WWII Allied Tanks. Click on pictures to view.

First look at my BT-7 kit from Eastern Express. The model is just about done and I have a crew figure and AA gun to add. I snapped these pics really quickly with a flash and the focus is a bit off. Technical reason for that is that I have to set the camera to f4 for the flash. Normally I use the highest f-stop I can for models (higher f-stop = smaller aperture). This increases the depth of field which means I can have all of the model in focus even though the camera is only a couple of inches away!

The finished model. This would be classed as an "early" model BT-7 with the straight-sided turret, though this is fitted with an anti-aircraft gun which was usually a later addition. I decided against markings as most photos did not show any. I must comment on the figure. It is the hardest thing to get a rigid plastic figure to interact with a gun (or other part) in a realistic manner. If you have tried it then you know what I mean. Lots of dry-fitting and adjusting required. However, the result is a little more "action" than just a sitting tank commander figure. I used to build "just tanks" for quite a while, but then I found out that a figure or 2 really brings a model to life. Actually this pose was suggested by the box art. Approximate year of construction: 2004

On the workbench! Russian T40 amphibious tank with a first coat of paint. Tracks not yet painted. I think I'm going to do a winter camoflage on this one and add crew from Zeveda.

What a difference a paint job makes! This was mainly based on a photo of a group of winter-finish T40 vehicles rather than one specific vehicle. This kind of finish really captures the "used and dirty' feel of a real vehicle and helps brings some life to suggest a "real" tank and not just a model. Note the red and white colored signaling flags held by the commander. I like the officiousness of the officer with his plans and demanding manner. Apologies if that sounds like a Russian stereotype! (Shades of Kafka!) The poor tank guy looks like he has had an earful! Approximate year of construction: 2004.

At last I have finished my Centaur CS from Tamiya with their British Infantry on patrol set. I must say that in the end I think it all came out very well! The vehicle is lovely to start with, except for the tracks, and I really like the "glomping" figures. As always when building models, not everyhting goes right. In this case the tracks disintegrated when I used paint thinner on them! I had not realized that Tamiya had changed the track material. I complained and Tamiya were nice enough to send me a new set. The trouble is, you have to use acrylic paints on these tracks, and I cannot get a flat enough finish - it just looks too "plastic". So I eventually decided to splurge on a set of Modelkasten tracks. When I finally finished working in Las Vegas and got back to my "old" Centaur which had now spent many months if not years in a drawer, I found that one of the tracks had broken! Just fell apart sitting in the drawer! So, while I have a real soft-spot for Tamiya, and certainly appreciate the British subjects they have produced over the years, I really feel they should be including individual or link 'n' length tracks with their kits. End of lecture! Approximate year of construction: 2006.

The CHAR B1 tank used by France at the start of WWII. Many were captured by the Germans who used them mainly for training. The CHAR B1 was actually much more heavily armored than the German tanks and had heavier armament, It was slow and somewhat awkward to use, however, with a small turret and large gun mounted low. Unfortunately it was also tied to an infantry doctrine and employed piecemeal. Approximate year of construction: 1997.

Churchill Mk I (1/76 Fujimi) Nice early version of this tank, with echoes of WWI armor what with the exposed tracks and hull mounted cannon! Approximate year of construction: 1997.

Churchill Mk VII (1/76 Airfix) I can still remember when Airfix re-tooled this kit and added extra detail. Since the original was probably the first tank I ever built. I carefully constructed this version, relegating the glue-spotted original to my wargame fleet! This is a straight kit build. If I built this today I would add some extra detailing. Approximate year of construction: 1968.

Comet (Matchbox 1/76) Quite a nifty little tank but of course too little and too late to really affect the outcome of the war. Check out the real Comet from Bovington in the real tanks section. Approximate year of construction: 1998.

British Crusader III in the western desert. This is an old Airfix 1/32 kit, but still looks OK. The Crusader was rushed into service and this was all too evident in its operational service. It was fast, but mechanically unreliable. Approximate year of construction: 1971.

