. . . Three . . . Four? We looked at this
oddity here ages ago, can't remember when now, but I know I've highlighted the
weirdness of a Pz.Kfw. II 'Luchs' (lynx) light-tank chassis on a M4 Sherman
medium tank, however I was convinced mine had a broken driver (Matchbox Battle Kings piracy), so when I
saw one in a charity shop days (or hours?) before the latest Lockdown . . .
. . . top left, I bought it. I got home to
find a parcel from Chris Smith, which had another (top right), and they were
different, so I dug-out the third (bottom-middle, to find the driver was
fine!), and found more differences, not great, but they are there.
Chris's on the left here has the Hong Kong
in a sort of 'postmark' cartouche, the Charity shop purchase has added carpet-wheels,
while the old one is a hybrid of the two, sans wheels but with the same mark as
the wheeled one.
Like I say, not great differences, but they
confirm the evolutionary nature of such things, as we looked at previously with
the pencil sharpener/tourist figurines. I have no idea which order they go in,
so it's only for curiosity's sake . . . and 'completism'!
The current iteration of these
common-enough tourist trinket/gift shop/museum novelty pencil sharpeners, as
far as armour goes, is an M1 Abrams I believe, but there was
also an M60 with an ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour) suite, and I've picked-up one of those
at some point. Its running-gear is not much better to be honest, having more in
common with those cheap Pioneer knock-offs
of Matchbox 1-76 type die-casts.
The two together, they're 'box-scale', but
might suit 1:100th scale war-gaming? I won't bother with branding on these;
there are maybe 20+ boxings around the world, most of the main
importers/jobbers and some odder firms more normally associated with dolls
house accessories, games and such-like have also had a go, although Play Me in Spain (tag'able) may have been originator on some?
While the superstructures on my three are
the same, when we get on to the canons (yeah . . . one day!), we'll see that
there are different versions as well as variations within one version, with two
or three different Mortars, Naval Guns, Catapults, Trebuchets or Battlement
canons, so it's quite complicated!
Thanks to Chris for my third [different] M4 Sherman
pencil sharpener!
I think they're fun, but can't go with the Luchs wheel system- its such an obscure vehicle that I suspect something more mundane (and there are few small models to rip off, as far as I know! Perhaps a German half track?
ReplyDeleteSorry Andy, but it really is the most esoteric combination they culd come-up with, it's not just the arrangement it's the six-spoke cast-iron wheels, the half-tracks all have stamped discs!
ReplyDeleteH
Hey, the lynx has unpierced road wheels with radiating (rounded, not distinct) ribs!
ReplyDeletemmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . . I think the Bellona guide had various low-run 'Luchs' one of which looked like this . . . but, now you've got me wondering if they've used the Atlantic 1:32nd Kettenkraft's running gear!!?
ReplyDeleteH
Very nice blog you have heere
ReplyDelete