IBG Models Bedford Truck in 1/72 Scale

Another great little kit from IBG. I finished the QLT which took me ages with all the occupants and extra tweaking I did. This is the QLD so a shorter wheelbase and I guess more for carrying things than people. I always enjoy making these IBG kits. Everything fits, the plastic is easy to work with, lots of detail but not too fiddly. I can go on and on. This guy I added some really cool, but teeny tiny, windscreen wipers (photo etch from Hauler) which I think finish it off nicely. My blog buddy Pete suggested a great transparent super glue which worked a treat so I did not get glue all over my windscreen and ruin everything. I also add the tissue paper tarpaulin which looks way better than the flat plastic supplied. At the bottom of the tarp I made an attempt to recreate the straps holding it on using the same plastic bristles I use for aerials. I think that was all the modifications I made. It’s a super little truck and goes well the other Airfix Bedfords I have in the collection. Recently I bought two new kits from IBG Models – their Daimler Armoured Car and a sawn off Daimler too, which I am very excited to build.

IBG Models Bedford QLT in 1/72 Scale

I have been away for a month for work and then a very nice holiday so making and painting things been on hold for a while. Happy to be back with one of my favourite model kit makers IBG Models of Poland and their most excellent range of trucks. This time it is a British Bedford QLT. Airfix make an excellent version of this truck so I was excited to see how the much newer IBG kit measured up. I have yet to make an IBG model that disappointed and this one was true to form. Nice plastic, good details, perfect fits all round and easy to follow instructions. The only criticism i have with these is sometimes the connection points are a bit thick, but hey I am splitting hairs a bit there. Amendments I made to the it were the addition of some super cool PE windscreen wipers from Hauler. Tricky to get right as they are tiny but look great. I also removed the tarp sides and replaced them with rolled up foil and wire straps. The top of the tarp i covered with tissue paper and PVA glue. The original plastic was really plain and the rolled sides lacked detail. So i was happy the affect i got with my improvements. Decals were super and you get heaps of choice (3 or 4 vehicles).

I filled the back with some SHQ and some spare Caesar and Plastic Soldier Company seated figures. They are mainly in shadow so was quite quick with my paint jobs on them. No need to waste my best AB figures filling up the back. I was happy with the full looking truck, I think in reality these babies carried a full platoon of men (36+)? Here he is parked up and disembarking a section who look pretty relaxed. Its nice to be back at home with my paints out on the dining room table!

Hasegawa Daimler Armoured Car in 1/72 Scale

Did I ever mention how much I like armoured cars? I think I would actually like a real one to drive around in, which would also solve any frustrations with other drivers quite quickly. This is the second Daimler from Hasegawa I have built and it was just as fun the second time. Nice and easy to build, not too many tiny bits and the plastic cuts and glues nicely. They include these weird metal axles in some of these kits which you have to superglue to stop the wheels revolving. It does mean the underneath lacks detail, but I don’t care about that once it’s based on it nice bit of textured MDF.

I did add some stowage, rolled up stuff and a pick axe, I think from Value Gear and an Airfix spare. I had seen another modeller add two aerials to his Daimler so I copied that. I am still deciding if I need to go skinnier with my aerials, but then I need them to be visible and easy to replace so perhaps tougher is better than a more realistic scale. AB figures supplied the very relaxed commander, who looks like he is ready for a nap. I think he should be paying more attention.

Revell Morris C8 tractor and 17 pdr and Jeep in 1/76 Scale

Another super nostalgic kit I weakened and paid quite a few dollars for on eBay. This one from Revell, but I think was originally a Matchbox kit, include the Morris Tractor, a 17 pdr gun and a Jeep. Plus the usual diorama base type thingy that you would always get with these kits. Loved this kit as a 13 year old, but when I made it the first time I twisted things off sprues, got glue everywhere and never painted a thing. What a treat to remake this excellent little kit. Great to put together, super instructions and heaps of decals. I had a blast making this properly the second time around with only a gap of 40 years….. I think this is the best rendition of a Willy’s Jeep I have found in plastic, and I reckon the only one of a Morris Tractor available. The Jeep is a bit small compared to my other 1/72 scale stuff but it looks good anyway. This will be my only Morris Tractor so it fits in nicely with everything larger scale as there is no direct comparison. I added some extra rubble to the street and ruins to make the join between the road and the house less noticeable. Painting was all olive drab with some black mickey mouse camo on the tractor and gun. Dusty powders on everyone. Revell even give you a cool Boulangerie decal for the ruin. Bonus. I am now tempted to grab a few more of these 1/76 Matchbox/Revell kits as they are such fun.

