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Officially UK’s No.1 Military Modelling Magazine Armour in Profile August 2022 l £5.50 Volume 26 l Issue 10 www.guidelinepublications.co.uk #militarymodelcraftinternational Vickers Armstrong Six-Ton Tank in Polish Service ISSN 2631-7222 08 9 772631 722255 MMooddeelllliinngg aa CCoommiicc SSttrriipp HHeerroo DDeeffeennddeerrss ooff tthhee RReevvoolluuttiioonn AAnn IIrraanniiaann MM6600AA11 TThhee PPaacciifificc aanndd mmuucchh,, AA ssmmaallll--ssccaallee ddiioorraammaa mmuucchh mmoorree...... Number One for Features, Reference and News NEW 1:35 MOULD AUSTIN K2/Y AMBULANCE A1375 AUSTIN K2/Y AMBULANCE One of the most famous vehicles of its type, the Austin K2/Y Ambulance was used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout WWII, both in the combat zones of the world and on the home front. Built around the chassis of the Austin K30 light truck, the casualty compartment was developed in conjunction with the Royal Army Medical Corps and therefore proved to be highly functional. Able to carry either four stretcher cases or ten seated casualties, one of the main reasons AUSTIN K2/Y AMBULANCE 30 Corps, Motor Ambulance Convoy, Royal Army Service Corps, why the K2/Y was so successful was because it was so rugged and reliable, requiring only a North West Europe, 1944. minimum of maintenance - an ambulance should always be ready when you need it. The rear cabin was typically constructed of painted canvas on a timber frame, with the highly visible red cross on a white disk positioned prominently on all sides to hopefully ensure the vehicles occupants didn’t AUSTIN K2/Y AMBULANCE come under fire. British Army, North Africa, 1940. AUSTIN K2/Y AMBULANCE British Army, Alexandria, Egypt, 1942. Special Features Include: AUSTIN K2/Y AMBULANCE Auxiliary Territorial Service, England, 1944. •PHOTO-ETCHED PARTS •INTERIOR DETAIL Length 178mm Width 68mm Pieces 146 Airfix.com Start as you mean to finish and all good retail stockists 2 #MILITARYMODELCRAFTINTERNATIONAL Official Product Special Features Include: Airfix.com and all good retail stockists 3 www.guidelinepublications.co.uk Contents August 2022 / Vol 26 / Issue 10 20 26 S T N E T N O C 39 32 Managing Editor email: [email protected] recorded retail price. All rights strictly David Grummitt US/Canada Subscriptions reserved. No part of this publications email: [email protected] www.guidelinepublicationsusa.com or may be reproduced print or digital in any Sales and Marketing Director email: [email protected] way without prior written agreement of Tom Foxon Published by Guideline Publications the publisher. All material and artwork email: [email protected] Unit 6 Kensworth Gate generated by Guideline Publications Ltd Mob: +44 (0)7540 153368 200-204 High Street South & or Guideline Licensed Publications Ltd, Contributors Dunstable, Bedfordshire, UK, LU6 3HS photographs, drawings, and plans used Tel: +44(0)1582 668411 in the magazine and or book become Tomasz Basarabowicz, Paul Bennett, the publisher’s copyright under copyright Thomas Birzer, Marc Day, Michał Derela, www.guidelinepublications.co.uk law. The company reserves the right to Andy Evans, Vorya Heidaryan, Magazine Licensing & Syndication suspend or refuse any advertisements Carl Schulze, Thierry Valet and Guideline Publications Ltd and Guideline without giving reasons. While every care Marek Zindulka. Licensed Publications Ltd publish top is taken to avoid mistakes Guideline quality magazines, books & bookazines. Design Publications Ltd and Guideline Licensed Guideline Licenced Publications Ltd Mark Smith Publications Ltd cannot be liable in any publishes a wide range of publications Printing way for any errors or omissions. Nor can that are available for licensing and Acorn Web the publication accept the responsibility reproduction around the world. You can Military Modelcraft International ISSN find out more by contacting Tom Foxon. for the bona fides of advertisers. 