Hi Al,

No peeking , naughty, naughty

Cheers

Al

You are right Alan, if I'm naughty Santa might not bring me any more 1/35 ships, boats, or submarines. I still want that Higgins PT Santa! Al

Hi Al,

My kits just arrived, no chance of hiding them from SWMBO . As it's not a santa gift I shall have a look.

Also included in the order were the remaining two Model Victoria figures I'd been waiting on to finish the MAS boat, so hopefully I will get that finished off by Christmas.

Cheers

Al

Hello Alan, I'm very lucky in having a wife who allows me to indulge myself in a hobby she doesn't quite understand. She will sometimes question my sanity, but not my purchases. She doesn't quite get how there can be any enjoyment in an activity that frequently has me on hands and knees searching for a wayward part and mumbling to myself! There have been times when she wanted to know why I had to have a new kit when I already have one "exactly" like it? The subtle differences between the Elco, MAS, and Vosper are lost on her. But, then she will smile, shake her head, and tolerate this idiosyncrasy of mine. I'm very lucky indeed. Al

Now that the kit is out, here are some photos of boats falling within the group to which MTB 77 belonged tht you guys might find of interest.

Some of the boats were allowed to become quite ratty between refits


This appears to be a variation of the Admiralty Light Standard scheme


This photo, dated OCT44, shows the Vickers MK5 turrets replaced by a twin 20mm.


Al Ross

Thanks Al, for sharing those photos. They are interesting indeed. It looks like I'm going to have to pick up a 20mm to mount on the foredeck. In one of the photos it looks as if the pedestal for the 20mm has holes in it, to lighten the weight of the mount, I guess. Al

Thanks Al,

Bring them on, the more the merrier. No twin 20mm currently exists so there is an AM opportunity there.

Cheers

Alan

[url=http://www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProduct.cfm?category=13&subcategory=226&product=1597&manufacturer=0[/url]
How about this?
F

Just noticed that my 'local' dealer - 274k from here in Lisbon has the Mtb listed, though not in stock yet at...€110. Damn!

Hi Frasier,

Your link corrected

20mm Oerlikon cannon

Hi Frazer

You link

http://www.accurate-armour.com/showaaproducts.cfm?category=13&subcategory=226

They also do the Carley Life Raft.

The 20mm is a nice one.



CMK also do one and U Models have just released another. Hopefully a twin version may come alongl

Al

Ummmm, just looked up Mtb 77. She was based at Malta. and in the pic I found on the IWM site it looks like she might just have a 'liberated' Breda gun on board. I gather this was fairly common in the Medi. i need to look at some more reference....(hope this link works, if not, I'll upload it to my photobucket thingie...

THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR© IWM (A 14545)

P.S. Here's a Vosper I prepared earlier....One of the reasons I wish I could afford this kit is to draw from...

Hi Frazer,

Yip, looks like a Breda - the Italeri gun is pretty good. Well spotted.

Al

Yippee! It's here! I'm like a kid before Christmas and hard pressed not to open the box early (to check for any damage incurred during shipping of course). Al

The idea of mounting a captured Breda on the foredeck sure does appeal to me. It's hard to judge from the photo, but to me, the barrel of the gun looks longer than the Breda that is mounted on the MAS. It is possible there were various barrel lengths on different models of this gun. But do you think it could possibly be one of the 20mm Flak guns used by the German Army? Does anyone have any other photos of MTB 77, or know for sure if it is the Breda? Al

There's a picture in a book I have of 84 with a Breda - same flotilla. It was apparently quite common, nice light gun and açll you had to do was 'liberate' them from the Italians. They even had a captured M.A.S. boat in one flotilla....
F

Thanks Fraser, for the quick reply and the information. I believe Italeri have a horse drawn Breda in their catalogue. I'll have to check. Al

Yes they do indeed, Kit No. 6464. Looks like I'll have to be making another purchase. I just have to convince the Keeper of the Peace, aka The Wife, of the necessity of said acquisition. Al

Hi Al,

We're having similar thinking here, lol, lol. Looks like an interesting option to add for MTB 77. The British captured masses of Italian weapons during the Western Desert campaign and utalised a lot of them. MTO crew will take a bit of looking around for!

BTW what colours did you use for the depth charges on your MAS build?

Cheers

Al

Hello Alan, Apparently, great minds think alike. Mounting a captured gun is in keeping with that "Whatever we can beg, borrow, or steal." attitude that seems to be common among crews on both sides of 'The Pond'. As for the depth charges on the MAS, I painted them black with some dark grey dry-brushing. The detonators are brass with a black wash. I also added some wear along their edges with Testor's 'steel'. Al

Here's MTB 84. The picture is from Mediterranean MTBs At War by L.C Reynolds and H.F. Cooper. A must have and if you can get a copy of Home Waters MTBs at War. So much the better!

Hi Al,

Thanks for the thoughts on the Depth Charges, always thought mine looked crap, so I may roll them out and do them again.

Do we know the correct colours for MTB 77 and 84?

I truth I plan to do two, the second will have the 20mm on the bow and I hope by the time I get to it a twin version will be available too, but I'll happily do it wityh the .5 inch Vickers if one doesn't appear.

Hi Frazer,

Thanks for the additional picture, nice one, and a good view of the camo.

Al

Great photo Fraser, I am really liking the idea of mounting a Breda more and more. In the photo there appears to be some kind of railing forward of the gun, could it be a depression rail? The hull numbers appear to have a second 'shadow' color, it seems to me it could possibly be red. I hate it when a picture answers one question and raises two more! Al