Patent Nonsense
So the Evil Empire wants to claim exclusive use of the phrase “Space Marine” do they? I think that it is a splendidly rapacious idea, and in the same vein will claim exclusive use of the words “Not“, “Quite“, “Mechanised” and “Mechanized“.
This is what a proper Space Marine on his personal drop pod looks like
I shall be sending stern letters off to the world’s armies telling
them to cease and desist the practice of referring to themselves as “Mechanised” infantry. To show that I am not completely heartless, the phrase “Armoured Dragoons” has not yet been bagged, so I shall suggest that as a palatable alternative.
Some resistance from authors and bloggers over my claim to “Not” is inevitable, but am prepared to be generous. If you are using “Not” for non-profit then a simple disclaimer sentence at the bottom of the page along these lines will do:
““Not” is being used without permission or endorsement of Chris Kemp and no claim or challenge to ownership is intended“.
This set me thinking, so I went carpetbagging for useful phrases preceded by “i-” and have now patented “i-trousers“. Wallace and Grommet should be good for a bob or two!
Vorsprung Durch Plastik
The divisional workshop of 21st Panzer Division put this captured
Dodge fuel bowser to immediate use, but threw their hands up in despair
when they saw the hotwheels!
A little spanner work saw 4 shiny new tyres from a 1/87 Roco set
replacing the, frankly alarming, originals. With a proper set of desert
tyres, this will be a welcome addition to 21st Panzer. The divisional
quartermaster has painted Balkenkreutze onto the cab doors before the Desert Air Force gets any ideas about claiming it back!
This intriguing photograph looks like a Faun ZR Tank tractor and trailer with three fuel tanks on the trailer (Update: Confirmed as a Hanomag SS-100 by YesthatPhil), but other than that, I know nothing about it at all.
The trailer appears to be this one above. A Sonder Anhänger 116. Any ideas on unit anyone?
15th Panzer Division
Usually, I don’t add national insignia or serials to models, but
for the Western Desert campaign I have been doing so as the toys look a
bit plain without, and because the numbers of AFVs are so low. Of
course, because of the operational scale, platoon markings are a bit
superfluous. Happily, 15th Panzer Division only put company numbers on
its tanks, so mine are numbered 1-5; a bit of a no-brainer really:
The Divisional HQ is using an SdKfz 251/10 platoon command vehicle, which is standing in as an SdKfz/3
radio vehicle. GeneralMajor Neuman-Silkow is in a car for comfort, but
could be in a ’251 or ’250. If he is lucky enough to get a bit of armour
later, he will probably pass his car on to someone else!
The Divisional Anti-tank Battalion has a Marder III SdKfz 138 and Recce elements represented by an SdKfz 222, which will doubtless soon be off to another division, or corps recce.
The Divisional Engineer Battalion has teamed up with an ersatz ROCO 1/87 model representing the the Divisional FLAK Kompanie for this shot. It will be back off to grassier climes soon!
8th Panzer Regiment is equipped with Pz III Hs.
115th Infantry Regimental HQ is followed by the armoured battalion and motorised battalion. They would really like a heavier car than a Kubelwagen to tow that 37mm.
Once painted, these PSC plastic late-war Germans should be a good match for my older Peter Pig Afrika Korps infantry.
The Flames of War resin Opel Blitz 3-tonners look a bit stubby next to the Zvezda models, but they still paint up nicely and have a certain raffish charm.
33rd Artillery Regiment is still borrowing limbers and command cars (a stand-in Kettenrad that is destined eventually for the Ramke parachute brigade) until it can find an SdKfz 11 and perhaps a Saurer SdKfz 254.
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