WW2 British softskins

[ochoin]

Specifically, I have 4 Bedford 3 ton trucks (with canvas covers) to paint for Normandy & beyond.

Not only can't I find a painting tutorial, I can't pin down exactly what colours to paint them. There are a number of wargaming images online but they vary greatly in colour.

Is there a definitive colour-scheme? If so, is it possible to give it to me in Vallejo paint colours?

donald

[Panzer21]

https://mafva.co.uk/british-vehicle-camouflage-1939-45/

https://www.mcmodelpainting.uk/products ... rope-39-45

For airbrush, but it lists the colours so should be able to convert / identify.

Neil

[ochoin]

You are a champion. Many thanks.

donald

[Spanner]

Thanks from me too, Neil. With my supply of Humbrol paint so uncertain, discontinued colours (like 155- WHY?) and my stash diminished, I may eventually have to switch to acrylics meself.

[ochoin]

I am building a Normandy to 1945 British armoured division for Rapid Fire Reloaded. To do so, I'm re-working a large-ish & eclectic collection.
I'm more or less following the RFR orbits. However, I'm adding a lot of softskin transport (eg 5 Bedfords) rather than the M5 half tracks; so not totally accurate. Why? Because I had all these unmade truck kits & only 1 M5. As transport is largely decorative in most games, I don't think it matters too much?

My 2 armoured squadrons are both 2 X Cromwells + a Firefly as per the Orbit. However, I also possess 3 X Churchills which are my favourite British tank. Is there any way I can use these in this theatre?

donald

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

I never realised until very recently, that there was a Bedford lorry that could carry an entire infantry platoon and all its integral weapons. Did any other nation have such vehicles?

[ochoin]

My PSC Bedford lorries are huge - comparable to a Sherman in size.
Of course, I'm using only 1 per infantry company - scaled down.

donald

[Spanner]

I am building a Normandy to 1945 British armoured division for Rapid Fire Reloaded. To do so, I'm re-working a large-ish & eclectic collection.
I'm more or less following the RFR orbits. However, I'm adding a lot of softskin transport (eg 5 Bedfords) rather than the M5 half tracks; so not totally accurate. Why? Because I had all these unmade truck kits & only 1 M5. As transport is largely decorative in most games, I don't think it matters too much?

My 2 armoured squadrons are both 2 X Cromwells + a Firefly as per the Orbit. However, I also possess 3 X Churchills which are my favourite British tank. Is there any way I can use these in this theatre?

donald

The Bedford QLT was the truck used for the Motorised Infantry battalions in the Armoured Divisions, Donald. Only the Motor Battalion with the armoured brigade was in 1/2 tracks, at least until late '44. There's a great ORBAT and commentary site at http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/mo ... its.23759/. From the mention of Cromwells as the main tank then I'll guess you're doing 7 AD?

I've started a force for Battlegroup- a SQN of the GAD (because Tim and Pete already had 7 AD and 11AD) Recce Regt and a COY of Motor Infantry, with some hangers-on. Still a long way to go and I've been using Humbrol 159 as the base coat. No idea what the Vallejo equivalent is.

GAD vehicles.jpg (193.47 KiB) Viewed 249 times

Part-painted WWII stuff. The tallish blokes in the back are my SS troops disposal squad.

I never realised until very recently, that there was a Bedford lorry that could carry an entire infantry platoon and all its integral weapons. Did any other nation have such vehicles?

The QLT was a big bugger and had to be, to carry a platoon and all it's kit. I don't know, mate. There were a lot of trucks big enough to take a platoon, but whether they were used for such is another question.

PS The 1/2 track is in Humbrol 150.

[ochoin]

A very good site, thank you very much. A useful resource. Good to know I can use my soft skins with a degree of plausibility.

And yes, I have nearly finished building the 7th AD. Now this formation alone is far too large for any type of rational game but there's been talk in the ranks of possibly doing WW2 for next year's two day Show game.

The game, on a huge table, might go like this:
'Operation Make-believe'
My British airborne battalion to take and hold a bridge crossing a river on the edge of the Reichswald. My British armoured division to link up & relieve airborne. On the flank British infantry (one of my pal's Black Watch of course! 153 BDE of 51st HDE DIVE) fighting through Reichswald on a flank to relieve pressure on the airborne. There should be 3 or more objectives across the table that can determine victory.
On the German side, several of us have sufficient matching late-war forces to create several kampfgruppe - we have RFR German forces for Arnhem, 2 Armoured regiments & other various battalions of Grenadiers & German paras.

The plan is we could organise the game to run as 2 or even 3 more or less, separate & simultaneous games that would easily be played out over the two days.

This is all still in the talking stage & the next Show is just over 12 months away (we still have the Sudan show game in 3 weeks).

donald

[Spanner]

A bit like Comet or one of the other proposed jump operations that got cancelled. It should make for an interesting game, mate.