Yes, since there was no ground combat in the UK, any and everything in the UK was technically being used for training before it was shipped overseas for active duty. It doesn't mean, though, that such a vehicle stayed in the UK or that it was always used exclusively for training. Normal combat units trainied all the time right up until they were shipped out and then they might train some more "in theatre" until they moved up to the front lines and were put into combat

Paul

Thanks for the comments Paul. I think no matter what genre of model building you do there is always research. I would definately like to build a handfull of Canadain WWII AFVs but will also build others as well. A few German maybe some Russian. I think to get books on all these vehicles could get mighty expensive. So I'll try to use the internet for most of my research if possible. Is there any one book that is a must have for Canadian Armour building?

Ain't that the truth. The more I want to build a great model, the more "right" it needs to be, the more research I need to have.

Well, yes it has cost me a lot of money. And I mean a LOT.
This is my library in my basement:

http://gallery.kitmaker.net/showphoto.php/photo/239615

http://gallery.kitmaker.net/showphoto.php/photo/239614

But having the depth of information at my fingertips is more than worth it.



Web sites come and go. Info on the web is not necessarily reliable nor is it permanent. Once you own the book, you always can access the information.


Well, it depends on what you're looking for. History? Markings? Model builds? Mostly photos? Mostly text?

There are several books that are good groundings for each of these areas but there is no one book that will do everything for Canadian armour. Or any other country's armour, either, for that matter.

Commonwealth armour, in general, is poorly served in general books, but there are books out there that can help depending upon what you're actually looking for.

Paul

Thanks again for the comments Paul. That's a nice space you have there. I guess I was looking for a book that would cover the Canadian ASFVs of WWII. Something that has specifics on markings, colours and what particulars they would have had as opposed to other countries. I know there probably is no one book. I'm aware that there are books just on Churchills and whatnot. You'd probably have to have one or two books just on a particular vehicle if you wanted to be accurate. I find the Armoured Acorn site is a good one as it will tell you what vehicle, markings as well as what infantry or division. Some more particulars and real photos would be further help.

Hey Collins

There are several sources of books on Canadian armour, but none are complete or "one stop shopping".

For a good overview try this:
Canadian Armoured Corps: An Illustrated History
http://www.amazon.com/Royal-Canadian-Armoured-Corps-Illustrated/dp/1896941176

Service Publications has vehicle specific booklets that are cheap in comparison:
http://www.servicepub.com/

If you are looking for something right out of the box and Canadian, that's pretty hard... The Bronco Staghounds are close, the Miniart Dingo MK II is pretty close, Tasca Firefly is close along with a long list of other Shermans. The one draw back from all of these are markings but some suggestions have been listed above to aid in this...

Yet another one to throw out there... Ever think of using the new Matilda or Valentine kits and doing on in Canadian markings? Again these will probably not be perfect right out of the box, but I haven't done my research on them to know either way yet... just thought I'd throw that out there incase someone has already looked into it. I'm curious to know myself.

PS - Thanks for the comments on my two builds! Much appreciated!!

PPS- Where in NS do you live? I'm originally from there and head home from time to time.

Send me a PM anytime! Cheers!

Carmen

Thanks for the suggestion Carmen. I thought about the Matilda III but it seems that Canada used the Matilda II. Perhaps there isn't much difference and few mods would do the trick? I also saw the Miniart Valentine but it's a little pricey for me. Maybe in the future I'll pick one up a little cheaper. Nice looking tank though. I do have a Miniart Dingo but it's a Dingo III. Darn! It sounds to me that Canada didn't use them so I'll have to get a Dingo II if I want to do a Canadian version.

I think some of those Service Publications booklets would come in handy. Do you know how much specific info on each vehicle they give?

The RCAC book is a good one to have, for sure, but there is no one book that covers all the gound you are looking for. The RCAC book is what it says, a history of the Armoured Corps. You can get a lot of detail on the organisation but not a whole lot on the vehicles themselves.


I'm afraid that simply doesn't exist in one place.
[quote] You'd probably have to have one or two books just on a particular vehicle if you wanted to be accurate.[quote]
I have 5 and 10 books on some subject vehicles in an effort to be accurate. And, for some vehicles used in large numbers, like Shermans or Stuarts, even that isn't enough.


Barry's site is quite good, but is focussed on one aspect of Canadian armour. You are looking for a really broad selection of information. Go to your local library and look for the RCAC history and then look in the that area for other Canadian Military histories. Join a local modelling club and ask around and someone will surely have books you can look at or borrow.

