AFV Club 1/35 AEC Matador British Army Artillery Tractor

I'm with John Harold. It's looking terrific!

I think it's worth the effort. It's lookin' mighty good, Harold. 

I made a little progress on the camouflage painting using masking tape and hand-painting, but it is very slow and time consuming.

Harold

Dodgy

Harold, I don't really know what to say to that. I'm guessing that a number of blokes you trained were destined to become casualties.

 

Harold

Harold, I don't really know what to say to that. I'm guessing that a number of blokes you trained were destined to become casualties.

Dodgy

In 1943 the average life expectancy of bomber command air crew was 3 weeks. Sobering thought isn't it.

PS. I'm glad you both enjoyed the Aussie language lesson. Just a bit of fun. We also have a habbit of speaking to our mates as if they were our worst enemies. It tends to confuse visitors though. And John, if you ever come to Oz, ignore people who tell you to watch out for the 'drop bears'.

 

Update: After I said 3-minutes I decided to do a fact check and this is what I found.

https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/radiomen-life-expectancy-vietnam-war/

Harold

Dodgy

Awsome info mate. Have the RCAF any records?

 

Harold

In 1943 the average life expectancy of bomber command air crew was 3 weeks. Sobering thought isn't it.

PS. I'm glad you both enjoyed the Aussie language lesson. Just a bit of fun. We also have a habbit of speaking to our mates as if they were our worst enemies. It tends to confuse visitors though. And John, if you ever come to Oz, ignore people who tell you to watch out for the 'drop bears'.

Awsome info mate. Have the RCAF any records?

Yes. Thanks Rob. That was a fun, informative lesson in Aussie lingo.

I felt privileged to be able to visit the Bomber Command memorial in London in March 2019. It's important to remember the losses that RAF Bomber Command suffered along with those of the U.S. 8th Air Force during the campaign over Europe in WW2. I'll always try to think of their sacrifice for we who came after.

Sad to have lost folks, but great to have historical pieces like that.  I have some things from my English Great Grandfather who died at the 3rd battle of Ypres in WWI and my Grandfather who was English coastal artillery(gunnery?) in WWII. 

I really like this project - from the vehichle to the paint scheme.  I've had the Tamiya quad gun tractor and  25 pounder in the stash for years wanting to do this camo so please, lots of pics on the technique!

Thank you, Rob for an introduction to real Aussie lingo.

On a more serious side, military history is one of my interests. Below is a picture I recently found of my Uncle Harold who I was named after. Like John he was in the Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force. Many American, Australian and Canadian airmen were trained in Canada by the RCAF to fill ranks in the Royal Air Force during the early years of World War 2. Uncle Harold was one of them.

He was born in 1918 on a large dairy farm (2,000 acers) in central Missouri. He wanted to be a pilot more than anything, but at the start of World War 2 the United States did not enter the war, so Uncle Harold went to stay with relatives in Nova Scotia, Canada and he joined the RCAF. There is no information about his training or even when he left Canada, but history books indicate the RCAF training lasted about two years. Working backwards from what we do know he would be about 22 years old when he received his wings.

We believe that he arrived in England in late 1940, or early 1941 as a Flight Sergeant Pilot, just in time for the North Africa Campaign I imagine. Uncle Harold wrote his family that he was a fighter pilot. Around 1944 we found records that show he had been transferred to 153 Squadron of Bomber Command (volunteer night bombers) and was now a Flying Officer Lieutenant and Pilot of Lancaster Bombers. Uncle Harold and three of his crew died in Laon, France 17 December 1944 on return from a mission over Ulm, Germany, he was 26 years old.

I never met my Uncle, but I lived in his house and heard my Mother and Grandmother talk about him often. Uncle Harold's generation have all passed away now, but I plan to write to the Air Ministry of the RAF and request as much information about him as they will provide. I have seen his grave at the Canadian War Cemetery in Dieppe, France. I also joined a group in Britain a few years ago call 153 Squadron Association in the hope I would meet someone who had a picture of my Uncle. A few days ago his picture mysteriously showed up on the Internet with supporting documents. I have no idea how or why it suddenly appeared.

Harold

g'day Harro and Johno. So here's a few Aussie terms.

Blowfly - dunny budgie

dunny - toilet

budgie - a small native bird that has proved to be very popular and is often bred in captivity.

stoush - a fight

blue or rangar - a redhead. a blue is also a fight.

strewth - an exclamation of suprise

dingo - a native wild dog, yellow in colour. - a coward or a backstabber

the Never Never - the outback. A reference to the magic and mystery of Aboriginal beliefs.

The Dreamtime - Aboriginal view of their history and beliefs.

Beyond the black stump - the middle of nowhere

She'll be right mate - it'll all be ok

Sheila - a female

Drongo - an idiot, also a whacker

Wanker - a person who thinks they know everything

Pub - the most wonderful place on God's earth. Where a bloke can get a beer.

Bloody and bugger - two of the most useful words in the English language. i.e. The blooder bugger ran of with me sheep, or, bloody hell, I'll kill that bugger on day, or bugger me! The last is a statement of amazement.

Digger - an Aussie soldier, also shortened to 'Dig'.

Ginger beer - *** or engineer

Turret Head - tankie

Blue Orchid, or Zoomie - airforce

Pongo - soldier Where the army goes, the pong goes.........

Pusser - sailor. No, it's not what you think. Its' the family name of a prominent ship's chandlers from Lord Nelson's days. i.e. pusser's issue.

dead horse - tomatoe sauce

Walkabout - to take off with no particular destination in mind

Fair Dinkum, or just Dinkum - the honest truth

The good oil, as above.

