Heedless Horseman | 16 Oct 2021 9:41 a.m. PST |
Thanks for additional info! So, a month 'window' for 'possible' use… even 'if' never done! Maybe 'reserve' due to retraining and ammo issues? Well, something new! lol. |
Marc33594 | 16 Oct 2021 11:30 a.m. PST |
Zaloga did indicate the Army did consider with the war nearly over that adding a new caliber of ammunition into the logistic system probably wasnt worth it. Apparently Eisenhower's headquarters did query 6th Army group slated to deploy for the invasion of Japan if they were interested in them but they suggested they be retained in Europe. There is no record as to their ultimate fate once the war ended in Europe. |
Paskal | 16 Oct 2021 11:33 a.m. PST |
Yes, something new on the Firefly! lol. About the panzerdepot models, there are parts to stick which are tiny as they should be and therefore very fragile! |
Heedless Horseman | 16 Oct 2021 11:57 a.m. PST |
Cheers. Not much point in 17pdrs against Japanese armour! As a Ps: as a child, a family friend called round. He had been in Guards Armoured Firefly, (I think). I proudly showed my newly done Tamiya 'Easy Eight' and he took an interest… but had a 'sad' look… gone now… but thanks to him and all. |
Heedless Horseman | 18 Oct 2021 5:35 a.m. PST |
Received a Takara M4A3 (75) Winter camo in post today. My 4th! Expensive, but rare… and such a nice model! So… ordered a Winter M8 from same ebay seller. (Has others and O/D Sherman!). More pricey than I would have gone for… but WTH! The winter camo on these two go together nicely. The Winter M4A1 (76) is 'Too White' for me, so would probably paint up an O/D model to attempt to match and make a platoon. If I ever get round to painting Pendraken US inf/ Airborne figs, could do a nice little 'blocking action' for Bulge. |
Paskal | 19 Oct 2021 7:07 a.m. PST |
And me this morning I found in my mailbox: A 1: 144 World Tank Museum, Tiger I Winter Camou Model and his Crew.Different from my other Tiger? Older or newer variant of the Tigers I? I'll check it out when I have time. A Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum 1. German Panzer IV Auf H. In winter wash. (# 12). It's my first, I expect more, it is the workhorse of the panzerwaffe, the Sherman of the Germans. A Takara 1/144 WTM 8 World Tank Museum German Panther Ausf. G Winter Camou Model This is my fifth in this series … The sixth is at 1/144 Takara Kaiyodo World Tank Museum 3 German Panther Ausf. Model G Winter Camouflage, a little different from the 5 others I own, it has no skirts on the sides, the cupola on the turret is smaller and is different and the details on the hull have been carved differently which gives the impression that they are different from my 5 other panthers, it is also whiter camouflage but his front is slightly brown… I would have to find three more like him. A Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum 1. US M4 Sherman in Winter wash. (# 4) . It's the The Winter M4A1 (76) 'Too White' you're talking about but there's another problem with it … I don't know because it is different from the M4A1 (76) W of the Pegasus Hobbies also carrying an American made 76mm gun? A Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum 7. Nashorn SPG. in winter wash. (# 121). I don't think there were any in the Battle of the Bulge? At the end of November I will have had all my documentation and I will see more clearly. |
Heedless Horseman | 19 Oct 2021 9:58 p.m. PST |
Think the Pegasus M4A1 was a 'late' with HVSS suspension, Takara had the earlier VVSS, Both good for 1/144 for me! If Takara Tiger I came with crew… 'Wittmann's Tiger', Winter, Ostfront. I prefer it for camo… but pre Normandy for accuracy. Not sure whether Tiger I still in Bulge forces. Doubt Nashorn, either… but, given availability of prepaints… could always stick one in… 'whatever Germans had' in depots. |
Paskal | 20 Oct 2021 3:20 a.m. PST |
