Quote from: kitbasher on November 15, 2023, 06:27:30 AMIt's a well-known fact that a pair of Scarabs wwere operated by The King's Flight from 1947 to 1952.

.....in the glorious blue/red scheme!   

Nice set of tanks again.  3D is really starting to take off, I'll look out for them.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on November 15, 2023, 06:31:40 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on November 15, 2023, 06:27:30 AMIt's a well-known fact that a pair of Scarabs wwere operated by The King's Flight from 1947 to 1952.

.....in the glorious blue/red scheme!   

Indeed.  As was the similar pre-WW2 de Havilland Comet Moth once owned by the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII then Duke of Windsor) when I get round to it!

Still on the 1/72nd Targets. I appear to have hit apon a rich seam of ideas and projects concerning them, mainly thanks to various 3d printed ranges I have unearthed online.


The ill fated M247 Sgt York Anti aircraft gun system. a 1980's M60 based project that just wouldnt work as intended. With modern electronics it probaly would work now.
This is a 3d print from China from one of several sellers on ebay.com (dont bother looking on ebay.co.uk, you wont find them)
Tamiya rattle can for the olive drab and decals robbed from yet another Esci M48.


M1 TTB Abrams. That stands for Technology Test Bed. Another Chinese 3d print.
This thing was an early(ish) "what can we do with the M1?" A 1st generation crewless turret. It was built and tested but not taken any further. The single example is preserved at the cavelry and Armor museum at Fort Benning.
Again Tamiya rattle can for the drab. But unlike the sgt York no klear coat for decals, as there arnt any on this one. Hence why it looks a slightly differnt shade of OD.


The sgt York and the M1 TTB togeather.


British Army (2nd Royal tank regiment) Challenger 1 fitted with the experimental Falcon 2 crewless Turret. well, almost crewless. the Commander and Gunner sit inside the turret basket with the gun and auto loader system between them.
The Falcon turret project was intended for the Jordainian Army to upgrade the then new ex Brtitish army Challys. Or as they are known in Jordan, the Al Hussain. The turret was tested both in the UK and Jordan, but not carried forward  by the Jordainains due to costs. There was a previous Falcon 1 as well, that was also tested on the Chally and also on old Jordainian Centurions which are known localy as the Tarqic.
Revell Chally 1 built and painted OOB, with the Turret coming from Shapeways. It wasnt cheap!


Heres the Chally with two real world builds. Both are 3d prints the Centurion BARV came from Poland via Etsy and the Ferret is from a UK trader on ebay.

there are another seven 3d printed targets on the bench, mainly waiting for decals and quite a few more on their way from various points on the planet. (mainly China)
So no end in sight to this affliction for targets.

Nice armour Martin 

And a few more...........

This is the FV4005 Stage 1. A 183mm (7.2 inch in old money) tank destroyer prototype, Intended to be an IS3 killer.
The type is better known via the Stage 2 with its bloody great turret. rather than the open mount seen here on the Stage 1.
After many years sat out side as a gate guardian at Bovington, the sole surving FV4005 Stage 2 is currently subject to a restoration to running order being covered on youtube.

This is an old Cromwell resin kit I picked up quite a few years back. Paint work is rattle can for the deep Bronze Green, with Gunze, Life color and valejo for the rest.



Next up another Chinese 3d print.

The Mantletless Turret test bed. Mounted on a Centurion. Also known in some places as the Centurion Action X.

This was heavily involved in develepment of what became the Cheiftain. The turret still survives in a rather sorry state sitting in a corner of the overspill carpark at Bovington Tank Musuem.
Tamiya Rattle can for the NATO green, with Gunze and Life Color for the rest.

And lastly all the way back to the Great war.

The Medium tank Mk C (Male). A prototype that never saw action as far as I can tell.
This was a resin kit I found at a previous Scale Model world. The trader in question was Dutch.
Paint work was mainly Valejo with the tracks and machinguns being painted in Gunze burnt iron.

Wow you've been a busy boy ! Love all this armour, especially the classic stuff like the Centurion whifs. Cheers

Quote from: Martin H on December 18, 2023, 12:07:11 PMAnd lastly all the way back to the Great war.

The Medium tank Mk C (Male). A prototype that never saw action as far as I can tell.
This was a resin kit I found at a previous Scale Model world. The trader in question was Dutch.
Paint work was mainly Valejo with the tracks and machinguns being painted in Gunze burnt iron.

Those machine gun(?) sponsons look...awkward

Quote from: scooter on December 18, 2023, 02:55:39 PMThose machine gun(?) sponsons look...awkward

They do, dont they.

Quote from: Martin H on December 18, 2023, 03:02:24 PM

Quote from: scooter on December 18, 2023, 02:55:39 PMThose machine gun(?) sponsons look...awkward

They do, dont they.

Was the RTR planning on drafting garden gnomes to man them?

I like the FV4005 Stage 1 in particular. With a flippin gun like that I think I'd prefer an open to the elements feel rather than an enclosed turret if I was the poor sod manning it 

With the Medium C it would be interesting to see how they planned to use the MG turrets/sponsons ?

Hoping to get down to Bovington next year.

I do like the male Hornet, always had a soft spot for WWI armour.

Quote from: scooter on December 18, 2023, 05:00:25 PM

Quote from: Martin H on December 18, 2023, 03:02:24 PM

Quote from: scooter on December 18, 2023, 02:55:39 PMThose machine gun(?) sponsons look...awkward

They do, dont they.

Was the RTR planning on drafting garden gnomes to man them?

They may have been looking to borrow Gunner Harold "Lofty" Sugden from the Royal Artillary, refered to as "Gunner Shorthouse" by the battery sargent major
Brits of a certain age will recall It aint half Hot mum......... and Gunner Shorthouse played by the late Don Estelle. And of course the late, great Windsor Davies as the Sargent Major.

I've tried desperately to forget that rubbish for some years.

Quote from: The Wooksta! on December 21, 2023, 12:52:54 PMI've tried desperately to forget that rubbish for some years.

Oops... well, in that case it calls for more of your favourite tipple, then... and you have the added reason/excuse of The Season... 
Happy to help with the suggestion!