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I believe this style of box dates from the early 1970s.
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The three kit releases in 1965 all related to the theme of amphibious warfare. The LVT-4 'Buffalo' kit, as well as being a useful item in it's own right for many years provided the only means of acquiring a Jeep in this scale. One of the reasons this post has been so long was my intention to build an LVT for the purpose. I finally finished it off on 2nd January, along with three old examples I had repaired and returned to service. More on these in a future post. The series 2 Buffalo kit was accompanied in this year by the DUKW (Series 1) and the LCM landing craft and Sherman.
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My 'new' LVT and Jeep during the build process. Fiddly wheels apart, it's not a bad kit - especially considering it's age.
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The finished Buffalo with Oerlikon gunner from Britannia. Much more menacing then the weapons included with the kit!
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The Jeep appears in my collection in a variety of guises. This fairly standard example currently serves as the HQ of 49 (West Riding) Division.
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A lightly modified Jeep serving with 1 Armoured Division in North Africa. The driver is the original kit part, gunner and tea drinker are by Dixon.
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The useful DUKW kit was also released in this year. Both of these examples were revived from amidst a box of well-used models. They currently serve as part of the logistics component of XXX Corps.
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The spares box yielded this old-style kit box.
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Not being in possession of an LCM, I am indebted to Paul at Plastic Warriors for sending me a selection of photos of his considerable fleet of LCMs. This pic shows a later style kit box and it's contents.
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A brace of Paul's LCMs disgorging their Shermans.
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Excellent vehicles even after all those years. My favorite is the DUKW.
ReplyDeleteWargame News and Terrain
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are! The rather unforgiving photo shows up some panel gaps on the LVT, but I expect that's got more to do with me. I always rather liked the DUKW too - a particularly robust model.
1965? Damn; you're younger than me!
ReplyDeleteHello Tim,
ReplyDeleteI have read with pleasure. My favorite brand Airfix...
Erhan
Ahhh, the memories. I love the L/C and Sherman.
ReplyDeleteNice post, LCT and Sherman a Classic
ReplyDeleteThe Buffalo a snazzy piece of kit, it looks like a tank but we know it isn't
The NZ lads doing Tarawa (Paul and Al) should have a US "silly 2nd Lt" rule in the game that makes the AMTRAC's be used by the infantry as a tank (and end up burning as a result)
The DUKW was always a "why" kit for me. I have one made, but don't know why I did it
I do know a small column were sent to try and get them down "Hell's Highway" with the idea to get them across the Rhine to the Paras in Arnhem (but it 'never happened' and they were chased back)
Out done yourself on this flashback my friend, very nice indeed!
ReplyDeleteCounterpane
ReplyDeleteWell that's made my day!
Ehrntly
ReplyDeleteAirfix has played a big part in my life too.
Steve's Wargame Stuff
ReplyDeleteIt never does any harm to have a nice nostalgic wallow.
Geordie
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that the MDF beaches in NZ will soon be crammed with blazing LVTs. I know what you mean about the DUKW - aside from looking cool it made no sense to but one in predference to a tank kit - until logistics became crucial to the game.
Don M
ReplyDeleteSure you're not just saying that 'cos it's all US kit?
Great posts Tim, absolute classic stuff here
ReplyDeleteAl
ReplyDeleteOldies but goodies. Like everything else from 1965....
An Oerlikon on a Buffalo is just WRONG.
ReplyDeleteShould be a Polsten.
Wg Cdr Luddite
ReplyDeleteIt might be a Polsten for all I know!
Nice info on great subjects. I think I need to get some DUKW's now. Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeletePaul
ReplyDeleteNo DUKWs? I'm shocked! Thanks again for the LCM photos.