And now the journey starts again. Hobby Boss Vickers Medium ll** Nth Africa 1941.

[Goldbricker]

For the asbestos panels you could try Tamiya "Pla Paper'' sheets.

0.1mm thick

 

[robinrocket111]

For the asbestos panels you could try Tamiya "Pla Paper'' sheets.

0.1mm thick

That’s the plan, can’t go too thin as the sheets will buckle with the glue. Mind you am thinking of trying UHU.

 

[Whining Civvy]

It isn't a real kit unless they make you place each individual rivet.

Nice progress though, it looks good despite the best efforts of the original tank designers.

 

[robinrocket111]

It isn't a real kit unless they make you place each individual rivet.

Nice progress though, it looks good despite the best efforts of the original tank designers.

The air trunking on the back is riveted together, what I’ve still to do. The asbestos on the hull sides are bolted on, but on the top they look to be glued.

 

[robinrocket111]

Talking of Asbestos, turret started and nearly done....

nasty Japanese troops practicing with Molotovs. 7 Hussars Stuart with smashed track. Crew safe.

 

[Listy]

nasty Japanese troops practicing with Molotovs. 7 Hussars Stuart with smashed track. Crew safe.View attachment 552618

We actually know the details on that photo? As In date and unit? I ask as I used it in a article the other day, and supposed it may have been a publicity shot.

 

[robinrocket111]

I found it on WW2Talk on a thread about Burma/Malaya. It was also published with the Japanese press (propaganda) release, but as someone on there said there’s no Japanese troops covering the guys with the Molotovs. The track had also been blown off, 7th Hussars CO had his blown off by a Anti Tank gun. (His panzer ?).

 

[Listy]

I found it on WW2Talk on a thread about Burma/Malaya. It was also published with the Japanese press (propaganda) release, but as someone on there said there’s no Japanese troops covering the guys with the Molotovs. The track had also been blown off, 7th Hussars CO had his blown off by a Anti Tank gun. (His panzer ?).

Well my take on it is there's no one covering the Stuart, and it looks like a very open area. Plus the Camera man appears to be standing up. So possibly an after the battle propaganda shot.

 

[robinrocket111]

Morning “L” alright? Totally agree there, it can only be a propaganda photo! I was only looking for a photo to confirm what model of Stuart to buy.

 

[Bubbles_Barker]

That Vickers eh? Start WW2 with that kind of thing and end up 6 years later with Comet (and very nearly Centurion).

Incredible technology acceleration really, same with Gladiator to Meteor!

 

[Listy]

That Vickers eh? Start WW2 with that kind of thing and end up 6 years later with Comet (and very nearly Centurion).

Incredible technology acceleration really, same with Gladiator to Meteor!

The Vickers Medium first showed up in 1922. We did rather a lot of development work between then and the Second World War, it's just we were never allowed to buy any of the shiny world beating monster's we designed.

For example we had the A.16 medium tank, which would have give the Germans the rough end of a pineapple... sideways. It was roughly equivalent to a mid series Panzer III. If the Germans had waited another year they'd have been our standard tank.

That said it's entirely possible the dread hand of the Treasury is why we lost the Battle of France, even without the wonder tanks.

 

[robinrocket111]

The Vickers Medium first showed up in 1922. We did rather a lot of development work between then and the Second World War, it's just we were never allowed to buy any of the shiny world beating monster's we designed.

For example we had the A.16 medium tank, which would have give the Germans the rough end of a pineapple... sideways. It was roughly equivalent to a mid series Panzer III. If the Germans had waited another year they'd have been our standard tank.

That said it's entirely possible the dread hand of the Treasury is why we lost the Battle of France, even without the wonder tanks.

Trouble is Listy, we see it happening again right now with regards to the CR2! Space Command FFS seen the Yanks do it, so we got to have one....

 

[Listy]

Trouble is Listy, we see it happening again right now with regards to the CR2! Space Command FFS seen the Yanks do it, so we got to have one....

