Hungarian Toldi Tank (20mm)

This wee beastie from IBG Models caused me no end of heartache. Whereas the other recent builds were "fast-builds" this brute was an intriguing subject but as a light tank was by definition small. Sadly it was old school, as in "many, many parts - including the tracks". I persevered, but where I would contemplate making other Panzer III Ausf As or Panzer II Ausf As,the Toldi Mark 1 will be a lonely child. It is definitely a "modelling project" *see below): 

The assembled product is seen below. I could have made the other three IBG Models kits in the same time as I made this one and probably caught up on an episode or two of a Netflix favourite. The suspension is the most interesting part to me from an engineering sense. The rear wheel is flat to the floor unlike other German and Allied tanks. After the delicate wheel and track assembly was put together I had to take my heart in my mouth and press the whole thing to the floor to make it look like the picture on the box lid. Thankfully it did not break in the process otherwise an grown man's sobs would have filled the internet (see below):

It will be a long, long, long time before I get three of these for a game of "What a Tanker!" First I need a Jack Daniels and Coke! In words from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness: "The Horror! The Horror!"

PS: Looking back it's "a very nice to have" but what a problematic birth. I need to get my hands on some Hundarian WWII Infantry now. Surely HaT should be able to help ;)

Stug III Experimental Model O (20mm)

I now have a batch of three of  these early war Stug III's, two Ausf B and this experimental "O" Series. That is a nice number for "What a Tanker!" (see below):

A little "kookier" than its Stug III Ausf A and Ausf B cousins but it is a very nice fast-build (with incredibly accurate parts) and is a winner in my 'tired old modelling' eyes.

PS: Others have done this a lot better (see link below):
https://minstralmodel.blogspot.com/2018/05/stug-iii-serie-0-172.html

Panzer II Ausf A 1/72 Scale

They do not come more collectable than this, an original Panzer II Ausf A. The training vehicle the Germans went to war with and ended up in combat service until 1942; still being used on rear area policing duties in 1943 (see below): 

A beautiful fast build model, I would happily get another. Next stop the painting tray ;)

Panzer III Aust A 1/72 Scale

The IBG Stug III model had impressed me so much that I ordered the previous two "magazine issues with attached models" from teh internet! In a strict historical sense only good for Poland 1939 as they were removed from combat service before France 1940. The first model/make of Panzer III but with five main large road wheels and only two rollers which makes it look "odd". All-in-all the Panzer III was a little beast and caused the Germans lots of teething problems of a mechanical and design nature. They finally got it sorted for Barbarossa in 1941 but then they met the Russian T-34 (see below):
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Note: A beautiful quick build model of a strange (almost unknown) variant of the Panzer III. I can recommend it unreservedly. All I need do now is paint it in Panzer Grey!

Others do it better (see link below):
https://minstralmodel.blogspot.com/2018/02/panzer-iii-ausfa-norway-1940r.html

Look what I found while wandering about WH Smiths! A 1/72 Stug III (O-Series)

It had been absolutely ages since I had ventured through the doorway of WH Smith, a place I had considered "an oasis of joy" as a kid. I had intended to "pick up a mag" (wargaming) - again something I had not done in ages (years). Sadly the copy of Wargames Illustrated lacked the interest for me to part with a £5. Sad but true. On the way out, feeling frustrated, I noticed a cardboard FSDU (Free Standing Display Unit) with a variety of "magazines" with hobby toys attached to them and decided to have a mooch  - previously I had found 1/144 scale planes and the like in it. I then had a "stop me in my tracks" moment as this stared up at me (see below):

A magazine and a really nice looking 1/72 model kit - far better than the typical "tank collector series" stuff. A Stug III (O-Series), the "original" prototypes, before the Ausf A. The only upsetting thing was that it was issue 3 .. I had missed a PzIIa and PzIIIa early war versions (and I mean really early war versions, things not in my collection). Check out the stuff from IBG Models it all looks esoteric and well researched! Dare I mention the Hungarian Toldi I, II and III; the Hungarian Turan I, II and III; the Swedish M38, M39 and M40 and Japanese Type 89 in various forms to whet your appetite?

It also means I have a third early Stug III. One O-Series to go with my two Fujimi Stug III Ausf A's so guess what I could play "What a Tanker" with them ;)