Decolonisation Struggles. Which Army first?

[the commissar]

If Kosta is already doing Rhodesians (and I would like to know more about this  ) and opposition, then I would definitely go for Portuguese as you say some of the opposition will be usable with your figures.

[Helen]

Hi Carlos,

Yes I'm taken back slightly about the French in Algeria for the 100 club. It's only at 75 an I see the target is now 150 for production to take place.

I forgot to mention that Dave is in the future looking at Rhodesia and the French in Algeria, but we could be talking some unknown time in the future.

I've the Inkerman Castings Saracen an it's a very nice model.

Cheers,

Helen

[Doc Twilight]

Carlos -

My vote of those selected would be the Portuguese, but I'd insert a strong second (or third) for the Rhodesians and their opponents.

-Doc

[carlos marighela]

Just to clarify, I'm not responsible for the Rhodesians. That's a range that was IIRC commissioned via the 100 club and the minis are in the process of being sculpted already. I merely mentioned them as they will probably have a complimentary opponents that would be equally suitable to use vs the Portuguese. Similarly some of the Portuguese could conceivably be used to supplement the Rhodesians. As it happens I'm happy to use teh existing Broadbent sculpted Musorians.

Now if we could get a few more bids in for the French in Algeria I'd be happy to see it go as a Eureka 100 club deal.

Bearded revolutionaries are something I've been contemplating but that would be some way down the track. Actually I'm not sure that the Cubans fo 1959 would work that well as generic figures but people can do with them as they wish. Crushing CIA stooges on the beaches of Cuba has equal appeal but....the big problem with these sorts of things is that one needs to commission at least two ranges as nobody makes suitable opposition.

[Arlequín]

Oddly enough many VC figures would fill in as African guerillas, as few ranges make them smaller than the US troops they are matched against (I'm thinking of the ones in 'bush hats' etc here). Cuban revolutionaries are pretty distinctive too, so I agree they'd see limited use outside of what they are meant to be.

I suppose the true test of what's best to go for, would be to look at what is out there to go with it. Unless you're just thinking of purely infantry actions, the numbers of modern vehicles in 28mm is limited. I'm only aware of one discontinued kit of the Alouette III in 1/48th scale too. So while I'd prefer to do the Portuguese 'Guerras de Ultramar' and think it offers a lot as a setting, the outlook for obtaining toys to go with the figures is bleak.

The Algerian war is far better served, as many of the vehicles are US WW2 types. The French might just about pull double duty for late Indochina and Suez too. The only difficulty would be their opposition, as the FLN are also quite distinctive.

It's a hard call really. 

[carlos marighela]

I suppose the true test of what's best to go for, would be to look at what is out there to go with it. Unless you're just thinking of purely infantry actions, the numbers of modern vehicles in 28mm is limited. I'm only aware of one discontinued kit of the Alouette III in 1/48th scale too. So while I'd prefer to do the Portuguese 'Guerras de Ultramar' and think it offers a lot as a setting, the outlook for obtaining toys to go with the figures is bleak.

Actually Jim it's better served than you might think. I've done a bit of research and then a bit of e-baying and discovered that most of the stuff required is available. I'll post a list of what's available.

[carlos marighela]

Part 1.

Armoured cars:
EBR 75s. Old French DinkyThey scale out at around 1/57- 1/60  apparently. Just picked up two on E-bay for about $20-30 apiece, cheaper than a resin kit ( none exist). They can be dreadfully expensive if you want the mint condition ones in a box but naturally enough, played with scratched and dented ones suit our purposes much better. I even bought one with a duff turret just to convert to an ETT APC version.
Panhard AML 60: Force of Arms, 1/60.
Humber MkIV: Bolt Action, 1/56
Daimler Dingo: various including Bolt Action. Need to convert the turret like structure atop the Portuguese version but not within the skills of the average modeller.

Softskins:
Dodge Weapons Carriers (4X4 and 6X6). Westwind do these in 1/60 and you can pick up a decent Solido diecast version in 1/50.
Unimog: Diecast French dinky circa 1/57- 1/160 scale.

Jeeps: everybody

[carlos marighela]

Part 2.

Artillery: You don't really need much in the way of supporting arms, the various conflicts were mostly small in scale. However if you insist the two most popular artillery pieces are both available in 1/56.

Helicopters: Well it's one type really, the Alouette III. I just picked up a 1/48 Fujimi one for next to nix on Ebay. Personally my preference is 1/72 for things that fly over the table but I couldn't resist. If you search around you can find Heller and Maquette Alouettes in 1/72.

Air support: T-6 Texans are available from a variety of manufacturers including cheap ones from Academy. I picked up a prepainted F-84 in Portuguese markings a while ago. Fiat G-91s can be found in 1/72 and 1/48. Airfix, Heller, Revell and Italeri have all made one. A-26 Invaders are available from Italeri. About the only thing I haven't found is a Dornier Do-27 FAC but then the Portuguese airforce also used Austers so that base is covered.

