on a Puma, we had our 6 month old daughter with us and she slept during the whole trip. Couldn't believe it.

Here's the Kit ready to start the build this weekend. What color is close to the light green interior? Directions says "interior green" but that color isn't even close its to dark green.

I used to mix my own using Pacra Flat Green and Flat White. Since the Pactra line is long gone, I suggest that you do the same with Testors square bottle Flat OD Green and Flat White.

Wow, two Tamiya tanks to watch get built. It's been decades for me, looking forward to watching.

And a helicopter, which I don't recall ever trying.

Good to see this GB moving right along.

Got a little bit of work done, attaching the suspension and items for the front and back lower hull plates. Just too hot here right now in a place without an A/C to get much done, and looks like it will be for the next several days. Ignore the 40K Blood Angels Death Company in progress checking out the hull !

stikpusher

I used to mix my own using Pacra Flat Green and Flat White. Since the Pactra line is long gone, I suggest that you do the same with Testors square bottle Flat OD Green and Flat White.

 

After some more research I found an almost exact match...Tamiya Sky Xf-21

Good to see two more builds get under way.

Bish

 

Tal Afar Dave

 

Bish

 

 

waynec

 

stikpusher

Careful now Wayne, with 11B & me here, now there's more Grunts than DATs now in this place...  Especially since Rob decided to pop smoke a few months back...

 

 

 

 

don't forget Bish he drove FV-432s  IIRC.

 

 

 

Warriors mainly, but i was trained to drive the 432, though i first trained as a gunner.

So i can see 11B was a GRUNT, but what does 11B refer to.

 

 

 

 

 

Bish,

In the American Army, an

11B is an infantryman, mostly light infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and Rangers in 'light infantry" units.

11C indirect fires infantryman.  These are the mortar men at the company and battalion level that run organic indirect fire systems, such as the 4.2 inch mortar and 81mm mortar.

11H Anti-armor infantryman.  Back in the days of the M113-based TOW CAPS and ITVs (M901) These guys made up the organic TOW missile anti-tank company in a mechanized infantry unit, Echo Co.  11Hs were also found in the light infantry battalion's AT company, Delta Co.

11Ms are Bradley infantry combat vehicle crewmen.  In a heavy infantry battalion, Bradley Combat Team (BCT), and mechanized infantry division, these are the guys that specialize in Bradley crews: driver, commander, and gunner.  The dismount infantry squads are also 11Ms, but perform 11B functions.

11As are infantry officers assigned to any and all infantry units: light, airborne, air assault, mechanized, and Bradley.

Clear as mud, right???

TAD

 

 

 

 

WOW, glad we don't have that, i would have never kept up. You mention the 11H in Mech and ligt Inf battalion,s but what about the Armoured Inf battalions, do they not have an AT unit. And you have a whole company dedicated to AT.

I was 3 of those during my time, a 11B, 11H and 11M. Plus a few other jobs as well.

 

When I started, the 11H's (TOWs or 106mm Recoilless in a few select units) were assigned to the Combat Support Company (or CSC) in most types of Infantry battalions. CSC had a Scout Platoon, AT Platoon, Mortar Platoon, Air Defense Section (Redeye/Stinger MANPADS), and Ground Search Radar section. In non Bradley Mech units, when the Division 86 TO&E was established, more TOWs were added to become a full company for each Battalion with ITVs, E Co, Scout and Mortar Platoons went to Battalion Headquartrs & Headquarters Co (HHC), and the Air Defense and GSR sections went back to their higher organic parent units of the ADA Bn and MI Bn. Bradley units had no need for the E Co as each Bradley has TOW laucher, and Light and Airborne/Air Assault units kept the CSC with a TOW Platoon. First in M151 Jeeps and later in HMMWVs.

Nice work on the builds so far guys! If today is not such a scorcher out, I may be able to get to my bench and get some work done.

Thnaks for the info Carlos, its interesting to see how other nations do things.