However, as I said, I didn't get any further on the troops tonight, but went for a quick build, in the shape of Italeri's two in a box M13/40s:
These do, indeed, go together quickly and neatly. I glued them, but I think that they probably would work in snap together mode. I've previously built these:
As you can see, there are some details lacking on the engine deck - tools and spare road wheels - but, overall, these are good quick builds. The tracks and running gear are decently done as Italeri didn't go for a 'solid' solution.
One of the very welcome aspects of this box of two is the very useful decal set:
The numbering style (font?) isn't quite right, but with ten options, I'm not complaining. Also the Ariete ram marking is included - a nice touch.
The two new M13s will join their fellows in a Rapid Fire something or other (I've forgotten):
A combination of Italeri kits from the early 1980s, the fast build version, and Britannia Miniatures' resins.
The photograph below shows the old Italeri kit, which, presumably, is the basis for the simplified quick build.
These highlight the real issue with the quick build version - the turret is made in such a way as to make it very difficult indeed to open up the hatches. So, no crew on display.
Moving forward well there.I look forward to the 20mm Cubans too...
ReplyDeleteThey'll be soon finished ... said the wargamer...
DeleteThese are cool, nice looking model.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Dan. Yes, they are one of the better fastbuilds out there.
DeleteInteresting comparing the running gear on these Italeri fast builds with those of the Italeri ISU-152s that Paul recently displayed on his blog.
ReplyDeleteI second your comment about "snap together mode" - I have been caught out dry fitting parts on Italeri fast builds and then having some difficulty prising them apart to get the glue on.
Cheers, Dave
Yes, Paul's post today also showed the clunkiness of Italeri's IS2 running gear. Odd that Italeri managed a good job on the M13/40 running gear and tracks, but such a poor job on other tanks. As for the limpet like hold of the clip together thingies, I thought they looked tough, so my dry fitting was just lining up the bits. Good for kids though.
DeleteBusy table mate. Lots of Italian deathtraps mate. Looking good
ReplyDeleteWhen you think about it, they must have been pretty brave blokes to go into action in the Western Desert in such poorly armoured things.
DeleteThey look like a very nice kit. Your painting is great, especially the ones in camo.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ben. The key is fuzzy photography!
DeleteThanks for plugging my blog and following!
ReplyDeleteThere isn't much in the way of 'exciting' in pre-Missile Crisis Cuba, but after the Soviets left, they started getting more up to date equipment, starting with the first line Soviet stuff from the 5 Motor-Rifle Regiments posted there in '62.
The Cubans had some IS-2 tanks during the Bay of Pigs, but they weren't used in combat and were held in reserve at the 'Australia' Sugar Factory.
Nice work on the Italian tanks! I'm pleased to see the Italians getting more exposure in recent years, than previously.
Cheers, Jim. Your blog is very informative indeed. I was surprised how little there is in cyber space about the Bay of Pigs - so I've ordered some good, old fashioned books! Were the IS-2s kept in reserve at Australia because the roads to the beach heads were flanked in part by swamp?
DeleteThanks!
DeleteI can't answer about the IS2 with confidence though... I'd be tempted to say partly yes about the terrain and partly because they were slow, plus using them would have announced their existence to the Americans too. It may also have been that they were late arrivals to the battle, as they were deployed from their base near Havana (I'm guessing by train).
There is very little about the Bay of Pigs about and what there is, is quite biased one way or another... even the Osprey book! Even in the few books about, the history appears to be more about the big names and personalities, and less so about the details of the actual operation as it panned out. Nevertheless it's all very interesting!
While I think on, RH Models do an M41 tank in 20mm... but they come into and out of stock on an irregular basis. Worth dropping them a mail though. http://www.rhmodels.com/
Hi Jim,
DeleteInteresting thoughts about the IS-2s. I would have thought the US would have known about them - even given Castro's repeated rounding up of anti-Castro agents and CIA informers. But perhaps not.
Yes, I'm surprised about how little there is about the landings and fighting, and how few images there are on the internet. I think we'll have to forgive the Osprey chap, as he is obviously from the Florida Cuban community, and he was able to benefit from his personal links with the Brigade veterans. As you say - it is all very interesting.
I had a look at RH Models, but no luck. I'll just hunt down another Minitanks M41. That will give me two, which is more than enough for wargaming BoP. I had previously looked at Liberation Miniatures for Cubans, but although they have Castro caps, they are for the 1980s, so are no good. Anyway, this is a plastics project.
The Americans did know about them, they deployed M103 tanks to Guantanamo Bay to counter them, should they be needed to defend the base. The Cubans also paraded them at some point too, so the secret was definitely out by 1962, probably before then.
DeletePart of intelligence work is not letting your enemy know what you know about them though too, so the Cubans might have been trying to keep them a secret, when they were no longer actually a secret.
I actually like the Osprey book, despite its flaws, I might have sold it as a book on Brigade 2506, rather as the 'Bay of Pigs', but the latter is more likely to sell copies. To paraphrase Hobsbawm, all history is biased though, just not usually as blatantly.
They look "good value" buys :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed - a better buy than the Armourfast Crusaders I recently posted about, but probably not up to the PSC Hanomag standard. But, good.
ReplyDelete