JS III. Airfix 1/76 with re-built turret. Another early model but it does capture the heaviness of the vehicle. I have given up waiting for Airfix to reissue this kit - and maybe they won't since it's pretty dated! I purchased 2 models off eBay dating from 1963-5. These were packaged for the US market. I have scanned the box top for ya! They are very early, so I suspect the tracks are the type to cause "track rot", which is a shame since that is why I bought them, to repair my damaged original! I am being careful though. One tip I picked up from the web is to coat the road wheels in liquid super-glue (CA) before painting to provide a non-reactive barrier. I will also wash the tracks in mineral spirits and then detergent, and make sure they are thoroughly painted before I add them to the model. For this restoration, I am only keeping the turret. The tank body will be an all new build. (Or is that an all-old build? I mean, a sixties model!) Approximate year of construction: 1968.

The finished model. Turret is the original enhanced version I built around 1970. The AA gun has been enhanced from the skinny kit gun. The rest is a new build. The Airfix Stalin is rather plain so I added detailing to jazz it up and now I have a model to be proud of! Restoration/rebuild 2004.

KV 1, scratch built using wheels and tracks from an Airfix JS III. Constructed almost entirely from plastic sheet. What we had to go through! Track melt is evident here too so this vehicle needs restoration! Last picture has restored running gear. Rather tricky to do and not perfect, but it rescues this unique model. Approximate year of construction: 1971.

Canadian Lee with mud chutes. From Airfix kit 1/76. This simple conversion was detailed in an issue of Airfix magazine, probably by Chris Ellis though that is just from memory! Also added were fuel tanks. These came from the Airfix T34 I think. Again, a simple embellishment of a standard model that make it mine. Approximate year of construction: 1970.

Airfix M3 Grant in the western desert. This is an early model which is built straight from the kit and lacks the side skirts which were installed for the desert. Compare this with the 1/35 Tamiya Grant shown below. Approximate year of construction: 1970.

Another M3 Grant. This one is the Tamiya 1/35 with sand bags and camoflage paint. Other details include the side rails hung with bags, helmets etc. Note also the canvas around the side-mounted gun. This is very common on desert tanks - to keep out sand, obviously! Approximate year of construction: 1997.

Nice new pics! Two views of an M3 Stuart, modified from the 1/72 Hasegewa kit to represent an M3 used by the British. Approximate year of construction: 1997.

Fist picture is an Airfix Sherman conversion to a VC Firefly armed with the British 17 pounder. This is a restored version - yes! because of the dreaded track-rot in the original. I was able to replace the rubber-block track with chevron track. I also replaced all the light guards with wire and plastic strip. Last picture is the Revell (Matchbox) Firefly. Middle pics show a comparison between the two. Airfix conversion originally built in 1969. Restoration and Matchbox built in 2007.

M4 covered in Italian dust! With the help of some Armourfast models I am finally getting the range of Shermans I always wanted. Approximate year of construction: 2004.

Fujimi M4A1 kit with interesting camouflage. This vehicle is a M4A1 of HQ company, 2nd Bn, 13th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Tunisia, February 1943. Commanded by the battalian executive officer Maj. James Simmerman, which is how it got to be called "Major Jim". The camouflage pattern on the real vehicle was created by mixing local mud and clay and applying with a broom! So this is what I tried to replicate on the model, of course. Reference: The M4 Sherman at War, Steven J. Zaloga, Concord Publications 1994, p33. Approximate year of construction: 2006.

Time for more Sherman variations! Especially ones used by the British. This is the Fujimi kit with early suspension from a Matchbox M7 Priest, sideskirts cut down from a Hasegawa Sherman, AB figures commander and lotsa extra 'junk'! I think I wanted one of these from when I was about 12, so it only took 40 years!!! Reference was the cover painting of an old Almark book on the Sherman, plus a photo found on the web that seemed to be the inspiration for the painting. Approximate year of construction: 2007.