ACE Citroen Traction Avant 11 CV in 1/72 Scale

Happy New Year!! It has been a little slow getting things finished as overseas guests and Christmas holidays got in the way. But this little Citroen from ACE Models found its way onto my dining room table and was first off the queue for 2024! I thought I could use this as an emergency transport on the tabletop or just some extra cover on the streets of Normandy. It is a tiny little kit with tiny little parts. Luckily it was quite easy to put together and i did not lose any bits for the vacuum cleaner to pick up. I struggled with the body not fitting flush onto the chassis which leaves a bit of a gap around the boot area but nothing too serious. I painted the seats a nice red brown before putting the body on top. It was a struggle getting windows and the windshield in without making a big old mess. When the windshield needs to be slightly curved I need some kind of more flexible clear plastic. Then there is the problem of not getting glue on the plastic, but having enough glue to make sure the windows stay in place. Tricky business. I painted this a nice light grey and used some metallic silver to highlight the chromey bits on the car like the hub caps. The decals were nice and worked well, of course being extremely tiny they tested out my eyes and manual dexterity……

Esci Quad Tractor in 1/72 scale

I started work on my British 25 pdr artillery troop last month, but between work and holidays have not managed to get much building and painting done. What I did manage to finish was a couple of Quad Tractors and their towed guns. Both old kits came from eBay, one was the tractor and gun together, while the other was much older and had the kits in separate boxes. I am still struggling to take half decent pictures of anything at the moment, these ones came out too dark so maybe just more lights will help. The tractors are nice easy builds, although the older kit’s plastic was a bit weird and tricky to glue. There was some confusion for me with the winch on the back so I think I did it two different ways. The kit does not come with any glass for the windows so I made my own out of thin clear plastic, and of course then one of the windows fell into the cab later. It’s a balance to using enough glue for the windows to stick but not too much to mess up the windows themselves. One thing I did notice is the size of these tractors – they look massive compared to my other tractors and trucks. You will see soon compared to my Plastic Soldier Company equivalent vehicles which are much smaller. So not sure about the scale, maybe these were more like monster trucks. The Esci 25pdrs that were part of these kits I am saving for the firing version with crew as they are really detailed models and would be wasted as towing units. The two I built for the towing position are a metal model from an unknown source and an Airfix kit. The Airfix tractor was a horrible old thing that didn’t fit together is definitely too small, especially compared to these Esci brutes!

Next up I have the Plastic Soldier Company tractors and more towed 25pdrs plus a further four 25pdrs in firing positions with crew. Probably take me another month before I have anything finished.

IBG Models Diamond T 968 Cargo Truck

I love IBG kits. They are always the most enjoyable kits to build. I also love trucks. So this was fun times in a box from my Eastern European friends. It’s a big six wheeler cargo truck with lots of room in the back for supplies and stuff or a bunch of troops if you like. This model is a breeze to put together with plenty of well fitting parts, in nice easy to cut and glue plastic. The only things missing are some windscreen wipers, which i neglected to bother adding, and I had to redo the head light protectors. They were moulded in solid plastic so i remade them using fly screen mesh and some wire. The actual windscreens and windows are provided in clear plastic, and I always struggle to keep glue off them when adding to the cab. The rear struts over the rear cargo deck were also a little fiddly to get in the right spot. Patience required!

Nice decals as always finish him off. I added a couple of AB figures GIs having a cup of coffee and a chat amongst some boxes and barrels and small arms. Oh and a bazooka just in case they run into something more sizeable! Love IBG kits, have an armoured Chevrolet truck in the queue….. excited……..

AB Figures British Officers

I had a trio of AB Figures British Army officers all based and primed and ready to hit the painting area. Finally while soaking up the excitement of Ashes cricket they were finished! Colonel Bairstow on the left, Captain Stokes in the middle and a casual General Crawley on the right. As always love painting AB figures, the detail is so good they make it easy. The poses are relaxed and natural, I especially like the folded newspaper or betting guide in the Colonel’s pocket. I used custom decals from Company B for their shoulder insignia as that is getting too small for my painting skills and eyes. My eyes are old and grey…… Usual British colours with three shades. Nice gold buttons too on the Colonel’s jacket. Behind is a Dodge weapons carrier from Italeri, a kit that is quite rare these days. Shame they don’t re-release it as I would buy a couple more.

ICM Krupp Car now with a squad in the back!

My finished Krupp truck from the last post now with a squad of Germans in the back. These guys are from a Caesar Miniatures set of German SS Tank Riders in camo smocks. Very useful set as you can see they also fit perfectly into transport. I tried out a new paint set for Autumn camo which worked out nicely. The orangey camo was a bit trickier than the green Spring one and having the right colours really helps. The driver and passenger are from AB figures.

ICM Krupp L2h143 KFZ 70 German Light Army Truck

I had already built a very nice version of this vehicle from Dragon Models, and was so keen to try another one, this time from ICM. Cheaper than its Dragon peers, but as usual you get what you pay for. I did not enjoy building this kit. The worst bit are the rear axles and suspension which are overly complex and delicate. I had to add some extra plastic to shore everything up, and also managed to lose and break plenty of the bits. It is all underneath and invisible anyway so a whole lot of stress and time wasted over nothing. I don’t remember what else was particularly annoying, I think the instructions and lack of numbering on the parts also just bugs me. Also, pretty grumpy this week fighting some nasty flu so annoying kits not getting much love. …… On the good side, once you have finished the frustrating build, it does turn into a nice little truck. I added some thin plastic for the windshield, and if I had more patience would have put some wipers on there too. I did a dusty windscreen and removed the areas where the wipers would have wiped. Did a plain dark yellow paint job and some chipping with a spongey sponge. The drivers are from AB Figures of course and always look the part. I have six SS dudes in Autumn camo ready to load up into the back, will take a photo of the full truck when I can. So I think these days I am just getting a bit fussy over kits that are annoying to build. There is a big difference between a challenging kit and an annoying kit………..