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Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2023 8:29 am
by Meter rat
Mithras wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2023 7:25 am [quote="Meter rat" post_id=346576 time=<a href="tel:1702117947">1702117947</a> user_id=9562]
You definitely don’t want a Tiger then? :D :D :D
Super research, and historical notes. The problem with this site is there are so many different “modern tanks” it makes my head spin with ideas, I know I will never be able to achieve.
Hah!

So, here's the thing. I've wargamed for years (yes, I've said that too much here), and my first true "army" was a Viking Division force. I inherited the tanks, having never painted any of them, and they were exceptionally well painted (and in some cases, scratchbuilt or heavily modified) by a wargamer who essentially didn't have room for them and wanted them to go to a place that they'd be used. At the time, the older guys who were introducing me to the hobby wanted more German players, and specifically SS Players, and so the person who knew of the situation said, "here, these guys are SS, but no atrocities, so... you can feel a little better about it";).

Anyhow, that army contained all kinds of things, in addition to infantry: Pumas, Panthers, Tigers, King Tigers, and Sturm Tigers. I got so very, very tired of pushing Tigers over the years. I've seen them, I've crawled on them, and while I do have a love for them, they are, to me, so much less interesting than some of the other German vehicles produced. Now, the King TIger or a Sturmtiger? Those are vehicles I'd definitely prefer. Not because they are particularly powerful, but because they're unusual, and you don't see them as much (well, maybe King Tigers are more common now, but Sturmtigers are still rare in the wild as far as miniatures games go.) Consider also that I've written sourcebooks for wargames about the "Minor Allies," the Hungarians, the Italians, and the Japanese, and you would be correct to suspect that I like tanks that are ugly and not well loved.

I can kill a Sherman any day with a Tiger. But to do it with a Type 97 Shinhoto, now -that- is a feat!;)
[/quote]

I was jesting. Thank you for the explanation. I do believe that the SS Viking did carry out some atrocities. I totally understand why you didn’t want a tiger. My first reaction on buying my first tank was.”Every one has a Tiger” so I too went with a T72. Plus I’m not really in WW2 stuff. All I did was paint it in to represent something different. My Challenger has probably taught me more about RC tanks than anything. My Tiger gave me a lot of pleasure to build. From a car boot find to a fully working model. And not knowing much about any tank, the research is also enjoyable. My next model will Be another Tiger. As on reading a book about the local regiment’s where we used to live there is a story about the Nottingham Sherwood Rangers, And The Derbyshire Yeomanry. Which involves a tiger.

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:22 am
by Mithras
Meter rat wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2023 8:29 am
Mithras wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2023 7:25 am [quote="Meter rat" post_id=346576 time=<a href="tel:1702117947">1702117947</a> user_id=9562]
You definitely don’t want a Tiger then? :D :D :D
Super research, and historical notes. The problem with this site is there are so many different “modern tanks” it makes my head spin with ideas, I know I will never be able to achieve.
Hah!

So, here's the thing. I've wargamed for years (yes, I've said that too much here), and my first true "army" was a Viking Division force. I inherited the tanks, having never painted any of them, and they were exceptionally well painted (and in some cases, scratchbuilt or heavily modified) by a wargamer who essentially didn't have room for them and wanted them to go to a place that they'd be used. At the time, the older guys who were introducing me to the hobby wanted more German players, and specifically SS Players, and so the person who knew of the situation said, "here, these guys are SS, but no atrocities, so... you can feel a little better about it";).

Anyhow, that army contained all kinds of things, in addition to infantry: Pumas, Panthers, Tigers, King Tigers, and Sturm Tigers. I got so very, very tired of pushing Tigers over the years. I've seen them, I've crawled on them, and while I do have a love for them, they are, to me, so much less interesting than some of the other German vehicles produced. Now, the King TIger or a Sturmtiger? Those are vehicles I'd definitely prefer. Not because they are particularly powerful, but because they're unusual, and you don't see them as much (well, maybe King Tigers are more common now, but Sturmtigers are still rare in the wild as far as miniatures games go.) Consider also that I've written sourcebooks for wargames about the "Minor Allies," the Hungarians, the Italians, and the Japanese, and you would be correct to suspect that I like tanks that are ugly and not well loved.

I can kill a Sherman any day with a Tiger. But to do it with a Type 97 Shinhoto, now -that- is a feat!;)
I was jesting. Thank you for the explanation. I do believe that the SS Viking did carry out some atrocities. I totally understand why you didn’t want a tiger. My first reaction on buying my first tank was.”Every one has a Tiger” so I too went with a T72. Plus I’m not really in WW2 stuff. All I did was paint it in to represent something different. My Challenger has probably taught me more about RC tanks than anything. My Tiger gave me a lot of pleasure to build. From a car boot find to a fully working model. And not knowing much about any tank, the research is also enjoyable. My next model will Be another Tiger. As on reading a book about the local regiment’s where we used to live there is a story about the Nottingham Sherwood Rangers, And The Derbyshire Yeomanry. Which involves a tiger.
[/quote]

Oh, I know! Just felt I should explain my odd reasoning!

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:23 am
by Mithras
I’ve lately been looking to a lot of Churchills and Churchill variants. A lot of those stories involve Tigers. How about a WW2 Challenger? Very interesting tank.

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 9:19 am
by Meter rat
WW2 Challenger. Had to look that one up. The history of the designer was of more interest to me, as he was local Derbyshire lad.

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:33 pm
by Herr Dr. Professor
Geepers, I'm glad I wasn't the only one surprised. Here's what Wikipedia has on the World War II Challenger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser_M ... Challenger

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 7:18 am
by Mithras
Herr Dr. Professor wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:33 pm Geepers, I'm glad I wasn't the only one surprised. Here's what Wikipedia has on the World War II Challenger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser_M ... Challenger
It's quite an obscure tank, it seems. I didn't know what else to call it. I know there's an official designation, but that seems to be the easiest way to introduce the subject. Several were replaced by Comets by the end of the war. Definitely saw action.

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 7:19 am
by Mithras
Meter rat wrote: Mon Dec 11, 2023 9:19 am WW2 Challenger. Had to look that one up. The history of the designer was of more interest to me, as he was local Derbyshire lad.
Oh? Fascinating! I learned some time ago that Straussler was a distant relation. Sort of an interesting connection to a different part of AFV history.

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 7:21 am
by Mithras
For those unfamiliar:

Cruiser Tank MkVIII "Challenger"Image

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 8:19 am
by Meter rat
Have to say. It’s pig ugly.

Re: ASAD-BABIL "LION OF BABYLON" IRAQI ARMY FEB 1991

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 10:16 pm
by Mithras
Meter rat wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2023 8:19 am Have to say. It’s pig ugly.
And that's a part of the charm.