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Author Topic: A War in The East  (Read 74022 times)

Offline carlos marighela

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #375 on: December 12, 2018, 08:08:29 PM »
If you want the hull, there is a cheap 1/50th T-55. It’s a Chinese diecast available on ebay, Weibo, Ali Babar etc. They’ve steadily risen in price but when I bought a platoon’s worth a fewcyearscago they cost mecaround ten quid per tank. Detail is as good, if not better than most resin items. The tracks are of the runner band variety but suitably detailed. The only thing worth changing is the AAMG, which is a little two dimensional but it’s an easy fix.

Just type diecast T-55 into ebay’s search box. Often as not it’s listed as 1/43 but it isn’t. It’s pretty much bang on gaming scale.

Em dezembro de '81
Botou os ingleses na roda
3 a 0 no Liverpool
Ficou marcado na história
E no Rio não tem outro igual
Só o Flamengo é campeão mundial
E agora seu povo
Pede o mundo de novo

Offline Wyrmalla

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #376 on: December 12, 2018, 09:00:53 PM »
Yeah, I'm aware of those diecasts, and I remember looking at them years ago when they were reasonably price and not bothering. They just didn't fit in with what I was doing at the time. Having bought some of those 1/56th (not 1/50th... :P) scale BTR-80 diecasts, the material isn't too great for conversions - unless you have a dremel.

I suspect that one will be coming out eventually from one of the new modern manufacturers. If not Tiny Terrain's T-62 -whenever that comes out- would serve a similar purpose (and I'm needing a tank for the Separatists anyway).

Offline Arlequín

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #377 on: December 13, 2018, 12:15:02 AM »
Excuse the divergence, but iirc the idea behind the Merkava's troop carrying capability was to rescue tank crews and casevac under fire. The Israelis had no shortage of tanks, even if it meant breaking out their captured T-55 & T-62, but every Israeli life matters and of course tank crews take time to train.

Ditching the ammo that the U.S. would replenish in spades, versus saving crew, or wounded infantry, wasn't a decision they'd hesitate over.

Offline Dr. Zombie

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #378 on: December 13, 2018, 07:12:47 AM »
If you want the hull, there is a cheap 1/50th T-55. It’s a Chinese diecast available on ebay, Weibo, Ali Babar etc. They’ve steadily risen in price but when I bought a platoon’s worth a fewcyearscago they cost mecaround ten quid per tank. Detail is as good, if not better than most resin items. The tracks are of the runner band variety but suitably detailed. The only thing worth changing is the AAMG, which is a little two dimensional but it’s an easy fix.

Just type diecast T-55 into ebay’s search box. Often as not it’s listed as 1/43 but it isn’t. It’s pretty much bang on gaming scale.

I can only really find the James Bond Goldeneye T-55 everything else seems to be 1/72

Offline Wyrmalla

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #379 on: December 13, 2018, 10:30:28 AM »
Excuse the divergence, but iirc the idea behind the Merkava's troop carrying capability was to rescue tank crews and casevac under fire. The Israelis had no shortage of tanks, even if it meant breaking out their captured T-55 & T-62, but every Israeli life matters and of course tank crews take time to train.

Ditching the ammo that the U.S. would replenish in spades, versus saving crew, or wounded infantry, wasn't a decision they'd hesitate over.

Of course, design decisions with Israeli armoured vehicles tend to err towards crew survivability. Why else would they be using converted tanks as APCs, instead of just regular armoured boxes (or well, maybe they were just cheaper than buying new purpose built APCs).

Other tank based APCs which I've seen, such as those from India, Russia or Ukraine, seem to be more focused on their role of delivering troops to dangerous areas. At least that's what I assume with say the Russian BTR-T and similar vehicles (which to me look like they went with the BRDM design concept, rather than something closer to the Achzarit, etc, like the Ukrainians did)- given that those are used by specialised troops, instead of being general issue.

Which is to say that if I could get a hold of a hull for one of those older tanks, I'd go ahead and make an APC out of it for the sake of it being cool (regardless of how it would realistically fit into battle plans, as it'd still be fielded besides old BTR-60s from regular units...). For some sci-fi like what if scenarios with all sorts of weird stuff. Just the setting to get away with using some of those silly prototypes which never took off, or couldn't find the funding because there wasn't a proper war on. :P


Offline Wyrmalla

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #380 on: December 19, 2018, 12:17:48 AM »
An update on what's happening with this project at the moment.

Terrain and those BTR-80s are still fairly static. A push and they'd be done, but I haven't had the attention span to come back to them recently.

