Build Log – Tamiya Steyr 1500A : Part 12

Catch Up With Part 11 : HERE

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So here we are a few steps back, a little out of order I know but at least I did get around to doing it. This is the stowage that I’ve been working on. The vehicle is intended to depict one in an area expecting eventual hostilities, but just not expecting them that morning, but of course being in an area of Partisan activity the crew are still in combat gear, armed and ready.

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But it also means there’s a few things aboard that you wouldn’t normally find in a combat vehicle. I like to give my builds a little personal touch and a little bit of personality, so in this case under the seats is a violin case and a soccer ball, and in the back is a suitcase with a book tucked under the strap as well as a couple of tied up small cardboard boxes and a spare pair of boots.

Of course there’s also the basket of bread which has been dropped onto the seat as the crew dismounted under fire. This is the key to the story showing where they have been that morning, off into town to buy bread from the French bakery to take back to their post.

Due to sitting down while wearing all your kit can be a right pain ( ever wondered why current U.S. troops wear the bulk of it on their chest ? ) I’ve taken the mess tins off most and put them into a box where the crew will access them at meal times. I’ve also removed a few gas mask canisters and a bread bag and hung them around the vehicle ( one hanging by the jerry can, one in the back, one on the rear deck ). The important stuff like ammo pouches stay where they should be.

The driver’s G43 has fallen forward in the crash and the violin case and MG42 drum mag carrier have slid forward from under the rear seat at the same time. The jerrycan will be marked as containing water. There’s also a spare Kar98K with a rifle grenade in place and two grenade cases in the rear, one of which is being reached for by the figure at the back.

The MG42 laffette has been pulled out of the back by the same guy, and by the jerrycan is a trophy PPsH 41 showing that at least one of the crew is an eastern Front veteran.

The rolled stowage, bags, bread and ball are all made from Tamiya epoxy putty, the laffette is from the Tamiya “Machine Gun Crew on Maneuveur” set with just a few details added, and all the slings etc on the gas mask containers and bread bag are paper with wire clips and small mounts added from thin stretched sprue.