Revell 1/72 M4A1(76)W. This kit is only worthwhile if you are prepared to spend some time detailing and fixing. It took quite a bit of work, including reshaping the turrret sides and mantlet, re-building the pistol port and adding all exterior details - lights, guards, lifting hooks, tools. (Yup, no tools provided!) Best part is suspension, but even there Revell only includes track guides on the 'length' part of the link and length tracks, leaving you to add that detail. Darned tricky trying to match the original shape and just anther example of how annoying this kit was! I added a Cullin's hedgerow device on the front, AB crew figures and Revell soft-plastic US army figures to closely match a picture in the Squadron-Signal 'Sherman at War' book. Approximate year of construction: 2007.

The Airfix Sherman rides again, this time as an early M4A2. This has M3 suspension and an enlarged turret. Approximate year of construction: 2007.

Airfix M4 converted to M4A2 assigned to French unit, the 2^e Division Blindee, 12^e Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique. Reference: The M4 Sherman at War, Steven J. Zaloga, Concord Publications 1994, pp20,21. Markings were hand-painted on this model. I recently got some rub-down lettering made by Woodland Scenic (from Internet Trains) so I can replace the "TARENTAISE" lettering which wasn't quite neat enough. Update! I moved house over a year ago and still have not found my box with all my decals! September 2006 update - found them in a box of Star Wars figures along with 2 'missing' Revell models. Approximate year of construction: 2002.

Scots Guards M4A2. This is a modified Amourfast M4. The last picture is the inspiration - a drawing by Kenneth M. Jones from 1970 Almarks publication on the Sherman. Approximate year of construction: 2007.

M4A2 Sherman. This is the Dragon 1/35 British Sherman III paired with the Italeri British tanks troops.

Building the M4A2 Sherman. Various internal scratch build shots. I had decided to show the tank with the figures outside, and I figured the hatches would be left open for cooling in the sun.

Well, when you do that in 1/35 there is an awful lot of blank internal space visible! So, I had to build some internal details, at least sufficient to have something to show when you peer inside! I only built where it would be visible through the hatches. I replaced the oversize brass side rails with plastic card. Dragon give tools with molded-on brackets, which given the level of detail in the rest of the kit looked really funky. So I made brackets from scrap brass.

This is a conversion based on a late-model M4A3 Sherman from Armourfast in winter camo with a T1E1 (Aunt Jemima) mine-roller from the Forces of Valor set. Add some AB Figures, match it to a picture in the Squadron-Signal Sherman in Action book, factor in a subdued sky curtesy of fires in Plumas County, give it some baking-soda "snow" and a nice frame and voila! Another masterpiece from yours truly! Approximate year of construction: 2007.

Sherman with mine rollers. Forces of Valor die cast model with original "Battling Bitch" slogan on the sides. I did some turret clean up and detailing and repainted this model in olive drab as the original was very dark green. I think it fits in very well with the other Shermans with the exception of a rather horrible molded-right-into-the metal tow rope.

Three views of the M4A3E2 "Jumbo" Assault tank. This model was converted from the Airfix Sherman (1/76). I made this years ago by cutting the shape of the top of the turret from a 1/76 plan, gluing it to the top of the Airfix turret and building up the sides with body putty! Front and back were also built up and the tracks replaced to simulate the wider tracks installed on this vehicle to cope with the extra weight. Approximate year of construction: 1970.

An Airfix Sherman conversion. M4A3 (105 mm) with HVSS. The M4A3's HVSS suspension was from a Roco Minitanks M40. Approximate year of construction: 1969.

Hasegawa M4A3E8 Sherman with extra sandbag armor. Adding extra armor to Shermans was a common practice. A steel cage was welded on and sandbags added. This vehicle belonged to the 14th Armored Division. 1945. Reference: The M4 Sherman at War, Steven J. Zaloga, Concord Publications 1994, p61. Sandbags made from putty came out a bit squashed-looking. I think a little paint to emphasis the shadows might improve the look. Approximate year of construction: 1999.