Heedless Horseman You think the Pegasus M4A1 was a "late" with the HVSS suspension, Takara had the previous VVSS, yes that's exactly that and both good for 1/144 for me too! I think you are right because their undercarriages are different for the two models and I have verified the Pegasus M4A1 has the same undercarriage as the US M4 A3E8 Sherman Easy Eight Tanks! For their guns, the Sherman M4A1 of Takara has the 76mm M1A1 gun and the Sherman M4A1 of Pegasus, the 76mm M1A2 gun with muzzle brake as the US M4 A3E8 Sherman Easy Eight Tank..! |
Heedless Horseman | 20 Oct 2021 6:53 a.m. PST |
As for Takara Pz IV …and StugIII… if you can get more than one, suggest either leaving Hull Schurzen off some, or cutting down for variety! Takara PzIV turret Schurzen sometimes annoying. as no brackets, so 'out of place'. I did get one EXCELLENT PzIV in winter camo… possibly a Dragon model… but, you don't see many around. For prepaints, you can't be too choosy… just enjoy what you can get! |
Paskal | 22 Oct 2021 7:56 a.m. PST |
Nothing yesterday and nothing today, that's all misery… WE Will see tomorrow … On the other hand, when in November, I will have received my documentation with the battle orders, I will know what to organize and how! |
Heedless Horseman | 22 Oct 2021 10:35 p.m. PST |
Some prepaints camo 'can look a bit too neat. A 'wheathering' tip that is quick and easy to do… rather than using paint… is to use 'Artists Pencils'. Available from craft or art sellers… in wide range of colours.'Some' are not too bad for O/D or German camo shades… but best to try out on card first. For 'wear' on either summer or winter' camo.. just LIGHTLY run pencil point side along hull / turret sharp edges, etc. Remember that tanks frequently did not survive long enough to have the heavy 'down to metal' or 'rust' wear sometimes seen on seen on competition entries. A little can sometimes improve on a 'basic' paint job, but not to overdo! A 'soft' normal lead pencil can create wear on track links… but mainly for 'summer' roads. You do not want to paint… but MUD is always good for vehicles! |
Paskal | 23 Oct 2021 6:57 a.m. PST |
This morning, nothing in the mailbox again, look forward to next week! Yes the pencil will be able to render services, I had not thought about it when I know this material. On the other hand, for the technique of painting figurines representing human beings at 1/144 th scale, someone would have to explain to me … Keeping other expenses in anticipation, I need trees covered with snow and buildings if possible covered with snow at 1/144 th scale. |
Heedless Horseman | 23 Oct 2021 7:51 a.m. PST |
Cheap and easy sources for smallish Firs are Christmas Cake decorations… loads appearing at this time of year… ebay, craft shops, some supermarkets. Quality and quantity varies. Buildings? Not tried any myself… but there may be some 'snowy' buildings for the Christmas Vignettes that some create as decorations. Garden centres with Christmas decorations may be a source. Unlikely to be accurate for architecture and scale… but worth a look when doing Christmas shopping! lol. There are winterised trees around… somewhere. Defoliated deciduous trees avaiable in model railway suppliers sections of some Hobby/Craft chains… meant for starters to add foliage to. Not painted, just grey plastic. |
Heedless Horseman | 23 Oct 2021 8:30 a.m. PST |
This sort of thing. auction I wouldn't really think suitable, but maybe auction I am not recommending… just illustrating some of the items around on a quick look on ebay. |
Heedless Horseman | 23 Oct 2021 8:38 p.m. PST |
Better Winter trees… think I have some, somewhere! auction also auction auction Some sellers also have bare deciduous trees so take a look at 'other items from this seller' on ebay. |
Paskal | 24 Oct 2021 3:34 a.m. PST |
Thank you, there is a choice of fir; it's already that! |
Heedless Horseman | 25 Oct 2021 6:13 a.m. PST |
Paskal. I have not bought from this ebay seller, but you might be interested in some of these? Shipping makes them expensive, though. auction I do not know whether Combined Postage is an option. |
