Howzit,

The very unique African campaign, SiyaAfrika, started on 1 December 2005. For those that haven't had a chance to check out this interesting campaign, check out the above link...

For those that think there aren't many modelling topics about Africa other than WW2, have a squizz at the this link courtesy of the SA news agency News24... 2005: The year in Africa

Now this is only 2005! [i]Just think of all the possible modelling subjects on this poor, conflict torn continent in the 20th century alone![i] There is literally a plethora of possibilities for this campaign!

Go on, be a devil! Try something different! Sign up for SiyaAfika!

Good things to all!

Rudi

I could be interested in this, are there any kits of South African armor? preferably 1/35, Rooikat, Buffel, etc? I know French, UK and Soviet equipment is fairly common but I'd really like to do one of the vehicles unique to Africa.

If not I could probably think of something that would be fun. Understand no WW2 how about WW1, and I assume surplus WW2 equipment would be fine?

Hi Aaron,

Thanks for your interest. Regarding your questions:

1. I know of a guy that does some SANDF vehicles in resin, but alas they are 1/72. There was a crowd doing an Olifant MBT Mk Ib conversion set for the Tamiya 1/35 Centurion, but unfortunately when Tamiya discontinued the model a few years ago, they stopped producing the set. In true Mr T form, the Centurion is being produced again (or so it seems) but per my last correspondence with the Olifant conversion set manufacturer, the owners of the mould and the casters had parted company - and, to top it off, due to age and volume the moulds had been retired...

2. WWI is perfectly acceptable - and indeed welcomed. IMHO, the African campaigns of the Great War appear to have been largely ignored by the modelling community. Were you to follow this avenue, it would be a truly unique entry.

3. Surplus WW2 equipment has found it's way into the armed forces of virtually every African country. In the case of one such entry, it must be absolutely clear that what is being depicted is not a WW2 piece. However, that said, remember that part of the point of this campaign is to try something different...


HTH, and if you have any more questions... just shoot...

Rudi

Well I have a book The Great War in Africa, I haven't read it yet but I'm ready to start another book so maybe it will inspire me.

I understand the WW2 thing I just wanted to double check, since it would offer a different way to build some classic vehicles.

Would technicals count? There is a 1/25 106mm Recoiless rifle and .50 cal MG in the AMT Jeep, I have a 1980 Toyota 4x4 that they might look good on. I don't think there are many (if any) 1/35 or even 1/32 civilian vehicles.

Just throwing out ideas, the campaign sounds interesting just need to find something that will keep my attention (I'm a chronic kit starter, leave it 1/2 done on the shelf type, I'm trying to break that habit).

I'll come up with something but I'll hold off on signing up until I have, one of my new years resolutions is going to be finishing group builds I start. It is a great idea though, it is a part of history I find very interesting but don't know too much about. I have several of the Africa related Osprey books I'll try browsing through them too.

BTW what does the SiyaAfrika title refer to (I can figure out the second part its the Siya I don't understand).

Thanks

I don’t know if Rudi feels the same, but I believe that the Toyota ‘technical’ truly portrays armed conflict in Africa.

PS: The Toyota has to be RED! :-) :-) :-) :-)

To Quote Rudi: "[Name: SiyaAfrika... the isiZulu for "We are African"]"

Give over the two off you :-) -----"Siya Afrika"
This gonna be a "gang-up" on us "BRITS"(SCOTS) :-) :-) :-)
We will build your wierdy beasts(OLLIES!!-OLLIES-!!OLLIES!!)
aye
BARV
(GOSMG)

Shain,

The Toyota would be great! In fact I think the only thing that outnumbers AK47's in Africa is the Toyota Pickup, or bakkies (pronounced "bah-keys") :-)


Eric, would the red be rust?! Or Karoo sand? :-) :-)

Steve, can't wait to see more Ollies! Better get cracking! :-)

Rudi

Rudi, bit of both. :-) :-) :-) I once saw some news footage of a bright red Land Cruiser, with a 14.5mm on the back, driving through a small village and all I could think was 'Ja-Nee' that just looks right, note not correct, just right. :-) :-)

Yeah Steve, more Ollies, much much more..

