Newbie Questions that will make your eyes roll....sorry

[Westfalia Chris]

I never thought of Oxford I will have a look at their catalogue.

I find Oxford extremely good value for money, especially since I've found a specialist model railway store that doesn't rip you off on the exchange rate.

Here are a couple of my Oxford ones, repainted and straight from the box vehicles both:




(repainted minibus on the right)

Very much recommended.

I've also got some shots of the Airfix/JB Models kits in my Zambwana project thread if you care to wade through my drivel.

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=50846.0

[CarlLeyland]

OMG Chris your stuff is (nearly swore) awesome......cant describe it without sonding like a teenager sorry!

Amazing work! Those buses are exactly what I was thinking of. What are the armoured cars in the last pic? Saracens? And by god yes I will now look at your posts!

Certainly yourself and the Ash chap have world class collections

[Ash]

If you are still after a 20mm 25lb'er, have a look at Empress:
http://www.empressminiatures.com/userimages/procart81.htm

For a Rhodesian artillery battery you'd probably want it towed by either a Crocodile or Puma MPV, in which case S&S is the place to go:
http://sandsmodelsshop.com/product/rhodesian-crocodile-apc/

[CarlLeyland]

Thanks for the links Ash,

I did not know that Empress produced 20MM models but they are a bit rich for my blood unfortunately as I would need two of them. The Crocodile looks useful, I am surprised it was used as a prime mover for the gun....must have been hard to manoeuvre?

I would have imagined more British kit would have been available....seems we did not invest much into Rhodesia..?

[Arlequín]

It was time and times which were the issue. Britain modernised its forces from 1958 and by extension the Commonwealth did likewise from the same time period. Rhodesia declared UDI before it was completed there (1964), so you end up with SLRs, L7 Brens, FN MAGs and the like for the small regular force and SMLEs, .303 Brens (plus a massive stock of .303 ammo) and Stens for everyone else.

They had Ferrets but never received any Saracens or Saladins (presuming they were supposed to get them at all that is) and Bedford troop carriers. 'Regional defence' was the Rhodesian (and previously the 'Union') mission, so heavy equipment was not envisaged originally by Commonwealth planners.

With South Africa being its main supplier (who also had suffered a British embargo and was forced to look elsewhere), it had to use what they used/loaned/sold and subject to their political whims. So R1 & R1HB, more MAGs... Eland armoured cars and Alouettes.     

The Bedford RL was the artillery tractor for the 25pdr originally, so logically the Crocodile was needed as the MAPV when they needed to move around when things got worse.

[CarlLeyland]

Thanks for this Arlequin, it is fascinating. I vaguely remember the news in the 70s....hard to believe that Mugabe was literally put into power....was it two elections before the right result? I could well be wrong because I have read nothing about the conflict-Ospreys Bush Wars is on the way so at least that will be a start.
Painting the 25 Pdrs will be fun

[Arlequín]

Most definitely... I admit that everything I thought I knew about the war from being alive at the time and being somewhat interested, has been kicked into touch after delving deeper. Mugabe was indeed the peoples' choice though... even if you exclude the voter intimidation, a decade of successful propaganda efforts gave ZANLA enough of a majority within the majority to win the election.

If the Osprey whets your appetite, try THE RHODESIAN WAR by Paul Moorcroft and Peter McLaughlin. It's arguably the best primer going and at a modest price. Then of course there are the Africa@War series from 30° South/Helion, which are crammed with detail.

[CarlLeyland]

Thanks again for the tips with the books, I will order the Rhodesian war title...it is odd but all the books that I have looked at have been eye wateringly expensive.