Valentine DD from Mini Art?

We all know what DD means, don't we? Duplex Drive was a system created during WW2 using a screen and propellers in order to make a tank float and propel itself beach wards from a landing craft off shore. The most famous application was the Sherman DD tank, used during the Normandy landings. A few other tanks got the DD treatment including the British Valentine tank.

As Mini Art is releasing Valentine model kits by the dozen one could expect a DD sometime. According to the Wikipedia article the Valentine DD was used as a training tank. The marks converted into DD configuration included  Mks V, IX and XI. As Mini Art has released Mk V and have Mks IX and XI in the pipeline there is no excuse not to build one anymore. If Mini Art will release a proper Vally DD I do not know but let's have our fingers crossed!

Whatch this Valentine DD drive off the flat bed trailer for the War & Peace show in 2011.

A Magazine; Airfix Magazine September 1975

Let's stick with old Airfix Magazines for a while. In the September 1975 issue there is a short but excellent article on the Operation Sealion, the invasion plan to conquer the British isles in 1940. The invasion was supposed to take place right after the fall of France but this was never realized. A stubborn opposition (mainly the from the Royal air Force), lack of proper equipment (no proper landing crafts), other invasion plans etc made the Germans give up and look for next piece of property to rape and loot, the Soviet union. The plan was put in the Big Archive for once and ever. The article in Airfix Magazine explains the planning (or rather lack of it...) before the invasion was to commence and the planned invasion areas around the southern coast of England.

A Film; Colour of War: D-Day

Sometimes it's hard to belive there was colour in the world before 1950 or so. This fantastic DVD puts things straight. All in colour it provides much useful information on what landing crafts looked like. No more doubt on how dark Navy Blue or how gaudy red hull bottoms were. The film begins with a short recapitulation on Stalingrad, Tunisia, the invasion of Sicily, the conference in Casablanca where the Germany first doctrine was cemented. Although the title of this DVD is D-Day one should not think it is entirely on June 6. Most of the material is focused on the build up and aftermath of the actual landing itself. One can imagine there was not much filming done during the actual fighting on D-Day and therefore there aren't much to show, at least not in colour. Maybe that is the reason for the few genuine landing sequences to be so much more touching and horrible. Starring landing craft wise there will be LCVP, LCM, LCT, LST.

Much recommended.

Prague, April 2012, Pt 1

 

Went for a little tour to Prague this week. By pure chance I found out about the army museum being just a few blocks away from my hotel. This great museum is a must if you ever find yourself being in Prague and is mostly on the world wars. A wall had a some posters printed to boost the British morale during the WW 2 period. The above is showing an invasion in the Mediterranean theatre of operations. But is it the landing in North Africa in 1942 or is it the invasion in South of France1944? Can't tell for sure...

This one is showing a scene from the Lofoten commando raid in 1941. British troops blew up a considerable amount of oil, trashed the harbour, grabbed a number of prisoners and brought back a bunch of willing and able Norwegians for combat training on British soil.

This one is also showing a scene from the Mediterranean battlegrounds. But from where is is supposed to be? The invasion of Sicily was the first usage of DUKW amphibious trucks.

A book; British Commandos

British Commandos in Action, Squadron/Signal


A smashing little publication on the British Commandos in action. Weapons, training, equipment, battle dress, transportation and so on is covered. All operations including commandos are accounted for. I especially appreciate the Vågsö, St Nazaire and Madagascar chapters as they are not too well known. This is a thin but well packed publication on the hardest of hard men. Few things symbolize true amphibious operations as well as the commandos.

Much recommended.

A book; DUKW In action

DUKW In action, Timothy J Kutta, Squadron/Signal publications

Most modellers have previous experience from the Squadron/Signal line of publications. Not everything to know but quite a lot is what you will find in this; history, development, who, what, where, when etc. If you just want to know a bit extra about the model ju intend to build this is the book for you.