Paskal | 25 Oct 2021 12:12 p.m. PST |
Thanks because there are some interesting things about this seller! Today I did not find anything in my dick literally but a friend came to see me and I bought him: 1 Hummel (my first!). 1 Sdkfz 234.2 Puma. 1 Sherman M4A1 Tank with 75mm cannon (unfortunately it has no rear rack and I don't know if it's regulatory?) 1 Sherman M4A3 Tank with 75mm cannon. 1 Sherman M4A3 E8 Tank with obviously a 76mm M1A2 gun. 2 M7 Priest. 1 M8 self-propelled howitzer. 1 M5A1 Stuart. 1 M8 Greyhound. (Unfortunately it does not have a turret machine gun) |
Heedless Horseman | 25 Oct 2021 8:32 p.m. PST |
'1 Sherman M4A1 Tank with 75mm cannon (unfortunately it has no rear rack and I don't know if it's regulatory?)' If you mean the 'shelf' for stowage… earlier Shermans did not have one… just clips for tools such as starting crank, sledgehammer or Big spanner. .50 cal MGs available from Pendraken and others. Easy to fit onto US turrets, etc. by drilling a hole with a Pin Vice. (In case not familiar with 'Pin Vice', it is a pen sized hand tool with one or two chucks for very fine drill bits. Very useful and found in hobby shops, ebay or Pendraken have a range of tools.). |
Paskal | 26 Oct 2021 3:21 a.m. PST |
Nothing in the mailbox this morning, maybe this afternoon? 'Earlier Shermans did not have one… just clips for tools such as starting crank, sledgehammer or Big spanner.' . You reassure me, but this kind of Sherman without racks fought until the end of the war? .50 cal MGs available from Pendraken and others. Easy to fit onto US turrets, etc. by drilling a hole with a Pin Vice. But that's good I have this kind of tools. At 1/144 th scale, there is no Sherman M4A2 ? Otherwise I have the impression that the Panzer Depot 1/144 WWII German Sdkfz233 armored car gray (8025C) is not at 1/144 th scale? |
Heedless Horseman | 26 Oct 2021 5:15 a.m. PST |
There could still have been earlier marks of Sherman still with units or as replacements from Tank Depots if needed. However, casualties and wear would make M4A3 (75mm), much more common by Bulge or later. M4A2… as prepaints… New Millenium Toys do one in different colours. However this is very slightly on the small side alongside some other models and has moulded on stowage. Would 'do' though. On ebay search 1/144 Sherman and several around from USA. The German 8 wheel A/Cs were very large beasts. Have never tried Panzer Depot vehicles. |
Paskal | 27 Oct 2021 6:06 a.m. PST |
This morning I found in my mailbox: A WW2 1:144 Scale Wargame Diorama US Army 2.5 Ton GMC 6x6 Military Truck NMT_423x A WW2 1:144 Scale Wargame Diorama US M3 Half Track Armor Vehicle Model NMT 424 And a WW2 1:144 Scale Wargame Diorama US M3 Half Track Armor Vehicle Model NMT_424_NB But Impossible to find the M4A2 you were talking about? |
machinehead | 27 Oct 2021 7:00 a.m. PST |
auction You'll have to repaint these if you get them. |
Heedless Horseman | 27 Oct 2021 7:14 a.m. PST |
Actually, when I look, model is called M4 rather than M4A2. auction auction auction (Snap! Machinehead!). auction auction auction I am not too sure about the Camo scheme… for late NWE. Also, camo colours may be a bit 'brighter' than I would like, on Germans. There is also a Takara M4A3 (75mm) in a bidding auction. auction |
machinehead | 27 Oct 2021 7:18 a.m. PST |
The 2 tone Sherman is supposed to be a Marine Corps version. |
machinehead | 27 Oct 2021 7:22 a.m. PST |
I have tons of the 2 tone Shermans, if you want I can send you 3 but like I said you'll have to repaint them. |
Heedless Horseman | 27 Oct 2021 7:24 a.m. PST |
Ah, Marine Corps.Thanks, Machinehead. I bought some when there were very few decent Welded hull early Shermans around… intending a partial repaint for use as British in Italy… just never got round to it. Now there are Butlers printed Models and an improved Pendraken metal available. |
machinehead | 27 Oct 2021 7:38 a.m. PST |
I repainted some of them for Italy.
