Digital modelling

[Fitz]

The Peerless is available now in 1:285 scale. The single model is at http://shpws.me/MIwP and the five-up sprue is at http://shpws.me/MIGS.

[Fitz]

In response to a request, I've uploaded a model of just the running gear for the Vickers Light Tank Mk.III in 1/56 scale.

It's at http://shpws.me/MM73

Hopefully this will help people with some conversions of various interwar vehicles. The running gear is usually the trickiest part of any scratch-building project.

I've made it available in WSF and FUD/FED. The WSF is cheaper, but the FED would look a lot better next to styrene or resin components. WSF is fine for tabletop use, but its granular texture isn't that great for fine scale modeling.

On a related note: does anyone have any scale drawings of the Vickers Dutchman? Even pretty basic drawings would be fine, as long as I can get the sizes and proportions of the major hull and turret elements from them. Surface details and what-not are easier then to estimate from photographs; they can be sized by eye to fit with known components.

[FramFramson]

Oooh! Now that's a great idea - useful for all sorts of crazy scratchbuilds.

[YPU]

He's right you know, Shoot me a PM if you want.

[Fitz]

I've started work on a Vickers Dutchman — working from various photographs rather than from drawings, so absolute accuracy is not guaranteed. There are some pretty good photos available though, so I think I can get something that looks the part.

This is the 15mm version; other scales will almost certainly follow when I get the basic forms right.

[Fitz]

I've uploaded a model of the Vickers Commercial "Dutchman" of 1936, in 1/100 scale for 15mm gaming.

It wasn't taken up by the British army (a very short-sighted decision) but it was sold extensively around the world, especially to the Dutch East Indies, hence its nickname of "Dutchman".

It's available at http://shpws.me/MMB1

I've made it available in WSF, but because of issues with the running gear and exhaust, I can't guarantee that it will print in that material. The default material is FUD resin, and it should be fine in that.

[David]

The British army did have 10 in Egypt in 1940, which was handed over to the Greek army in early 1941.
David

[Fitz]

The British army did have 10 in Egypt in 1940, which was handed over to the Greek army in early 1941.
David

They were commandeered for training purposes after war broke out, they were never adopted for general service.

[David]

They were used in action by the Greek fighting the Germans in 1941

[Arlequín]

I believe that they were sent from the UK to Greece, not the Middle East, but indeed they were 'Dutchmen'.

There are photos of a park for captured vehicles in Greece and amongst the Bren Carriers (that apparently bear the Greek insignia for their 19th Division) are a number of Vickers Lights (seemingly still in their British paint and markings). One has its census number visible T16680.



Numbers T16658-T16706 were assigned to the 48 IIIB 'Dutchmen' taken into service by the British Army as training tanks. A minuted meeting of November 1940 has Churchill assenting to ten 'light tanks used for training' (amongst other items) being transferred to the Greek Army. 

/nerd

[David]

There is pictures of the same tanks in Egypt in 1940, which were used for training.
The British forces and equipment came from Egypt in 1941 to Greece.

[Arlequín]

I've seen a photo of an Australian 'Mk. III' in the desert Caunter-pattern camo, and indeed 36 'Mk.III' were apparently sent from Britain to the Middle East for training, but I've never seen a photo of a 'Mk. IIIB Dutchman' in Egypt. That does not of course mean that there weren't any there.

Naturally everything also 'came from Egypt', as it was proving impossible to sail anything past Malta in Early 1941; everything was going round Africa and through the Suez Canal. Nevertheless Wavell himself was short of all the things that were being requested for Greece; that was partly his beef with Churchill during and after Op Compass.   

However that's not so important as the point that the 'Dutchman' was used as a training tank in the UK and that it was also sold to the Greek Army and used in action.

[Fitz]

I've re-scaled my model of the Vickers "Dutchman" to 1/56th (28mm). It's available at http://shpws.me/MVy4.

Modifications mainly involved re-doing all the rivets so they'd look a bit less like basketballs in the larger scale. It's based on the example at Bovington, though I've only ever seen it via photographs, since I live about as far away from Bovington as it's possible to get and still be on the same planet.

[WillieB]

Acetone has no effect on it at all. It's a sintered nylon material, and I've yet to find an effective solvent for it.

https://www.smooth-on.com/product-line/xtc-3d/

Tried it on WSF airplanes and it really works? But boy does it smell!

[Fitz]

I've re-scaled my model of the Vickers Medium Mk.II*, with improved ventilation for tropical deployment, to 1:56 scale (28mm).

It's available for purchase at https://www.shapeways.com/product/GP357MR84/vickers-medium-mkii-28mm

Shapeways gets a bit pricey at this size, even in WSF nylon. I don't know how this price compares with resin casts in comparable scales.