1364-419X Copyright © 2022 Guideline Publications This magazine/book shall not without www.militarymodelcraft.co.uk the written consent of the publisher, be & Guideline Licensed Publications 2022. UK, Europe and ROW Subscriptions lent, resold , or otherwise disposed of by www.guidelinepublications.co.uk or way of trade in excess of the maximum 4 #MILITARYMODELCRAFTINTERNATIONAL Number One for Features, Reference and News 50 C O N T E N T S 64 58 72 06 Forum 50 Showtime - World Model Expo 2022 08 News At the Front The Editor reports from the Eindhoven spectacular. An in-depth look at some of the new releases. 56 Ramsey’s Raiders 14 Quartermasters Store Andy Evans recreates a comic book classic. A round-up of the latest releases. 64 The Pacific 20 On the Bench - Daimler Mk I (SOD) Marek Zindulka returns with an award-winning Small- Scale diorama. Marc Day tackles the new Gecko Models kit. 72 Armour in Action 26 Scammell Pioneer TRMU30 Tractor Exercise Cold Response 2022. Carl Schulze looks at Thomas Birzer returns with a British classic. winter warfare training on NATO’s northern flank. 32 Defenders of Khorramshahr 78 Words and Pictures Vorya Heidaryan presents an M60A1 from the A roundup of the latest military titles. Iran-Iraq war. 39 Armour In Profile - 72 82 MMI online / Stars of the Next Issue Vickers-Armstrong Six-Ton Mark E Tank in Polish Service. Tomasz Basarabowicz and Michał Derela look at an interwar British export. With profiles by Thierry Vallet. 5 www.guidelinepublications.co.uk Forum M odel shows, as our recent trip to the World Model Expo have reminded me, are an important part of the hobby. They are an opportunity for modellers from different parts of the country – and even the globe – to get together, talk about their hobby, enjoy a beer and admire the superb work we usually only see in magazines and on the Internet. This issue will be released in time for the IPMS USA Nationals in Omaha, Nebraska, and Guideline Publications will be there to meet our American friends and readers. One mistake that magazines like ourselves, and other ‘influencers’ in the hobby, can make, however, is to think that our social media friends, or even the people we meet and talk to at shows, represent the modelling community as a whole. The hobby is, as they say, a broad church. Model making is for many, if not most, a solitary endeavour. Time at the bench is time for oneself; time away from the stresses and demands of work, family and life in general. As a magazine editor, then, it’s difficult to know how to best cater for this silent majority and you have to work hard not David Grummitt to be swept along by the social media clamour or model show chat on this kit or that, or the Managing Editor latest trends in the hobby. If you do go to a show we attend or if you’re reading this at the IPMS Guideline Publications Nationals, do please drop by the stand and say hello, and tell us what you like or don’t like [email protected] about the magazine. Equally, please do drop us an email or pick up the phone and let us know what we’re doing right and wrong. We used to say MMI was the magazine ‘for modellers by modellers’ and I’d like to think that is as true now as it was thirteen years ago when I took over the editor’s chair. This month’s issue has the usual range of subjects and scales. Our cover story is a superb piece of modelling with an unapologetically nostalgic bent as Andy Evans returns to produce a dynamic diorama based on a classic Commando comic cover. World War II is also the subject of Marek Zindulka’s ambitious small-scale diorama ‘The Pacific’, while Thomas Birzer is back with an impressive build of Thunder Models’ Scammell. At MMI we always try and give honest appraisals of kits, and this is the thrust of Marc Day’s ‘On the Bench’ build of Gecko Models’ recent Daimler Mk. 1 SOD kit. Moving forward, it’s a pleasure to also welcome back Vorya Heidaryan who builds Takom’s M60A1 as an Iranian vehicle, inspired by his uncle’s service in the Iran-Iraq war. We also have two extensive reference articles this month: Carl Schulze reports on the recent ‘Cold Response’ NATO exercises in Norway, while I’m delighted to welcome Tomasz Basarabowicz and Michal Derela who look at the Vickers Six-Ton Mark E Tank in Polish service. Finally, I give a