MNGTS-018
£58.00 GBP
Meng Model 1:35 - Soviet T-10M Heavy Tank - Plastic model kit #TS-018
With the start of the Cold War in the late 1940's the Soviets made a decision to bring into development the IS series of heavy tanks (IS - "Iosif Stalin", Russian for "Joseph Stalin"). Based on the IS-3 model, the first prototypes were designated IS-8 and IS-9. In 1952 the new vehicle was put into production under the name IS-10, however with the beginning of the de-Stalinization period following Stalin's death in 1953 it was renamed the T-10.
The T-10 adopted many features of the earlier IS models, e.g. it was armed with an enhanced 122 mm gun M1931/37 from the IS-2 and IS-3 tanks. The main improvements of the T-10 consisted of a larger turret mount, a better diesel engine, thicker armour and a hull extended to fit an engine cooling system. Also, the T-10 had seven pairs of road wheels unlike the IS-3 which had only six. In general, the T-10 showed similar performance as the IS-3, however it had more room for ammunition. In combat T-10 tanks were mainly used as a support to infantry troops and during breakthrough operations.
The T-10M was an upgraded version of the T-10 which entered production in 1957 at both the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant and the Kirov Plant. The major difference concerned the armament of the tank: the new M-62-TS gun was longer than the previous M1931/37 and featured a unique multi-slotted muzzle brake (a device that reduces recoil of the gun) as well as a fume extractor (a device on the gun barrel that prevents toxic gases from getting inside the vehicle's fighting compartment).
The development of more powerful engines, better suspension systems and light composite armour made it possible to increase tank firepower, armour protection and mobility. These developments allowed for replacing heavy tanks with lighter medium tanks. The T-10 was phased out in the 1960's and, along with the rest of the Soviet heavy tanks, replaced with the T-64, T-72, T-80 and other medium tanks.
Kit details:
- Clear lights, periscopes and optical equipment included£20.00 GBP
1:35 Resin Figure - USMC Scout Sniper (Vietnam)
US Marine Corps infantrymen and reconnaissance Marines graduated from the US Marine Corps Scout Sniper School are known as Scout Snipers. In order to get this designation, the snipers must be conferred the rank of Lance Corporal, be selected to enter the scout-sniper platoon, and finish a special training course.
The main skills of a USMC Scout Sniper include fieldcraft, marksmanship and map-reading. The primary battlefield role of the sniper is to support the infantry battalion by executing aimed fire on selected targets as well as to perform reconnaissance and surveillance tasks.
The kit is based on a photo of Lance Corporal Dalton Gunderson 3rd Marine Division scanning the area for VC snipers with a Winchester Model 70 during Operation Virginia in 1966. This picture is often misattributed as being Carlos Hathcock, a legendary sniper of the US Marine Corps. During the Vietnam War, Hathcock killed at least 93 Vietnamese soldiers. At that time an officer had to witness the kills to confirm them. That made the confirmation difficult as officers could not be present every time a sniper shot the enemy. Hathcock asserted that he had killed over 300 men in Vietnam. Further details on the original photograph: “I was a young scout sniper when I met Dalton. He was a humble professional as you would imagine. I have this picture framed and he said ‘hey that’s me’ and laughed. I asked him what the story was behind it and he said that everytime they left the wire there was a dog that would compromise them and alert the enemy that there was a patrol leaving. He was aggravated and finally decided to deal with it, when a reporter asked him to take the picture.”
The kit includes one unpainted resin figure of an American USMC sniper and a Winchester Model 70 sporting rifle (unofficially issued in Vietnam and used by Hathcock and others during his first tour).
£45.00 GBP
Highly detailed 1/16th or 120mm scale miniature, capturing the uniform and equipment of a WW2 Soviet Sniper. The kit comes with three head configuration options, fur hat with ear flaps known as the 'Ushanka', a head with helmet (2 parts) and a head with a cap known as the 'Pilotka'.
This is ideal for a diorama or bust depicting Soviet Snipers such as Vasily Grigoryevich Zaitsev. Between 10 October 1942 and 17 December 1942, during the Battle of Stalingrad, he killed 225 enemy soldiers. Zaitsev became a celebrated figure during the war and later a Hero of the Soviet Union, and he remains lauded for his skills as a sniper.
£45.00 GBP
1:35 - Major Herbert George "Blondie" Hasler - Resin kit
Herbert George "Blondie" Hasler was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Marines. In 1942, a 28-year-old Hasler planned and led Operation Frankton. The operation was a commando raid on Axis shipping in the French port of Bordeaux occupied by the Germans. The mission was to attach mines to the hulls of German cargo ships. Three of the five canoes were lost on the way to the port. The surviving crewmen including Hasler reached the port successfully, placed the mines and managed to drown four cargo ships. They then walked 100 miles to a French village where they met with members of the Resistance and started their journey back to England through Spain and Gibraltar. For this operation Hasler was awarded the Distinguished Service Order by King George VI.
One kayak was damaged while being deployed from the submarine, and it and its crew therefore could not take part in the mission. Only two of the 10 men who launched from the submarine survived the raid: Hasler, and his number two in the kayak, Bill Sparks. Of the other eight, six were executed by the Germans and two died from hypothermia.
This product is available in two scales, 1:35 and 1:24 and was painstakingly designed from scratch as a digital model.
The kit includes: 2 x miniatures (Blondie Hasler and Bill Sparks) in their folding Cockle Canoe named 'Catfish' made by Campaign Models (UK).
Now available, while stocks last.
£9.50 GBP
This highly detailed Diorama base is ideal for mounting one or two figures on display. Small enough to be displayed easily, big enough to provide enough space to set the scene. More styles coming very soon!
Dimensions: 58mm x 58mm x 4mm