deadhead | 06 Mar 2021 8:53 a.m. PST |
Two more M4 tanks for 2eme DB in Paris. The HVSS is a true M4 (105) (Andelot II) of the 501 RCC, hence the black berets. Crew are Milicast with Dan Taylor head transplants and the model is Unimodel. Decals/transfers are from Braillestrike and Clem tells me we may yet see the lettering in green. If so, I will probably change it. Probably, as frankly blue looks better and I am not yet convinced that all companies used green. Bourg la Reine is an M4A3 75 of 12th Cuirassiers from Trumpeter, with the same accessories as above. Could not resist showing poor old Notre Dame. Place de la Concorde, I suspect the tank would have been swamped with fetching young ladies. Nothing to do with wargames, but you have all indulged me very generously so far! Shame is the two tanks never could have met as the M4A3 was destroyed in 1944.
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Silurian | 06 Mar 2021 9:06 a.m. PST |
Excellent. I wouldn't mind wargaming the French during this period. Could you recommend a good starting point for reference? |
deadhead | 06 Mar 2021 9:19 a.m. PST |
Thanks indeed. I guess the obvious starter is the Osprey book Division Leclerc. Inexpensive and a good starter on the equipment and uniforms, plus an outline of the campaigns. If you want incredible detail then go to the French website. 2db.forumactif.com Click on Partagez (whatever that means) and you get hilarious translations, but the photographs on almost every posting are quite incredible. Their knowledge is encyclopaedic and they are very enthusiastic and welcoming. For wargaming en masse, see these; TMP link TMP link Of course there was the French Army (much of it ex Vichy colonial, from North Africa) invading through Southern France also (immediately recognisable as they carried the lozenge style flag of the Revolutionary republic). But 2 eme DB get all the glamour, even to this day. No comparison. |
Frederick | 06 Mar 2021 11:47 a.m. PST |
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Tango01 | 06 Mar 2021 3:49 p.m. PST |
Excellent job my good friend!… Congrats!…. Armand
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Marc33594 | 07 Mar 2021 7:32 a.m. PST |
Excellent as always, so atmospheric. And a terrific resource, thanks for the link to the Leclerc website. |
deadhead | 07 Mar 2021 8:27 a.m. PST |
Thanks all. Glad of the reminder about the Leclerc website. You have to be totally obsessed with 2eme DB, but let us face it, if you want a glamorous unit, with colourful US equipment and a superb battle record………. If anyone does go to the site, click on the Guitoune II (I must check what that means. It is not means of execution I do know) link for the most useful topics. Partajez provides some degree of translation then. If nothing else, the photos they find are amazing. This must be the most photographed unit of WWII! |
foxbat | 07 Mar 2021 9:02 a.m. PST |
Wonderful work, as usual! I freally enjoy what you're doing, your âinting and photo skills are astounding. Especially the way both the minis and the background look so sharp. I just can't seem to get the focus right here. If I may, I'd like those who'd like to start on Leclerc to try to get their hands on this book. It's in French, but there may exist an English translation :
published by Presses de la Cité, ISBN 2-266-01067-0] It's a fairly old work (dates back to 1980), but the author had access to many of the still living witnesses of the DB's crusade. IT fairly captures the atmosphere and gives you a 1944-45 Free French feel. Combats are not really well detailed, but it's on the other hand full of anecdotes and colourful portraits. At any rate, that was my entry ticket to the Leclerc saga
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deadhead | 07 Mar 2021 1:04 p.m. PST |
There is a "Romance" to the whole story of Leclerc and the 2eme DB. They were proper "Free French", who fought on when commonsense told the rest of the French Army to collaborate (or rot in German POW camps of course!) After the sinking of the French fleet by the RN one can hardly blame them for being jolly cross. Plus of course, in strict rules of war, there was an Armistice signed by a legally constituted government of France. Paris August 1944 helps. The best tank markings of any unit in WWII helps. The best combination of US uniforms with French colonial headgear does not hurt. A brilliant fighting record under Patton and other commands. Plus poor Leclerc died young, without getting too involved in failure in Indochina or, of course, Algeria. and it was the chance purchase of a White Scout Car in 1/72, countless readings of Is Paris Burning? not to mention the DVD of the film that got me started. Plus of course Foxbat's postings linked above! |
Tango01 | 07 Mar 2021 3:31 p.m. PST |
Well said my good friend! Armand |
deadhead | 08 Mar 2021 9:13 a.m. PST |
and today I see that Braillestrike have released their 501 RCC markings corrected to green not blue. More work for me. Even worse they have released two extra sheets of 501eme including Mort Homme the M4A2. Sob, I have 8 Shermans as it is…but the order has gone in. |
Marc33594 | 08 Mar 2021 11:46 a.m. PST |
Well, if its any consolation, you do now qualify as a member of Shermanholics. My stash, in 1/35th, keeps growing. Latest guilty sin is the new Ryefield M4A3E8 with full interior link |
deadhead | 08 Mar 2021 3:32 p.m. PST |
An Easy Eight? One of my first non-Airfix Shermans many many years ago. It was Fujimi (or was it Hasegawa?) and it seemed much bigger than 1/72 let alone 1/76. (It was Hasegawa!) After an M4A1, an M4A3(75), an M4A3(76), an M4A3(105), an M4(105), an M4(105) HVSS, two M4A2s of course I am almost out of Shermans used by 2eme DB in WWII (OK, there were some M4s and M4A4s also) A year ago I thought all M4 marks were petrol driven and designed to burn when hit. I guess I knew some were welded and some cast. I knew some had that modern looking suspension. But that was it. Now I know to look at the engine deck, the rear end and exhaust systems, is there a pistol port and a loader's hatch? How many combinations of driver/gunner hatches are there, let alone the angle of the glacis plate? What about the styles of drive sprocket or the commander's hatch? It goes on. I have an M8 A/C from Tamiya and an Airfix M10 both in true 1/35 sitting in my garage, boxed, with Free French decals. Soon….soon…. |
deadhead | 17 Mar 2021 2:25 p.m. PST |
Now honestly, this is not because I have shares in this company, or indeed any model makers. But I must tell you all that this and many other 501 eme RCC tanks you will have to see yet again. There was much debate about colouring of the lettering and numbers. Blue I like still….plus there is some argument. But there is one single photo and a testimony on that 2eme DB website that this was in green. Not Heller or Star Decals bright green. No, in dull khaki green. Which Braillestrike seems to have captured perfectly. It means much redo for my M4s, but well worth it. I hope to show soon
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Marc33594 | 18 Mar 2021 6:08 a.m. PST |
I see thy are now offering their decals in 1/35th as well, excellent! |
deadhead | 18 Mar 2021 3:57 p.m. PST |
Just after I had bought the Star Decals two sheets of course in 1/35th. Sob. I only have an M10 and M8 A/C to make and really must resist that scale. But if I could find an M4A2 with the small hatch look….I may yet invest in Braillestrike instead. I today overpainted the blue markings on Andelot II and replaced. Stress this is a simple flash shot and it does not flatter the paint scheme (compare with similar above) but………..
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