So a little later than planned finishing these guys off, but finished they are. These 5 vehicles represent the last of what I had prepared prior to moving to Middlesbrough. With the end of the painting challenge approaching, I'm glad to have got these cleared, but it does mean I am on to assembling and painting new stuff - and I may have to change my painting process to work within someone elses home and the wet cold winter days.
So, here we have 2 Crusader MkIII Anti Aircraft tanks. These tanks are armed with two 20mm Oerlikon guns. Normally called cannons, during WW2 they were normally called machine guns. Nowadays we would consider these to be autocannon. They were heavy calibre rapid firing guns, mainly used for anti aircraft roles.
Each Armoured regiment during the Normandy operations had 8 of these tanks, normally operating with 2 issued per squadron but commanded normally as part of the HQ squadron. Prior to D-day there was a real concern about German aircraft posing a threat to ground units. In hindsight we know this wasn't really an issue, but in planning the landings such things were taken into consideration. Due to the lack of German aircraft, these tanks were rapidly withdrawn, their crews used as replacements for losses in the regiments. There is mention of them being used in anti infantry, escort and scouting roles alongside the regiments Stuart III's.
As with all my 144 RAC tanks these guys have turret numbers rather than the geometric squadron signs. Both have crew in the turrets, mainly because the hole in the turret is so large it looks odd without someone there. The command vehicle of the two has an aerial added. I may revisit this and add one to each and an extra for the command vehicle. Turrets are magnetised, decals are all as correct as I can make them!
Next up, my last 3 Universal Carriers:
Again, the command vehicle has the radio aerial - again, I might revisit this and use my standard format of one for each vehicle and two for the command vehicles. These guys are all marked up for the 7th Bat. Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, the same as the other 9. This effectively gives me the full list option, with spares if I swap in the WASP's (replacing up to two squads of 3 UC's). I had thought about decalling 2 squads up as 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry, but I am strongly edging towards trying to get the new packs of the Universal Carriers for those. If they ever become available to purchase in the UK... These models are the last of my Forged in Battle minis.
So, 10 days to go until the end of the challenge. I'm not sure whether to try and do something else in that time - perhaps some Full Thrust minis. Or I might start detailing some more vehicles... choices choices! I have spent some Jokers in the last few weeks, as I have been finishing units. So far I've managed to find 2 packs of 5.5" Medium Guns (like hens teeth in the UK), the missing Churchill Croc, another pack of Wasps and lastly (but not for a while, because they are fucking useless) 3 Humber III and 1 pack of Humber LRC from Wayland games - already 2 or 3 weeks spent waiting (but I got them during their 20% sale and am in no real hurry - thankfully. Maybe I will get them before xmas...).
Thats all for now folks!
