S&S Models: The Ghost of Christmas Past

Christmas Day. Hooray! Lot's to be thankful for this year. My lovely wife, job, being safe and dry, and keeping Mr Reaper at bay for another year.

The gifts come in secondary to all that, but my very welcome wargames haul this year includes the hefty hardback resource  Seasons in the Sun: The Battle for Britain 1974-79 by acclaimed historian Dominic Sandbrook, and a pair of S&S Models latest 20mm Cold War Scorpion CVR(T) beauties from my father-in-law and Scimitar CVR(T) stocking filler from Heather.

The Scorpion CVR(T) seems fitting, almost comforting given the era covered by the book. Shaun has done a wonderful job and the resin/metal model instantly takes me back to school days. Black blazers, the whiff of Airfix cement, and of course Airfix magazine. A quick nostalgic scan of the net this morning showed that I bought my first Airfix Magazine in 1969. Ouch!

The Airfix Scorpion/Scimitar model was released in 1974 and became one of my favourite Airfix kits despite the fact the rubber tracks were always and still are a bitch to put on the model. The main differences visible in Shaun's model are the stowage bins that were very quickly added to vehicles in the field, but overall it retains the same characteristic Scorpion signature. Classic. Am very pleased.

Well Christmas is about to kick off big time here. Hope you have a great day yourselves.

Cheers, Slainte
Mark

Out of the cold but still winter in '79

Free Taff Mobile Commando

Thought I'd share some good news from work as it helps to pay for the hobby. My principal project has been validated and signed off as a success by the Project Board. Phew! Built from the ground up, yourHR is a pay and personnel portal offering employee self service and online pay initially, but with plans to be truly transformational.

The culmination of two years standing behind my vision, five months of intense development, three months rollout and pilot. Tackling issues on a daily basis, of which the technical were the easiest to overcome. I'm delighted, proud, and not a little relieved after putting so much of myself into this project. In part because  it gave me a real focus for returning to work after my neurological episode last year. In part because I believed in what I was trying to accomplish. The pay-off for me is that it's given me my confidence back and has proved to my worst critic, myself, that I can do this stuff.

The 'Valley Boyos'

No respite for the wicked or chance for a breather yet. It doesn't just stop of course. I'm testing the next module due for rollout in January, whilst we are building two others and designing yet another. And I have to juggle this with all the reports that are generated by the end of a pilot and planning for the challenges ahead.

All that to say that I've not had the energy left to write creatively when I got home this week and probably not for another week to come. The upside is that I spent a couple of nights ratifying my Winter of '79 figures collection, which will allow me to get more done. I made that bold step to say to myself that just because I have a figure doesn't mean it has to be painted. Some will go into reserve, some syphoned off for Maff whilst the remainder of the also rans will be relegated to eBay.

Well, not quite all the also rans. I've been busy converting figures too. Once I was able to say to myself, right, these figures are keepers, some of the left overs became conversion fodder, losing heads and weapons to fill gaps, ring the changes or give that additional Winter of '79 character to other minis. It is strangely therapeutic lopping heads off and during the course of the day at work I find myself looking forward to doing more conversions when I get home.

 S&S Models Workbench!

click for larger picture

Another bit of good news this week is seeing what's coming from Shaun at S&S Models in the New Year. I have to laugh as only a week or so ago I was thinking that I was more or less at the end of laying out cash on Winter of '79 and now I have to build a bigger vehicle park! I mean, how can I resist that Mark I Ferret or those Scorpion/Scimitar CVR(T). You just can't have enough Scimitars in my book. Though I do have a soft spot for the Scorpion too. At last there's a mean looking FFR Land Rover in 20mm and I know that Maff will get that open back as a Taff gun wagon. Really looking forward to all of these. You can see more photos on Shaun's photobucket gallery here.

The Cold War will be big next year.

Cheers
Mark
  

S&S Models September Update

S&S September 2011 Update

I've uploaded Shaun's latest update for you to view or download. Lot's of inspired stuff. Just click on the link above. With Winter of 79 in mind, look out in particular for the Bedford RL 4 ton GS Truck.

Cheers
Mark

S&S Models Lightweight Land Rover

.
Ha Ha! My recent order from S&S Models dropped through the post this morning, including a Lightweight Land Rover.

Very nice model indeed. Resin body with metal windscreen, wheels and spare for the bonnet. A bit of scrim and it'll look nice and warry. I think at least one more is in order, maybe two - can't have enough Land Rovers. Maff's thinking of two for his Free Taff flying column - armed with a pintle GPMG and a couple of 'gun bunnies' in the back. Looking forward to getting to work on cracking little model.

Cheers
Mark

S&S Models Bedford RL 4x4 GS Lorry

   
A dull wet day in the 'Shire today was lightened by the postie bringing an order from S&S Models that included Shaun's new Bedford RL 4x4 GS Lorry at £10 including p&p (UK).

 S&S Models Bedford RL 4x4 GS

Here it is straight out of the pack. A good solid one-piece body and cab with well defined detail such as the rigging that holds the tarp down. The kit also comes with four separate metal cast wheels and spare with the rear wheels having the mud guards mould on. I find the quality of the wheels and tyre tread detail on S&S Models particularly good and the RL is no exception.

I found the RL's dimensions to be spot on when placed against 1:76 plans in The Modern British Army by Terry Gander (1980 edition). The whole kit fits together very easily to produce a sturdy wargame model that looks the part.