whistle-stop tour of some of my favourite military models and dioramas from the recent World Model Expo. David Grummitt Editor 6 #MILITARYMODELCRAFTINTERNATIONAL 7 www.guidelinepublications.co.uk News At The Front S E DRAGON S A MODELS LIMITED E L E David Grummitt R T Scale: 1/35 S E T A L E Twenty years ago, Dragon H T released the first of F its newly tooled Panther O E kits, the Panther A Early M Type (ref. 6160). This was O an excellent kit and has S T spawned literally dozens A of kits representing every K O possible Panther variant, O both real and imagined. L H Dragon’s 1/35-scale Panthers T are, despite the recent flood P E of kits from Takom, Meng D and Rye Field Models, still N- market leaders: accurate and I N eminently buildable. They released in 2003 and there A do not include an interior, have been a dizzying array but that won’t bother many of kits released over the last modellers. Dragon’s older two decades (more than kits are now collectors’ twenty T-34/76 kits, not to items, commanding high the mention the T-4/85 kits). prices, and the company’s These too are increasingly policy of re-releasing older rare to find, so this reboxing kits with slightly different is very welcome. It is largely specifications and contents the 2009 release of the same is very welcome. Sd.Kfz. subject (ref. 6564) but has an 171 Pz.Bef.Wg. Panther w/ additional roof plate included Zimmerit (ref. 6965) is an without the commander’s amalgamation of different cupola, while the tracks kits, principally the Sd.Kfz. have been upgraded to the 171 Panther D w/Zimmerit individual-link ‘Magic Tracks’. (ref. 6428), which contained Dragon’s M7 Priest was really impressed with was superb, older Dragon kits the Panther D hull and turret first released back in 2011 the wear on the rubber track receive a new lease of life with moulded-on Zimmerit, and is a superb kit, produced pads. This kit also features a – all highly recommended. and the Sternantenna when Dragon was the world’s beautifully detailed 105mm Our thanks to the Hobby from the various premier manufacturer of howitzer and the bonus of Company for the review Panzerbefehlswagen kits. 1/35-scale military kits. M7 markings for US Army, British samples, Dragon kits are There are a couple of new Priest Early Production Army and Free French guns. available from all good model items in this boxing, including (ref. 6817) is a reboxing of It’s really good to see these shops. a 3D-printed base for the their 2012 release Sternantenna and individual (ref. 6627). link ‘Magic Track’, which most Once again, the modellers will prefer over single-length the single-length DS Tracks DS Tracks have included with some of the been replaced earlier Panther kits. with some new Also from Dragon we have ‘Magic Tracks’, T-34/76 Mod. 1943 w/ less of an issue Commander Cupola No for the ‘live’ tracks 183 Factory (ref. 6757). of the Sherman Despite the rash of recent than the tracks T-34/85 kits from Rye Field of the Panther Model and MiniArt, there is a and T-34, but still much more limited range of an improvement T-34/76 kits on the market. (in my opinion at Dragon’s T-34/76 was first least). What I was 8 #MILITARYMODELCRAFTINTERNATIONAL (left, below) VK35002 A CUSTOM N I N SCALE/16.02 -D David Grummitt E P T Scale: 1/35 H L O O The MaschinenKanone K (MK) 103 was a 30mm A T autocannon developed (above) VK35003 S in 1942 and used on the O M Luftwaffe’s Henschel 129 B-1 Baldeweg. 3cm Bordkanone one of two different stands. VK35003). This contains E ground-attack aircraft. Late in MK 103 Behelfslafette There is also an ammunition three sprues each containing O the war, it was also mounted ‘Baumaffe’ oder box provided. The box art and one each of three different- F T on a couple of different Standlafette (ref. VK35002) painting instructions adorn sized ammunition boxes. H improvised stands as an anti- is a nicely presented kit of this stout cardboard packaging The kit is available from the E L aircraft gun and was intended unusual late-war weapon. It which keeps the sprues nicely Frome Model Centre (www. A to be the main armament for has two sprues of crisp light