|
Heedless Horseman | 27 Oct 2021 8:23 a.m. PST |
Machinehead. They have scrubbed up well! |
Paskal | 27 Oct 2021 11:09 a.m. PST |
Heedless Horseman and machinehead, Thanks for your help but if the New Millennium Toys Series are the ones that are mounted on a plastic stand? No thank you I don't want it and auctions are not my thing, thank you. Please what apparent details are different between M4A2 and M4A3? Sherman I: British designation of M4 What is the difference between the American model and the British model? Only the designation? Sherman Ia: British designation of M4 (76) W. What is the difference between the American model and the British model? Only the designation? Sherman Ib: British designation of M4 (105) What is the difference between the American model and the British model? Only the designation? Sherman Ic: Sherman I rearmed with a 17-pdr gun by the British, nicknamed "Firefly". Here we know the difference … Sherman II: British designation of M4A1 What is the difference between the American model and the British model? Only the designation? Sherman IIa: British designation of M4A1 (76) WWhat difference between the American model and the British model? Only the designation? Sherman III: British designation of M4A2 What is the difference between the American model and the British model? Only the designation? Sherman IV: British designation of M4A3 What is the difference between the American model and the British model? Only the designation? Sherman V: British designation of M4A4 What is the difference between the American model and the British model? Only the designation? Sherman Vc: Sherman V rearmed with a 17-pdr gun by the British, nicknamed "Firefly". There we know the difference … |
Heedless Horseman | 27 Oct 2021 9:20 p.m. PST |
New Millenium vehicles are 'clipped' onto a stand… just twist the clip to loose. See machinehead's pic. Sherman development far too complicated for adequate explanation in a post. Plenty of research sources online or in various books. M4A2… small hull hatches in projections. M4A3… early production same but changed to larger hatches in a more steeply angled glacis. M4A1 (76mm) had similar change from 75mm tank. US did not use the M4A4 (Brit Sherman V) in Europe. Has slightly extended hull for engine. Visually… main 'differences' between Us and British Shermans often depended on where, when and use by individual units… with 'modifications' sometimes depending on what a Maintenance Unit' was asked for! Very roughly, the tanks models came off production line the same… mostly. (Note the frequent use of 'Mostly'and 'sometimes'!). In Desert and sometimes, Tunisia and Sicily, the sandskirts were useful in Brit use. Think US mostly removed them. Italy… Brits started to remove rear section of skirts and weld onto rear upper hull as storage racks… or remove completely. From Normandy… mostly no skirts as removed due to damage from hedges and not needed. Have seen pics of US and Brits with skirts, including Fireflies… but rare. Some Brit units still used the rear skirt panels as stowage racks. Brits, Desert to Italy, 'mostly' attached rear turret boxes from obsolete Crusaders… then 25pdr ammo boxes. Think a standard turret box may have been produced in UK. NWE… most Brit Shermans would have a turret box… US… not as far as I am aware. Brits sometimes welded another stowage box…(Possibly removed from Crusaders?)… on hull rear and sometimes front glacis. US… not… but the shelf /rack on hull rear appeared instead on later models. .50cal Turret MG. Most… but not all… Brit units dismounted this… some discarded, others may have kept stowed or stored on 'B' echelon supply trucks. Most US Shermans had the .50cal mounted. Additional armour plate on 'Dry ' ammo stowage Shermans? Unclear about who started applying extra armour from scrap, or when. Think it became a standard modification… but not needed on 'Wet' stowage tanks. Very basically, for Myself' in NWE… Brits have turret stowage box, hull box (es) and no turret MG. (Mostly). US have no turret box and mount a .50cal MG. |
Paskal | 28 Oct 2021 10:30 a.m. PST |
Thank you for all your explanations. Well today nothing in the mailbox, we'll see tomorrow. |
Paskal | 29 Oct 2021 10:44 a.m. PST |
This morning I found in my mailbox: A Panzer Depot 1/144 WWII USA M-16 AA Gun green and a Panzer Depot 1/144 WWII USA M24 Chaffee Tank green. They are very beautiful, but I have a weird feeling … I wonder if they are not a bit small, but I have nothing to compare them … We will see that later. |
Paskal | 30 Oct 2021 3:38 a.m. PST |
