We have a double release from Eureka Miniatures this week - a 20mm Australian World War Two tank, and for the fantasy gamers, a range of 18mm Elves, all sculpted by Mike Broadbent.
As some of you may know, we already produce an Australian Sentinel tank in 15mm scale, but Mike decided it was about time our range of 20mm Aussies got their own version of Australia's remarkable home-produced World War Two tank. Commissioned in late 1940 amid growing concerns about Japanese aggression, the first working Sentinel prototype was ready in just 14 months, which was a remarkable achievement for a country with limited heavy industrial capacity - and even more remarkable when you consider that for almost 6 months of that time, the project was put on hold while an alternative design was considered - but ultimately rejected. The AC I Sentinel went into full production in August 1942, and incorporated several interesting design features, including the first-ever single-piece cast-hull which was very strong and required little finishing - thus saving time and money. The Sentinel was armed with a 2pdr gun and two Vickers machineguns, and had turret and hull front armour of 65mm thickness.
More than 60 Sentinels were built, but the tank was destined never to see combat, as by the middle of 1943 the improving supply situation with the United States meant that the U.S. factories could provide all Australia's tank requirements. Production was therefore canceled and the Sentinels went into storage, but it remains an intriguing "What if?" as to how the Sentinel might have performed in action. Even with its already outdated 2pdr gun, it would certainly have been a match for any Japanese tank, and the Sentinel's designers appear to have been keen to keep abreast of developments in Europe. Prior to its final cancellation, up-gunned test versions of the Sentinel were prepared and successfully tested - armed with a 25pdr field gun, and a potentially potent 17pdr antitank gun version.
Our model depicts the tank in its original AC I configuration. All Sentinels were finished in a two-tone scheme of Australian Khaki Green and Light Earth. Our model was painted by Jason Boulter.
20mm Sentinel Tank (from our 20mm World War Two range)
Designed & sculpted by Mike Broadbent
Variants in parentheses. Variants are supplied randomly.
200WWT16 'Sentinel' Tank - Australia's very own domestically produced tank (1)
Meanwhile - our popular range of 18mm generic fantasy miniatures has been expanded to include our new Elves of the Lofty Spire. They might sound a bit pretentious - but sculptor Mike Broadbent has ensured that these are Elves to be feared. They are not as tall as the strapping Woodland Elves which already form part of the range, but do not think for one moment that these are the sort of Elves who skulk about hiding in trees firing arrows at you. The Elves of the Lofty Spire prefer to meet their foes on the open plains, in full battle array - and so these chaps are armoured, with high helms, great shields, and fully equipped with some frightening-looking Oriental-inspired weaponry. As with most of the races in our 18mm fantasy range, you can choose from multi-variant bow-, spear-, and sword-armed infantry to custom design your units, as well as an assortment of lance- and sword-armed cavalry (all on barded horses).
18mm Elves of the Lofty Spire - (from our 18mm fantasy range)
Designed & sculpted by Mike Broadbent
Variants in parentheses. Variants are supplied randomly.
300HEL01 Elf archer (4)
300HEL02 Elf with spear (4)
300HEL03 Elf with sword (4)
300HEL04 Elf Lord of the Lofty Spire (2)
300HEL05 Elf standard bearer (2)
300HEL06 Elf musician (2)
300HEL07 Elf sorcerer (2)
300HEL08 Elf cavalry with lance (3)
300HEL09 Elf cavalry with sword (3)
300HEL10 Elf Lord, mounted (1)
300HEL11 Elf standard bearer, mounted (1)
300HEL12 Elf musician, mounted (1)
All these miniatures and many others can be ordered in the U.K. from Fighting 15s, and in North America from Eureka Miniatures U.S.A.