Modelling > British Commonwealth GB
FV431 Excalibur
Claymore:
As an entry into this GB, I am hoping to cobble together something a little different and is a direct response to a challenge laid down by our very own Admin Ninja and goaded on by Buzzbomb.
As the name suggests, this is going to be a variant of the classic FV430 series of vehicles, but the entire project almost failed at the start line when I discovered to my horror that the current availability of Tacom's FV432 model is rarer than Unicorn poop. Fortunately, after several unsuccessful searches of the interwebby, I finally discovered a small retailer in the darkest depths of Englandshire (just outside Blackpool) who, so it would appear, specialises in Unicorn poop!! So, 4 days later, I am the proud owner of ...
So far so good. In real life the FV431 was an unsuccessful cargo carrier (flatbed) version of the more common FV432 APC. However, my FV431 will, all going well, be an air defence variant of the series which will mount 4 x Red Top (Excalibur) missiles - more details to follow in due course.
My next pre-build challenge was to see how difficult it would be to build the Red Top missiles - although, to be fair, having previously scratch built a couple of Bloodhounds, said missiles would probably have been relatively straight forward. However, before I had given it a second thought, I stumbled upon a free set of downloadable files to 3D print guess what? - yup, a Red Top missile!! Not being one to let my complete lack of a 3D printer and/or any associated skills get in the way of a good thing, I Facebooked a local grapevine page and asked if anyone could help out. My faith in humanity has been well and truly restored and, for the price of a bottle of wine, I now have 4 x Red Top missiles in 1/35 scale - bargin!! :))
(Proof copy left and centre - final on right - not the greatest quality print available but for something that fell into my lap, they will do! :smiley:)
The Tacom model is going to need some major surgery including stretching by a 6th road wheel. Easier if I had a second kit but that look on Mrs Claymore's face said it all... C:-) :o
Me thinks the trusty razor saw, plastic card and even some casting will be required - joy!!! ;)
Jeffry Fontaine:
Off to a good start on this project. A definite plus in finding someone to assist in the 3D print effort and the end results look presentable once a good coat of paint has been applied to hide imperfections imparted by the printing process.
The scarcity of the FV432 series kits is a damned shame. I know Emil the Enabler at Skyway Models has at least one sitting on the shelf here in Renton, Washington as I saw it myself the last time I was at his shop.
As far as the concept goes, I would consider it to be valid considering all of the other proposals that have been made for the M728 Chaparral in years past that included AGM-114 Hellfire among other things so a Redtop/Excalibur should not be out of place.
Claymore:
:smiley:
GTX_Admin:
Claymore:
;D
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