Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: Buzzbomb on July 07, 2018, 03:23:22 PM
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Big fan of the Red Gambit Alternate WW2 series http://www.redgambitseries.com/ (http://www.redgambitseries.com/) where the Russians invade further into Germany in July 1945. One of the nicest concepts is the whiffieness of it all. I have done other models based on this inspiration and here is another one.
<Backstory>
During the desperate times holding the line after the treacherous Soviet attack, the New German Federation and their "SS colleagues" now in the French Foreign Legion worked hard to get vehicles up and running. Any vehicles. Often this involved lots of modifications to match together, often mismatched components.
One of these was the Aardvark, which comprised using tried and true Panzer IV hull with the Achilles Tank destroyer turret with its formidable and still effective 17 Pounder weapon. Of course not a perfect union, but, it did enable quite a number of similar vehicles to outfit the Cameroon Brigade of the Legion with a Tank Destroyer battalion.
</backstory>
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/c1t13h57jnjfd78rr9lzz/avark_1.JPG?rlkey=uimc9oidi5fb3pfd2jenja0ln&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zx4j1acj4a8d5ndfm2a18/avark_2.JPG?rlkey=6sx161wavxnschyadd0penh2t&raw=1)
Time to get cracking on this
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Time to get cracking on this
Yes! Yes, it is! ;)
Looks like it's going to be a great beastie! :smiley:
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An interesting concept to be sure. I am not familiar with the book that you describe but the idea of modifying vehicles with similar capabilities such as you have done here is always going to get my attention.
My one gripe with the Achillies and Wolverine/Jackson was the massive weight at the rear of the turret that was there to counter-balance the gun. I always wondered why no one took that a step further and created a smaller counter-balance mass with a large stowage box and bustle rack on the back of the turret.
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I always wondered why no one took that a step further and created a smaller counter-balance mass with a large stowage box and bustle rack on the back of the turret.
Now there is a thought that may be taken further
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that looks really cool. Look forward to seeing it finished
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I always wondered why no one took that a step further and created a smaller counter-balance mass with a large stowage box and bustle rack on the back of the turret.
Now there is a thought that may be taken further
Possibly because most of the mass of the counter-weight was at the rear of the extension to balance the long barrel & it already had stowage space built into it.
Also, it was (probably) one of the intermediate steps between the flat-backed turrets of contemporary tanks (which the Achilles isn't) & bustle-backed turrets found on later big-gunned tanks (Firefly, M4A3E8, M26 Pershing, etc.).
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Very cool concept. Love the backstory :smiley:
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thanks guys
so we continue
As far as kits go, this is the rather ordinary 1/35 Italeri Panzer IV of dubious mark and the remainder of the Academy Achilles I did not use is some other build
Pretty much together
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6jks3yvo0c9bntyt1k8ox/avark_6.JPG?rlkey=tzjqrbv0i7ebn0lwt9l3bo7nh&raw=1)
With last of the bit and then some primer
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n8bhmja692ydoa5v3izw9/avark_3.JPG?rlkey=lk7aawcwxures1ptw893j9f2d&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9zfk15ukvirw72k0fyvn7/avark_4.JPG?rlkey=aoxui211gftluewxnlonzcbt5&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/t5fn96e7ugcqco98kn11j/avark_5.JPG?rlkey=vz9hcucnvbbvg9eya1dfn1gsa&raw=1)
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Tanks aren't supposed to look fast are they?
Well this one does for sure and it's fantastic!
Brian da Basher
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@BuzzBomb: Have you decided upon an appropriate name for your hybrid?
At first glance I was thinking of the "Testudo" (Tortise) formation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testudo_formation) used by the Roman Legion as an appropriate name for your creation. :)
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That's some good whiffery right there ! Reminiscent of an Panther ersatz M10... I might try this in 1/72 ! :)
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:smiley:
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Digiti Extractum.
Got down and hammered on with the Aardvark.
First up painted the Interior
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pore6zx9d8dvvh4uidj3m/avark_7.JPG?rlkey=wuz3sitxo9vp537zbh56ro1u9&raw=1)
Painting is one of those tasks where you are into it or not.
Got on a roll and away we went
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/errrmwuhxwcvxqfchyv5a/avark_8.JPG?rlkey=82c4k9iz765e3ontoyvwcqttp&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rpofdislp9lm1nmosdamj/avark_9.JPG?rlkey=t57qko6om9w3m1w883lifpxim&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7l78vnshom10sf4e95s1s/avark_10.JPG?rlkey=2j4l3gtdbw62qf7pg2vqhl2j8&raw=1)
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z5dmtun7vbcwbn2ejozoc/avark_11.JPG?rlkey=3g24zc2wokso579p01i2801vr&raw=1)
No particular scheme and went for non-discript markings to sort of get in the get the Foreign Legion but not really French feel. Although I may go back and put some Tri-colours on if I can find a few
Pix are not quite working for me, breaking in a new SLR and getting the white balance right is not quite there. Plus using LED lights makes a difference.
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Acing it, mate! :smiley:
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Very good indeed! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :icon_alabanza:
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Nicely done! I really like that camo scheme.
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Looks great.
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Beautiful!! That camo job looks perfect for operating in spring or summer forests.
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Great painting job!
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Talk about a fantastic finish!
Excellent paint work and those great details really make it outstanding!
Brian da Basher
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:smiley:
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Amazing job ... and love the scheme :-*