flames of war Archives - Page 29 of 41

Late War Monster

The T28 super heavy tank (also called 105 mm Gun Motor Carriage T95) was a prototype heavily armored self-propelled gun designed for the US Army during World War II. It was originally designed to be used to break through German defenses at the Siegfried Line, and was later considered as a possible participant in an invasion of theJapanese mainland. Sometimes referred to as a super-heavy tank, the T28 was re-designated as the 105 mm Gun Motor Carriage T95 in 1945 and then renamed a super heavy tank in 1946.

This was one big tank.

I have mentioned before how much I liked the mid-war monsters range which was released for Flames of War, I have a platoon of TOG 2 tanks for example. In an article on the Battle of the Bulge I said:

I would also like to see some Late War Monsters in a similar vein to the Mid War Monsters that we have seen before. As well as the German Maus, King Tiger II and E series, we could on the allied side see the Centurion and M26 Pershing. There are also the T29 and T30 US Heavy Tanks that could also be fielded.

Well the T28 could also be in that series too, and as a well as the big German tanks I am sure we could unearth some Soviet late war monsters too.

Track problems with the Flames of War TOG2

The Tank, Heavy, TOG 2 was a prototype British super-heavy tank design produced in the early part of the Second World War in case the battlefields of northern France turned into a morass of mud, trenches and craters as had happened during the First World War. In the end it never went into production, but as part of the Flames of War Mid-War Monsters range you can buy it and use it in alternate history games.

Having constructed the models I have noticed that despite careful filing there are gaps with the back track part. Both where the track meets the front track and where the track enters the hull.

I used some putty (green stuff) to fill these gaps.

The next stage will be a white undercoat.

See the workbench feature on these huge tanks.

Flames of War British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles

The 17 pounder, Self Propelled, Achilles was a British variant of the American M10 Tank destroyer armed with the powerful British Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank gun in place of the standard 3″ (76.2 mm) Gun M7. With a total of 1,100 M10s converted, the 17 pdr SP Achilles was the second most numerous armoured fighting vehicle to see service armed with the 17 pounder gun, behind the Sherman Firefly.

Purchased a couple of Flames of War blister of the M10. They were on sale and cheaper than normally. Within each blister you get a resin hull and turret, metal parts and plastic tracks. Interesting to note that though both models have the same code and were purchased at the same time from one retailer, one came with a complete resin turret, whilst the other had a turret which was part resin and part metal! The resin turret is much crisper and nicer than the metal component. They went together well, though I found it was easier to glue the sides of the tracks to the hull rather than rely on gluing the locating pegs. It was useful that each side has a different number of pegs so the silly and obvious mistake of gluing the tracks on backwards can be avoided.

I decided that I would make these up as 17pdr armed SP Achilles variants and not as M10s.

As they were open-topped, I did glue the crew into the turret compartment.

Apart from the different turrets, both models are pretty identical.

These will make for a nice anti-tank platoon.

See the workbench feature on the British M10 / 17pdr SP Achilles.

Building the Flames of War TOG2 Mid-War Monster

The Flames of War boxed set contains three of these monsters. The hulls are quite plain in comparison to other tanks in the FoW range, however that is much more down to the actual design of the tank.

The tracks are two metal castings for each side. The turret is the same one that was eventually used on the Challenger A30, it was from a design perspective easier to use what was developed for the TOG2 then design a completely new turret for the Challenger in the time they had available and with limited resources.

Having cleaned up the castings I glued the models together. There aren’t too many parts so they went together quite easily.

There is very little extra stuff on these models, and unlike other Flames of War boxed sets these are three identical castings and not individual ones as say you find with the Panther boxed set.

One of the models I built with the commander out of his hatch.

Here are the three models built.

These are very BIG tanks and will look very impressive on the battlefield.

I do hope that we see future “monsters” for Flames of War, there are some nice concepts and ideas out there for both Early-War and Late-War, though I have a hunch that these did not sell as well as expected.

See the workbench feature on these huge tanks.

Underneath the Flames of War Cromwell IV

The Cromwell Tank was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in World War II. The Cromwell first saw action in June 1944, with the reconnaissance regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps.

Having given the Cromwells a white undercoat, I undercoated the underneath of the three tanks with Humbrol Dark Green. This will add shadow and depth to the main (top) base coat of Warpaint British Armour.

As you can see from the top view, the white undercoat is still mainly visible.

The next stage will be a base coat of Warpaint British Armour.

See the full workbench feature on the Flames of War Cromwell IV.

Undercoating the Flames of War British Sherman Firefly

The Sherman Firefly was a World War II British variant of the American Sherman tank, fitted with the powerful British 17 pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon. Originally conceived as a stopgap until future British tank designs came into service, the Sherman Firefly became the most common vehicle with the 17 pounder in World War II.

Within the blister, as with a lot of FoW models, you get a resin hull and turret and metal tracks and accessories. Having constructed the Sherman I gave the model a white undercoat.

See the workbench feature on my Flames of War Sherman Firefly VC.

Undercoating the Flames of War Challenger A30

The Tank, Cruiser, Challenger (A30) was a British tank of World War 2. It mounted the 17 Pounder gun on the Cromwell chassis to add heavier anti-tank firepower to the cruiser tank units.

Having constructed the Challenger, the next stage as a white undercoat.

See the full workbench feature on my Challenger A30.

Flames of War Challenger A30

The Tank, Cruiser, Challenger (A30) was a British tank of World War 2. It mounted the 17 Pounder gun on the Cromwell chassis to add heavier anti-tank firepower to the cruiser tank units.

This is the Flames of War blister, as with a lot of FoW models, you get a resin hull and turret and metal tracks and accessories.

The parts go together quite well. There were two challenges, one was fitting the square turret hatch and the main weapon. The hatch was slightly too big and needed to be trimmed. Whilst the main weapon needs to be glued to the turret with care to ensure it fits straight.

The track guards are very similar to the Cromwell IV, though the tracks have six wheels over the five of the Cromwell.

See the full workbench feature on my Challenger A30.

Undercoating the Flames of War Cromwell IV

The Cromwell Tank was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in World War II. The Cromwell tank, named after the English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell, was the first tank in the British arsenal to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed from the powerful and reliable Meteor engine, and reasonable armour, all in one balanced package. Its design formed the basis of the Comet tank. The Cromwell first saw action in June 1944, with the reconnaissance regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps.

Having constructed the Cromwells, the next stage was to give them a white undercoat.

Unlike the boxed set my three models are all the same. So thinking I might put some stowage in them before undercoating them white. In the end though I didn’t.

See the full workbench feature on the Flames of War Cromwell IV.

Flames of War British Sherman Firefly

Reading the army lists I realised I needed a Sherman Firefly either to accompany my Shermans or my Cromwell IVs.

Though the British expected to have their own new tank models developed soon (and were loath to consider using American tanks), British Major George Brighty championed the already-rejected idea of mounting the 17 pounder in the existing Sherman. With the help of Lieutenant Colonel Witheridge and despite official disapproval, he managed to get the concept accepted. This proved fortuitous, as both the Challenger and Cromwell tank designs experienced difficulties and delays.

After the problem of getting the gun to fit in the Sherman’s turret was solved, the Firefly was put into production in early 1944, in time to equip Field Marshal Montgomery’s forces for the Normandy landings. It soon became highly valued as the only British tank capable of defeating the Panther and Tiger tanks it faced in Normandy at standard combat ranges. In recognition of this, German tank and anti-tank gun crews were instructed to attack Fireflies first.

Within the blister, as with a lot of FoW models, you get a resin hull and turret and metal tracks and accessories.