Latest models

Return to days of old

You may have noticed me posting pics of the odd tank every now and then , I am collecting the Deagostini Combats Tanks Collection which consists of over 100 1/72 scale model armoured fighting vehicles dating from WW2 onwards.
I joined the collections'forum and have been amazed by some of the static models that the members build , back when I was a kid my favourite hobby was to save up $2.50 and go to Ettalong newsagents or the toy store at Woy Woy and buy a good old Airfix model.
I built models for years and some of the last ones I built in the 70's were Star Wars ones.
Then I discovered girls and surfing , a couple of weeks back I was in the toy store at Erina and decided to buy a few kits and have a crack at it again.
I had already been working on a large scale remote control tank , I have 2 of these and they are a large scale at 1/24.
This project is the conversion of a VS Tanks Abrams M1A2 to and Australian M1A1 AIM , I decided to build Australian armour as there are few if any ready to build examples on the market and I enjoy the research that goes with it.
The Abrams required removal of some pieces and addition of some sfter market accessories , I am still waiting on some red kangaroo decals for it before I finish painting the model , here's a pic of it so far



Next project was the making of a diorama for the 1/72 scale German " Maus " , I bought the Maus as a pre made model ( Easymodels ) and painted it up , as all my other small scale tanks are in plastic display cases I decided to whack this one in one as well , found some at the model shop for a reasonable price.
As the case was rather largish I decided to make a diorama and bought a packet of tiny German ( Italeri Anti Tank Crews ) soldiers to go on it as well.
The Maus was the largest tank built during WW2 and 2 of them were made , both broke down before they got into battle and were blown up by their crews , the Russians nicked one and it is on display at the Kubinka Tanks Museum



Back to the Aussie theme my next project was the Crusader Mk 11 , these tanks were used by the Aussies in WW2 in North Africa ,so it is painted up in desert colours , it is a 1/72 scale kit from Hasegawa and was fun to build , I had to modify the turret a bit as it was a Mk III.
I plan on doing another diorama for this and have ordered an Stuart Light Tank to accompany it as there is plenty room.



This weekends project was the Matilda Mk 11 ( 1/72 Italeri ) as used by the Aussies in New Guinea in WW2 , again I had to modify it a bit to represent the type we had and I am quite happy with the result , this one will go in a diorama as well and I have something cool in mind this time.



Next project will be the ASLAV-25 , this is a current vehicle and I think I will do the version that was used early on in Iraq and it is in a bigger scale of 1/35 which will give my poor old eyes a break



I was thinking of doing another blog just for the modelling , can I be arsed tho ?

While on tanks , my story called Grandads Tank helped out Mike from the USA who owns a shell casing similar to mine

More Tanks !

Latest additions to the armoury , I've been meaning to post them as I get them , but time slips by .........

M2 Bradley (USA 1991)


Cromwell Mk. IV (UK 1944)



Flakpanzer Gepard



M13/40 1942


M26 Pershing (USA 1945)


Full collection here

No Ship !

As final preparations are being made to sink the HMAS Adelaide off the coast here , a group of Avoca locals have rallied at the last moment to stop the sinking.
The HMAS Adelaide ferried Australian troops to the first Gulf War in 1991, to peacekeeping operations in East Timor and back to the Gulf in 2001.
The Adelaide was to be sunk off Terrigal for recreational divers to visit , as there was no environmental impact statement undertaken the public was kept in the dark on the project for some years.
Two weeks ago a large yellow buoy was placed in the water marking the spot where the ship is to be scuttled , the location was no where near Terrigal , but instead it is to be sunk 1.7 km's off the centre of Avoca Beach.
The whole time the public was told it was to be sunk " a couple of kilometres out to sea " but when you see the yellow buoy you suddenly realise that this is alarmingly close to shore , the locals are worried about possible leaching of toxic chemicals from the ship , the effect on sand movements on the beach , increase of sharks closer to the beach and the effect on the world class surf break itself.
With the 140 metre long vessel due to be sunk on the 27 th of March , the No Ship action group has little time on their hands but the ball is rolling , 600 concerned residents met on the beach on Saturday to formulate a plan of attack.
Drag it another couple of k 's out to sea and no one will give a shit , personally I think there are enough real wrecks along the coast to dive on , this is a bit of a worry

Visit the No Ship at Avoca site
Article in the Sydney Morning Herald
Article in the Central Coast Express Advocate

Tanks mate

Coupla more tanks for the collection up to 22 now

Leopard I A2


StuG. III Ausf. G (Germany 1944)


Rest of the collection here

Combat Tanks Collection

NOTICE
I am updating this collection on my new blog - for updated Combat Tanks Collection information go to my other blog Anzac Plastic



The British Churchill Mk.VII

The latest update on the collection order , 120 issues and models are planned at this stage , as of last year due to request from CTC Forum members models from the Deagostini Panzer Collection are being merged into the CTC , the Panzer collection comprises of some 60 AFV's


Useful Links:

The Combat Tanks Collection UK
DeAgostini UK

The Combat Tanks Collection Australia
Bissett Magazines Australia

The Combat Tanks Collection NZ
Combat Tank Deliverys for New Zealand Subscribers

DieCast72 Panzer

DieCast72 Combat Tanks Collection

Altaya Panzer (France)

Altaya Chars de Combat (CTC Fance)

Combat Tanks Collection Forum

NOTICE
I am updating this collection on my new blog - for updated CTC pics go to Anzac Plastic

Tanks for dropping by

Been a tad slack on the blog front lately , time gets by some times.
Last few weeks have been a drama as my landlord has decided to sell and I have to fucking move camp.
Some of the dumps I have looked at so far are terrible , I'm determined to get a nice place this time , this brothel I live in now is soul destroying.
I could even end up in Ettalong , things are that bad lol , I won't live east of O.B road ever again - promise ! I'd really like to get back onto the strip ( Trafalgar Avenue ) my karma is good there.

Computer blew up finally and I was offline for another week , I took it into the shop and expected to wait another week or 2 for it to be repaired.
2 hours later on a Saturday morning the shop guy rings up and informs me the p.c is ready to rock , they even cleaned all of the dog hair out of it !
Big thanks to Albatross Computers across the road from Woy Woy Station - highly recommended !

Small pleasure is the magazine I have began buying called Combat Tanks , each issue comes with a die cast model tank , evidently there is some 100 issues and about 60 or so tanks to collect , I joined the obligatory site forum and smartened some poms up for good measure ( hehe )







10 Points to my boss who decides on the 2 coldest days in fuck knows when , to waterblast a 2 story house on the edge of the cliff at Killcare.
/facepalm

Back probably after i move shop and go thru the dramas of waiting weeks to get back online - wish me luck

Also I'm after a cheap fridge :)