Hi
A few years back i got very interested in technicals and started quite a few, didnt actually finish any,then for various reasons gave up model making.
Anyway seeing a Mig technicals gave be the incentive to get back into it, to late for the capture aidid campaign but just in time for this one.
My research has come up with pics or video footage of the following, yes many were based on Toyotas but by no means all.
Jeeps: m151, cj7, cj5/m38 (tamiya,academy,skybow, afv club 1/35, Revel 1/32)
Land rover : 88, 109, 110 (italeri,Revell, Historica 1/35)
Toyota Landcruiser : fj40, fj44,fj45, fj60,fj70,fj75 (mig prod 1/35)
Toyota hilux : single, double cab (revell 1/32)
Nissan: pickup, patrol(Revell 1/32, Tamiya 1/32kingcab close 1/35)
Bj212(trumpeter 1/35)
Dihatsu: fourtrack
Pegaso truck(nimix 1/35)
M35 truck(academy 1/35)
Merc benz truck
and a few that i cant id.
As far as weapons goes then anything is possible : .30,.50 browning, 7.62 goryunov , mg42,.50 dshk, zpu1,2 and 4, 20mm, 23mm zu, 37mm aa gun, 75,82,106mm rr's, 30mm grenade launcher,107mm mrl, even a rocket pod from a mig fighter.
Hope this list is of some use if technicals are of interest,
I had previously started a couple of landrovers, a nissan kingcab pickup and a m35-zu23 which may or may not be eligible but i hope to finish either way along with a mig productions fj44 and a nimix pegaso truck which i have on order.

Thanks, and yes that does help quite a bit, its nice to see there are some 1/32 civilian trucks to choose from.

I was trying to find some pics of the trucks used by Chad when fighting Libya in the 80's. I don't know why but the trucks used by Chad seem more heroic, than the typical image I have of them.

I was unable to find any though, any ideas of painting? I found one pic of the bed of one, it looked kind of a desert sand color but was also very age worn (20 years laying in the desert) so I'm not sure if that was the actual paint or the metal aged by sand and sun.

I did find a couple of sites that might beuseful to this build though so something useful came of the search.

Western & Northern Africa Database


Military Toyotas

Started reading The Great War in Africa, it looks like it will provide some opportunity for Naval and Aviation types, not much in the way of light armor or even trucks that I've found so far. If anyone is interested I could make a list of the aircraft and naval vessels used. For the figure and diorama types there would be alot of interesting stuff to model.

Well the Airfix F-1CZ I’m trying to put together isn’t going too happily at the moment.

The right-side fuselage was warped in both length and ‘curvature’, looks like a very bent C. After straightening it, I actually had to cut it to get it to fit, most of the raised detail is history, now busy re-scribing the panel lines.

Scratch built a cockpit tub and busied it up a bit. Went a bit overboard and have almost finished the ejection seat. Even my feeble attempts are an improvement over the original plastic parts.

Well I finished The Great War in Africa 1914-1918, it offers lots of interesting dio ideas particularly with figures. Here is a list of equipment that was used if it helps anyone come up with an idea. I'm not sure how much of this is actually available in kit form.


Naval vessels

Germany

SMS Konigsberg (cruiser)
Somalia (?)
Kronborg / Rubens (captured british merchant ship)
Marie von Stettin (merchant ship)
Nachtigal (armed steamer)
Hedwig von Wissmann (armed steamer)
Kingani (armed steamer)
Graf von Gotsen (armed steamer)


UK
HMS Hyacinth (cruiser)
HMS Astrea (cruiser)
HMS Pegasus (cruiser)
HMS Helmuth (picket ship)
HMS Fox (cruiser)
HMS Chatham (cruiser)
HMS Pyramus (cruiser)
HMS Cumberland (cruiser)
HMS Challenger (cruiser)
HMS Dwarf (gunboat)
Trent (?)
Severn (monitor)
Mersey (monitor)
SS Karmala (troop ship)
Assouan (troop ship)
Mimi (armed motor launch)
Toutou (armed motor launch)
Fifi / Kingani (captured German armed steamer)

Belgium
Baron Dhanis (armed steamer)

France
2 cruisers (?)

Aircraft

Germany
Aviatik P14
LGF Pfiel
Zeppelin L-59

UK
Caudron seaplane
Short seaplane
Sopwith seaplane
Henri Farnham
BE2c

Ground vehicles

UK
Vauxhall staff car (South Africa)
Ford car / truck
Naval armored cars (Rolls-Royce?)