Just a quick reference for the British Armoured Formations.
Bridge weights and WD serial numbers-

Vickers Light Tank VIb- T1985 through 2084, T2087-2293, T2336-2429,T2431-2530,T3652-3715, T4166-4241,T4243-4308,T4456-4484, T4465-4715,T5085-5129,T5763-5773,T5813-5842.

Vickers Light Tank VIc- T4309-4342,T5130-5184,T5774-5812,T5843-5882.

Both bridge marking 6

A9 Cruiser MkI- T7196-7270 Bridge marking 13

A11 Matilda I- T3433-3542. T5551-T5610,T8101-8119. Bridge marking 12 (?)

A12 MkII Matilda II- T6729-T6868, T7271-7350,T7351-7390,T10034-10203
(The WD decided to serial number MkII,MkIII and IV plus the Scorpion and Baron, irrespective of their mark. I would settle for the lower numbers for France. T6906 Greenock, and T9732 Galahad are the two I can vouch for at the moment. I will keep looking for the other numbers for each of the named vehicles. All names began with G.) Bridge marking 25

To be continued.....

Not sure about using Belgian chocolate to make the tank and saddles.....

Interesting developments. I have secured the use of a rather nice scale bicycle, for use with the Belgians, and eventually the Dutch.
I'd like to throw it open to suggestions, but I thought that 2 mounted cyclists, a walking cyclist, and a spare bike might make a nice pack. Head and equipment swaps would assist in making the figures in the pack different.
I'd also like to get the Belgian Boys AT gunner done, and maybe a couple more Belgian infantry to make up the section numbers. Maybe some more "Tin Soldiers of Antwerp" characters to join Sergeant-majoor Willie.
The crew for the 47mm AT gun should arrive soon, and I will get that out asap.
I am working on the Hotchkiss MG, and ideally will also build an MG08 for the line infantry, with the FRC 76mm infantry gun/mortar, and the small DBT mortar.
Motorcycles are also in the pipeline for the Belgians, and for the BEF.

And here is the Cruiser A9. I'm halfway through the initial stock already. If only the German stuff sold as well :-)
The kit is a resin hull and turret with tracks, MG Turrets, and fittings in metal.

This is a little idea.... Converting the Belgians to infantry wearing the Bonnet de Police is simple.
Paul Hicks, famous sculptor, and Mexican Peon impersonator, made these separate heads for Nigel Higgins (Anglian Miniatures). They are now owned by those nice people at Empress Miniatures, who will sell you four heads- (Code H4) for £1.50. Take the Belgian figures of your choice, and by gripping the head with small pliers, twist. The heads snap off quite cleanly. Drill a small hole, about 1.5mm in the top of the neck, and glue in the above heads. Painting the bonnet de Police in the green grey, and then picking out the lining and tassle in the chosen unit colour.

http://ww2armor.jexiste.fr/Files/Allies/Allies/2-Organization/Belgium/5-Uniforms/Uniforms.htm

is the link to the site with all the different lining colours.



Chasseur Ardennais Pack

Belgian Infantry Pack

Crisis in Antwerp was once again a very enjoyable show. Thanks to the Tin Soldiers for the invite.

The new Belgians were popular, and even a few of the A9 Cruisers went.

I would add the new stuff to the website, but my main PC has decided to stop working. I am relegated to the god-awful laptop. I have no ftp access on here.. It just about copes with spider solitaire. Anyone following on the blog who wishes to order these, contact me by email. I will get back to you on this silicon tea tray as quickly as possible.

We took the opportunity to visit the Belgian Army Museum in Brussels, along with Paul Hicks, Boycie and a few other chaps. It is worth a visit. A huge collection of militaria, uniforms, artillery,tanks and aircraft. Just don't try to measure anything on the open displays, as the alarm system is very good, and even detects a tape measure crossing the cordon wires. The security were very understanding, and we were able to continue our visit. We weren't alone, as Boycie's group also got the sirens wailing. Entry is free, photographs are permitted, and much of the heavy equipment is on open display....Just not the FN M12 Motorcycle and sidecar, which is protected by the alarm system.

Sneek peek of the Belgians

Once again my digital camera conspires to make my figure painting look awful.
The grey uniform is in fact grey-green, and the mustard coloured atire of the others is in fact a khaki brown. The only things that have stayed the same shade are the red Line Infantry collar tabs, and the scatter grass that I put on the bases.
That aside, you can see the general layout of the Belgians, with a Chasseur Ardennais Jager in the bottom left hand corner. The section support weapon is the FN Mle1930, a Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal version of the Browning Automatic Rifle. The NCO wears a bonnet de police, and wields a Mitrailette Modele 1934. Everyone else has the standard FN M1930 Geweer copy of the German Gew.98.