Furphy - a rumour. Named after the manufacturer of a water cart that was used on Gallipoli. As the cart went from point to point where soldiers gathered to have their canteens filled, the rumours went with the cart. What you blokes would call scuttlebut.

Pom - a person from Britain

Septic Tank - Yank. Sorry bout that, but.... This is an educational program.

Walloper - a copper/policeman. Also known as a 'jack'

Well boys, theres a few things for you to ponder from the land down under. I hope you get a good laugh!

Sophistication is overrated. Keep doing what you're doing. We love it.

Thanks mate. I like to be positive and have a bit of fun. I also love our slang, but a lot of it is falling into disuse as we become more 'sophisticated', so I make an effort to use the old sayings when I can.

Ok Harro, I'll give you and Johno a bit of a rundown on some Aussie slang, but fist of all I've got to let my chooks out, so stay tuned. Oh, 'chooks', means chickens/hens.

Dodgy, don't worry. I love the interchange between you and Harold. Never been down under, but know a little Aussie slang. You keep being you! 

Dodgy

Sorry mate. I was being a bit of a smartaleck and put in a bit of Aussie bull. A 'cobber' is a mate, a good friend in our slang. We also like to whack an 'o' on the end of everything, so over here Harold becomes 'Harro'. 'Old' is often attached to things with no intended reference to the person's age, more to do with how long they've been friends, or as a term of endearment. i.e. G'day old mate. Sorry if I caused any confusion. It was the comment from your mate John about missing the humour, so I thought I'd chuck in something Paul Hogan like.

 

Harold

Sorry mate. I was being a bit of a smartaleck and put in a bit of Aussie bull. A 'cobber' is a mate, a good friend in our slang. We also like to whack an 'o' on the end of everything, so over here Harold becomes 'Harro'. 'Old' is often attached to things with no intended reference to the person's age, more to do with how long they've been friends, or as a term of endearment. i.e. G'day old mate. Sorry if I caused any confusion. It was the comment from your mate John about missing the humour, so I thought I'd chuck in something Paul Hogan like.

M1GarandFan

I'm doing well, Harold. Hope you are too.

Boy, the lorry and the 40mm bofors look really great! I finished up Takom's jeep and trailer last year and then, inspired by your 3 inch AT gun and the 40mm, I got and am working on AFV Club's 105mm M2A1 howitzer. Since it's still not painting season here, I also got Tamiya's M8 Greyhound to work on. I'll have plenty to paint when I finally get to it. 

Still watching your project and anticipating a wonderful finish.

 

I made some progress with the Matador camouflage painting. I finished the S.C.C. 14 British blue-black (Tamiya Nato Black) paint on the undercarriage and top of the tractor, so I am ready to do the sides, front and back.

I practiced making circles with stencils, masking tape, masking putty, stipple form brushes and paint brushes to create the 'Mickey Mouse' style scallops that will look like 'The Old Lady' camouflage pictured below. Every method I tried has issues, but I think the best method will be hand painting. It is the most challenging for me because I am not a good free-hand painter, but it will look more realistic than the other methods I have tried.

Rob, I don't know if the matador is a 'cobber', but I certainly feel like one some days. I will be 75 soon and I am not ready to be an old cobber yet.

Harold

Looking great Harold. Even if the painting doesn't necessarily work out 100%, the washes and weathering will bring it all together. I reckon she'l come out a right beaut cobber!

I'm doing well, Harold. Hope you are too.

Boy, the lorry and the 40mm bofors look really great! I finished up Takom's jeep and trailer last year and then, inspired by your 3 inch AT gun and the 40mm, I got and am working on AFV Club's 105mm M2A1 howitzer. Since it's still not painting season here, I also got Tamiya's M8 Greyhound to work on. I'll have plenty to paint when I finally get to it. 

Still watching your project and anticipating a wonderful finish.

M1GarandFan

Actually,  I think we all missed that humor. I hang on all of your words. Keep up the conversation!

 

I finished the S.C.C. 15 British Olive Drab painting, so tomorrow is the real test for me. I have practiced flattening MIG Masking Putty with my wife's rolling pin, then cutting scallops with a hobby knife to create the 'Mickey Mouse' style of camouflage pattern that I am attempting to reproduce from the picture of 'The Old Lady' shown below.

The masking putty will be applied in sections over the British Olive Drab paint along the sides, front and back of the tractor body. Then all of the exposed surface, top and bottom will receive one or two light coats of Tamiya Nato Black to represent the S.C.C. 14 Blue Black color used for camouflage in 1944 Northern Europe.

Harold

Actually,  I think we all missed that humor. I hang on all of your words. Keep up the conversation!

Dodgy

Very funny mate. I could tell you some stories about crocs. Some of them might even be true!

 

Harold

Very funny mate. I could tell you some stories about crocs. Some of them might even be true!

Dodgy

I haven't been on the site for some time Harold, so I'm doing some catch up. (Haven't been doing much at the bench either for that matter). Your matador is looking fantastic. Now I'll have a look at your Bofors build. Great work old mate.

 

Harold

I haven't been on the site for some time Harold, so I'm doing some catch up. (Haven't been doing much at the bench either for that matter). Your matador is looking fantastic. Now I'll have a look at your Bofors build. Great work old mate.

Gamera

Looks pretty darn good to me Harold. How much more do you have left to go?

 

Originally, I did not plan to use the 'Mickey Mouse' pattern, but Mike Starmer gave me information about the pattern that changed my mind. The War Office of the British government in World War 2 issued a directive to paint vehicles like the Matador with a foliage pattern; however, AEC and other manufactures could not mass produce a foliage pattern so the paint crews, which were mostly women came up with and alternative that was applied in the factory with circle templates. Thousands of British military vehicles had this pattern in one form or another during the early years of the war.