Once you have specific questions, ask again here and some of us will be glad the help.

Paul

Unfortunately there is no club close to me. I live in a small town. But maybe I could check the library. I was hopeing perhaps there were some good kits out there you could build as a Canadain WWII vehicle right out of the box to keep things simple to me. I don't mind buying decals but I didn't want to spend an extra $100 bucks or so buying books, PE etc. for each build. I still like to "pretend" this is a cheap hobby. I do hear what your saying Paul. The info on Canadian armour is slim and scattered. Seems your all set with all those books!!

So far from what I can gather there are a few kits that are pretty close out of the box with a few exceptions such as decals. Incase anybody else is in the same boat I am these kits are; Bronco Staghounds (decals included), old Tamiya Quad Gun Tactor with Field Gun kit (decals included), the up coming AFV Club Dieppe Churchill (decals included), Miniart Dingo II ( may or may not need decals?), Dragon Sherman Firefly Ic Hybrid (needs decals), Tamiya Universal Carrier (needs decals), Miniart Valentine (needs decals) and AFV Club M5A1 Stuart (needs decals).

There are a small number of other possibilities too.I've been told the Tamyia Matilda III is not much different than the Canadian used Matilds II. It sounds like the Tasca Sherman M4A4 and M4A2 maybe pretty close. The dragon M3A1 half track maybe be a possibility as well but I'm not sure on this. Academy Makes an M7 Priest but I don't know much about the accuracy of this kit. Anyway, these are the kits i've learned about. I'm sure there are a couple more.

Always happy to help with Canadian armour.
1. Tasca Sherman V or Vc.
Depending on the theatre you choose, you can buy three or four generic sheets from Archer and use them to craft what you need.
For example for Sicily and Italy you'd need:
Canadian unit and formation signs Item # AR35130
Canadian unit and formation signs Item # AR35129
Canadian unit and formation signs Item # AR35133
British war department numbers Item # AR35084W

This would give you enough flashes for the Tasca Sherman V and associated vehicles from 1st Armoured Brigade.
35133 also includes symbols for 1st Canadian Div. although to model a 1st Div. vehicle you would also need the AoS flashes (numbers in a coloured square).

For a Sherman V or Vc in North-West Europe you'd need:
Canadian unit and formation signs Item # AR35127
Commonwealth serials Item #: AR35130
British war department numbers Item # AR35084W

With these markings you can also expand into other kits with direct Canadian connections. Here are some:
- Jeep (Tamiya for big budget Italeri for smaller budget)
- Italeri 15 CWT truck (in and out of production. Don't break the bank to get one, it comes back on the market regularly. It's a Peerless Max kit from the '70s, so it's buildable, but not worth a huge collectors' price)
- Italeri Gun Tractor (same thing, it comes and goes on the market.)
- White Scout Car (available in Revell or Italeri versions. It's all the same Peerless kit from the '70s so buy whichever is cheaper).
- Go with the Dragon Priest, it's much better than the Academy version.
- Skip the M3 half-track series Canada had only a few. (75mm halftrack with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Italy and one M3 command vehicle with the South Alberta Regiment.)
For a free reference on what the Canadians had on the ground during WW2 go to:
www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/rep-rap/doc/cmhq/cmhq141.pdf

It's a report on equipment. It's free (you paid for it with your taxes).
For a free resource on vehicle markings go to:
http://www.armouredacorn.com/
Great resource.

Cheers
Bill Inglee

One errata: NO Vc in Italy for most (all) of the campaign, so the first line should say Sherman V.
B

Wow Bill, thanks alot for your additions. I knew about the armoured acorn and I'll try the other site soon as I get a chance. Just wondering about your thoughts on the Tamiya Gun Tractor. I just ordered that one (with the 25pndr). It comes with Canadian decals but I'm not sure how accurate it is. I've read some people believe it isn't that accurate. Other sources give me the impression that it (along with others) was made in Canada and used by Commonwea forces. However I'm having a little trouble finding any pictures of this #12 body style being used by Canadians. Any knowledge on this kit?