Cruiser Mk1 A9 -progressing

And I thought the 231 6-Rad was a complicated piece. The A9 hull is taking shape. Just the rear end trackguards and exhaust to finish, and then it is rivetting time. A bit of work is still needed on the front track guard ends to smooth out any gaps.
The MG turrets are separate pieces, which after many failed attempts with brass tube, were eventually constructed using Lego circular plates and tiles stacked to the right height and then skinned in plasticard. A spot of luck that my 4 year old placed some Lego bits on the table next to the plan drawings. They are the right height and diameter for these.
One of the fiddliest bits is the commander's hatch cover, which is a tent shaped structure that splits in half to open like a clam shell. It is done now.

The masters are here.. They will be available very soon.....

A9 - A10 track sets

Finished the A9- A10 Cruiser Tank track sets. I had to hunt around for the larger whee castings, as I had mislaid them amongst the wreckage of my parts bins.
These will go off to Griffin for casting in metal, as they are a bit delicate, hence the slight sagging in the top track run. The A9 is first. It is the more complex hull, which I have nearly completed the main structure.
I will look at working on the A10 in succesion, and would like to produce the two gun mantlets for the Mk1 and Mk1a. This will require two turrets being cast.
I do hope there will be some interest, as this pair are not going to be cheap to produce. I will still be looking at the usual £20 mark for pricing.

The 6 Rad.

I am working towards the Scout and Bren Carriers,the A9 and A10, and the Panzer II....And the Belgians are at the casters :-)

Kfz.15 Adler.

Vickers MG Team is now cast in sufficient numbers... Price £6.00.
Better than that, I have the Boys Anti tank rifleman and his erstwhile spotter as well. Price £3.00

I believe photos are already on the blog, but I shall snaffle around and find them again.
There is movement on the Char B1 bis front as well.. A very patient French customer has two on the way, and I am getting more in soon.

In the meantime the 6 Rad 231 is now grey all over and needs a bit of detailing paint work.
The 231 8 rad has been painted in the 2/3 grey, 1/3 brown.

I've been a bit quiet on here. No posts since early Summer. However, things have been moving forward with the range. I now have the facilities to cast figures and vehicle parts, thanks to Paul Hicks, and plenty of useful advice from Mike regarding what to do.
News for the range is that the Highlander pack is now available. I also have the Sd.Kfz 231 6 Rad for sale. Guy has been working to get the Char B1 bis back into production, and Nick Eyre (Northstar) has passed over the figure moulds, so that the Vickers MG team will soon be online.
I'll update with photos later.

This one has been a bit of a struggle. The hull angles make the wheelarch angles all the more complex, and they are also cambered. The Daimler Benz and Bussing NAG versions now look a lot simpler than the Magirus M206 version of the 6-Rad, but hindsight is not a valuable thing until after the work is done. I still have to add the grille, rollers, the stowage box fronts, and the turret details, but it isn't far off completion. I'll be glad if this one comes out in resin.
I pity the caster.

I'm also waiting for the metals for the Adler, which hopefully will be here soon. Combined with the 231 8 Rad and 221 LAC, I have an almost complete early war German Recce unit.

Standard 10 Light Utility

Standard Motors of Coventry came up with a rival to the Austin 10 light utility with this more military looking conversion of their 1936 Standard 10 saloon car. With a full length tilt, and pick up rear load bed, the Flying Standard 10 "Tilly" was a common sight with British Armed Forces. Many were used in France and belgium, and subsequently left behind. Production continued, and these were found driving across the Libyan desert, and into North West Europe in 1944.
This is a three part resin casting, with a driver. It looks like a 1930's Landrover, with all the cross country abilities of a rowing boat.

Price is £10 and it will be appearing on the website soon. They are available now.

Anyone need an ambulance ?

Another release is the Austin K2 Ambulance. From 1938 until the end of the Second World War, these were seen everywhere, from Dunkirk to D-Day and beyond.
I will get these on the website as well, but if you are in urgent need of one, then email me.
Price £16.

Phanomen Granit H25 truck

I now have the German Phanomen Granit H25 light truck for sale. The resin model comes in three parts, with separate wheels. The windscreen aperture and side windows are cast in, using thin resin membrane, which can be removed if so desired with a sharp craft blade.

Current price is £15.
I will get it added to the website in short order, but if you cannot wait, then email me anyway.

Such things should only appear in nightmares.
3 different plans- 1 small scale kit. None are identical. I have plumped for the copies of the "works" plans. The problems with plans are that they are two dimensional. Building a box is simple from a 2d plan, but this is a wedge of cheese with numerous angles.
I then find that three different manufacturers built the same designated vehicle, all with minor differences. The one I had initially settled on was by the manufacturer who made the least numbers. So I go for the middle one.
Who says the Grmans are efficient ? And Mr. Bradford, once again your plans are junk :-(
Anyway, it is drying now, whilst I work out the optimum trajectory for throwing it, just in case.

In the words of Rolf Harris, " Can you see what it is yet ?"

