Mark I Gun Carrier. A cereal packet scratchbuild.

A cereal packet Mark 1 Gun Carrier. The 60pdr comes from HLBS.

French Napoleonic 7th Hussars. Perry Plastic Hussars 2. The Completed Unit.

Big Bertha and further progress with Pigs.

The HLBS Krupp 42cm Howitzer.

Following the concept model in the previous post, the design and build of the cereal packet Mark IX "Pig" Infantry Carrier has been tweaked a little in size and rudimentary rivettng has taken place on this second scratchbuilt model. 

Mark IX "Pig" Supply/Infantry Carrier, 1918.

All this was Ignatieff's idea over on LAF. I found a free download of a 1/72 scale paper model here. I re-scaled it up to 1/56 and took the pieces as a template for this cereal packet model. Again, just having a go to see what can be achieved with this very inexpensive method and, more importantly, by not spending hundreds of hours on building and painting. The detail is drawn on with black ink. I'm still learning with this method, but it is very satisfying to see something that one creates from scratch.

And here is a real one.

And here is a video.

French Napoleonic 7th Hussars. Perry Plastic Hussars.

It has been quite some time since I painted up any of these, but as the khaki and big guns took centre stage this summer, gently simmering in the background have been these chaps. Six more Hussars to do. Perhaps a photo of the completed unit to come when all is complete.

A little bit of fun with a cereal packet, some glue and some paint.

I made a motorised Pigeon Loft.  

Not based on anything other than some photos found online. More imagination than authenticity.

WW1 Heavy Haulage and an Omnibus!

The Traction Engine from The Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company hauling "Ada", another 8 inch Howitzer from the same company. The towing limber is a scratchbuild. Apologies if the images are a little blurred. This is a big model and when hitched up to a gun is almost a foot long! I had to resort to hand held photography and it seems that the anti-shake was a bit ineffective. 

Back in March, out of curiosity, I purchased the Model T Ambulance from Warbases. Last week I took delivery of one of their latest MDF vehicle kits, the AEC Model B Omnibus. I've wanted a bus to put into my display cabinet for quite some time and at a tenner for the kit, it is very good value and, I think gives a pleasing end result. With a bit more work filling in some of the joints it could be even better. If you want some affordable transport to run the gaunlet of German artillery along the Menin Road I heartily recommend this kit.

"Who parked this bloody Bus here? It's meant to go over there!"

Private Perkins was ordered to guard this Omnibus until relieved. He is still waiting.

I am quite pleased with the end result of this build and I think I feel the stirrings of a bit of a conversion project....

Royal Field Artillery Limber and Team.

The Great War Miniatures Limber, team and 18pdr field gun with Woodnine Designs heads ready for service somewhere hot and dusty.

Scratchbuilt FWD Model B 3 Ton Truck

The last of these scratchbuilds for a while. I must get on with painting and suppress the the urges of my inner twelve year old self and focus on other projects. With the exception of  two pieces of styrene rod and a bit of brass wire, this truck used to be a manilla card wallet!

From what I can find out, 500 of these American FWD trucks were delivered to the British Army who used them primarily as artillery tractors. Some were convereted into fuel tankers, searchlight carriers and balloon tenders.  

Another scratchbuilt gun: 6 inch 26cwt howitzer (ish).

More fun with cereal packet cardboard... and swearing. This is a very squat and ugly looking gun. It does not photograph very well. It looks a lot better "in the flesh".
The Batttery Major consults the handbook and thinks about getting the brute dug into an emplacement covered with netting.

An interesting thing came to light while researching the plans of this gun. In May 1917, the most forward battery of these guns on the Ypres Salient was dug in 300 yards west of the Cloth Hall in Ypres. Having stood on the area of the front line of the Salient and looked back towards Ypres I appreciate the distances involved.