Matchbox/Revell Comet (Commander's Tank)

I am working up to a full RTR of Cromwell's and Sherman's (as per Command Decision OoB) but the Comet I will still to a squadron worth, circa 1945 so four tanks are needed and this is the "command tank" with hatches open waiting for its commander (see below): 

Another delightful quick, clean build with throw back memories to my early teenage days. Yes Matchbox had it spot on with the mini diorama included (see below):

The box with Western Allies unmade kits is getting lighter with respect to tanks now ;)

Matchbox/Revell Sherman Firefly

It may be old but it is still a classic and a perfect match for my Airfix Shermans in my 1944/45 British RTR viz Command Decision orbat (see below):

That makes a total of four so I can up gun my formation with an extra Firefly troop as happened with teh Guards Armoured I believe.

It is gratifying that it still slips together like a dream despite its age :)

Footnote: 
PS Matchbox had the tracks dilemma sorted back in the 1970's

"A" Squadron RTR 20mm Command Decision

Stepping back from 1945 to 1944 to the OoB of a British Armoured Division, Tank Regiment, Squadron we get the famous three Shermans (Airfix) and a Firefly (Matchbox/Revel).

Again no decals (yet), but work on a second ("B") squadron is ongoing. I will have to work a little special camouflage on the Firefly as the tankers cunningly painted the underside end of the 17pdr barrel light sky blue as an optical trick to shortened the look of the gun, taken from the recent Revel box art. The idea being to make the Firefly slightly less conspicuous to German eyes.  

Also as work in progress in the RTR Regiment Command "odds and sods" vehicles. This is more of an interesting fix to what I actually have rather than one-to-one match with historical OoB kit, more of this later. I fancy an Arnhem XXX Corp scenario is fermenting in my fertile mind.

Sneak peak at a Comet

Just for NZ Al/Paul if you are still surfing just now ;)

It will get some company in tomorrow's post. I did say they came along in formations rather than attachments like Sherman Fireflies!

The British and American Sherman Response

Just to prove there is more to my AFV collection than late war German heavy panzers.


As they came. Three decoys (the Airfix 1/72 Sherman) and the one that stood a chance (Matchbox Sherman Firefly 1/76) of a return kill on a German heavy. Nice to see the latter is back on the market through Revell. I will have to do the cunning Tommy paint trick (as per the Revell box art) of fore shortening the length of the 17pdr main armament with a bit of light sky blue on the underside of the barrel. Also to do is some work on the tracks to weather them down from that plastic look and naturally, the decals.


These come straight out of the wargames cupboard. I painted them over ten years ago with a ubiquitous base coat of Tamiya Olive Drab (XF-62) then highlighted it up. The rub being, for the three on the left I used Olive Drab (XF-62) with increasing amounts of Sand Yellow (XF-60), while the Sherman on the furthest right was painted at a slightly different time when I used Olive Drab (XF-62) with Yellow (XF-3) having forgot my previous recipe. Only later seeing the subtle difference!

The same Olive Drab (XF-62) with increasing amounts of Sand Yellow (XF-60) scheme was used for my American Shermans (All 1/72 Esci, although two slightly different types, the left and middle one type, the right hand one another) below:


They are begging for White Star decals and the US tank commander can do with a bit of shading and highlight.

The moral of this story: Paint all your tank troops together at the same time, even if it takes longer

:(