This morning I found in my mailbox: Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum 3 " Panther Ausf.G (winter camo) " A3-54 Now I would like to know the difference between the 1/144 Takara Kaiyodo World Tank Museum 3 and the 1/144 Takara Kaiyodo World Tank Museum 2? Strongly the next week. |
Heedless Horseman | 30 Oct 2021 5:43 a.m. PST |
For the Takara 'sets', this a link to an 'old' site showing the 'series' of vehicles. By now, useful as a 'guide' only, to show what was made, I think, I have not tried to buy for a long time! link (On ebay, sellers name as 'Takara', 'World Tank Museum'… 'WTM', 'Kaiyodo'… or any mix… for same product! Things can get rather confusing!). |
Paskal | 31 Oct 2021 1:45 a.m. PST |
Thank you because on this page there are all the series I have already mentioned, that is 10 series for Takara but some of which are not for WWII. TankZone no longer sells anything ??? Now I think I know why the Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum 3 "Panther Ausf.G (winter camo) is different and barely larger than the Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum 2" Panther Ausf.G (winter camo), besides that cannot be seen not on a table but it's still an oddity of Takara,in my opinion it is not the same sculptors who sculpted the different series… I look forward to having my documentation to make formed units. |
Heedless Horseman | 31 Oct 2021 5:49 a.m. PST |
TankZone site still there, so I presume they are in business. However, it must be five years + since I bought any Takara there. Most items were out of stock… now even more so…and with Takara out of production, unlikely to replenish. |
Paskal | 31 Oct 2021 8:03 a.m. PST |
Yes I see what remains for me to do … Okay please Heedless Horseman, let's talk about wargames, what do you use as rules to play WWII at the 1/144 and what troops and era do you like for WWII? |
machinehead | 31 Oct 2021 12:12 p.m. PST |
This page shows a lot of what used to be available. Hmm, can't get the link to work. try typing this in your browser header, leave out the last/ starjetmodels.jog.buttobi.net/DATA/MAIN-EN.html/ |
Heedless Horseman | 01 Nov 2021 8:55 a.m. PST |
Paskal. I must confess that I am not a War 'Gamer'! I sometimes pull out a few tanks and figures and a small amount of scenery… but personal circumstances mean that I do not stage 'Battles'… at the present time. I 'Play with Toy Soldiers' rather than 'Game'. Setting up a scenario and moving pieces… but using my imagination, rather than Rules sets. Decision making and Combat being decided by quite arbitrary roll of Dice… according to how I view the circumstance. Well, it does for me! When younger, (1980s!), I used the Wargames Research Group (WRG) rules for 1/285… and enjoyed them… but they were for 'MicroARMOUR' and Infantry were little more than targets… so much better Rules around now. However, I cannot suggest any. As for WW2 period… to confine to 1/144… Brits in Italy, Normandy, Market Garden, Bulge or US advance into Germany. Eastern front… Take a look at the Takara PzIII… it 'wants' to be used! The Takara early T34… I change the gun barrel… so 1942. Kursk… excellent Takara pieces… and also for 44/45… but, having known an Estonian, I have a preference for Northern Front, rather than Berlin. The paintwork on the Takara Russian tanks is not as good as on German or US models…. but, so far, the models are by far, the best pieces around… Russian armour needs 'track sag' and appropriate tread detail! Sadly, although I have gathered enormous amounts of vehicles and troops, in various scales… I actually 'DO' very little with them! |
Paskal | 01 Nov 2021 11:36 a.m. PST |
I only like the historical reconstruction … So I am getting back to WWII (abandoned a very long time ago), but which re-impassions me thanks to the 1/144 and only for the Battle of Bulge of 1944 and maybe Tunisia later. So I am very disciplined that I am only interested in a battle and when I have my arguments, it will be wonderful! So far I have only found the special rules for the 1/144 scale "The War on the Ground – WW2 Rulebook" and I'm waiting for "'O' Group – WW2 Rulebook", we'll see … |
Paskal | 03 Nov 2021 5:57 a.m. PST |
This morning I found in my mailbox: A Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum WTM 8 US M4 Sherman Winter Camou Model and A 1/144 Takara World Tank Museum 1 German TIGER 1 Heavy Tank Winter Camo model. I will be able to start building up platoons. |
Paskal | 04 Nov 2021 7:36 a.m. PST |
