Hi all,

I'm very pleased with the 1/72 kits I've bought so far (yes, nothing finished yet, sorry) and I'm now starting to get interested in building what I just can't seem to achieve in 1/35 (too big - not enough space) - a diorama about the landing at Westkapelle, Walcheren 1944.

I found some interesting models which I could use:

LVT-4 by Airfix: (1:72 ?)


Sherman Crab by Milicast: (1:76)


Sherman Crab by Airfix: (1:72)


Churchill AVRE by Revell (1:76)


However a lot of vehicles are listed as 1:72 on the one website and 1:76 on the other. Can I combine 1:76 and 1:72 vehicles/figures?

For example, the Milicast Crab looks way better than the Airfix one, but can I combine it with the 1:72 LVT by Airfix?

Also any comments on the quality of these kits is welcomed!

Last but not least, has anyone heard of the brand Art-Toys from Belgium? I'm rather interested in this model....



Martin

Those old Airfix kits are really around 1/76 scale and about 30-40 years old. Word from the Braille community is that the add ons to the Sherman and Churchill are new bits on the ancient kits. There might be some scale issues attaching them to corresponding true 1/72 scale kits.

Here's a thread regarding various LSTs coming down the pipe: http://www.network54.com/Forum/47210/thread/1141753796/1-72+us+landing+ship+medium+at+www.deansmarine.com

Robs got it right on. Check out his thread and reviews on this site that he told me about.

http://www.ontheway.org.uk/default.htm

Sort of putting things in "perspective". As Sabot said mixing and matching parts in 1/72 and 1/76 could cause some difficulty, however, mixing completed models may not. If the vehicles are not right next to each other they may look okay.

Over 20 feet 1 to 1(approx. length of Tank chassis), 3.33 inches in 1/72, 3.15 inches in 1/76 - You see the difference approx. .18 inches - noticable if the vehicles are right next to each other - but maybe okay visually with some seperation ? - your choice

This is AA's new LST:



Here's the News Story: https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/1517&mode=&order=0

Haha yes I know but they're just a little bit too expensive iirc :-)

That's why I am interested in that LCT-4 by Art-Toys. Never heard of it before...

Too bad the image isn't working anymore!

Oh and I want to combine completed vehicles on a dioama. Like 3x LVT-4 and 2x Sherman Crab.

martin

Martin

All of the kits you mentioned are 1/76 (despite their packaging) so there won't be any problems using them together.

I just bought the Airfix Sherman Crab and it's the same Sherman M4 I first built over 40 years ago with some extra bits of plastic thrown in to represent the Crab fittings rather poorly. If you want the correct M4A4 and better details, go for the Milicast Crab.

The Airfix LVT-4 is still a good kit and needs only a few details to become a first class model. I have always had problems with the tracks so take care to avoid track rot.

The Churchill AVRE isn't bad but I built several before I realised that the turret is too small. I haven't tried correcting the turret yet but I hope to now that the kit is back in production.

Another vehicle you may want to consider for your project is the M29C Weasel in 1/76 by Giesbers Models. I just bought one from Tracks and Troops and it's a simple but very well detailed model. Tracks and Troops is at http://shop.tracks-n-troops.com/

The Art-Toys LCT-4 may be a little less expensive than the Accurate Armour LCT-5 but it's still a big investment. However, I'm slowly scratchbuilding an LCT-5 and the cost of the materials is steadily climbing towards the price of the AA kit!

Have you considered throwing some AB figures into the mix? Their commandoes would be perfect.

Good luck with the diorama!

David

Sounds like you've studied the Walcheren history David! I am indeed very interested in Weasels, I didn't realised they were available in 1:76

How about those AB figs? I found commando figs already but most commandos at Walcheren wore those airborne smocks....

I think I'll give it a try and scratchbuild the LCT-4. Should be possible....although my scratchbuilding so far has mostly been trial and error lol.

Martin

I would avoid the Airfix Sherman in any of its incarnations. If you want a plastic Crab, you'll have to add the flail to the Revell Firefly, which will also need to be modified to a 75mm version.

Apart from the too-small turret, the Revell (ex-Matchbox) AVRE isn't bad, though it's a pig to build. I found it less fun than the dreaded Airfix one.

The Buffalo is also a bit of an antique, though it is a British version with something resembling a Polsten 20mm fitted. Ditch the Jeep too

Hmm although the LVT is old the 20mm sounds good. If there is at least something which looks like a 20mm I can detail it myself.

