OFF TO THE THEATER! - African Operations of World War II - 2021 GB

The Spitfire Vb operated in N.Africa with RAF, RCAF, Polish and South African Squadrons.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Air_Force

 The tiny island of Malta, though not part of the African continent, played a major role in stymying the Axis success in NA.   Up to John if they would include it.

regards,

Jack

UnwaryPaladin

Would this kit qualify for the group build? Was based on Malta, markings are as she was during Operation Torch. Malta is technically part of Europe, so your call! I have a 109 somewhere if this kit is a no-go.

 

I'm going to stick with the 109, not sure with the details but know it operated out of Africa. This spitfire was based in Malta, bomber escort in operations over Sicily, so the 109 is a better fit.

Would this kit qualify for the group build? Was based on Malta, markings are as she was during Operation Torch. Malta is technically part of Europe, so your call! I have a 109 somewhere if this kit is a no-go.

The suspension was completed adding 24 small parts using a toothpick and tweezers

The remaining wheel assemblies were completed and the side skirts were added. One side required clamping for proper alignment.

Beautiful job AA , your truck is gorgeous.

I started assembly on the body which looks simple but it’s not. Too many angles that need to be correct to match the top parts but it was finally done and attached to the chassis.

The 8 wheels are next, having 6 parts each x 8, total of 48 parts to complete all 

I’m using small plastic tubs labeled with each sub assembly to keep things organized.

Wow!  That is a great piece!

Final reveal pics of the Bedford truck with flak gun; she is DONE!

(Use picture #4 in this sequence as the front page gallery pic. Thanks!)

Latest progress: decals are applied, and my soft "canvas" top made of tissue is applied.  Not perfect, but for my first attempt at making this kind of top, it'll do.

Also mounted the windshield, but I don't know whether to add the molded soft top for the cab.  Leaning toward leaving it off, as it otherwise obscures the cab interior details:

Added a Caunter scheme camouflage pattern, got the gun mounted in the truck bed, and added an overhead framework.  Need to apply decals and create a canvas cover (from tissue, soaked in white glue and water) to go on the overhead frame:

Finally finished pinning both track runs, all that is needed is to grind the excess wire down and give a touch with CA.  This weekend they will get a batch in etching fluid.  Hoping to get this wrapped up within the month...a month and a half after I initially planned.   

AA- Good work and nice Flak gun! 

bufflehead- Sweet Pz.1 there! 

Glamdring- Complex! Keep up the the great work! 

I'll get the roster all updated as it needs. As for my Wildcat, I really gotta get working on that again. My Korean War diorama for the Forgotten War GB has come along pretty far, though. I'll have to post update photos on that thread.

I also bought another Wildcat (1/48 this time). Quick question, what are the differences between the F4F-4 and the F4F-3?

That's going to look awesome AA!

So, latest progress on the Bedford QL truck; construction is almost complete:

And the Flak 38 gun to be installed in the back is completed:

Progress is being made with the tracks and beading needles. I have been pinning runs of approximately 10 links together, cut off the needle with my Dremel, and moving on to the next.  I can get 4 track pins from each needle, if I had more confidence with my dremel skills I could probable get a 5th from all the excess sticking out, but I have more needles to spare than tracks.

Last step will be to grind down the excess and dab some CA on the end to hold the pin in.  

Latest progress on the Bedford. I got the cab interior finished and the cab and wheels mounted to the frame, and the 20mm flak gun that is to be mounted in the bed is coming right along:

Evening all!

I managed to get started on the little Pz. I.  Over the weekend I worked to get most of the major assembly done.

Suspension & tracks first:

Hull and turret:

About halfway through the upper hull I noticed that a few parts were missing from the kit.  I think I stole them years ago for an old Italeri Panzerbefehlswagen....things like the jack and other tools.  Ah well, I'll figure out what to do about them later! 

