Italeri 1/35 Bedford Truck

[Guest]

Welcome James, I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Looks to be an interesting build with or without the gun.
Cheers, Rick H.

Many Thanks for the welcome Rick! I have seen some very amazing finishes with this Kit so I hope I can replicate that...

[Guest]

Wheels just dryfitted at the moment and lots more bling to be added. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n[/ATTACH]

[Guest]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n[/ATTACH]

[Guest]

So the barrel is too long?

The old Italeri kit (which, as Simon mentions above, is now produced by Zvezda) is of the 57 mm antitank gun M1, which was the American version of the British 6-pounder anti-tank gun. The very first British guns, the Mk. I, had an L/50 barrel too, but a lack of lathes long enough to produce them meant most of the initial production, the Mk. II, used L/43 barrels instead, without a muzzle brake — this is the one that would have been used in North Africa. The Mk. IV had the L/50 barrel, with a muzzle brake in British service but not on the American guns. In 1:35 scale, the L/43 barrel would be about 11.5 mm shorter than the L/50 gun (without muzzle brake), so the simplest way to convert the Zvezda kit would be to just remove that much from its barrel and add the British wheels from the Tamiya kit. I’m sure there would be more details that need changing, but these two would be the most obvious things to modify.

A little research turns up that there are much more modern kits of this gun from AFV Club and Riich Models; the latter is apparently also sold in a Bronco box. The Zvezda one would be the cheaper option, though, and of about the same age and detail as your Bedford

[Guest]

If I may give tip: the Italeri one is a much more detailed kit. It represents the American version, but since you have the Tamiya one too, you should be able to transplant things like the wheels and perhaps cut down the barrel (by 11.5 mm) to make an early British one that would be appropriate on the back of this QLT.

Hi Jakko, so the Tamiya 6 Pdr must be the Mk.IV as it has the muzzle brake? Did this version see action in North Africa?

In all the photos I have seen of 6 Pdr's in North Africa I am not seeing any with a Muzzle Brake.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n[/ATTACH]

[Guest]

I’m not an expert on the gun, but I don’t recall offhand any with a muzzle brake in North Africa, meaning they must be Mk. II guns. You can convert the Tamiya gun easily enough too by reducing the barrel length, of course. About 11 mm back from the ring by which the muzzle brake attaches to the barrel should do it. Alternatively, the barrel length was apparently 254 cm on the real L/43 gun (which is closer to L/44, but hey …) so you could measure 254 ÷ 35 = 72.5 mm from the front face of the breech block and cut the barrel there. This is probably better than reducing the gun from the muzzle end, because who says the kit’s barrel length is accurate?

I mainly mentioned the (old) Italeri gun because that’s better detailed than the Tamiya one, but if you want to go with the latter — why not?

[Guest]

The old Italeri kit (which, as Simon mentions above, is now produced by Zvezda) is of the 57 mm antitank gun M1, which was the American version of the British 6-pounder anti-tank gun. The very first British guns, the Mk. I, had an L/50 barrel too, but a lack of lathes long enough to produce them meant most of the initial production, the Mk. II, used L/43 barrels instead, without a muzzle brake — this is the one that would have been used in North Africa. The Mk. IV had the L/50 barrel, with a muzzle brake in British service but not on the American guns. In 1:35 scale, the L/43 barrel would be about 11.5 mm shorter than the L/50 gun (without muzzle brake), so the simplest way to convert the Zvezda kit would be to just remove that much from its barrel and add the British wheels from the Tamiya kit. I’m sure there would be more details that need changing, but these two would be the most obvious things to modify.

A little research turns up that there are much more modern kits of this gun from AFV Club and Riich Models; the latter is apparently also sold in a Bronco box. The Zvezda one would be the cheaper option, though, and of about the same age and detail as your Bedford :smiling3:

I posted my question about the muzzle brake before I saw your post Jakko! Many thanks buddy! :thumb2:

[Jim R]

Hi James
Welcome to this very friendly forum. It looks as if you're off to a good start. The PE will add a nice extra level of detail.
Jim

[Guest]

Hi James
Welcome to this very friendly forum. It looks as if you're off to a good start. The PE will add a nice extra level of detail.
Jim

Thanks Jim! Really happy to be on the forum buddy! :thumb2:

A very warm welcome from the guys on my first Post and I am glad Jakko and Simon have pointed me in the right direction regards the 6 Pdr!

I think I will go with Jakko's advice with just cutting back the Tamiya Kit.

Found this interesting site with lots of info on the Desert Rats.

http://www.desertrats.org.uk/bde/index.htm

[Guest]

Really good to have you around again James.

[Steve Jones]

6 Pounders with a muzzle break on the 50 cal came into effect, I believe, in August 1942 so plenty of time to see service in North Africa. However I have never seen a muzzle break on one in the back of a truck. However your build your rules :thumb2:

[Guest]

6 Pounders with a muzzle break on the 50 cal came into effect, I believe, in August 1942

I couldn’t find the introduction date when I was looking for it this morning. Earlier than I thought, I must say.

However I have never seen a muzzle break on one in the back of a truck.

I don’t recall any photos from North Africa showing them. Plenty in the UK (on training) and North-West Europe, of course, but that Bedford wasn’t used there AFAIK.

However your build your rules :thumb2:

+1

[Guest]

Really good to have you around again James.

Hi Peter! How are you buddy? It's really good to be around! And without doubt in and around such esteemed company!

Looking forward to seeing your amazing figures and painting again Amigo! :thumb2:

I hope you and all yours are very well.

Best Regards
James

[JR]

Welcome buddy .
Needless to say James I was chuffed to see your name come up the other day, another x member of the " other house "
That's looking good, so pulling up a chair, any coffee ?

[Guest]

Mr Race! Coffee will be served at regular intervals with the good biscuits on request! :tongue-out3:
Glad to have you front row my old friend!

Had family engagements all weekend and another tonight so no more Bling applied but hoping to get stuck in after work tomorrow.
Will fire up some more pics as it develops.