Hi Everyone
This next project is of a subject very close to me. My grandfather drove a Sexton Self Propelled Gun in WW2 and it's my intention to try to build a model of this vehicle in his memory.
You may have read that I have the S-Models resin kit of the Sexton, and that the quality is not good. To remedy the kit's inadequacies I've decided to build the entire upper and lower hulls from scratch and replace the gun, wheels, sprockets and bogies from other kits. This will be a complete Frankenstein's monster of a kit with a great deal of it made from scratch.
Here are the main parts to the hull from S-models. The parts are full of air holes, which wouldn't be too much of a problem if they weren't in such critical parts (some completely obliterate detail such as whole rows of bolt heads). The parts are also warped and of varying thickness, which is a problem in such an open fighting compartment.
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I've therefore decided it would be simpler to construct the upper and lower hull from plastic card. I have copies of the plans for the Sexton as well as a lot of reference (I photographed the example in the Royal Artillery museum in Woolwich from every angle I could get to!) so I think this will be possible.
These are some pics of some of the parts /kits and spares that will make up the Sexton. The gun from S-models was a complete right-off so the replacement comes care of the Tamiya 25pdr.
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This Sexton model will eventually form part of a larger diorama entitled 'Liberation' and will depict XXX corps arrival in Eindhoven. I haven't got all the details down yet but it will involve vehicles being mobbed by crowds of civilians, dutch and orange flags hanging from building windows, girls kissing soldiers kids riding alongside tanks on bikes etc.
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The idea for this diorama really comes from my late grandfather who never really spoke about the war but was happy to relate this joyous occasion that happened in September 1944.
Here's a few pics I was able to track down of the regiment driving in to Nijmegen later in the campaign. The streets aren't busy here I am trying to show the vehicles!
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Of interest are the Armoured Observation Post (sherman tank) and the Sd Kfz 251D halftrack the regiment seems to have liberated from the Germans sporting a new 50 cal machine gun!
Finally, here's a pic of my grandad in uniform (pre-war). The cap badge is that of the Leicestershire Yeomanry of which the 153rd Field Reg RA was part.
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This build will be something of a very slow burner, this will not be a quick build! The diorama could take several years as it involves a lot of figures and (probably) a lot more figure mods (again). I see this project as running along in the background to other projects but I think, when complete, could look quite spectacular and quite up lifting.
Anyway, thanks for reading my ramblings, I hope I haven't bored anyone too much!
Cheers
Paul
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This next project is of a subject very close to me. My grandfather drove a Sexton Self Propelled Gun in WW2 and it's my intention to try to build a model of this vehicle in his memory.
You may have read that I have the S-Models resin kit of the Sexton, and that the quality is not good. To remedy the kit's inadequacies I've decided to build the entire upper and lower hulls from scratch and replace the gun, wheels, sprockets and bogies from other kits. This will be a complete Frankenstein's monster of a kit with a great deal of it made from scratch.
Here are the main parts to the hull from S-models. The parts are full of air holes, which wouldn't be too much of a problem if they weren't in such critical parts (some completely obliterate detail such as whole rows of bolt heads). The parts are also warped and of varying thickness, which is a problem in such an open fighting compartment.
View attachment 22196View attachment 22197View attachment 22198View attachment 22199View attachment 22200View attachment 22201
I've therefore decided it would be simpler to construct the upper and lower hull from plastic card. I have copies of the plans for the Sexton as well as a lot of reference (I photographed the example in the Royal Artillery museum in Woolwich from every angle I could get to!) so I think this will be possible.
These are some pics of some of the parts /kits and spares that will make up the Sexton. The gun from S-models was a complete right-off so the replacement comes care of the Tamiya 25pdr.
View attachment 22214
This Sexton model will eventually form part of a larger diorama entitled 'Liberation' and will depict XXX corps arrival in Eindhoven. I haven't got all the details down yet but it will involve vehicles being mobbed by crowds of civilians, dutch and orange flags hanging from building windows, girls kissing soldiers kids riding alongside tanks on bikes etc.
View attachment 22215View attachment 22216
The idea for this diorama really comes from my late grandfather who never really spoke about the war but was happy to relate this joyous occasion that happened in September 1944.
Here's a few pics I was able to track down of the regiment driving in to Nijmegen later in the campaign. The streets aren't busy here I am trying to show the vehicles!
View attachment 22208View attachment 22210View attachment 22211View attachment 22212
Of interest are the Armoured Observation Post (sherman tank) and the Sd Kfz 251D halftrack the regiment seems to have liberated from the Germans sporting a new 50 cal machine gun!
Finally, here's a pic of my grandad in uniform (pre-war). The cap badge is that of the Leicestershire Yeomanry of which the 153rd Field Reg RA was part.
View attachment 22213
This build will be something of a very slow burner, this will not be a quick build! The diorama could take several years as it involves a lot of figures and (probably) a lot more figure mods (again). I see this project as running along in the background to other projects but I think, when complete, could look quite spectacular and quite up lifting.
Anyway, thanks for reading my ramblings, I hope I haven't bored anyone too much!
Cheers
Paul
View attachment 29053
View attachment 29054
View attachment 29055
View attachment 29056
View attachment 29057
View attachment 29058
View attachment 29065
View attachment 29067
View attachment 29068
View attachment 29069
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View attachment 29071
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View attachment 29073