protected. There is also a fromemodelcentre.com), and TE the Flakpanzer IV ‘Kugelblitz’. grey plastic. Construction separately available box of you can see more product S T 16.02 are a new, short-run looks straightforward and Ammo Boxes for 3cm MK photos at www.customscale. R maker of injection-moulded the gun can be mounted on 103 & 3cm Flak 103/83 (ref. de EL kits set up by Michael E A S E SABRE/16.02 S David Grummitt Scale: 1/35 Our second kit this month from 16.02 is a from 1937 to 1942, and it coloured styrene, cooperation with Chinese had a 1.9l, four-cylinder a clear sprue, a manufacturer Sabre Models, diesel engine generating photoetched fret best known for their superb 20hp. It was classified by and two types of German World War II rolling the Wehrmacht as the leichter vinyl tyres (front stock kits. This time we have the German Hanomag Radschlepper (o) and was and rear). The RL-20 Tractor (ref. 35A11). used in a variety of civilian model can be built The Hanomag RL 20 wheeled and military roles. The kit is a with or without tractor was manufactured real gem: six sprues of sand- a roof. A nicely detailed engine is included, which can be admired through the beautifully moulded bonnet louvres. One obvious omission is a decal sheet, but I suspect most modellers won’t have too much trouble in securing some suitable registration plates. The kit is available from the Frome Model Centre (www.fromemodelcentre. com), and you see more product photos at www. sabremodels.com. www.guidelinepublications.co.uk 9 B News At The Front cardboard box is incredibly S E GECKO MODELS full, including 22 grey plastic S A David Grummitt sprues with hard plastic tyres, E EL Scale: 1/35 a large sheet of photoetch, R a clear sprue and a length T of vinyl hose. Markings are S E Hong Kong-based provided for the K2 as driven T A manufacturer Gecko by Her Majesty and for the E L Models have championed vehicle seen in the film Ice 35GM0060 H British subjects, both wartime Cold in Alex. It is interesting T F and more modern, and the to note that Airfix too have O latest kit to hit these shores announced their own version M1 E is very appropriate as we of the Austin K2 Ambulance M O celebrate Her Majesty’s as a future release, but 1 S Platinum Jubilee. Famous knowing the previous nature AT K2/Ys - Katy and the of Gecko’s kits, I suspect K Princess (Limited Edition this one will be the more O O Special Boxing) (ref. complete. As with all Gecko L 35GM0070) is a kit of an kits it will be a challenge H Austin K2/Y Ambulance to both build and paint and T P with a figure of the young the proof the pudding, so to E D Princess Elizabeth, later speak, will be in the making, N- Queen Elizabeth II. She but care and some skill will six Special Forces figures, Bedford MWC Water Truck N I wears the uniform of the result in a quite stunning with suitable weapons, (ref. ref. 35GM0024) and A Auxiliary Territorial Service, model. the inflatable craft and, represents a MWD general where she qualified as a Also from Gecko we have interestingly, a piece of clear service vehicle with the driver and mechanic with US Navy Seals Team plastic to represent the water German cargo compartment. the honorary rank of junior in Action circa 90s (w/ and a black plastic frame. This kit is typical Gecko fare commander. The box art is Combat Rubber Raiding The whole package is very and not for the fainthearted, based on the well-known Craft) (ref. 35M0060). This well done, and the figures containing 23 sprues of grey photo of Her Majesty taken in is an interesting kit which will will reward careful assembly plastic, hard plastic tyres April 1945 at the ATS Driver provide a complete action- and even more careful and a sheet of photoetch. and Maintenance School packed vignette. The fifteen painting. Finally, this month Markings are provided for in Camberley. The stout grey plastic sprues contain we have German Bedford three captured Waffen SS MW 4x2 Beutewagen (ref. vehicles in Dunkelgrau. 35GM0032). This, of course, Gecko kits are available from is based on their 2020 all good model shops. 35GM0070 35GM0032 10 #MILITARYMODELCRAFTINTERNATIONAL