Instead an order from Empress turned up. Two MT-LBs, a BMD-1 and BMD-2. The BMDs may be deserving of a follow up to the commentary I'd made on the BTR-80s as for bringing their detail up to snuff and dealing with the inaccuracies. I can't complain as they're the only option in this scale, its just that in checking out what little things I could add, I've notice a few areas which need a deal of work (namely the lack of bow MGs and the rear bed being ...completely wrong).

Regardless, that's just an opportunity to spend some more time modelling. For the MT-LBs I'm intending making one with the rocket pods (obviously). The other I'm erring towards that modernised Russian IFV style variant, and have found one which I quite like the look of with a BTR-80 turret rather than the 30mm one that caught my eye.



Kind of because the same company makes this.



(Its the same plant who did that BMP-1 with the 30mm turret that I made. They seem to have a thing for sticking that turret on every other vehicle, as they have a PT-76 and BTR-50 among others with the same turret.) http://muromteplovoz.ru/en/product/mil.php

You'll see a bump in posts here come some time in January. The WIP pile's starting to tottle a bit... :P


Offline Ultravanillasmurf

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #381 on: December 20, 2018, 11:17:09 AM »
Besides the general interest in your posts, I would certainly be interested in your views on the BMD-2, mine has stalled and this might prompt some movement.

Offline Wyrmalla

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #382 on: December 20, 2018, 11:51:24 AM »
Morning. ;P

Currently my process for making these vehicles has been to source some images of 1/35th scale brass etched sets. Not that I really go for a quality which matches those, its more to find what the actual details look like (which can be clearer than they are on the real vehicles).

HLBS' kits are acceptable. They're the only option for this scale typically, and whilst they are showing their age, I can't really complain. However, the detail on them tends to be simplified or non-existent in places. With the occasional incorrect angle or shape to the bodywork being incorrect due to their nature of being hand built masters.

My short hand notes on what's wrong with the BMD-1/2 of their's are about 750 words long, but again, I wouldn't slight the kits or the company. :P


Offline Wyrmalla

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #383 on: December 20, 2018, 09:25:02 PM »
I'm just reminded that Military Modelcraft International's May Edition had a build for an MT-LB which may be useful. For those into vehicles that magazine's been a great resource, and I've mentioned it here before I believe. They do some nice Tank-Encyclopedia style articles on a vehicle each week too which are fairly well done. Recently in addition to these articles they've expanded their page content to include a second article on other subjects like military drills or certain events.

But yes, this is the issue I'm referring too. So more of a tangent from my actual posting here, if you can find a copy locally I'd say give it a look over. The mag's a step above the others which WHSmith carries, and the content feels much more on the level of what you'd see on forums in the depth and breadth of its discussion topics than the others which tend to be both more brief and a bit distant in their writing. A pity that they've said that they're moving away from the 1/48th scale stuff.



Oh, and there's gems like this particular themed issue which are just great for us modern gamers (and they've since put a second issue which was just technicals - including lots of real world photos - much better than that Osprey book on the subject).




« Last Edit: December 20, 2018, 09:27:16 PM by Wyrmalla »

Offline Ultravanillasmurf

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #384 on: December 21, 2018, 01:10:33 PM »
Very useful magazine, it is one I check out at the WH Smith's Memorial Library (and I even own the Technicals issue you mention).

Last week I noticed a Guideline publication on Atlantic Resolve which had some interesting photographs of various NATO equipment on exercise.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2018, 01:15:25 PM by Ultravanillasmurf »

Offline Wyrmalla

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #385 on: December 21, 2018, 01:33:03 PM »
Yeah, their Atlantic Resolve publication is an extension of the article they ran recently. Just more reference pictures for those who are serious about modelling that period (I didn't see much more text than the existing article). They've also began putting out their Tank-Encyclopedia style articles out as separate combined publications, though so far its just on American vehicles.

Yesterday I had a look at the pair of MT-LBs I'd bought. Just doing the basic marking down of details to add and removing certain parts not featured on certain models. As with the other HLBS vehicles, I am finding more and more that they are very of their time and must have had limited references available. The MT-LB's large roof hatch for instance is a deal smaller than it should be, and the hatches overall are too thin compared to the real ones.

I like the MT-LB, and may buy more in future, I'm just finding that there's going to be a bit more work to bring them up to snuff is all. Again though, its not a slight against HLBS (and the 1/35th crew do this kind of stuff all the time, beyond just sticking an extra bit of sprue on a vehicle to represent a bolt), I'm happy that anyone's offering these things in 1/48th (but damn, if Tamiya were to come out with some kits...).


