Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: Buzzbomb on July 07, 2018, 03:23:22 PM

Title: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 07, 2018, 03:23:22 PM
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>

(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_1.JPG)

(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_2.JPG)

Time to get cracking on this
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Old Wombat on July 07, 2018, 05:43:25 PM
Time to get cracking on this

Yes! Yes, it is! ;)

Looks like it's going to be a great beastie! :smiley:
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on July 07, 2018, 08:53:18 PM
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. 
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 08, 2018, 07:21:26 AM
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
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Camthalion on July 08, 2018, 08:48:13 AM
that looks really cool.  Look forward to seeing it finished
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Old Wombat on July 08, 2018, 04:42:41 PM
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.).
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: apophenia on July 10, 2018, 03:56:37 AM
Very cool concept. Love the backstory  :smiley:
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 10, 2018, 08:04:58 PM
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
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_6.JPG)

With last of the bit and then some primer
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_3.JPG)
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_4.JPG)
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_5.JPG)
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Brian da Basher on July 12, 2018, 03:58:13 AM
Tanks aren't supposed to look fast are they?

Well this one does for sure and it's fantastic!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on July 12, 2018, 04:06:02 AM
@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.  :)
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: uncle les on July 12, 2018, 08:01:29 AM
That's some good whiffery right there !  Reminiscent of an Panther ersatz M10...   I might try this in 1/72 !  :)
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: GTX_Admin on July 21, 2018, 07:24:53 AM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 28, 2018, 05:51:50 PM
Digiti Extractum.

Got down and hammered on with the Aardvark.

First up painted the Interior
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_7.JPG)

Painting is one of those tasks where you are into it or not.

Got on a roll and away we went
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_8.JPG)
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_9.JPG)
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_10.JPG)
(http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/whatif/AFV/avark/avark_11.JPG)

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.
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Old Wombat on July 28, 2018, 08:56:17 PM
Acing it, mate! :smiley:
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: ysi_maniac on July 28, 2018, 09:18:38 PM
Very good indeed! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :icon_alabanza:
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: LemonJello on July 28, 2018, 09:49:31 PM
Nicely done! I really like that camo scheme.
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Camthalion on July 29, 2018, 10:02:51 AM
Looks great. 
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: elmayerle on July 29, 2018, 01:55:02 PM
Beautiful!!  That camo job looks perfect for operating in spring or summer forests.
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Antonio Sobral on July 30, 2018, 03:10:36 PM
Great painting job!
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: Brian da Basher on July 31, 2018, 04:21:35 AM
Talk about a fantastic finish!

Excellent paint work and those great details really make it outstanding!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: GTX_Admin on August 01, 2018, 04:08:36 AM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: Red Gambit 1946 - Aardvark Tank Destroyer
Post by: apophenia on August 02, 2018, 09:05:00 AM
Amazing job ... and love the scheme  :-*