Somua S-35: Arrowhead vs Pithead

I have been planning a 21st Panzer unit with captured French tanks for Normandy battles. I have a few Pithead models to experiment with before getting the full unit but as I got an unfinished Arrowhead S-35 in a recent job lot on ebay and I had finished the Pithead test S-35 I though I would do a post comparing the two models.

Pithead are 10mm metal models and are on the larger side of 10mm. Arrowhead are 1/144 scale multi piece metal kits and are sometimes a bit bigger than the plastic pre-painted 1/144 tanks from Takara or CanDo.

Size wise the two models are similar in height and width but the Pithead model is a bit shorter. The detail is a bit finer on the Arrowhead model but it is £3.99 compared to the Pithead £2.60.

Some individual shots of the Arrowhead model:

Some individual shots of the Pithead model:

Both look nice and to check out which is the most realistic on size I notice that the 15mm FOW vehicles had the S-35 a similar height and length to a Panzer III. So both S-35 are compared to a Takara Panzer II below; conclusion is the Arrowhead model is probably the closest to other 1/144 vehicles which is not a surprise given they are supposed to be 1/144. But there is not really that much in it.

So my conclusion? Well I guess you can say the Arrowhead model is a 'better' model but I am going to go with Pithead for the following reasons:

• for the 21st Panzer I also need R35, H39 and Marder I and Arrowhead only do the H35 other than the S-35. Mix and match of the two makes is not a good idea so this is a killer reason;

• Even if Arrowhead did the other tanks I need I would still go for Pithead. The extra cost to go with Arrowhead would be around £30+ for the unit and while that is not a huge amount, for a unit that would not get used that often it seems a waste. I am happy to spring for Arrowhead for main battle vehicles as they will get used enough, but not for such a scenario specific formation.

For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.

3D printed Sherman Calliope

I previously posted on my Calliope unit where I had bought 3D printed turrets. These turrets were some of the first models CDG made and the the 3D printing gave a very bobbly finish - nice detail but a rough surface. When I was buying all the late war experimental stuff I decided to get some replacements with the whole tank 3D printed. The first batch of purchases came with one Calliope and it lacked detail and so much sprue around the rockets that it was impossible to remove without destroying the model. I was not impressed and cancelled the Calliope orders yet to ship (I was buying as they came up on ebay and they only listed one of a model type at once). They did send me one they had cleaned up to replace the first and it was a different earlier material that took the detail much better and obviously did not shatter in the same way when the sprue was removed - it was not just my clumsiness honest! I know they have changed the material yet again since I last purchased so who knows what the Calliope is like in terms of detail and ease of clean up but

So first the finished model of the latest fully 3D printed Calliope. Overall it actually came up very nicely:

And now with the full unit (I was buying more as the latest FOW book has 5 in a unit):

Comparing to the old ones which use a Takaras M4A3 hull and the CDG turret. The Sherman versions are different, the new one is based on the M4A2 and is very slightly narrower and higher than the Takara model but overall fits in well in terms of scale.

The Calliope turret is much smoother than the earlier ones and the detail on the top of the rockets has printed much better too.

For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.

Panther Super Coelian Flakzwilling

I managed to get hold of some resin kits of the Panther Coelian Flakzwilling 44 when last in Taiwan. I have a previous post on the first one I did - here. I wanted to do a couple as the Panther Super Coelian Flakzwilling i.e with bigger longer barrel guns. I had to come up with a way of making the barrels which I will describe later in the post.

I did a couple as the Panther Coelian Flakzwilling 44 but replaced the resin barrels made in the same way as the Super Coelian guns.

Here are a few shots of the turrets with the replacement metal barrels for both the Coelian and Super Coelian.

I made the barrels by using lengths of normal domestic pins cut to the required length (snipping off the head and point with pliers). The muzzle pieces I cut from a length of tubing I had from a model shop. I cut the pieces off with a junior hacksaw as a saw makes sure the tube is not squashed. It then needs to be filed to be flat at each end (given the pieces are small the exposed end needs to be filed before cutting a piece off then it is glued on the end of the pin piece with the newly cut end showing so it can then be filed more easily). The tricky bit is drilling into the resin to glue in the new metal barrels - it just needs the right size drill bit and a very slow careful drilling action making sure the bit starts out in the centre of the resin part of the barrel as it is not that much thicker than the pin.

A couple of comparison shots of the Panther Coelian Flakzwilling 44 with the original resin barrels and with the replacement metal barrels. The resin barrels are slightly wonky but also rather fragile so I am much happier with the metal replacements.

In case of interest, links to my other experimental and prototype tank posts:

T28 super heavy tank (USA)
M6A2E1 heavy tank
Tortoise A39
Boarhound armoured car (Shapeways)
TOG 2 heavy tank
T-100z
T-100Y
KV5
KV 220
T44/ 85 (full platoon)
Prototype Tiger 1, Ausf H2
Dicker Max and Sturer Emil
Neubanfahrzeug
Panzer VII Löwe (Lion)
JgPz E 75 "Jagd Panther II"
Panther Coelian Flakzwilling 44
E75 standard tank (Tiger III)

For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.

US M6A2E1 Heavy tank

The last of my CDG 1/144 3D printed resin vehicles is the US M6A2E1 heavy tank. It is the version that has a huge turret and a 105mm gun. Some pictures of a unit of six of these heavy tanks.

Some comparisons with a Super Perishing. It is always a bit difficult with comparisons as different manufacturers vary on scale even if they are supposed to be the same. Even if the scales don't quite match it is clear that the M6A2E1 is a very tall tank and the turret in particular is huge. You can check out Wikipedia to see how much bigger the turret is on the M6A2E1 than the earlier version M6A1.

In case of interest, links to my other experimental and prototype tank posts:

T28 super heavy tank (USA)
Tortoise A39
Boarhound armoured car (Shapeways)
TOG 2 heavy tank
T-100z
T-100Y
KV5
KV 220
T44/ 85 (full platoon)
Prototype Tiger 1, Ausf H2
Dicker Max and Sturer Emil
Neubanfahrzeug
Panzer VII Löwe (Lion)
JgPz E 75 "Jagd Panther II"
Panther Coelian Flakzwilling 44
E75 standard tank (Tiger III)

For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.

Revell 1/144 US vehicles kit - a review

I recently bought some of the Revell 1/144 plastic US WW2 vehicle kits, it uses the vehicles that are in their landing ship model. The kit comes with two each of:

• M4 Sherman;
• M8 Greyhound armoured car;
• 6-wheel truck.

The models go together pretty well although care is needed when cutting the pieces out of the sprue as the connection s to the sprue are short and thicker than I would have expected.

First some pictures of the completed models then I will compare with another make for each one.

Here is a comparison of the Takara Sherman with the Revell model. Overall very similar in size on all dimensions.

The truck is compared to a New Millennium models truck, again fits in well in terms of all dimensions.

Finally the M8 is compared to an Arrowhead model. I don't have any Takara M8s any more but I did when I first made an Arrowhead model and they were almost identical in size. Compares well in terms of size although a bit shorter on the length than the Arrowhead model. (NB then Revell model has the turret cast as part of the model so does not move).

Other than the size comparisons there is a common observation for all three of the models in the kit, while they are pretty good on the detailing there is not as much surface detail in comparison to the other makes in each case. However at less than £9 for the kit containing 6 models it is certainly good value for money and it is not easy to get hold of the Takara Sherman these days.


For an easy way to see all my WW2 posts check out the WW2 Summary page.