"15mm Lanchester AC & Civilian Vehicles" Topic

I've started painting 15mm armies for the Very British Civil War but I'm stymied when it comes to the civilian vehicles that should be part of pretty much every force – specifically, I'm trying to find some wildly inappropriate furniture van or agricultural tractor to pull an 18-pdr field gun. Does anyone make any such thing? Apparently my Google-fu is weak in this case.

Also, I would very much like to find a Lanchester armoured car in 15mm but, once again, my on-line searches have been for nought. There were some discouraging messages posted on TMP back in 2005; has anyone made one since then?

LT

Try H0 scale railway vehicles, Brekina etc they do some 'tween wars vehicles, cars, lorries, traction engines etc usually quite expensive, but occaisionally cheaper.
SDD used to do an Austin 7 car, QRF do some sedans and vans and cars and an agricultural tractor

Try H0 scale railway vehicles,

Generally HO vehicles will be too big for use with 15mm figures. Have a trawl through the QRF site, you may find sonething useful e.g.
Thorneycroft J Type Truck
link

and here:
link

The Russian ZIS Trucks have a good look to them, and they can be found from a number of places. Zvezda has the advantage of being dirt cheap in 1/100 scale.

Somehow I had missed that particular page at QRF; the farm tractor and Renault truck look useful. Now, if I could just find a 15mm milk delivery truck or postal van, life would be good.

Zvezda ZISs … of course! I already have some of their PzIs and T-26s for SCW.

Thanks for the help, guys.

LT

I made a similar enquiry some time ago.

TMP link

Readers digest did some diecasts that are smaller than the usual bit still too big (might be a good basis for scratch building truck bodies on).

The Zvezda Russian ZIS truck is however a license production of the better known Ford Model A truck.

These Axis and Allies minitures armoured cars are not too bad

It is a poor model of the Vickers crossley, (the turret rotates, it shouldn't, it looks stunted length wise etc) but about the right size and has a suitable heft to its look.

Due to its poor stats, inaccurate scale and not being a glory piece, it is rather cheep on the 2nd hand market.

Don't write off the Brekina cars, they look about right with 15's

@brass1 – Sounds like we're working on the same project at the same time. I've just got my Peter Pig order via Brookhurst Hobbies for my Anglican League and some Red Militia types

@John Sowerby – yep, I'm starting with a Yorkish/Albertine/Anglican League army and some Royalists for them to fight. Then I think I'll throw in some People's Army types.

I've been getting my Peter Pigs from Brookhurst as well. Just ordered some replacement heads for the first time ("doughboy" hats); I've never done any type of conversion on 15mms before but this was pretty easy. Lightning fast service.

LT

@JARROVIAN – perhaps I'm searching in the wrong places but all the Brekina vehicles I have seen so far are modern; I'm looking for something more appropriate to the mid-1930s.

LT

I have about 2 dozen, various manufacturers, cars, lorries and buses. If you search on Ebay for 'Brekina', newly listed, the first one is on page 2 (a little BMW similar to an Austin 7) of the search results, and some more on page 4 etc if you look under the search criteria you will find similar searches for other manufacturers which will provide other options (wiking, herpa roco etc)

The BMW Dixi is a licensed copy of the Austin 7, so an ideal substitute.

If you are looking at that price range, bung 1/92 in your ebay search and then select diecasts. there is a range of pewter collectables in that scale, though mostly post war, it has Austin 7s, Taxis and pre war looking MGs.

Nice for a specific vehicle or two but I'm not keen on the bases. I don't think I paid more than £5.00 GBP for any of mine (including postage!)

QRF had a Lanchester AC due for for imminent release. Drop them an email!

As above, the Zis lorries do fine for Fords. Peter Pig make one too.

Yes, the Zis was a licence built Ford A.

The Citroen Type 23 (Battlefront & Peter PIG IIRC) is a 1930's civilian model that ended up with the French Army. Plenty of variations in bodystyle (furniture van, bus, flatbed etc) if you feel like a conversion. Some of the civilian vehicles were used in the UK.

Hi

Gaming Models gamodls.com make mainly AFVs but do have some stuff that may suit.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

QRF are doing the Lanchester… Seen the first and it is a lovely model.

Roy

Morris CDSW tractors were in service as 18pdr tractors by the mid-1930s and FoW make a very nice model of the CDSW in 15mm (listed as their 'Bofors Tractor').

My local yeomanry regiment (Pembroke Yeomanry – aka 102 (Pembroke & Cardigan) Field Regt RA) replaced its horses with Fordson agricultural tractors in 1929 and those were replaced by CDSWs in the mid-1930s. However, the guns themselves remained fitted with wooden wheels, so the regiment had to issue an order that tractors were not to exceed 6mph when towing guns. Regiment and Battery Staff remained horsed, though one battery purchased an Austin 11 for use as a 'Light Recce Car'. The regiment was fully mechanised in late 1938/early 1939.