say landwasserschlepper 3 times fast

Bruce has located an excellent site--in Britain for reference and drooling modeling envy of their finished projects. The Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicle Association. Excellent modeling, beautiful photography and a great place to go for ideas and references.

This is a definite bookmark site for modelers. The Brits are so good at creating and supporting hobby organizations---(which we of course are trying to do). It may be because eccentrics are really appreciated in Great Britain...ha!
But much thanks to Bruce for finding this excellent site. 

http://www.mafva.net/index.htm

The Germans never really thought out their desired invasion of Great Britain very well and the landwasserschlepper displays their attitude of "I kinda want to invade but i'm not really so sure on how to do it?" 

The landwasserschlepper (I love writing that word) was designed to pull a wheeled, boat like trailer full of troops across the English Channel along with the 20 troops which could be carried internally. Then onto the beaches, after which time, I imagine, they would turn about for another load and repeat the process. A couple of problems arose--first they would have needed thousands of these vehicles which were really complex mechanically and tough to produce at those numbers. Secondly the landwasserschlepper was not armored--because of the, we need it to travel across the ocean like a boat thing going on and neither was the troop trailer it was suppose to tow. Armored things have a tendency to sink in the water.

Unless the British sort of forgot to shoot at them while landing, this was going to be a severe problem and after building 12 landwasserschleppers the entire idea of invading Britain wound up being called off and that Russian vacation we all know of took it's place. There was a thought of using the landwasserschlepper in Russia, due to the large swamps, rivers etc...but that lack of armor thing came back around and that was called off although a second prototype was produced that was armored..but only two of those made it off the assembly line.

The 12 Schleppers that were produced wound up being stationed in Denmark and Norway--great duty for a German guy if you managed to be a crew member of this detachment and nobody really knows what they actually did there except take a bunch of photo's, which still exist (lucky for us modelers) and date the Danish girls. 

All of this background brings me to my current project a 1/35th landwasserschlepper---an excellent kit, very detailed, producing a big model, because in all actuality these things were REALLY big---a tankboat--- so try and imagine a big boat on treads driving down your street. This kit fits my personally bizzare, major requirement of a model being very, very mechanically unusual.

Currently I have completed priming all parts, painting the lower hull, building the suspension and I actually scratch built something which gives the appearance of an engine if I decide to leave one of the many engine access hatches open on the model.

I did purchase two supplemental items to work into the Landwasserschlepper model. First is a Verlinden 1/35th German pioneer raft, supplies and figure kit. This kit has been around for years and considering the amount of material you get with the kit, barrels, ammo cans, tool boxes, jerry cans, paddles and the two figures it is an excellent value for the cost. My plan is to construct a tubular rack on the landwasserschlepper rear deck to hold the below illustrated inflatable raft just to add interest..plus i'll put the barrels and other supply materials to work onto/into the schlepper....

Crewing the Landwasserschlepper was another problem--that is until I found the below illustrated 1/35 Italeri kit designed as a crew for their 1/35 German version of a PT boat called the Schnellboot. These figures are easily adaptable to the  landwasserschlepper, they are modled with standard helmets and coveralls, which could easily represent any German service unit and are molded with life vests--which was the big selling point to me for use on the landwasserschlepper. The kit contains 10 figures...

I am thought experimenting out a display or diorama, of a beach, the schlepper, crew members and maybe a swimmwagen with officers nearby...I am really enjoying this build and taking my time with it, trying to put to use the new construction and painting techniques I've studied. 

We meet up for coffee, model and military history talk the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month in Roswell at the Starbucks near NMMI 1900hrs....if you are interested in military modeling stop by...

model like you mean it

(Ozzie is our most excellent resident historian)

Historical Accuracy in Armor Modeling

I think one of the most important part of executing a model or diorama, apart from the enjoyment of the hobby, is getting the historical details correct. It’s important to have several reference books on tanks, uniforms and equipment to ensure the details of the model are done correctly. That generally takes care of the technical aspect of accuracy. There is another aspect, namely the historical aspect that deserves attention.  The best way to get those details correct is to scour over as many books and photographs as possible. Eventually, the trends emerge, a pattern of soldierly conduct becomes visible and it becomes easier to develop a realistic diorama based on hours of enjoyable photo study and research.

I, for one, enjoy the obscure little details that are hidden in unpublished photographs. I recall a diorama where a modeler placed an M3 fighting knife in an M8 scabbard and mounted it upside down on the web suspenders of his ww2 paratrooper figure. He was chastised for using what was “clearly” only done during Vietnam. One observant fellow quickly posted an original WW2 photo with a paratrooper doing the same thing. End of discussion.

I believe it is imperative to devote an appropriate amount of time studying photos before embarking on a diorama. The more the study/research, the more accurate and hence realistic the rendering will be. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on mounds of books (which I think is fine) I would recommend visiting:

http://www.pixpast.com/

Here you will find thousands of unpublished photos of every military subject. Apply for a username and login and you can start viewing photos. You can post as well, particularly if you collect military images. My friend Ian Spring, who orchestrates the site, is a wonderful host. I think his site is a great place to begin your research…good luck!

On the workbenches

A brief summary of the armor modeling projects the group has currently underway or in the planning stages---- all of us work in 1/35 scale.

Bruce is currently constructing a US M3 Grant tank---with plans for the construction of a diorama around this vehicle---this is his first work in several years..and is enjoying the return to modeling, painting and creating.

M5 Grant/M3 Lee tank

Ozzie is at the moment designing a Sturmtiger construction and diorama based on the below historical photographs taken in Belgium during WW2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturmtiger

Me? This weekend I begin construction of a German LandWasserSchlepper----the more bizarre mechanically a vehicle was or appeared and the more rare it was the more interested I am in it----

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landwasserschlepper

If there is one thing we are all at the identical stage and interest in it is our desire to improve our 1/35 figure painting capability.

We are extremely lucky in the fact that Bruce knows an actual professional figure painter who works in 1/72 scale...(yes there are such people) and if we increase our numbers somewhat we are planning on asking him to come to a meeting and give a demonstration, advice and interrogate him for any secrets.

Of course we understand that practice is what makes perfect but the nice thing about our group is that complaining about how tough it is painting a decent 1/35 military figure is open for discussion at any given moment---this is one element we are planning on focusing a group effort on to improve all our individual talents in this area.

If you are in the Roswell New Mexico area, feel free to contact us via the comment section of our blog or just drop by at one of our twice a month coffee nights...

We meet the first and third Wednesday of the month 1900hrs at the Starbucks in Roswell on North Main near NMMI. 

About Us

We are a small group (well actually there are 3 of us right now) of military modelers residing here in Roswell, New Mexico. We would like to build a group  of like hobbyists here in town to meet twice a month to discuss military modeling, military history, and our modeling projects and techniques. We hope to build a group that will share knowledge, success's and mistakes. 

The three of us currently involved are older, approaching retirement and have rediscovered the military plastic modeling hobby from our youth and are now hooked. Age is unimportant tho--and ability is immaterial--as long as you enjoy sharing what you are doing---none of us are experts, all of us are attempting to become better artists.

If you reside in or around the Roswell New Mexico area, we planning on meeting every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at Starbucks on North main street near NMMI at 1900 hours Holidays and bad weather excluded. We talk about our current modeling projects and drink a cup of coffee. You are more than welcome to join us there...or use the comment section on the blog to contact us---

Military Armor, aircraft, figure and ship plastic modelers are all welcome but we would prefer to focus in these areas...or any combination there of....

We'll be posting here regularly......hope to see you soon.