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Airfix preview video for A06302 Supacat Coyote A05301 Supacat Jackal.
You may recall from a previous blog post that I thought they would make for really nice Imperial Guard armoured vehicles. As they are 1/48th scale they would fit very well with the 25/28mm size of the Imperial Guard. Of course with some ramshackle additions they would also make for some really nice Ork vehicles too.
So there I was looking through the Airfix preview for 2012 when I saw that they are going to release a new model, the German King Tiger from World War Two.
Goes with the Cromwell that they have just released, and they will be releasing a doubles box with both the King Tiger and the Cromwell within it.
So there I was looking through the Airfix preview for 2012 when I saw two models of desert buildings and immediately thought they would make for really nice scenery for Warhammer 40K.
As they are 1/48th scale they would fit very well with the 25/28mm size of models for Warhammer 40K.
Of course with some ramshackle additions they would make for some really nice Ork buildings, though I think they would also work as Tallarn style desert buildings.
Knowing Airfix, we probably won’t see these in the flesh until the latter part of 2012, but they do have potential.
So there I was looking through the Airfix preview for 2012 when I saw two models and immediately thought they would work for Flames of War.
They are two bridge models.
They are 1/76th scale and therefore designed for 20mm high miniatures. However I am sure that it would also work for Flames of War miniatures which are 1/100th with 15mm high figures.
Knowing Airfix, we probably won’t see these in the flesh until the latter part of 2012, but they do have potential. They will be resin and unpainted.
So there I was looking through the Airfix preview for 2012 when I saw two models and immediately thought they would make for really nice Imperial Guard armoured vehicles.
They were the Supacat HMT600 Coyote.
And the Supacar HMT400 Jackal.
As they are 1/48th scale they would fit very well with the 25/28mm size of the Imperial Guard.
Of course with some ramshackle additions they would also make for some really nice Ork vehicles too.
Knowing Airfix, we probably won’t see these in the flesh until the latter part of 2012, but they do have potential.
You may have noticed that Airfix have a new magazine out for nearly a year now with the first issue published in November 2010. Those of you who are old enough will remember that there was an Airfix magazine that ran from 1960 until 1993.
The current magazine, Airfix Model World does cover all types of plastic modelling, but does have a focus on aviation, as that is the biggest share of the plastic kit market. So less useful for those of us interested in using plastic kits for gaming, as we’re more likely to be using tanks and AFVs. However it does have articles on tanks and armoured vehicles, it also takes the time to review a range of kits and publish news, and does cover military vehicles in these areas too.
You can either subscribe, though I did notice it was also available as an e-magazine on the iPad. The advantage of the iPad version is that you don’t need to get every issue and can get the issue which is useful to you. Though unlike going to WHSmiths you can’t flick through the issue to check! One advantage of the electronic version is that it us much easier to store than the paper copy and you can get hold of back issues much more easily. You can find out what was in which back issues from this web page.
So for example in the March 2011 issue is the following article
Military Build – Tiger Ausf.E Ian Grainger, inspired from watching an old war movie, decided to spend one afternoon over a weekend building Germany’s fearsome main battle tank.
Whilst the August 2011 issue has this article on the Cromwell tank.
Battle and Build – World Exclusive! Cromwell Mk.IV Daniel Taylor outlines the history of the Cromwell tank, and its notorious battle at Villers-Bocage against the German Tiger. Armour fans will be inspired to build Airfix’s newly tooled Cromwell. Brian O’Donoghue reports.
When I was young, before I started this wargaming lark, I use to make up plastic kits. In the main these were the pocket money kits I could buy from my local model shop and these were manufactured by Airfix and Matchbox. I recall preferring the Matchbox kits as they came with a piece of scenery.
As I paint more Flames of War models, and read the FoW sourcebooks, read books on World War Two, use the internet, I have started to realise how much my knowledge of World War Two vehicles and armour has been skewed by making those plastic kits all those years ago. They have also influenced what models I am buying and which ones I like.
So for example I am building an Early War French force for Flames of War. I am adamant that I have some Char B1 bis and the Renault FT-17. Less concerned about the Somau S-35 or the Hotchkiss tanks.
Similarily when looking for trucks for my German forces, who wants an Opel Blitz when you can have the Krupp Kfz 70 which is very similar to the Matchbox Krupp Kfz 69.
I think the only reason I have Cromwells in my Late War British force is that I had those thirty years ago in my 6mm Heroics and Ros World War Two force. Of course this year Airfix will be releasing a 1:76th scale Cromwell.
I recently bought a three pack of Dingo scout cars and I am sure that the Monty’s Caravan kit was a big influence on this purchase. Question, can I get a 15mm Monty’s Caravan?
Looking back over the old Matchbox and Airfix ranges you see some classic tanks and armoured vehicles and other military vehicles. It is these that I look at when buying new models for Flames of War.
Currently most picture of the new Airfix 1:76th scale Cromwell tank is of the 3D rendering. I was lucky enough today to get to see the actual pre-production model kit and sprues. The model can either be made with the wading gear (that was used on D-Day) or as it was used later on in the Normandy campaign without.
The sprues show a fair few parts, and unlike some of the new wargaming models that have come out recently, this is a model kit first with lots of parts.
Another view (this time from the top) of the Cromwell pre-production models.
Looks like a very nice plastic kit and for those who play 20mm, a welcome addition that has long been missing from the range.
Epic conversion using the Airfix LCVP kit…
I have always had a fondness for the concept of small craft naval actions in Epic, reminiscent of the brown water forces of the Vietnam War.
I have just purchased a 1/72nd Airfix kit of the WWII LCVP Landing Craft.
I didn’t know this kit existed until recently when I saw it as part of a larger D-Day boxed set. I knew Airfix had made a tank landing craft in the past (which came with a Sherman tank and is still available (and was also in the D-Day boxed set)) but always thought it was too big for converting into an Epic size vessel.
This infantry landing craft is as you might expect much smaller and therefore makes it ideal conversion material.
The kit is pretty good in that it also contains components to make beach obstacles.
It is a full hull kit, so I will probably need to sand the base down a little to make it a waterline kit.
The real task will be epicising the model to make it look similar to the Epic models and less a 1/72nd kit. For this I will use plastic strip and lots of bits from Epic models such as Hydra turrets.