That's right! We shouldn't have let the RAF split off from the Army, or the Navy to have a Fleet Air Arm!

The lack of money doesn't come from establishing specialists a new command, in the case of the 1930's there was the Great depression to consider, and now, well there is a tiny tiny bit of a national debt to deal with.

 

[Daz]

The Vickers Medium first showed up in 1922. We did rather a lot of development work between then and the Second World War, it's just we were never allowed to buy any of the shiny world beating monster's we designed.

For example we had the A.16 medium tank, which would have give the Germans the rough end of a pineapple... sideways. It was roughly equivalent to a mid series Panzer III. If the Germans had waited another year they'd have been our standard tank.

That said it's entirely possible the dread hand of the Treasury is why we lost the Battle of France, even without the wonder tanks.

Narh, that was the French, stone age comms and a defeatist/defensive mindset brought on by the losses they suffered in the first round* is far higher up the list.


BTW, I'm not knocking the average French squaddie, but rather the higher ups in charge, just to take their air forces as an example, self-made delays in getting the new aircraft types into service, failure to address the abysmal sortie rates and a deep desire to keep an "air force in being", either in mainland France, or evacuated to the colonies

 

[Listy]

Narh, that was the French, stone age comms and a defeatist/defensive mindset brought on by the losses they suffered in the first round* is far higher up the list.

So it had nothing to do with the BEF not having a single tank unit with it until after the fighting had started, then the 1st Armoured was rushed over there and deployed in haste to the front? Imagine if you will, the 1st Armoured being there from day 1. Martel's half-arsed armoured attack with knackered, broken down formations gave the Germans a serious 'oh schise' moment. Even though it wasn't going anywhere due to logistical reasons.

Now imagine if we could have thrown 1st Armoured at the base of one of the German attacks.

I would venture one of the reasons why they were not deployed was cost.

 

[Daz]

So it had nothing to do with the BEF not having a single tank unit with it until after the fighting had started, then the 1st Armoured was rushed over there and deployed in haste to the front? Imagine if you will, the 1st Armoured being there from day 1. Martel's half-arsed armoured attack with knackered, broken down formations gave the Germans a serious 'oh schise' moment. Even though it wasn't going anywhere due to logistical reasons.

Now imagine if we could have thrown 1st Armoured at the base of one of the German attacks.

I would venture one of the reasons why they were not deployed was cost.

I understand where you're coming from, its a topic that's endlessly debated on the Alt History sites - however I don't really see an improved performance by the UK forces having a great impact overall, yes having 1st Armoured and slightly better AFVs would of helped, but not enough to stop the collapse given the dispositions of the French forces at the time.

Such a reequipment could of been beneficial is if Plan D with the Breda variant had been ignored and the original Plan D kept, at least that way the French reserves. especially the Seventh Army, would of been on hand to help counter the German offensive in conjunction with the reequipped 1st Armoured

 

[robinrocket111]

Now Listy and Daz have finished rewriting the Battle of France , got a bit more of the asbestos on. Need to think about extra bolts holding it on and rivets for the air trunking.

 

[Daz]

Now Listy and Daz have finished rewriting the Battle of France , got a bit more of the asbestos on. Need to think about extra bolts holding it on and rivets for the air trunking.View attachment 552838View attachment 552839

Nice work


BTW, if me and Listy and anyone else who decided to chip in, did rewrite the Battle of France after deciding on the POD, it would more than likely take about 3 bloody years and a lot of argument and research to work out all the butterfly effects

 

[robinrocket111]

Got a couple of hrs in this afternoon, couple of fiddly bits needing careful measure, to make sure of fit.

 

[robinrocket111]

Got started on the hull sides this afternoon, not overly happy with the result. I’m playing with the idea of cutting some of it off and starting again. But would the asbestos have remained pristine after 5 years of desert use.