operation unthinkable Archives - Page 2 of 4

Construction of the T-55

I have the Operation Unthinkable boxed set containing the American and Soviet tanks. The GF9 Operation Unthinkable boxed set, the American versus Soviet, contains 21 tanks. Six of these are the T-54-1.

What I didn’t realise was that the T-54-1 model can also be made up as a T-44 or a T-55 as the different turrets are included. This gives even more flexibility over just using them as T54-1 tanks. I decided to make two of the models as the T-44 and the other four as T-55 models.

The T-55 is a series of Soviet-era medium tanks that were introduced shortly after World War II. It is one of the most widely produced tanks in history, with over 100,000 units built in the Soviet Union and under license in Poland and Czechoslovakia. The T-55, along with its predecessor the T-54, became the backbone of armoured forces for the Warsaw Pact and many other nations. The tank featured a low-slung, compact design with a cast, dome-shaped turret and was armed with a 100mm rifled gun. While it was considered advanced for its time, its design was later outmatched by more modern tanks. However, its simple, rugged, and reliable nature has allowed it to remain in service with various armed forces worldwide, often with significant upgrades.

The construction is very simple starting off with the hull of the tank.

The tracks are then added.

The next step is dependent on if you are making the T-55 or one of the other variants. The Operational Unthinkable has instructions for the T-44 and the T-54. The Battlefront website has instructions for the T-55AM but not for the T-55. I did find the T-55 instructions using a bit of Google and Archive.org.

There are different turret components and turrets for all the different versions.

The turret was then completed.

All four completed T-55 tanks.

The next stage was a white undercoat.

In order to add shade I sprayed the underneath of the model with a black spray.

The next stage will be a dark green base coat.

Constructing the two Tigers

Operation Unthinkable was the name given to two related possible future war plans developed by the British Chiefs of Staff Committee against the Soviet Union during 1945.

In the box, as well as the rules, counters, and dice, are seventeen tanks, two of which are Tiger tanks.

Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank used in World War II, developed in 1942. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of Operation Barbarossa, particularly the T-34 and the KV-1. The Tiger I design gave the Wehrmacht its first tank mounting the 88 mm gun, which had previously demonstrated its effectiveness against both air and ground targets. During the course of the war, the Tiger I saw combat on all German battlefronts. It was usually deployed in independent tank battalions, which proved to be quite formidable.

This is the GF9 finished model.

These are the sprues.

The first stage was constructing the hull and tracks, and the turret.

Then the main weaponry was added and the side armour.

With one of the tanks I am going to model it with the hatch in an open position.

With one of the Tiger tanks I added a command figure and some spare track as additional armour.

Next stage was a white undercoat for the two tanks.

Constructing the T29 Heavy Tank

I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks. Three of these are the T29 or T30 Heavy Tank.

The T29 Heavy Tank was an American heavy tank project that was started in March 1944 to counter the German Tiger II heavy tank. Although it was not completed in time for use in World War II, the T29 served as a valuable testbed for post-war engineers to apply new concepts to artillery and automotive components. The tank featured a powerful 105 mm T5E1 gun and a massive, heavily armored turret. With a weight of approximately 64 tons, a crew of six, and an upgraded V12 engine, the T29 was a formidable and innovative design for its time.

The instructions allow you to construct either the T30 or T29 Heavy Tank. I had already constructed a T30 tank, so with the other two kits I went with the T29.

This is the GF9 finished model.

This is the sprue.

The kit was relatively easy to construct.

The finished models.

Here are the two models.

Here are the two T29 tanks with the T30 tank.

The next step was a white undercoat.

Building another ISU-130

One of the Clash of Steel Starter Sets have been on my wants list ever since I found out about them at the beginning of the year. I ordered Operation Unthinkable boxed set containing the British and German tanks. I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks.

The ISU-130, is a tank destroyer based on the IS-2 chassis armed with an 130mm S-26 gun.

This is the GF9 finished model.

I had already constructed one ISU-130, so it was quite simple to put another one together.

Here are the two ISU-130 tank destroyers together.

The next step was a white undercoat.

The kit also allows you to build the ISU-122 and ISU-152 variants as well.

Construction of the T-44

What I didn’t realise was that the T-54-1 model can also be made up as a T-44 or a T-55 as the different turrets are included. This gives even more flexibility over just using them as T54-1 tanks.

I decided to make two of the models as the T-44 and the other four as T-55 models. The construction is very simple starting off with the hull of the tank.

The tracks are then added.

The next step is dependent on if you are making the T-44 or one of the other variants.

The next step was a white undercoat.

