Belgian Gloster Gladiator WIP

 A recent pickup from a French bring and buy was a Gloster Gladiator which I will use for my Belgians I think. The old airfix kit will need not a lot of work to bring it up to spec. 

These are the markings I will use I think 

Cheers

Matt

Ww2 British Transport numberplates

 Whilst doing research for my British for the 21st Army Group, I came across a fabulous breakdown of British number plates. I will link it below but here is a summary 

Motorcycles prefixed Letter C  

Cars, jeeps, light utility, heavy cars and staff cars letter M 

Ambulances letter A

Trucks letter Z

Amphibian letter P

Artillery Tractor letter H 

Trailer letter X 

Thread here on the ww2Talk forum 

Cheers

Matt

Praga 53/59 AA gun

 NB models Praga 53/59 

NB models have produced a great kit for the Praga 53/59 SP AA gun. The kit is a late type with the larger tool box and bucket seated AA chassis. 

This vehicle was used by the Czechoslovakia,  Egyptians Iranian, Iraqis, Syrians, Libyans, Croatians, Bosnians, Cubans, Slovenia, Congo and Zaire governments. Plus seen use in the breakup war of Yugoslavia, Chechnya and currently used in Ukraine by Wagner group.

NB models predominantly produce Czech equipment for modelers, but perfect for one off kits,I am picking up two, one as a generic AA piece for my Arab armies the second for a generic kit for Africa and warlord games. 

Join the army and see the world! 

Cheers

Matt

Swedish Army Project - Stridsvagn centurion

The centurion in Swedish service

The Swedish Army purchased centurion Mk 3’s & Mk 10’s from the British Defence manufactured by Leyland. They were subsequently modified for the Swedish Army under designation Stridsvagn, and were renumbered upon each upgrade so can be confusing. I am planning a company of Strivsvagen 81 and a company of Strivsvagen 101. 

Stridsvagn 81 

 1953-54 Mk 3 Centurions were purchased and 80 delivered with the 90mm/20 pounder 640HP engine modified with Swedish radios and lights.
1956 a further 150(160) were purchased armed with the improved 90mm/20 pounder mark B, again Swedish radios installed. 2 x KSP 7.62 M39 Lmg, two Lyran smoke discharges and barrel fume extractor was also installed.

Stridsvagn 101 

1960-62 purchased mark 10 centurions purchased 75 delivered 1960 and 240 delivered 1961. The Mk 10 Centurions armed with the L7/105mm gun and larger 650HP engine and up-armoured. The Swedes then equipped with Swedish communications equipment, 2 KSP x 7.62 M39 Lmg and 2 Lyran smoke discharges.

Stridsvagn 101R 

Stridsvagn 101 upgraded between 1983-87 with night vision, target system, laser range finder and gun stabiliser equipment. Changed track skirt and ERA blocks added.

Stridsvagn 102 

Stridsvagn 81-Centurion Mk 3 upgraded in between 1964-65 with L7/105 mm main gun along with lights, track and engine upgrade so parts were fully interchangeable between stridsvagn marks. 

Stridsvagn 102R 

Stridsvagn 102 upgraded between 1983-87 with night vision, target system, laser range finder and gun stabiliser equipment. 

Stridsvagn 104 

 80 Stridsvagn 102 upgraded between 1983-87 with night vision, target system, laser range finder and gun stabiliser equipment, barrel thermal sleeves and thermal lined exhaust system, improved continental engine and Allison automatic gearbox. Changed engine deck. Received the mark 10 armour upgrade to 200mm and additional ERA blocks and new spaced track skirt armour. Upgraded bank of six smoke discharges and two mortars. 

Stridsvagn 105 Stridsvagn 102R Prototype only
Stridsvagn 105 Stridsvagn 101R Prototype only

Bärgningsbandvagn 81 

Centurion ARV 13 mark 3 and mark 10 were purchased 

Final mark

The final Centurion model used was the Stridsvagn 104. They looked at changes and modifications around the world to the centurion, Häggluns and Sonner AB were chosen to perform the upgrades locally. The new upgraded 104 almost looked like the Israeli Sho’t,  was fitted with a new upgraded reactive armour, new continental diesel engine and transmission together with an Allison automatic gear-box. It was still armed with a L7/105 mm main gun with upgraded targeting system computer, gun stabilisation, barrel thermal sleeves and thermal exhaust covers. The 2 x 7.62 mm machine guns remained the same, an additional two illumination HE round mortar dischargers fitted to the top of the turret. The vehicle remained the same a standard crew of four – commander, gunner and loader in the turret, plus the driver in the hull. It has an increased top road speed of 50 kph with an on-road & off-road range of 300km & 120 km, with a combat weight of 54 tonnes. This model last seen service in the reserves in 2000. 

I plan to add three companies of a mix of the 101R and 102R to my collection. 

Cheers

Matt

Bundesgrenzschutz Part 5

 Bundesgrenzschutz Kampfgruppe

Completed my second part of my kampfgruppe of Bundesgrenzschutz, these are from the Plastic Esci NATO troops and Airfix ground crew make up this second group

I have painted these in a mix of splintertarn and green with ochre shirts, so they will be suitable for Warpac SF raids on installations and airports. I still have two pieces to complete the battalion, a 81mm support mortar, and a checkpoint set. For vehicles I have one police car, one VW van, an ambulance, and helicopter to complete the kampfgruppe. I also want to scratch build a armoured car at some stage. 

The fighting patrol

The dog patrol 

Happy with the mustache on this chap   

Cheers

Matt