Belgian Alvis Hefty Chasseur Ardennes

 Belgian Alvis-Straussler Hefty truck

While I was researching my Belgians, I came across a reference to the Alvis designed hefty artillery tow truck, finding info on this beast is quite difficult as it seems a number of models were produced and all called "hefty".

The most common image is the trial version, but I believe the Chassuer Ardennes actually purchased the fifty vehicles of the C model. I could find little or no record of how many were built of each type, it seems several different were in production at the same time, all seemed to have the pivot in the chassis though. 

I know I started this beast almost 5 years ago but it is now complete and awaiting paint! 

WIP 1 from 5 Years ago

WIP 2

Finally Completed this year quite happy with it. Now to the paint shop! 

This year I want to complete a lot of my parked projects and get back to completing my 20mm early ww2 kit and armies.

The Belgians ordered fifty of these primarily for towing artillery and AT guns for the Chasseur Ardennais as far as I can research only thirty five were delivered before the war commenced. 

Alvis-Straussler Hefty gun tractor in Belgium

The C model Alvis Hefty, was conceived by Nicolas Straussler and presented to London Commercial Motor Show in 1935. It was powered by the Ford 3.6L V8 65 hp engine, weighing 2.2 T empty and was articulated and pivoted in the middle to make it possible to cross uneven ground.

cheers

Matt

Ww2 Dutch staff car

Dutch Opel Staff Car 

I was looking for a suitable staff car for my Dutch when I chanced across a photo of them using a Opel car, so I went looking and found this resin 1/76th Wespe Models version, it was a fiddly kit, with a bit of work to get things to fit, and a little bit of flash, being resin you need to be gentle with the build and it may last some wargaming through gentle handling. 

The cobblestone base is scratch built and the driver is HAT plastic German, overall quite happy with the completed piece. It will join my Dutch command set. Next up some AA and tow. 

Cheers

Matt

Vickers Carden Lloyd tankette

 Dutch armour

The Vickers Carden Llyod MG Carrier

A bit of a spanner in the works this weekend tested positive to Covid on Friday after feeling a little off. So last two days in bed, I thought today I may get a chance to do a bit on the desk, but concentration down to much to paint figures, but good enough for vehicles I thought. This vehicle has been part finished for some time all it needed was highlighting and marking up to complete. So on and off over a few hours I managed to get it done. Quite happy. The miniature is from Early War Miniatures range of Dutch.  

The Dutch had five of these for the invasion in 1940 and they were the only tracked vehicles in service. All of the Cardenas Llyod carriers were all named after big cats. I selected Cougar / Poema and painted it on by hand along with the Dutch triangle. As there were only 5 that is the total required for Rapid Fire Rules. 

Next up will be some more horse drawn equipment and some AA. 

Cheers

Matt

Dutch Chevrolet supply truck

Dutch supply truck

Finally had some time this week as we are in the middle of a major restoration of the third floor of the house, 200sqm of dust to fight with over the next two weeks at least! I have decided to complete some pieces from my Dutch project this year so they are front line at the moment. 

First to be completed is the Minairons miniatures resin truck. Not the prettiest model, and it needs a lot of filling to fix but with a bit of work and some extra bits placed on it such as fuel tank, jack box and tow hook it gets closer to the Dutch model. A lot of filling of the resin and even after a few dunks in hot water I could not correct the bent truck bed. After enough fussing I decided to add some scratch built and 3d printed bits for a removable load and some SHQ metal pieces also, including the driver. The truck will join my HQ unit for the artillery. 

More Dutch coming this weekend as I need to complete my artillery build for the Wargamers forum. 

Cheers

Matt 

General Major Heinrich von Roggenbach

 

General Major Heinrich Adam von Roggenbach

Another Baden officer off the desk from Murawski miniatures, quite happy with the green stuff sculpted plume, feathers and extra epaulette fringe to make him a general. 

Heinrich Adam von Roggenbach Born on the 19th of September 1787 in Bruntrut (ain) Switzerland, his father was Adam Xaver von Roggenbach was chief court marshal of the bishopric of Basel and after the french revolution in the court of Baden where he eventually made privy counselor of the Duke.  

Heinrich served as a page from 1803-04 in the court of King Gustav Adolf IV of Sweden. In 1805 he attended the officers college in the Austrian army, then seen service as in the Merveldt Uhlans in the 1805 campaign and was at Austerlitz. When the grand duchy was formed he returned to serve in the Baden Army in the dragoon regiment von Freystadt, first as a squadron commander and then later major in the light dragoon regiment von Freystadt and served in Prussia in 1807, Austria 1809 and in the 1813 campaign. After Baden left the confederation he was made General January 1814. He was placed in command of the raised Baden units in 1815, but they never seen action.

 

Cheers

Matt

Count Wilhelm Ludwig August von Hochberg, Prince of Baden

In 1808 at the age of 16, Wilhelm was made a colonel of a 2nd Baden Graf Hochberg Infantry regiment. When the fifth coalition war began in 1809 the French allied confederation armies marched against Austria's uprising. Wilhelm joined the French Marshal André Masséna staff as a ADC. Wilhelm was present at Abensberg, Eggmühl, Aspern and Wagram.

Baden as part of the Rhine Confederation to provided troops for the campaign against Russia in 1812, the 20 year-old Count Wilhelm von Hochberg to command the approx. 8,000-strong Baden infantry brigade. The troop formation became part of the army corps of Marshal Claude-Victor Perrin gen. Victor and the division of General Herman Willem Daendels .

When the Grande Armée retreated , the Baden troops covered the crossing over the Beresina and distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Beresina on November 28, 1812 . However, on December 7, 1812, the Baden Brigade disbanded near Wilna . Wilhelm was able to withdraw to Marienwerder , where only 145 men from the original formation arrived.

On November 20, 1813 the Grand Duchy of Baden left the confederation and joined Prussia, Austria and Russia in the wars of liberation. The Baden Landwehr and Landsturm were organised on the Prussian structure, and the introduction of general conscription in December 1813 enabled a total of 16,000 men to enlist be summoned. Reinforced by troops from the principalities of Liechtenstein and Hohenzollern, they formed the VIII Army Corps under the command of Wilhelm Graf von Hochberg. The corps besieged the French fortresses of Kehl , Strasbourg, Landau in der Pfalz and Pfalzburg and returned to Baden in June 1814. During the summer campaign of 1815, another field division had to be raised, but it did not take part in any combat operations.

cheers

Matt