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Author Topic: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!  (Read 7567 times)

Offline BattlewagonBruce

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  • Posts: 369
Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« on: March 29, 2012, 12:24:08 PM »
In response to a reply from a LAFer down under I thought I would start a topic on the Aussies in WW2. I am going to start with some photos I took in the National War Memorial and a few WIP shot of Battlewagon projects inspired by them.

First Morshead's command wagon from Tobruk- I am using an Austrux 1/50 diecast CMP as the cab and running gear.







I am going to do a 25 pounder with open topped CMP tow and will post a scan of the WW2 photo which inspired it.

Heres some diggers for now:





regards

BB

Offline BattlewagonBruce

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  • Posts: 369
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2012, 05:21:01 PM »
I will get round to doing one of these in 1/56 at at some point - greta looking truck.









Chevy with a cpature Italian Breda 35 a/a gun if I am not wrong. Does anyone do one in 1/56 (I have the truck in hand) Probably part of the Bush Artillery.

Offline Marine0846

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Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2012, 01:13:45 AM »
Some interesting photos, thanks for posting them.
Really think your figures are sweet.
You don't see much artillery, yours are ace.
Love them.
Semper Fi, Mac

Offline fluffy05

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 404
    • One Painters Crusade
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2012, 03:31:32 AM »
Hi Mate,

Found it!


Consider me subscribed  :D

Looking forward to more of your excellent work!

As well as seeing some of your sculpted Slouch Hats  ;)


Happy Gaming,

Allan
'The German today is like the June Bride; he knows he is going to get it, but he doesn't know how big it is going to be.' - Gen. Richard "Windy" Gale, 6th Airborne Division Commander

Offline BattlewagonBruce

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 369
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2012, 07:28:52 AM »
Thanks guys.

Here's some shots of my slouch hats. I also did a crusher cap, R Irish Hussar tent hat, Caubeen, Service cap, tin helmet(Brit), and a Tam O Shanter, and of course a Arab shemagh for my SAS crews.



Battered and new slouch hats and my driver wearing one


new slouch hat


a veteran slouch hat - looks better painted!

I sell these for £3.95 for a bag of 8.

regards Bruce

Offline stone-cold-lead

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1709
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2012, 10:54:21 PM »
Excellent models there.  :-*

Offline Bloodsbane

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  • Posts: 227
  • AKA FKSN
    • I'm a drawer
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2012, 03:29:40 AM »
Great stuff!
Is that howitzer tractor with accessible interior available for sale somewhere? I would love to have one of those to play around with!

Offline BattlewagonBruce

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 369
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2012, 11:22:06 AM »
Yes it is. I use them for my artillery sets. They re old toy castings, and I have a range of white metal components to complete them to a nice standard.

I sell the old castings and my own components if you are interested. The tractor kit (original casting, cleaned and striped, new wheel hubs) is £17. I do complete painted sets, tractor gun and limber to your spec from £75, with crew extra.

regards

BB




A QL Portee I do as well.


7.2 Inch Heavy set I do too!

I also do the 5.5/4.5 inch gun sets, all using old diecast models - so they are tough.


Offline Sunray61

  • Schoolboy
  • Posts: 8
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2012, 11:04:51 AM »
Excellent work.

I was delighted to see that the divisional sign on the tractor and gun - a boomerang surmounted by a kangaroo - is that of the Australian 6th Infantry Division.  This was the first division raised of the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) in World War II.

The 6th Division fought four of the King's enemies during the war: the Italians in North Africa at Bardia and Tobruk (1941); the Germans in Greece and Crete (1941); the Vichy French in Syria (1941); and the Japanese in Papua on the Kokoda Track and in the Buna-Gona beachhead (1942), and in New Guinea in the Salamaua-Lae campaign (1943) and in the Wewak-Aitape area (1944-45).

The Artillery component of the division was:

2/1st Field Regiment

2/2nd Field Regiment

2/3rd Field Regiment

2/1st Anti-Tank Regiment

In the Wewak-Aitape campaign some of the batteries of the Field Regiments were equipped with the Australian-designed Short 25-pounder.  Other batteries retained the standard 25-pounder.  The Short 25-pounder was designed to fit into the C47 Dakota (DC3) aircraft.  It could also be broken down into components and parachuted from the aircraft.  It was normally towed by the 1/4 ton Jeep.

In the same campaign the 2/1st Anti-Tank regiment was equipped with the US 75 mm pack howitzer in addition to its normal 6-pounder anti-tank guns.

Anybody wargaming the Wewak-Aitape campaign has the choice of four different guns for the Australian divisional artillery.

Sunray61

Offline BattlewagonBruce

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 369
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2012, 11:07:29 PM »
G'day

I am reading Kokoda at present as it happens. I am about to do some more Aussie artillery, namely the short barreled 25 pounders.

Here's some shots of one I took in Oz called Snifter.







and an aussie 25 pounder



Fair Dinkum!

regards

BB

Offline Helen

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Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #10 on: April 04, 2012, 11:22:57 PM »
Nice work BB, and the baby 25 pdr would be an excellent addition.

Cheers,

Helen
Best wishes,
Helen
Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well (V van Gogh)

Offline BattlewagonBruce

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 369
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #11 on: April 05, 2012, 07:59:12 AM »
Thanks Helen

I have the wheel hubs already. I mastered them for the Mark 1 airborne trailer a while back but they were not quite right. By chance they are spot on for the baby 25 pounder with the addition of the quick release handles.

So - She'l be right!

regards

Bruce, BB

Offline pat007

  • Lurker
  • Posts: 1
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #12 on: November 05, 2012, 01:40:56 AM »
May I ask where you took the pictures of "Snifter"

Offline BattlewagonBruce

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 369
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #13 on: November 05, 2012, 09:08:52 AM »
I have sent you a PM about this. The photo was taken in the National Australian War Memorial Museum in Canberra when I was last over. Going back to Oz in March 13, can't wait!

The aussie projects on hold at present due to a lot of commision work and contentrating on working with Offensive Miniatures. I will get round to them at some time! My work for Warlord features in the new Bolt Action rule books (my name in print, fame at last, well minorly well known maybe at most!)

The original photo of Snifter is in the Osprey Book on the Australian Army in WW2 by the way.

To UK LAFers - See you at Smoggycon if you are there!!

I would love to do one of these Australian Scout cars, but it might just be a labour of love as they did not see action much I think.

Offline Gothic Line

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 411
Re: Australians in the far east - A Battlewagons favorite!
« Reply #14 on: November 05, 2012, 06:38:19 PM »
 Fantastic!!!

 

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