Another model of the M4A8E8, this time an Aurora 1/48 scale in a mini-diorama setting with scratch-built wrecked building. This is an early attempt at a simple diorama. The building was wood covered with plaster and the brick work etched in. Timber frame was added using wood strips. The figures look a little stiff but the model is a very accurate kit, though unfortunately missing a turret hatch. (Meaning it got lost over the years, not that the kit missed it!) Some details were added, such as roughening the surfaces, "canvas" cover around the gun mantle and rolled tarps in rear. The gun can still elevate which is why there is a slight gap around the mantle. If I were building this kit today I would cement the gun in place so there would be no gap! Approximate year of construction: 1970.

Airfix Matilda II tank in the western desert. I think the only added detail was the mirror. The painting still stands up even though this mdoel was completed over 30 years ago. Approximate year of construction: 1975.

Brand new T34_76 1941 model, from the Airfix kit. I was renovating my old conversions based on the Airfix kit (SU-85 and T34_76 1943 model) so I decided to order 2 more to make up the early 76 and 85 models. The last picture shows the model under construction and the changes that are neccesary from the 1942 model depicted by Airfix. The rear round hatch is changed to rectangular; the rear is rounded off; the machine gun mount has no mantle; twin vision slits on the front hatch changed to a single; front towing eyes changed; different side stowage and boxes added; new headlights added; front mudguards rounded off; main gun replaced. The guns in the Airfix kit were undersized to start with, and now we are dealing with old moulds the guns are very skinny. Replace! Approximate year of construction: 2003.

T34/76 1943 model with the hexagonal turret. This is a late version with raised cupola on the turret. A conversion from the Airfix kit, in whitewash snow camouflage. This is an old model that has just undergone renovation including replacing the wheels and tracks which were badly damaged by track melt. See the last picture!. Track melt occurs on these old Airfix tanks because of an incompatibility between the model and track plastics. I also replaced the main gun as part of the renovation as the kit part was under-sized. This became apparent as I was building the T34_76 1941 model. Approximate year of construction: 1968.

Tamiya 1/35 early T34/76 1943 model, early version with the twin round "Mickey Mouse" hatches and box-like fuel containers on the rear. Supporting Russian infantry by Zvezda round out this diorama. Approximate year of construction: 1999.

T34 85 To combat the panzerfaust weapons, no external fuel tanks are carried and the turret and hull have welded on bed frames. This is based on a vehicle pictured in Berlin. (T34 In Action, Profile Publications) Model Airfix, Figures AB. Bed frames and patch of Berlin street by me! Approximate year of construction: 2003.

ESCI Valentine. Straight kit build with an AB figures commander. Still a nice 1/72 model though. Approximate year of construction: 1996.

On the workbench! A Valentine MkIII from Maquette, with crew (all headless right now!) being modified from the Tamiya British tank crew. I am trying to match a reference photo with regard to the crew poses. This will be in desert finish when done. The kit is fairly accurate, though I am having to re-build the gun mantle which is not right at all. Since the turret hatch is going to be open - and the Valentine has a huge hatch - I decided to mock up an interior. References included the late, great, AFV Interiors, without which this detailing would not have been possible. It is hard to photgraph the inside of a finished model so I tried to get some shots during construction. Here you see the bottom of the turret basket with ammo, seats, boxes etc. As you can see this is not super-neat modeling here but enough to give the right impression when looking into the top of the turret hatch! Next you can see the completed interior with the turret basket, number 19 radio set in the turret rear and the canvas bag over the gun breech to catch empty shells. (It is in the raised position here)

Here is my finished model in all its glory! The last picture shown was published in the book "The Great Book of Tanks" (Salamander), by David Miller. I have requested permission from the publisher to show this picture, but have not heard from them. This was my inspiration photo and I tried to get as close to this as possible with the finished model. Approximate year of construction: 2003.

This Valentine model was missing a sprue, and I didn't feel like making all the modifications to make a Mk X or XI. So I decided to go with the earlier fittings and make a Mk VIII by eliminating the co-axial machine gun. I did add a fuel tank. I just really wanted a green Valentine after doing the desert version! Not sure on markings, so right now it is without. I figured better to be a "just out of the factory" model than to put totally erroneous markings on it. Whatever, eh? In the end, in the immortal words from Monty Python's Holy Grail, "it's only a model!" Approximate year of construction: 2006.