sherman arv
bedford qlr
bedford qlt
in fact all the bedfords
matilda mk1
matilda mk2
all the 15cwt trucks
how about the motorcycles and push bikes as well
ambulances
17 pdr anti tank gun
m5 half tracks
a good bren gun carrier

For me, I am content at this time as I don't do a lot of the off the wall stuff and don't really want to build much in the way of early Russian, French or British. About the only thing WW2 era I would want would be a couple of 35th scale automobiles. Whether they were Briish, American or French. Of course an injection Mercedes Staff car would top the list, but that isn't allied. More modern stuff like an early gas burner M-48, gamma goat, Viet Nam era ambulance, as well as a 5 ton as a cargo, wrecker and tractor /trailer combo would definitely get my attention.

I'd love to see some unusual WWII Soviet stuff. Here's a few ideas:

- SMK tank (the 2-turret monster used in Finland)
- T-44 (/85 and /100)
- T-27 tankette and variants (artillery tractor, munition carrier etc.)
- 204mm heavy howitzer
- 85mm AT gun (with trailer)
- 37mm AA gun (with trailer, like Italeri just did with the similar -looking 40-mm Bofors)
- Heavy artillery tractors
- Churchill Mk.III (so I can finally model a lend-leased one ;-) )

I known there are resin kits for some of the above, but they're way too expensive and the detailing is usually mediocre.

As for improved/reworked stuff, the list would be way too long, but just off the top of my head:

- Komsomolets tractor (the Eastern Express kit is crude and inaccurate)
- SU-85 (Dragon already has the parts for SU-85M, basically they'd only need an upper hull.)
- SU-122 (ditto)
- BA-64 (again, the EE kit is crude and it comes with no interior whatsoever. I built one and I'd like to do a second one with the AT-rifle field modification, but it's open-top and therefore needs an interior.)
- T-37/38 (come on Miniart, you can do much better than what's available now)
- KV-1s/KV-85 (granted you can use parts from the Trumpeter kits -that's what I just did with my KV-85-, the EE hull and turret are awful.)
- Su-76 (already suggested and this one might soon become real)

Hi Pat,

I've heard that one too. Came from a direct question to Bronco by someone asking them if they woudl be releasing a Churchill (box art on the Staghound I think) and they said No but AFV were!!!!!

rumour, rumour, rumour.

Re the Bren carrier and the Churchill. I think Tamiya really missed the boat on these two. They have the base kit and with some additional spurs could probably have broden their offerings a long time ago. So you're probably right unless someone else takes up these kits we're unlikely to see anything new there but what a range of varierty they is with these two vehciles.

Got to say it again because for me the lack of British/Commonwealth trucks is wooful - more British Softskins please

Have fun

AL

Some good'ns here... I echo similar sentiments...

All in styrene

Never before released kits:
M4A1 Sherman DV El Alamein kit
Churchill early (Tunisia)
British Cruiser tanks (A9, A10, A13)
Daimler AC
Humber AC
MK VIB

Re-dos and corrections: (I just wish my favorite Allied subjects got the same attention to detail as my favorite Axis subjects)
M-18 Hellcat
M5A1 Stuart (still waiting)
M3 halftrack series including M16 (still waiting)
M24 Chaffee
M10
M36
Grant (still waiting)
Matilda II
Valentine (North Africa)
Corrected M4A3 105mm - just fix the mantlet and gun mount issues

Chaps

A great deal of our Allied wish list is already out there, although admitedly, it may not be 100% accurate (but what is?) or costly (made of resin or white metal).

The one area that is (and probably will always be) under-represented is softskins - they're just not sexy enough for the market.

I think (IMHO) there is more commercial scope for new artillery pieces - the 75mm pack howitzer and 5.5" gun immediately spring to mind - although again, I think both are already available, for a price.

On a personal level, I'd love to see some more Polish armour/ AFVs - although the stuff from Mirage/ RPM is fun. If I was given the chance to push Tamigawa in a particular direction it would be towards the FT17 - huge number of varients and used by every country under the sun from the USA to Afghanistan right up into the modern era (allegedly).

Pat/ Jim - without wishing to be overly provocative; if you're discounting the Italians (who fought with the Allies from 1943 onwards) does that mean you're also discounting the Soviets before 1941?

All the very best

Cheers

Karol

Even though I don't normally model Allied subjects, if some one brought out a plastic kit of a Scammell Tank Transporter, or even the breakdown truck version, I'd probably buy it, I have a soft spot for these, but not soft enough for £100+ resin versions!. Likewise Diamond T. Also, I'd expect every modeller who's ever watched "Ice Cold in Alex" would buy an Austin K2 ambulance. If it's any help, dealing with the German bias of the Far East market, lots of Bedfords & Morris Commercials captured after Dunkirk were put back into running order & used by the Germans (I've seen photos of Morris Commercial converted to Kfz15 role with German body). Also the Afrika Korps were major users of captured British trucks. Citroens & Peugots etc were produced during the war specifically for the occupying power, & they are seen far & wide in wartime photos.
The other thing I find strange is that seeing how popular fire engines are with collectors, none of the major kit manufacturers has ever made one of any kind in 1/35th to my knowledge (slightly OT).

I'm not actually discounting anyone - I did mention the BT-7 perhaps I should have said 'BT SERIES'. As someone who is constantly in contact with manufacturers, I do tend to think more in commercial terms - Cruiser tanks look great from a modeler's point of view. A dead-loss from a commercial standpoint. Post Italian-Armistice Italians would hardly come into the category of a high-priority/commercially viable either.

I'm a great believer in encouraging manufacturers to produce good 'Vanilla' kits (Cromwell, a New Churchill etc.) and then letting companies like Formations, Accurate Armour etc. to go to town with them.

On that note, i'll be doing a news story next week on the two Staghound Conversion sets from AA which will fit perfectly into the previous 'philosophy' of good Donor Kits + imaginative AM companies...

Okay they are allowed but not withstanding the Italian contribution to the Allied war effort how many modellers would consider Italian made vehicles as Allied? I don't know of any references showing Italian made vehicles in use on the Allied side. If there is one I'd be really interested in getting my hands on it.

Pat and Jim

I'm sorry - no intention of being rude, polictial or provocative.

The Italian Campaign holds a big interest for me. It is well know that the numerous Allied forces in Italy made extensive use of Italian kit. For example there are many photos of British troops wearing loose smocks made of Italian camo material. Equally, on a personal level, my own grandfather serviing with the Kresowa Inf Div II Korpus Polski was issued with an Italian M1928 cape and acquired a very natty black leather Italian overcoat - worn over BD.

It's well known that the Italian airforce retained their own aircraft.

As for vehicles, one of the two Osprey publications on the WWII Polish forces includes a nice photo of a line of Carpathian Pulk Ulanow (lancer regt) Marmon Harrington ACs but also including an Italian Autoblinda - with a full set of Regt and squadron markings.

If you get the chance, I suggest you check out Guido Rosignoli's excellent book on the Allied forces in Italy. This book really gives you a feel that the Italian forces were very much part of the Allied forces fighting their way up the boot. It may also contain the ref photos you're looking for.

As I suggest above, given the distances and the relative importance (after Overlord and Dragoon) placed upon Italy by the Allies, it makes logistical sense that Italian kit would be utilised. Whilst this probably didn't include AFVs (the Autoblinda must have been an early exception - subject to the arrival of the Staghound), it did include softkins.

Cheers

Karol