There's a little company in Portugal that makes suitable decals for most of the above in both 1/72 and 1/48. http://santacruzmodelismo.com/

So with a bit of patience and seraching, yes you can get what you need. I can do a similar list for the Brits and French if anyone is interested.

[Arlequín]

No, don't stop there... please go on. 

[Oliver]

I'd like to see the french para's just out of interest where they still using the M1 Carbine with folding stock or had they moved onto the M49/56?

[carlos marighela]

French for Algeria.

Many of the items listed for the Portuguese can do service with the French. Dodge Weapons carriers, EBR 75s, jeeps T-6 Texans, A-26 Invaders etc etc.

Armour: Not a great deal used, and what there is is mostly ex WW2 stock available in most 28mm ranges. Company B do the M-24 Chaffee, M8s and M20s. IIRC Bolt action do one or the other of these. The only item beyond that you might conceivably want is an AMX-13 which did see service, there was an a company more or less permanently attached to 2REP. Once again French Dinky models come to our rescue. These tend to be expensive when listed on ebay and command ridiculous prices in vintage toy shops, I live in hope of findinga  cheap one. Failing that there is a 1/50 version variously labelled as Solido or Verem, nver mind it's the same model. The purist will probably want to remove the gun and replace it but it's a serviceable model if you get over the bicycle chain tracks that come with Solido diecast tanks.

Aircraft. In addition to the Alouette III, Heller also do the earlier Alouette II, used in Algeria. There is a 1/48 version out there but it's expensive and hard to find. Easy Model do a T-6 Harvard prepaint that is in the right French Airforce colours. A note of warning though, all the Easy Model range come with undercarriage down so, if you want a flying model, you'll have to carefully cut 'n' clip. Italeri and Hobbycraft both make 1/72 H21 Flying Bananas. I believe there is a 1/48 scale model but seriously it would be an enormous bit of kit. Several manufacturers make CH-34 helicopters, used amongst other things as 'Pirate' gunships, equipped with ex-German 20mm cannon. There are a number of A-1 Skyhawk kits out there in both 1/72 and 1/48. Not seen anyone do a Trojan in plastic kit form. Really the most useful bit of kit is a T-6 Texan and you can take your pick there.

[carlos marighela]

British Army for the 1960s.

Centurion tanks, per Radfan, Kuwait etc: Force of Arms make the appropriate Mk 5/1 in 1/60 scale.
Saladin: Corgi, model number 906. There are a few dicast Corgis out there and you need to be careful if buying blind. The Crescent root one is about 1/32. Corgi 906 is pretty much spot on at 1/55.
Saracen: Inkerman looks like the best choice. Corgi also do an appropriately scaled diecast but the turret looks odd.
Ferret: Sloppy Jalopy make a Mk2/3  Ferret in 1/56.

Softskins:
Landrovers:TAG produce a LWB landrover, sadly I don't know of anyone producing a SWB version and all the diecasts are at leat 1/43. There were still a few Austin Champs floating around in the early '60s and the Dinky version is perfectly scaled. Plentiful on ebay and the like.
Bedford RL: Corgi, scales in at around 1/56. This was the standard army transport vehicle. Stalwarts were used experimentally in Aden and again Corgi have them in diecast.

[carlos marighela]

British for the 1960w Part Two.

Aircraft.
Well I doubt many people want to do flyovers of Shackletons bombing Yemeni hillsides so really for tactical air, you want Hunters, in particular the FGA9 version. Airfix did one, it's OOP but Revell have a very nice one in 1/72. Airfix also did the : Bristol Belvedere and Westland AH-1 Scout in 1/72 both OOP but you'll find plentiful examples on the interwebby. A few makers did/do the Wessex. Probably the best one seems to be the Italeri version which comes with a scheme appropriate for Borneo.

That's it for now. I'm sure there are things I've forgotten or I'm missing and sadly there are gaps out there. Sadly nobody makes a 105mm pack howitzer ina suitable scale and it would be a bugger to scratchbuild, I know I used to have the old Skytrex 20mm version.

Hopefully this may prove useful to anyone wanting to source models to go with 28mm minis.

[Arlequín]

I'm sure it will, many thanks for that! 

Obviously if anyone else wants to add to this, please do!

[carlos marighela]

Oops my brain was dying. Crescent Saladins not Crescent Root, they make scenery IIRC. A-1 Skyraider, not Skyhawk.

 Relevant guns for the Guerra do Ultramar were 25pdrs (Bolt Action), US 105mm (various) and very early in the piece on a version of the German fH18.  If tempted by the Corgi Humber 1 ton truck, don't be. It's huge, probably 1/32 or so.