Have to work double shifts this coming week so no work on the kit for the next few days!  Might give me time to figure out how to replace the missing kit parts!

I remember some years back at a local military collectibles show a vendor who had a white British style pith/cork helmet with the German badges affixed to the side.  When I asked what the deal with that was, he claimed the Germans overran a storage depot in north Africa and issued the helmets found inside.  I thought it sounded fishy, so passed on it because I wanted an authentic AK helmet.  For several years I saw this same helmet sitting on the same table by the same guy.  I tried researching this tale, but could never find anything.

Eventually, I decided I was going to make an offer on it after the 4th year in a row.  Naturally it was gone, and hasn't returned since.  

Just a random thought brought on by your idea, Armor_Aficionado.

Oh, I also decided to make a change to may Bedford QL truck project.  The original version of this kit (under the Max Peerless brand) was a gun portee equipped with a six-pounder gun; when Italeri re-released the kit, they just issued the truck, with no gun.  Since the truck looks a bit empty, I've decided to go ahead and include a gun.  I'm going to install a German Flak 38 20mm gun and depict it as a captured British truck which the Germans have pressed into service as a mobile gun platform:

Latest WIP on the Bedford truck, working on finishing the cab interior:

Finally finished drilling out the links for the other track run, went much faster than the 1st set.  Now I am in a holding patern until the pins arrive, hopefully Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

Nice work AA!

I decided last night that I am going to forget the cut brass wire pins that Friulmodel wants me to use, after stabbing myself 3 time in the course of assembling 20 links.  I am going to substitute it with #11 beading needles instead.  These should go faster as they are more rigid so I can use my mini peening hammer, and I should get 3 or 4 link pins per needle.  

Pouring more money into this project isn't my ideal, but I figure my fingers are worth an extra $10 for the cheap-o bulk needles I found on Ebay.

Latest progress on the Bedford:

Awesome!  Thanks John 3:16 KJV! 

So I looked through the stash and I want to submit these two kits for the build:

Dragon Panzer I Ausf. A

And an Italeri Crusader Mk. I

Both have been in the stash for a while and I've been looking for a good reason to build them! 

Bufflehead, you can absolutely join up! Welcome!

Good work there, Glamdring! Those are a lot of links! 

Hey John 3:16 LJV!  Would you mind if I joined up?  Finished or put on hold all my other projects so I have time for some desert madness!  I have a load of N. Africa kits that are itchin' to be built!

An old update from last weekend, all pieces are now affixed to the tank.  And the "commander dummy," as Tamiya refers to him, is temporarily occupying his spot.

My week has otherwise been bogged down with more mandatory OT and drilling out the holes of the Friuls.

This is one side all drilled out, 120 links or so.  I have not opened the other bag yet, won't do until the other run is pinned and installed.

Finally got started on my Bedford truck today, engine and chassis work:

Nice John, even that putrid green cockpit.  

I am nearly finished with the PE after last night, just a few more bits to go:

I knocked loose the Jerry Can rack at some point in this process, I need to reglue one side of it to the fender.

That rack was really my only major mishap so far.  I had a usual case of the dropsies after bending it into a box, and it naturally landed right behind my chair wheel...resulting in a flattened box.  It took an evening of unbending, straightening, and flattening with a hold 'n fold and a peening hammer to get it back to its current condition.  I thought of trashing it and cutting the storage case off the original fender instead, but I kind of like this dented and mangled look.  I'll dig through my spares to try and find some cans to put in it, that may help give it more structure.

The kit shovel also disappeared, but all that was needed was the handle, Aber replaced the metal part, so I grabbed a spare from the extras box and did a little extra trimming because it was a modern era shovel with a grab handle at the top.

Speaking of spares, I will be looking through the spares box for a DML/Dragon MG34 to use instead of the horrid gun Tamiya wants me to use.  I may end up just ordering an aftermarket MG34 barrel instead to match the main gun.  In for a penny...

On to the Friuls!