These are the latest kit-built AFVs I’ve completed.
The first is a German Wespe self-propelled gun. This carried a 105mm howitzer
on a modified Panzer II chassis. The kit is the 1/72 Matchbox example (not sure if
there are any other small-scale Wespe kits in existence). Matchbox made a wide range
of AFV models including some quite unusual subjects, unfortunately since they merged
with Revell most of them (other than a few of the modern vehicles) are out of production.
It’s quite finely detailed for a small-scale kit, particularly the interior.
And the second is a M1A1 Abrams - not the rarest of modelling subjects, but I’ve never built one
before! It is the Zhengdefu 1/48 kit (actually 1/52 scale since it is scaled to fit the chassis).
These kits are crude compared to other manufacturers (the recent Academy re-releases are “cleaned up”
quite a bit, but still have generic suspension/tracks) but I quite like them as they are so cheap and
the scale is a good balance between detail and space (it’s a shame 1/48 never became more popular for AFV
modelling).
The generic wheels/suspension are more noticeable on the Abrams than the other kits in the series, as it has
only 6 wheels rather than the 7 it should have.
The model is painted as a vehicle based in the US during the early 80s. The colour scheme is quite unusual,
different to the usual NATO schemes.
Very nice builds. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to work with such a small scale, but much respect to those of you that do.
[#ditto] on the Abrams paint scheme. I guess WWII German will never go out of style [:D]
Just don’t know how you guys build such nice tinnie little armor kits! I really like the wespe, it looks like it’s been somewhere. the paint scheme on the M1, is a little out of the norm but, otherwise very nice workmanship. keep posting these little works of art you must be a very patient modeller. semper fi, mike
Well Done! I like the scuffs on the Wespe, and the camo on the M1 is excellent! I can see the shortened hull on the M1 which kinda explains the six wheels. Still, great work!
I love those old matchbox kits. They were nice, and pretty well detailed. I especially love the little Stuart that was aviable. I think if Revel of germany did a little retooling on just the tracks, making them the kind that bond with glue, then they would have a winner. Great build btw. I love working with those little kits.
Bill
I don’t know anything about the origins of the Abrams colour scheme - I got it from
the instruction sheet of the 1/72 Matchbox kit. It is a vehicle of the 2nd Armoured Division, based in Texas
in 1983.
Many of the 1/72 Matchbox kits I’ve never even seen for sale (and I often visit model shows, kit sales, toy
collector’s fairs, etc.) - such as the Churchill AVRE, Priest, Cromwell, and French tank set (Char B1 and FT-17).
It seems like they deliberately chose subjects which Airfix (the other main small-scale AFV manufacturer of the
time) didn’t have in their range - e.g Airfix made a Sherman, Panzer IV, Panther A, Churchill and SdKfz.234; Matchbox made the Sherman Firefly, Panzer III, Panther G, Cromwell and SdKfz.232 - so from the two ranges, modellers could build a fairly
comprehensive selection of WW2 AFVs.
Manufacturers nowadays ought to follow the same example
