1/48 WWII German AFV Diorama

[McCoy]

I'd say it again mate! You really need a Fiesler Storch in this diorama...

[Geek44]

I've seen Tamiya's new Storch and it's a beautiful kit...some innovative solutions are included. It has metal landing gear struts for added strength. I've seen it for $85 Aussie and $50 Aussie depending where one shops. (I've recently learned that my usual hobby shop is very expensive). I'd pay fifty for it but not eighty-five.

[Aussie Dave]

I thought about getting the Tamiya 'Storch' for it, but decided it would take up too much room on the base.

Especially now that I have been busy on ebay.
(Haven't got any time to build at the moment so I buy instead.)

I have recently purchased from there some vintage Bandai 1/48 'Red Stripe' armour kits.
(and one ICM 1/48 armour kit.)

I have wanted a 88mm Flak 18 for the German AFV diorama since I first had the idea of doing one, but (no joke intended) 1/48 scale is very limited in its artillery range.

Today only one company called Gaso.line makes the German 88mm Flak in 1:48 scale and its expensive, a resin kit and hard to find in stock anywhere.

Another alternative is Bandai, they made them in the 70's in their 1:48 AFV range but they also stopped making them back then too.

Trying to get a winning bid on ebay for a Bandai 'Red Stripe' 88mm Flak gun was driving me crazy after having bid in a lot of auctions lately for this kit and being outbid in the last dying moments.
(For some unknown reason there has been quite a few of them come up on ebay lately.)

I was winning one auction for ages but was suddenly outbid on it with 6 seconds time left to go before its end.
Not enough time to get a counter offer in before it closed damn it.
(I even set the alarm and got out of bed at 3:40AM to be online before and when it ended to make sure I could win it.)

This Kit if complete, with its parts still bagged up and in good condition now goes at auction for around $95-$110 USD and is incredibly sought after.




But I refused to be beaten or give up....


Tonight ebay had a NEW addition to its items for sale that you could "Bid On", "Buy Now" for $99.99 USD or "Make an Offer" on.

A 88mm Flak Gun and a Sd. Kfz.7, both 'Mint' Bandai 'Red Stripe' kits and being sold together.
No guessing that after a very short time being listed an offer came in from another member and it wasn't very far off the seller's asking price at all, so I acted and bought them before their price went higher or they were sold.

So now I have two 1:48 German 8 Ton Sd. Kfz.7's, but thats okay.
The kit has the option of the canvas roof being up or down, so one will be with have its top up and the other one will be with its top down.

I have already paid for them all and now only have to eagerly await their arrival here.
(Oh yeah, and assemble and paint them too.)



Cheers,
Dave

[Tom Houlihan]

Geez, Dave, are ye modeling the whole war???

[Geek44]

The question occurred to me to. I can't think of anybody else who coud pull that off either .
Nice kits Dave, I've never seen any of them before and the BMW motorcycle has me intrigued. The 1/35 one by Tamiya is small enough.
Peace.

[Aussie Dave]

Originally Posted by Geek44

The question occurred to me to. I can't think of anybody else who coud pull that off either .
Nice kits Dave, I've never seen any of them before and the BMW motorcycle has me intrigued. The 1/35 one by Tamiya is small enough.
Peace.

Here is a picture of the BMW's sprues for you to check out.

Not much to the kit really, should be a quick build.
I also like the fact you get 3 figures included with it.


Cheers,
Dave

[Aussie Dave]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

Geez, Dave, are ye modeling the whole war???

Well I can't help it.
It was while surfing the net looking for a 1:48 German 88mm Flak 18 Gun that I kept finding other neat 1:48 AFV stuff and getting it for the diorama as well.

My purchases of late have been tanks, tanks and more tanks.
The diorama setting I have in mind involves lighter armoured and soft-skinned 'Support' vehicles as well.
(Sorry, there is no battle scene planned.)

The "Balance" just didn't seem right with nearly all of them being tanks.
Now its more even, but I wouldn't mind getting just one more truck, like an Opel Blitz or...

One something like this:


BTW, I cut my 18mm base board today, so I have the diorama's actual size dimensions now.

1210 mm x 880 mm / 48 inches x 34 1/2 inches

I hope its big enough? (Seriously.)


Cheers,
Dave

[Tom Houlihan]

Actually, a Storch would be a really good idea. However, it would need to be flying. Say, the Division Ia looking things over?

[Geek44]

Those sprues look pretty good Dave and I can get a feel for the size from the pics too...especially the figures. Looking forward to seeing it come together mate. Good luck.

[Aussie Dave]

Originally Posted by Geek44

Those sprues look pretty good Dave and I can get a feel for the size from the pics too...especially the figures. Looking forward to seeing it come together mate. Good luck.

Well the one I bought arrived today.
(But the sprues are dark grey.)

It also included in the kit besides the motorcyle and men:

3 x Fuel Drums (Not quite right looking but can use them covered with tarp.)
12 x Sandbags (Okay looking.)
2 x Wooden Barrels (Pretty good.)
4 x Tied-up Sacks (Also pretty good.)
2 x Empty Wooden Crates w/Lids (Not Bad at all.)
3 x Small Canvas Rolls (Good)
4 x Jerry Cans (Bloody hideous looking and totally unusable.)

I will post pictures later so you can check out all of the sprues and those terrible jerry cans.


Cheers,
Dave