I have a limited number (11) of T15s in stock. Price £15. Paypal- crouchie162@btinternet.com

Bath tub for the Germans

Just finished the Kfz.13 Adler master. I have the second crew man drying at the moment, but what you see is what you get, except for the plastic supporting bits and the tablemats.
Totally outdated, these little vehicles were frequently seen in company with the 221s and other recce forces during the drive into Poland, and then going back the other way into the Low Countries and France. They even managed to linger around and drive into the Soviet Union, although by that time, they were quite obsolete. I always liked the Adler, as it is a bit of a cranky throw-back to the early 1900s, remaining in service at a time when most German equipment was starting to look really advanced. It proves that the British were not the only ones using Heath Robinson kit.

Now in stock

Sd.Kfz. 221 Leichte Panzerspahwagen.

I have about 12 complete 221s in stock. I can't get the ftp on my website to work, so I am unable to add them to the catalogue. Just email me if you would like one. If you would like a DAK crewman instead of the coal scuttle wearing chap, then I have a couple of those lying around still.
Usual price will be £17, but £15 to those supporting this Blog until the website is sorted in a few days time.

Matilda II A12 Infantry tank

Matilda II A12 Infantry tank is available. £20
5 part resin casting including the tail skid, with metal fittings.

From the top,
Boys anti tank gunner. The conversion went one stage further replacing the scrim netting helmet with a smooth one. There is a second crewman for the gun, who will be kneeling.
Waffen SS officer and Verfugungstruppe MG34 gunner.
Pzb.39 anti tank and Mp38/stick grenade.
Sorry about the painting/photography. Blackened ones would look better perhaps.

BEF Vickers MG team

Infantry Tank A12 resin test cast

I received the test casting from Fenris for the Infantry tank A12, Matilda II. The five resin parts are cleanly cast, and include the duck tail skid, which was fitted to the BEF's Matilda IIs to facilitate trench crossing in the anticipated re-run of the Great War. Production is now underway.

Something for the Germans...

I found some drawings of a Phanomen Granit 25H, which was commonly seen in the variants of Ambulance and large Kubelwagen. Looking into the Kubelwagen, I came across some rather nice versons of the 25H 1.5 tonne trucks, which were used as Kfz.69 light general service, and Kfz.70 light personnel truck, similar in use to the British Morris CS8, Guy Ant and Bedford MWD.
Studying many photographs it seems that the Heer, and SS, were not equipped with that much state of the art transport. There were a few 251 A and B variant halftracks, but in general, the Blitzkreig in the West was made possible by walking, cycling, or riding around in all manner of vehicles from the 1930's. Only with the Schell Programme of 1938 did anyone in the German Military make a concerted effort to standardize the numerous makes of vehicle in use.
I decided that my miniature German armed forces should ride into battle in a number of slightly quirky military vehicles, so I built one. I rather like the manufacturer's name as well. Phanomen Granit sounds much more sophisticated than Horch or Opel.
The near finished article in the photographs has a separate load bed and cab roof. I also made the windscreen and cab windows in thin plastic sheet, framed with thicker plastic. Hopefully the casting process will leave the windows with thin enough resin to cut through, allowing myself and any other lunatic to add clear acetate glazing. This will go off with the K2 to my friend who has the unenviable task of turning these daft things into resin.

Scruffy looking Work in progress on the Austin K2/Y Ambulance. I'll be getting this made in resin. Over 13,500 were made by Austin, Bedford and Morris between 1938 and 1945, and they served in all theatres. Many were left behind at Dunkirk, and subsequently used by the Germans. The vehicle is best known as the Katy that starred in Ice Cold in Alex.
The model needs the wheel hubs adding, and will include metal headlamps and a steering wheel.
It will be available in the US as well from my good friends at Company B in a short time.
I thought that the vehicle would be useful for adding to the roadside detritus of 1940, but also as a converted troop carrier for those VBCW types who are always on the lookout for something different to convert for their mad insurrections.

A nice photograph of elements of 6 Panzer Division (Pz.35) passing the junction of Fort Rouge, from Arques towards Cassel, and their battle with the British 48th Division.

I've been tying up loose ends the past few weeks. The Matilda II and the Sd.Kfz 221 have both gone to the casters, and all the respective metal parts have also been sent off.
On the figure front, I received a Pzb.39 casting, and the Boys AT rifles, which I have been experimenting with. I now have a moving German carrying the Pzb.39, and one to equip the 221.
I have also come across some more photos of BEF equipment, such as the abandoned Vickers VIb's on the beach. The identification squares are clearly visible.

Belgian T15

I received a few sample castings from Guy, of the Belgian T15 and the T13 vehicles. The metals will be going off for production. I am going to do a bit of work on some standard commercial Vickers turrets, as the T15 is built upon the Vickers Commercial tank hull of the 1930's.

I put it in front of my nearly completed building, which still sits at the crossroads at Rouge Fort just outside of Arles, near St.Omer. Unfortunately the Godin advertisment is gone from the side, but Google Earth provided some useful shots with its mobile camera view facility.
Guy has just to produce a suitable number of hulls and turrets for this to go into the website catalogue. Mike is just adding the finishing touches to the Belgian figures.