Quality wise this is a fine wargames model. There are a few small bubble holes but these are mitigated by only a thin cast seam round the bottom of the model that a quick run over with wet and dry will remove.

Assembled as above, you can feel the misery of  30 cold squaddies in the back on the way up to the Beacons with the rain whipping up under the tailgate. Or 80 boozy squaddies in T-shirts and Jeans crammed in and holding onto the tarp rails for dear life after a trip to the local Bierkellar!

The RL GS saw action with British forces in Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Congo, Operation Banner amongst others. It also served with Commonwealth & UN forces in the 1950's-70's throughout the world. I've included a family snap above of an RL GS in the Libyian Desert around 1965. I'm thinking that a diorama of an RL and MK2 Land Rover will make a perfect personalised gift for my father-in-law's 80 blah blah birthday.

Despite being 'officially' superseded by the Bedord MK, the RL would continue to serve in the British Army until the late 80's - often in a variety of support guises such as signals wagons, REME workshops etc.

Overall, a fine model and recommended for your Winter of '79 vehicle park. Perfect transport for my Bootnecks!

Cheers
Mark

The Bedford RL

 
....But so is the Bedford RL 4x4 GS wagon that Shaun is currently working on at S&S Models.

S&S Models Bedford RL

(Courtesy S&S Models)

The RL 4X4 was developed from the postwar Bedford "S" series and was introduced in 1953. RL's were used by Auxiliary Fire Service, the Military or Local Authorites and Utilities. They could be found across the world in Commonwealth armed forces too. Tough as old boots, many RLs are still going in private hands. The RL based 'Green Goddess' Fire Engines were sold off by the government, largely in working order, in 2004/8.

Effectively replaced by the introduction of the Bedford MK which began in 1969, the RL still soldiered on in the Regular and Territorial Army in several guises throughout the Winter of '79 timeframe and well into the late eighties.

Several thousand are known to have been bought by the Home Office and stockpiled for use in any potential national emergency.

So, no excuse then not to field at least one of these beauties.

Cheers
Mark
 

It's a Tank? Right?

If you are looking for an alternative 'tank' to parade through the streets and fields of Winter of '79, consider the FV433 Abbot 105mm Self Propelled Gun. Denizen of 'tank' driving experiences the length and breadth of the UK in the nineties

S&S Models Abbot 105mm SPG

(photos courtesy S&S Models)

There was only a single L (Nery) Battery of 6 Abbots in the UK in 1980. The remainder serving with BAOR. But there's nothing to stop us from having one forcibly appropriated by Rebels or Militia from a REME establishment or taken during breakdown or crew pitstop on a redeployment.

The Abbot was armed with the 105mm L13A1 gun and as standard load carried 40 rounds - including up to 6 HESH rounds for engaging enemy armour. The armour was 10-12mm which doesnt allow it to dominate the battelfield.

Shaun at S&S Models produces this very nice and simple to construct kit of an FV433 at £10 (UK). And it's tempting.......

Cheers
Mark

New Cold War British Vehicles from S&S Models

Shaun at S&S Models has released a whole batch of new Cold War era British Army vehicles and AFVs suitable for Winter of '79.

Prices include postage and packing. For more details visit S&S Models or email Shaun direct for a full set of pricelists at Sales@sandsmodels.com.

Cheers
Mark

FV721 Fox Armoured Car from S&S Models

I absolutely love the new FV721 Fox armoured car (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled)) from Shaun at S&S Models and added a pair to my Winter of '79 vehicle park. These I intend to fully cam up in netting and scrim.

S&S Models 20mm

FV721 Fox armoured car

A tasty little model from S&S that captures the character of the real thing. The Fox represents a nice balance of armour, mobility and firepower on the tabletop without dominating it and a good match for Scorpions and Scimitars.

Thoroughly recommended.

Cheers
Mark

FV721 Fox Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled)

Possibly the most common heavily armed armoured vehicle to appear in our Winter of '79 scenario is the FV721 Fox armoured car (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled)).

 In 1979 the Fox is a sexy bit of kit. Nearest thing you can get to Formula 1 in khaki livery. A 16 ton, 3 man wheeled close reconnaisance vehicle with all-welded aluminium hull and turret, armed with a 30mm Rarden cannon and co-ax 7.62mm mg, and more than capable of 70mph on a good metalled road.

 

 It was not as is commonly reported, a replacement for the Ferret, but did replace the Saladin armoured car. Entering service in 1973 and built at the Royal Ordinance factories in Leeds, the final production run of the Fox took place in 1979.

I knew a TA Fox CVR(W) commander who loved it. He told me it was like "tearing up the countryside in a trial bike".

At this moment the only 1:76 scale Fox CVR(W) in production is by Scale Link  (code: AA76B002) at £13.06, plus 20% VAT = £15.67. But hold on, Shaun at S&S Models is on the cusp of releasing his own Fox resin/metal kit:

S&S Models: Fox FV721 CVR(W) 

master in progress

The Fox CVR(W) gives us a potent armoured vehicle with both a light anti-tank and anti-personnel capability without wholly dominating the tabletop. It can provide support for an infantry force or heavy firepower for a column of light armoured Land Rovers or internal security vehicles such as the Shorland and Humber Pig.

This is a worthwhile addition to any Cold War / Winter of '79 collection.

Cheers
Mark