The T-44 was a medium tank developed by the Soviet Union near the end of World War II as a successor to the highly successful T-34. Its design incorporated significant improvements, including a transverse-mounted engine which allowed for a lower profile and thicker frontal armor on the hull. The T-44 was designed to be a more effective medium tank, offering better armor protection and an improved torsion bar suspension. Although it entered service in 1944 and saw limited use in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, it did not see widespread combat during World War II due to a combination of production issues and the Soviet high command’s decision to prioritize the continued production of the proven T-34-85. However, the T-44’s design proved to be a crucial stepping stone, heavily influencing the development of the post-war T-54/55 series of tanks, one of the most widely produced tanks in history.

The following video is relevant to the topic because it discusses whether the T-44 was a failure or a wasted opportunity.

Building one more IS-3 tank

I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks. There are three IS-3 tanks included in the boxed set.

This is the GF9 finished model.

The IS-3 is a Soviet heavy tank developed in late 1944. Its semi-hemispherical cast turret (resembling that of an upturned soup bowl) became the hallmark of post-war Soviet tanks.

I had already constructed two of the IS-3 tanks, so it was a relatively easy process of constructing another one. This one I added a commander figure to the cupola on the turret.

A view of two of the IS-3 tanks.

The three IS-3 tanks.

The next stage was a white undercoat.

Constructing some more Centurion Mk3

One of the Clash of Steel Starter Sets have been on my wants list ever since I found out about them at the beginning of the year. I ordered Operation Unthinkable boxed set containing the British and German tanks. There are 17 tanks in the box, of which four are the Centurion Tanks. They can be constructed as a range of variants.

The Centurion tank was one of the most successful post-war tank designs. It was introduced in 1945, just too late to see combat in the Second World War. However, it went on to serve in a number of conflicts, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Arab-Israeli wars. The Centurion was a well-balanced tank with a good mix of armament, armour, and mobility. It was armed with a 105mm rifled gun, which was capable of firing both high-explosive and armour-piercing rounds. The Centurion’s armour was also very effective, and it was able to withstand the fire of most enemy tanks. The tank was also highly mobile, and it was able to keep up with the latest advances in tank warfare.

For the first model I put together, I went with the Mk3.

I did think about the Mk1 initially, but I did think I would initially model two Mk3 tanks and two Mk1 tanks, however in the end I decided I would model all four models as Mk3 Centurions.

This is the GF9 finished model.

This is the sprue

There are various parts to the model, however it goes together very easily.

The finished models prior to a white undercoat. This model has damaged skirts.

This version has missing skirts and a commander figure.

This version has skirts.

Two of the tanks.

Constructing more Panzer IV/70

One of the Clash of Steel Starter Sets have been on my wants list ever since I found out about them at the beginning of the year. I ordered Operation Unthinkable boxed set containing the British and German tanks. It contains 17 tanks, three of which are the Panzer IV/70 tank destroyer.

The Panzer IV/70, was a German tank destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis, it was armed with the 7.5 cm Pak 42 L/70. Officially, only the L/48-armed vehicle was named Jagdpanzer IV. The L/70-armed vehicle was named Panzer IV/70.

This is the GF9 finished model.

This is the sprue. It has the parts to make the L/48-armed vehicle as well.

I had constructed one of the models already. So, the next thing I did was construct the other two.

The first stage was constructing the hull and tracks. Then the main weaponry was added and the side armour. With these models I decided one would have missing skirts, whilst the other one would have damaged skirts.

Here are all three models.

Next stage will be a white undercoat.

Constructing the ISU-152

I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks.

The kit also allows you to build the ISU-122 and ISU-152 variants as well. As there are five kits I think I will mix and match the different variants.

The ISU-152, is a tank destroyer based on the IS-2 chassis armed with a 152.4 mm ML-20S gun-howitzer. Since the ISU-152’s gun was mounted in a casemate, aiming it was awkward, and had to be done by repositioning the entire vehicle using the tracks. Therefore, it was used as mobile artillery to support more mobile infantry and armour attacks. It continued service into the 1970s and was used in several campaigns and countries.

The process of constructing the ISU-152 was virtually the same process as building the ISU-130, the main different is the shorter gun barrel.

This is the track sprue.

The kit also allows you to build the ISU-122 and ISU-152 variants as well.

Here are two of the models together.

The next stage is a white undercoat.

Constructing another T28 Super Heavy Tank

I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks. In this box there are two T28 Super Heavy Tanks.

The T28 super-heavy tank was an American super-heavy tank/assault gun designed for the United States Army during World War II. It was originally designed to break through German defenses of the Siegfried Line and was later considered as a possible participant in the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland.

This is the GF9 finished model.

This is the sprue.

The kit is relatively easy to construct. I had made one of these up already. I made the second model. Having said it was easy the tracks can be a bit of a challenge.

Here is the finished model.

Here are the two T28 Super Heavy Tanks.

Next stage will be a white undercoat.