This morning I found in my mailbox : Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945 Dupuy, Trevor Nevitt Battle Of The Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945 Parker, Danny These two books are going to clarify my ideas on the Battle of the Bulge ! Otherwise there was also : A Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum WTM 8 US M4 Sherman Camou Model A Green A Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum 1. German Panzer IV Auf H. In winter wash. (#12) In fact the Takara 1/144 World Tank Museum WTM 8 US M4 Sherman Camou Model A Green are very interesting to do what I want to do … |
Heedless Horseman | 04 Nov 2021 8:22 a.m. PST |
The Takara M4A3 (75mm) Sherman is a lovely model… but be careful with the gun… easily snapped. I received a Takara winter M8 + Schwimwagen… now have enough for any future need! Strangely, items from Canada take twice the time and cost nearly twice as much on postage as the stuff that I used to get from Japan! Pleased, anyway. |
Paskal | 05 Nov 2021 4:47 a.m. PST |
Well there is going to be something that I will have to worry about, which is what sizes do the units give for my future wargames ??? |
Heedless Horseman | 07 Nov 2021 1:49 a.m. PST |
An ebay 'bidding' auction from a good seller has some useful items. Bids will almost certainly rise late in the day! auction |
Paskal | 08 Nov 2021 5:33 a.m. PST |
Ah no, I hate this system and I wonder if it is not e-bay which is outbidding rather than people? Nothing today that I expect more. I think it happened at the end of November and the beginning of December. Now I am rather expecting about fifteen other books on the Battle of the Bulge … Anyway when I have received the rest of my documentation, I will order new ones en masse, that I will know what I need at the very least … These books will document me effectively, for example did you know that the most dominant type of Sherman tanks in the US Army during the Battle of the Bulge was the type M4A1 and not the M4A3 ! Who would have believed that !? Source: Battle Of The Bulge: Hitler's Ardennes Offensive, 1944-1945 Parker, Danny – page 60. |
Paskal | 08 Nov 2021 10:58 a.m. PST |
link Please note the M4A1 76mm Sherman in Ettelbruck in Luxembourg is an M4A1 Sherman with 75mm … And it's the same for the M4A1 76mm Sherman in Beffe in Belgium ! I don't see what a 17pdr Achilles in Bastogne would have done during the Battle of the Bulge, because there was none in the US Army. None of these tanks have winter camouflage, which is abnormalsince I believe there was no snow until the end of the first week of the battle, however none of the US tanks have the same shade of green, which is comforting, because it is the same for ours! |
Heedless Horseman | 08 Nov 2021 10:03 p.m. PST |
Nice to see some memorials with 'preserved' tanks… even if not historically accurate for location… or paint! I have always liked to see a Tank or Gun, rather than a statue or stone block. In UK… no WW2 battles! But there used to be small Training 'Barracks'… mainly for Territorial Army units… which had a 'Gate Guard' of a tank or gun. I remember a Comet tank and a 5.5" Gun… both gone. Vickers Tank Factory had either an Abbot SPG or a Chieftan/Challenger MBT… but no factory now so no 'Tank'. I can just, vaguely, remember a private house with A Spitfire Fighter in the garden… hope it… or it's parts… fly, now! As for colour. Paint did vary… even for US OD… especially with 'fading'… never mind the German mix your own paint for camo! Preserved vehicles will have been repainted many times… and, sometimes, even Museums don't get it right. As for WWW2 pics… you can see the same photo in different books… but VERY different shades! Printing process. Now, so many B/W 'photos' have been 'colourised'… but even the 'original' Wartime colour pics may not have been accurate… from 'development' process at the time… or with age. When I had a 35m camera… a reprint from Kodak could be very different… and now, with 'photoshop'… 'The Camera Never Lies'… LOL! Go with what looks good to Yourself. |
Paskal | 09 Nov 2021 7:32 a.m. PST |
Yes anyway no one will be able to contradict us. This morning, I found in my mailbox: The War on the Ground – Volume 2 – because I sold the one I had to someone who really wanted it. 'O' Group – WW2 Rulebook – To see if it is more interesting thanThe War on the Ground – Volume 1. Victrix Ltd German Infantry and Heavy Weapons (because I need heavy weapons). Victrix Ltd US Infantry (because I need heavy weapons). A M4 Sherman 105mm with Sandbag Armor from Combat Group Dynamix. A 1: 144 WWII US Soldiers at Rest (Seated) Set A of 5 from Combat Group Dynamix. A 1: 144 WWII German Wehrmacht in Combat Set One Set of 9 from Combat Group Dynamix. |