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Saturday, 3 January 2015

First Models of the New Year - 20mm WWII Airfix Matilda

The Western Desert calls in 2015, so I want to expand the Matilda Squadron of three into a full (Command Decision III) Battalion/Regiment 1940/41, so the festive period saw me put together theses little old favourites from Airfix (see below):


A good start to the New Year's resolutions. This brings my Matilda II (Western Desert) count to eight. I reckon I need another three, one of which I will have to convert to a Matilda II CS (with a three inch howitzer - nicked from the spares pile from the Hasagawa Churchill I/II kits I have previously made).

Note I: Other Matilda II (Airfix) 'modelling' variants or should I say possibilities include the cool "Lease Lend" Russian Matilda (in a winter camouflage scheme), an Australian standard 2 pounder variant and finally the Australian Frog flamethrower tank (seeing as I already have a Matilda Hedgehog).

Note II: I intend to use my Esci Matilda II tank as a BEF version (to go with my two metal Skytrex Matilda I's I have), making a small plastic card "Vickers" mantle.

Note III: The Matilda Scorpion seems too advanced a project for me at the moment (too much fuss making the chain arms) , the Matilda CDL (Canal Defense Light) being too "wacky" for the wargames table (also contravening the Geneva Convention on indiscriminate optical weapons).
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5 comments:

  1. Al3 January 2015 at 07:08

    Excellent choice!

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  2. Service Ration Distribution (Hobby)3 January 2015 at 10:57

    HNY. Looking forward to pics of all your Matilda II's in near future. It's a particular favourite of mine and I'm keen to see how the makes compare.

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  3. Fire at Will3 January 2015 at 12:22

    The scorpion is not that made to assemble provided you take your time L shaped plastruct makes it easier

    http://willwarweb.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/matilda-scorpion-finished.html

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  4. Paul Foster3 January 2015 at 21:32

    Cannot you buy this as a aftermarket piece?

    I love the Matilda in Soviet service. At least the troops an keep up!

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  5. Geordie an Exiled FoG3 January 2015 at 22:35

    Thanks lads much appreciated comments

    PS Paul: What's "an aftermarket piece"? As in already made up or in die-cast? I always remember a specific Wargames Illustrated Blitz Freeze game where the Soviets attacked with Winter Camo Matilda II's and Aerosans. Since that time I knew I had to eventually acquire some ;)

    Thanks Will: I should take a second look at the Scorpion after I put together the regular versions

    I just like the thought of a slow lumbering formation carving its way across the desert

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