Well, let's finish some other project fist, save up some money and I'll buy a bunch of new 1/72 kits :-)

This is what the Airfix Buffalo looks like out of the box:

http://www.todacultura.com/modelismo/anfibio_amtrac.htm

There is one down the page here which has been tidied up and equipped with AB figures

http://home.comcast.net/~model_tanks/wwii_other.htm

Bit more on the Polsten and 20mm guns generally

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/20_mm_aa_guns.htm

I've also seen a thread on ML that suggests the drum magazine means the gun is an Oerliken, which will fit the same mount.

Martin

SHQ does a good 20mm Polsten cannon that would be an improvement over the LVT kit Oerlikon. However, you would still have to scratchbuild the mount - another project I have planned but not started!

David

Hi

I can't find the commandoes on the AB figures website! Do you have an image?

I am thinking of buying some airborne troops and replace their helmets with barets. They wear the right camouflage smocks as far as I know..

Saw a nice set of AB paratroopers in jeeps. They should look ok in M29c's

Also, does anyone know where I can find a scale drawing of the LCT-4 ?? I need some info before I can give it a try with scratchbuilding!

Martin

Strictly speaking, they should be wearing the 'Smock, Windproof, Camouflage' which is similiar the Para's Denison in outline, but lacks things like the bit that goes between the legs.

Have a look at the Dragon SAS 1944 set for details and also at this

Windproofs were also worn by other British units at Walcheren like 52nd (Lowland) Divison.

Ok. So does anyknow now Commando figs with these uniforms in 1/76 ??

I can use the 1/76 SAS figs by Milicast but other than that I can't find anything!

Martin

Martin

A photo of the AB Commandoes is on the website - just above the 40mm Bofors:



Some of the airborne jeep crew have berets and, you're right, they will make suitable Weasel crew figures - thanks for the suggestion.

The Officers and Radio Operators set (BAF4) has five figures with berets and some of the other sets have one or two with berets so you would have to do a few head swaps if you want more than half a dozen figures. Strictly speaking, you would have to remove the crutch flap/fastener as the Commandoes wore the airlanding smock rather than that of the parachute troops (but not the 'Smock, Windproof, Camouflage').

There's a 1/144 scale plan of an LCT-4 in an old issue of Army and Navy Modelworld. I may be able to retrieve my copy. Otherwise, some of the ship modelling online stores will have plans for sale.

Try this site for a start: http://www.kipperboxes.co.uk/html/lct_mk_4.html

I have read a few accounts of Walcheren and the Scheldt, most recently Ken Ford's 'D-Day Commando' and I can highly recommend it.

The cover has the classic photo of the LVTs and Weasels leaving the LCTs.

David

Concerning the Sherman, Italeri makes a very nice and much newer model in 1/72, complete with interior detail.

The M4A4 Sherman?

Martin

It's not much newer. That's the old Esci kit. I first built it in the early 80s. It is around 25 years old. The original Arifix Sherman kit was first issued in 1961.

The Esci/AMT/Ertl/Italeri Sherman has its own issues. Mainly being an extremely uncommon combination of late 75mm high bustle turret with large hatched wet stowage cast hull. It is still a very decent model kit.

Ok, but is it a good kit anyway?

Martin

The Italeri (ex-ESCI) M4A1 isn't that great, the shape at the front of the turret is simplified, making it look toylike. It is however better than the Airfix Sherman (which has an undersized turret and and a nose that combines features of both the one and three-piece transmission covers).

For a reasonable Sherman V, convert the Revell (ex-Matchbox) Firefly. Removing the loader's hatch from the turret roof is probably the hardest part to do neatly, and the model looks a lot better if the sand shields are cut back. Don't cut them off completely though, leave the top edge to simulate the fitting strip.

I'm finishing up one now. I'm building it as part of a review sample I received from Rowan (Merlin). It is the LCM3 & M4 Sherman kit. I'm staying OOB with the kit and not correcting any accuracy issues, just putty and filler here and there. I can say that the kit is way past its prime but looks like a Sherman when completed. It would not look good in a 1/72 scale setting next to true 1/72 scale kits.

Seeing Sabot's posting reminded me that the Airfix Sherman does have one thing going for it over the Matchbox one. Airfix got the number of spokes on the road wheels right - Matchbox have seven.