Offline carlos marighela

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #386 on: December 21, 2018, 10:57:36 PM »
They might... one day. They have produced some modern Japanese types and a less than useful, time specific M1A2 that can be backdated or updated with work. Baby steps.

There is Mikro Mir if you are after BTR-60s. I’m hopeful they will do more Soviet stuff in the future. Oh and there’s a Polish company I’m sure you are aware of that do incredibly detailed and eye wateringly priced multi- media kits.

Offline Wyrmalla

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #387 on: December 21, 2018, 11:39:03 PM »
Its a pity that 1/48th is so niche in the "serious" modeller's world. More so in that Tamiya's effort seems token at best for the modern period with just that Japanese stuff for their local audience (which comes across as more of a passion project) and those American bits. If the 1/35th companies were involved as much in this scale then things could really be great.

Hopefully Spectre will do more. Though the quality of their models so far has been a bit off. Empress's range at this stage is the best option for a lot of stuff, but stagnating a bit with dated kits, though they've said they're planning some more in future. SASM seem to be getting really invested in their range, with a pair of multipart pickups coming out, besides their other models (and I'll keep badgering the owner for more Russian stuff every other month...). They seem like the best hope currently for a decently priced and expansive range consider the community's response to what other company's consider viable pricing for their ranges (re: that Canadian APC which was discussed on this board a few months ago) - particularly when they put out a Humvee for less than Spectre's which included all the extra parts for a lower price. :P

I already have a pair of Mikromir's BTR-60s (and the after market brass etch and resin road wheel sets), which I posted a few pages ago. They're fine once they have the extra bits added, and I've kept a set of the wheels spare to potentially scratch build a modernised variant. However if that's the standard which the company's set, whilst as with HLBS's range I couldn't complain as more stuff where there was none before is always good, I can't see future kits not requiring after market parts. Which becomes problematic as those BTR-60s wound up costing over twice as much as Empress' BTR-80s once I bought the extra pieces. 

Though which other company are you referring to? Gaso.line, no they're French I think. Ace Models? They don't do much though. Tank-Mania? Oh, yeah you're probably referring to them? Yeah, I have his Acacia. Unfortunately its definitely more a display piece than for wargaming, with many delicate parts (and it came smelling with cigarettes and without the brass etch pieces). He's trying to further the legitimacy of 1/48th scale models, so I can't slight him. ...Though wait till there's a sale first (and even then they're 2-3 times the price of Empress's range).

I'd like to see more from OKB Grigorov too (who have 15% off sale on currently!). If I could stomach the prices of their parts vs the actual value I'd get from replacing some of Empress' low detail components I'd buy more. However, £25 for a set of roadwheels and tracks for a tank is just untenable for wargaming. That's the price of a full kit. I'd personally rather see a company do detailing kits for Empress range to both fill in missing parts (like with the Mikromir BTR-60) and give modernisation options such as ERA, aircon units, etc. ...Which reminds me to go bother SASM about that Russian ERA set I'd asked if they could make (which would be so simple for a company to produce. Literally a single brick cast a couple of dozen times).




Offline Wyrmalla

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #388 on: December 26, 2018, 10:29:40 PM »
Getting back to posting things on my blog. Here's a news round up and my thoughts on what's been going on over at SASM.

https://thesticks.net/2018/12/26/special-artizan-service-miniatures-november-december-news-releases/

Though my main takeaways may influence future projects in the New Year. In particular Private Military Contractors may be a way to go when it comes to my own tendency to want to stick to particular theatres and periods with my modern forces. Meanwhile, at least going with the fictional representation of mercenaries, they use anything and everything.

If that's the case then they'd be just the excuse to use whatever range of figures I wanted. You want to stick a guy with a Famas next to another with an SA80? Fine, go ahead. Or one of those MRAPs which are more the game of smaller powers? Great, one fell off the back of a truck. Etc...

Something like that would of course be yet another thing to add to the list of projects which I'm currently, or was working on. I've just dived into another new project which may come to light here over the next month or so (depending on Christmas messing with shipping). Though I've no idea how far that one will go, as I'm already looking at second and third forces to go along with one I'm just starting. Besides may having to float the idea with the nice admins here (I think it would be maybe something that I keep to the blog just so as not to muddy things too much here).


Offline Ultravanillasmurf

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Re: A War in The East
« Reply #389 on: December 27, 2018, 09:44:58 AM »
Interesting review. Useful to see what is on offer (their site is not very "tablet" friendly - and I spent ages looking for the vehicles earlier in the week).

 

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