Winter/D-Day '23/'24 Build Final Photos

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Reply on this thread for those in the Winter or D-Day Group Build to show "final" or "semi-final" photos.
By group builders' using this one thread, all the photos can be viewed on one thread. I will start out as an example.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

This D-Day Build replicates a T26E3 Pershing tanks of Company B, 19th Tank Battalion, 9th Armored Division. This is one of the early-production Pershings sent to Germany in early 1945 before the "M26" designation was official. This RC model replicates a T26E3 shown in a drawing on the back cover of David Doyle's M26 Pershing. Walk Around (Squadron/Signal, 2008. ISBN 978-0-89747566-2). For a few days in Mid-March of 1945 some early Pershings that had barely seen any action were assigned to the east end of the partially-destroyed Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, Germany. Showing its shipping markings and as of yet no registration numbers, this example of the T26E3 replicates one with the rack designed to carried the bags with the rain covers for the driver's and co-drivers' hatches, yet some of the other assigned equipment is not present. Although the T26E3s were too large to cross the Ludendorff bridge, they were later ferried across the Rhine.

This tank started as an-all plastic Taigen Pershing, but is converted to Taigen V3 sound, metal drive and suspension, with aftermarket accessories, and cast-iron texturing.

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[Jimster]

Most excellent paint job and textures! You’re a true artist.

[Meter rat]

This is my tribute to my great uncle, who I never met, and to those who died from the Nottingham Sherwood Rangers.
On the 27 June the Sherwood Rangers were at battle stations by 04:30. The day was cold and wet. The Sherwoods were supporting the Durham Light Infantry. They pushed forward to investigate Rauray. A hidden anti-tank gun took out the leading three Sherman’s from B troop, with the loss of three tank commanders and one crew man killed. The rest of the crews were wounded. Two other Sherman’s were destroyed, with the loss of three other crew members. Bill Crooks dying of burns and blood loss. Rauray was finally captured a little after midday. A squadron was back in reserve behind what was left of B squadron.
The village was the the headquarters of Max Wunsche and the base for their panzer maintenance depot, the equivalent of the British LAD. A number of panzers were discovered in the village, abandoned due to mechanical failure of lack of fuel. The Sherwood Rangers made plans to use them against their former owners.
John Semken, Commander of A troop requested the use of one so he could “shove through a hedge knowing that nothing could penetrate from the other side”. The black crosses were painted out, and added the red fox head on yellow, the emblem of the 8th Armoured Brigade, and 996 which was the Sherwood Rangers’ number.
Sadly the Sherwoods’ were not allowed to use the captured panzers, and the were taken away for detailed examination.
Thank you to James Holland. Brothers in Arms for the information. My Great Uncle was one of the the mechanics who kept the Shermans operational and “in the fight”. Sadly he was killed near Dinxperlo, in March 1945.

This started as a Taigen late Tiger 1. Additional details, PE mudguards, front and rear mudguards removed, to replicate the photographs, British Crew, battle damage, and damage from it being pushed aside, and lastly a repaint.

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Happy with the rust effects

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And because I was in the right place at the right time, some modern warfare, sailing past the Gantocks.

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[ColemanCollector]

Here's my winter build for '23-'24--a tired KV-2 in the last of its whitewash just before the Spring thaws.

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It started life as a HL KV-1E. A HL KV-2 turret was added to the hull and then the fun began: removing the extra KV-1E armour, accurizing the rear hull by adding mesh air intakes and the louvres beneath, engine cover lifting rings, air filter access cover, rear engine mesh, and of course converting HL's smoker exhaust back to its proper tail light configuration. Also fixed HLs incorrect engine cover so that it extends to the hull sides with no weld "ditch" in-between.

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Upfront saw the horrible--and slightly obscene--HL headlight fixed, and wiring for it and the horn added. Sweet square oil tanks (thanks again Mr. Bix), a third bashed up oil tank, and the ubiquitous KV-2 giant tarp kept the fenders busy. Can't forget the turret so that's been converted to servo recoil and elevation, and the pistol port in the rear door is operational!

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Mud splatter, hairspray faded whitewash, and lots of tube watercolour weathering, staining, and scratching to give it the Winter Warrior '42 look--all the rage in the Spring Fashion Shows in Rostock!

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A fun build!

Mike.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Mike, you have bashed up, rusted up, dirtied up that KV-2 in a way that Bix would love! I am impressed, absolutely jealous.

[ColemanCollector]

Thanks, HDP!
Any chance you've painted up a Russian tanker like your stunning Pershing commander?

Mike.

[Ecam]

D-Day build of a radial engine, welded hull M32 armored recovery vehicle. HL lower with a slightly modified Tamiya upper. Working crane lift and onboard winch. build thread here; viewtopic.php?t=34855

VCP (vehicle collection point) where battle damaged units were repaired to be put back in action.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Afternoon,
All of these Builds are complete Eye Candy. From Figures to weathering to cast details and PE, all are complete definitions of the Group Build. While I missed the deadline for the Build for an RC entry, I have completed the 1/35 scale research version of what I want the 1/16 old Heng Long KT to turn out as... Pics of that model are in the Winter Porsche King Tiger thread updated today.
regards,
Painless

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Painless, I know of no plans to close this build thread for final photos that come in later. Meanwhile you have your build thread for us to enjoy.