sWS Cargo Carrier

This is the Italeri SwS with 37mm Flak built pretty much out of the box with some Eduard etch for the mesh side screens. I used the 37mm Flak for another project, so it has been my intention for a while now to get it built as a cargo carrier.

The build was straightforward, although the link and length tracks were poor - there was only just enough to complete both track runs. I would recommend aftermarket tracks to anyone contemplating building this kit. The Eduard etch set was mainly for the gun, but the mesh side screens were good, and fitted OK.

I used some spare metal drivers indicators for the front fenders, and some better quality DML lamp bases and tools. The cargo is a mixture of Reality in Scale boxes (88mm mainly) and Tamiya Jerrycans and Oil Drums from their Opel Blitz kit.

The figures are by Hobbyfan, and I was delighted with them.

 

Review - Reality in Scale #35243 German 88mm Ammo Boxes

I'm taking a look at what should be a very popular vehicle or diorama accessory given the huge appeal of German WW2 topics. Set number 35243 comprises two types of 88mm wooden ammo crate. The first type, which holds x3 shells, is for the Tiger 1, and the second box, holding a single 88mm shell, is for the Tiger II.

 

 You get x6 of each type of box - a useful number - and Archer decals for both types, with alternative stencilling options and a good number of spares. Once again, the quality of the casting, and the sculpting is excellent. The wooden boxes feature fine but discernable wood graining effects which will be tested when I come to paint them. The hinge, latch and hasp details are also well represented, and consistent. There are no moulding marks or mould plugs to remove - just get them out of the packet and go.

 I decided to paint up three of each box, using Tamiya acrylics to represent boxes painted up in green, grey and dunkelgelb. All of these colour options are realistic, as is plain wood if you prefer. I base sprayed / pre-shaded with a dark Tamiya mix of red brown and black, followed by the base colour. I brush painted a layer of Johnsons Kleer on the boxes where the decals were to go, followed by more layers of Johnsons Kleer when the decals were layed down. As you can see by the photos, the Archer decals look great, and no carrier film is visible.

 

 A matt varnish followed, then an oil wash of dark brown. A light drybrush with Humbrol Linen followed this, finished off with a few spots of muck and grime using Vallejo acrylics applied with a small piece of scotchbrite.

 I think that the end results look great, and I'm very happy with them. Once again, a nice little set from RiS, and one that I'll be making good use of in future projects.

The only small niggle I have is that it would have been good to have a few open boxes with lids in the set as options. Maybe a separate issue in the future just comprised of open 88mm boxes would be good. If they follow the same quality as the RiS German weapons boxes, then they would be on to a winner.

Highly recommended.

Review - Reality in Scale #35193 German Weapons Boxes

In my second review of Reality in Scale products, I'm looking at set #35193, some 1/35 German Weapon Boxes. 

 These are an often overlooked feature of warfare. You go to the trouble and time of manufacturing a fine, precision instrument that needs to be transported 100's, possibly 1000's of miles to the troops that need it. So - you need a good quality transit box, right? The Germans were masters at this, and any casual internet search of "German WW2 Transit cases, crates, boxes" - or whatever - yields up a mass of really good quality wooden boxes and crates for weapons, ammo, optics, instruments, tools. You name it, there was a box for it. So, a good choice by RiS, and an interesting one.

What you get are 8 crates and a set of decals. Four of the crates are presented with a shut lid, and four have contents. You have a crated MG42, crated Gewehr 43's, crated MP40's and finally, crated Sturmgewehr 44's (or MP44's if you prefer). The decals, as you will see by the photos, are related to the listed contents. The MP40's are represented as being covered over by a light tarp, or maybe a layer of greased paper, and the MP44's are shown with the same, but with one weapon showing.

 The first thing to say is that the resin quality is excellent. The boxes and lids are crisply detailed, with no flash. The boxes have a small 1-2mm base pouring plug on the underside. This does not need to be removed with a saw. All I did was run the box up and down a large sanding stick a few times to remove the base plug. Easy. The box lids need to be removed from a transit plug, and again, a sharp blade does the trick as they are finely cast and easily separated.

 The details of the boxes and weapons are sharply defined, and the representation of the tarp, or fabric is very finely done, with the weave of the cloth clearly visible. The best way to show this is by painting a few up.

I sprayed each piece with my usual base coat of Tamiya acrylics - a 50/50 mix of flat black and hull red. Next, they were sprayed with a mix of Tamiya acrylics to represent dunkelgelb, dunkelgrau and grun. The insides were left in a dark yellow to represent bare wood (they weren't painted inside). Next came an oil-based wash with burnt umber, finishing off with a dry-brush of Humbrol 74 Linen and a few spots of Vallejo acrylic brown tones applied with a piece of ripped up scotchbrite to represent dirt and stains. The weapons were painted in a mix of acrylics for the black parts, and oils for the wooden stocks of the Gewehr 43's. Decals were applied using an initial coat of Future floor polish, with layers built up before a final coat of flat matt varnish. The Micro Sol and Set method will achieve the same effect- ie no visible carrier film.

I was really pleased with the results. This is a set of real quality, which is what you need in a resin item. The better the casting, the easier the painting and finishing. It helps if the master is well sculpted, and again, Olav has done a great job on these.

Highly recommended.

Review - Reality in Scale #35239 Unditching Logs

 

Reality in Scale have been around since 2006, but I'll confess to not having used many of their products myself. This is mainly because I haven't delved too deeply into diorama building and so they haven't popped up on my modelling radar. However...... having heard about their products from fellow modellers and having been given a number of their items to review, I'm looking forward to stretching my own abilities further and also to give the RiS products a good try out.

A fairly recent addition to the RiS range has been #35239, a set of resin Unditching Logs. To call them this is a bit limiting, as they were used not only for unditching purposes but also for stand-off armour, as seen on US and Canadian Shermans in North-West Europe, US Shermans in the Pacific and Soviet tanks such as T-34's.

What you get in the set are six different logs, a length of brass chain and a length of scale rope, which is a handy rope-colour. The casting of the resin is excellent, but what struck me immediately was the visual quality of the logs. Olav Smeets, owner of Reality in Scale, mastered the logs and did a really great job. The texture is just right, and once painted, the bark, the little knobs and lumps you get on a tree trunk, and the cut edges are spot on. One of the logs has a length of moulded on rope, which is extremely finely cast and realistic. It's important to note at this stage that here are no casting or pour plugs to remove, which is a big factor to some modellers who may be put off by using resin for this reason.

The logs didn't need any prep, so I base-coated them with a spray of Tamiya acrylics - a 50/50 mix of flat black and hull red. Next, they were sprayed with a mix of Tamiya earth and wooden tones. I did each one differently for variety. One was given a spray of off-white as it looked to me like a silver birch tree. An oil based wash with burnt umber followed, finishing off with a dry-brush of Humbrol 74 Linen and a few spots of Vallejo acrylic brown tones applied with a piece of ripped up scotchbrite to represent dirt and stains.

I was really happy with the way they turned out. They almost painted themselves as the casting was so good. I've stashed them away ready for use in future projects - maybe on the side of a tank, or maybe to be used as an improvised barricade in a diorama. Or just stacked as felled trees by the road.

Highly recommended.