Panzer 4 in Hydra Service.  Portsmouth 1940.

Hydra tank crew celebrate with a drink following their victory at the Battle of Portsmouth during Operation Seelöwe August 1940.

Panzer 4 in Hydra Service. - 6 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Panzer 4 in Hydra Service. - 8 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Panzer 4 in Hydra Service. - 10 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Panzer 4 in Hydra Service. - 15 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model.

Dragon PzKpfw iv Ausf D 3in1 modified to carry dozer blade from MiniArt SLA T54 APC With Dozer Blade.  This required the nose of the P4 building up so it had the same profie as a T54.  It's held on with two U bolts made from paperclip wire which fit over hull mounted hooks.
Machine guns replaced with resin minigun barrels.
Painted with SMS acrylic Auscam colours.
Weathered mostly with Vallejo weathering powders.
Figures from resting P4 crew by Dragon (provided with the kit) except for the bloke with his hands in his pockets who is by MiniArt from a set of german tank crewmen playing cards.
All heads replaced with heads by Hornet.  I decided that Hydra tank crew, while wearing german fatigues (albeit in a unique colour blended from IDF shades), would have a variety of headgear.  These ended up consisting of British Tank Corp berets with the badges shaved, DAK peaked caps, and an Italian steel helmet.
Base by Vallejo detailed with street furniture by MiniArt (lamppost, manhole, and drain), painted, and static grass added.  I chose Portsmouth as the location because way back in the dim mists of antiquity I was a student there and used to cycle into lectures across the last remaining stretch of cobbled street in the town.  It was about 20m long looked nothing like this and had tram tracks in it but it's a thought, right?

And, if you get the tweezers out and carefully remove the securing chains and central locking bar the blade still goes up and down...

Come out really well sir 

As for Portsmouth my only memories are Navy Days with dad when I was little, football and the vast number of pubs back in the day 

Fred mate that turned out epic 👍 😎
So glad to see the final result of this build..I really like this one alot 😁😀

Splendid job - that looks great! 

By a strange coincidence, the last Youtube video that I watched, about 20 minutes ago, was two Yanks reacting to a video of a guy walking around Portsmouth and talking about the history, and one segment of it featured a cobbled street with tram tracks!

Quote from: Weaver on June 21, 2024, 02:02:07 AMSplendid job - that looks great! 

By a strange coincidence, the last Youtube video that I watched, about 20 minutes ago, was two Yanks reacting to a video of a guy walking around Portsmouth and talking about the history, and one segment of it featured a cobbled street with tram tracks!

Then it must still be there.  I used to live just round the corner.  Its close to Fratton Park soccer ground.
During Pompey home games we could hear when they scored.

Oh, and thanks folks.
 

Nicely done, Fred!

Quote from: zenrat on June 21, 2024, 04:34:54 AMThen it must still be there.  I used to live just round the corner.  Its close to Fratton Park soccer ground.
During Pompey home games we could hear when they scored.

That wasn't often then ? 

BTW I hate the "S" word with a passion, so it's noted in the Book 

Quote from: NARSES2 on June 21, 2024, 05:38:54 AMBTW I hate the "S" word with a passion...

I know.   

Quote from: zenrat on June 21, 2024, 05:50:24 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on June 21, 2024, 05:38:54 AMBTW I hate the "S" word with a passion...

I know.   

I thought you did 

Marvelous Fred 

Thanks bud.