The Scale Modeller's Desk

A heavy Self Propelled Gun used by the Russian Armoured columns. The main gun was a 152 mm Howitzer and was able to deal with the German Tiger and Panther Tanks, this earned the vehicle the nickname of 'Zvierboi' meaning Animal Hunter from the troops in the field. This model shows a vehicle from the third Baltic front, 1945 with it's complement of 'Tankoviy Desant' troops preparing to go into action to halt German infantry from approaching the vehicle from it's flanks. The vehicle shows signs of the ever present damage associated with Soviet armour from the Great Patriotic War.

F4U-1A Corsair Black 77/NZ 5277 RNZAF, Solomons 1945. This aircraft wears an irate Donald Duck motif and a variety of mission markings and kill tallies, including eight large barges and nine vehicles. As usual for RNZAF Corsairs, it became very weathered and grubby whilst in the Pacific Islands combat zones. Unlike most Airforces, RNZAF aircraft were distributed to Service Units who in turn allotted individual aircraft to Squadrons. This machine was an ex USMC aircraft passed onto the RNZAF in May 1944. It flew with 15.Sqn/No.1 SU Guadalcanal, No.15/No.25 SU and No.2 SU in Bougainville, No.15 Sqn/No.2 SU Torokina,No.14 Sqn/No.30 SU Guadalcanal,No.16 Sqn/No.30 SU and No.21 Sqn/No30 SU both in Nissan Island and finally with No.21 Sqn/No.30 SU Jacquinot Bay.

A South Vietnamese Air Force A1-H Skyraider attached to the 83rd Special Operations Group in the mid 1960's. This elite group was uniquely camouflaged and carried no South Vietnamese national markings other than the rudder markings. They carried the Groups insignia on the fuselage sides only with the inscription Than-Phong which directly translates as 'God Of Wind' but it's literal meaning was Kamikaze. This group conducted many clandestine operations over North and South Vietnam, mainly at night and supporting other Vietnamese ground units. Due to the long loiter times that these aircraft can attain above any required zone, they carried a huge array of weapons and extra fuel. This aircraft is configured for a ground strike mission to support special forces. The artwork seen on the engine cowling depicts one of four characters used in the Vietnamese game of Co-Bai-Bat in short pronounced as 'Buk'the lettering is called Cuu-Sach; The Better.

This later version of the T34-76 series was up-gunned to an 85 mm main gun and redesigned turret and portrays an example seen during the battle For Berlin in 1945. The troops on the vehicle were called 'Tankoviy-Desant' and were utilised to repel German troops from attacking the Tanks flanks. Russia never developed troop carriers like other Allied nations in WW-II, so each Tank carried soldiers into battle. As could be expected, these Tank Riders sustained enormous losses in the Eastern Front Battles. The Tank has been hastily hand painted with slogans and air recognition panels to stop allied fighter bombers from attacking them during the fierce battles around the German Capital.

One of the many Lend Lease vehicles given to Russia during WW-II. This model shows the M3 Stuart light tank with it's 'Tankoviy Desant' troops on the cramped rear deck. The scene depicts the Tank preparing to go into action in a large village, the troops are already disembarking under covering fire as they prepare to deal with opposing Infantry units, these tank riders would keep pace with the assault on foot at the same time protecting the armoured units from attack from their flanks and the rear.

Scale Modelling club in Ballarat.