The Tamiya Quad and 25-pounder are kits from about the '70s (or so). They are typical Tamiya and assemble really well. There's room for improvement, but they make a nice vehicle/gun combo for a first-timer.
The Quad depicted in the Tamiya kit was certainly used by the Canadians in Italy. I haven't seen any pictured in North-West Europe, but never say never.
The markings as I remember are ok, with adequate colours for the artillery arm of service and a nice red block/maple leaf for 1st Canadian Division. Armoured Acorn should give you a pretty good idea.
Cheers
Bill Inglee


I

Thanks Bill I appreciate that. The kit certainly has the red block with maple leaf. Not sure about the other decals as I don't really know enough about this. The Fat Quads on Armour Acorn are a little different but then again the truck is a little different body style as well.

I know it needs a little extra detail but I'm not a stranger to scartchbuilding. I look forward to finally building one of these suckers!

I've been trying to find pics of 28 BCR Shermans around August 44 (Totalize) time frame and have only been able to come up with a couple of destroyed ones that might be from 28 BCR. So if anyone knows where I might find some that would be great. I do have the RCAC book.

Roy

There are persistent stories that the Tamiya Ford FAT is somewhat out of scale, being too large. I haven't got accurate drawings or dimensions, so I can't be sure. An alternative is the Italeri Chev FAT, which, like the Scout Car & 15 cwt is an old Peerless/Max kit. It's pretty accurate in outline and shape even if the fit is a little soft and there are a lot of sinkholes & thick parts. A little TLC and it builds into a real gem.

Don't forget the AFV Club M3A3 Stuart, we used those as well, in Sicily, before we took the turrets off & turned them in to Recce versions. If you like artillery, we did use the 17 pdr (towed by a FAT), the 6 pdr (only the expensive Resicast kit is accurate) and 2pdr (the Vulcan kit is quite nice) antitank guns.

If you are not a stickler for accuracy we did use the M3 octagonal turret Stuart in England in 1941. It's the right version, but the available Academy kit has a number of accuracy problems. I also think we used some M3A1s as well, but the same problems plague the Academy kit of that, as well. The old Tamiya kit of the M3 Stuart has Canadian decals, but I don't think we used the horseshoe turret version at all.

If you are OK with resin kits, then there are more to choose from. Accurate armour make a 5.5in gun and the Matador tractor common to the Cdn Medium regiments. They also make a Scammell HAT and the matching a 7.2" howitzer which were used but the 59th (NFLD) Heavy Reg't RA (technically not Canadian at the time, but Canadian now, so it should count). The same unit also used the AFV club 155mm Long Tom towed by the Azimut/ADV Mack NO tractor.

All of this should keep you busy until long after you retire and we haven't even gotten into the conversions yet!

Paul

I'm not even thinking about resin and conversions yet. Trying to keep it simple for now. I've seen them though on the Formations site.

I am aware of the Tamiya M3 Stuart with Canadian decals but I understand they were only used for training. I've heard of the Italeri kits but they seem harder to come by these days. Maybe someday one of the companies will make a new and improved Chev gun truck or other varient.

I'm also aware of the Tamiya's Quad Gun Tractor being out of scale. I've read the dimensions are right but it is closer to a 1/32. I admit that does bother me a little but shouldn't really matter as long as it isn't displayed along with something else. I just got mine ( with the 25 pdr.) in the mail today so I guess I'll soon be starting that . My first military. rig. I would consider showing a few pictures if anybody is interested in this kit.

There is never any harm in showing photos!

Looking forward to it!

Carmen

Actually, I just remembered Brian Culbertson (BigfootV) did a review on this Gun Tractor....
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3966
...and the 25pdr.
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3959
He has excellent pictures along with his review.

I will do a build log however. Some members can get a better look at the kit that way and I can get a few pointers maybe.

Collins,
Did you try Ebay for Tasca Sherman? I just picked one up for around $43.00 US. It was the M4A3E8. But I did see some staghounds from 2 or 3 different manufacturers.

Can anyone tell me were I can find reference material for the Lord Strathcona's in WW 2 and Korea? What I am looking for are the different types of vehicles and camo configurations.

No Danny I didn't try ebay. I find the shipping kills! I have a Staghound on the way for Xmas but maybe I should have a look at ebay for the Tasca kits just incase.

My Tasca Sherman was $43.00 with $16.20 for shipping at this total amount was still cheaper than buying local. This Item was purchased from Hong Kong which went thru customs really fast. I believe I received it with in a week and no duty. Also try Lucky Models my local hobby shop orders from them alot.

Yes I've heard the Tasca kits are fairly expensive. They don't charge any duty on models because they are considered toys. I guess we lucked out there eh?