discussion Spots on the Internet 2020

[Tim Marlow]

Looks like a converted passenger tram to me. Just out of interest, it was common for small industrial lines to be known as tramways In the UK, but they never used trams per she, usually horses. I wouldn’t think it rare for the engineering department to have old trams as transport or for supplies, which this one looks like. It seems unusual to carry regular paying Freight loads in this way though.

 

[Guest]

Horse-drawn trams were common in many areas before first steam and then electric ones came into use, so I wouldn’t find it at all unexpected that horses would remain in use on such lines in industrial areas after being replaced for passenger lines.

 

[Tim Marlow]

I know....my favourites were the Welsh narrow gauge lines. Some initially used horses to pull the empty trucks up the mountains, filled them up with slate, put the horse in a cart at the back, then traveled back down under gravity with a guy on a handbrake giving nominal control.

 

[Bortig the Viking]

Found this about them, makes sense considering the time.

Siege tram
During World War II, the work of St. Petersburg tramway changed completely. Operated and maintained mostly by women and children, they no longer just carried passengers, but were also used to evacuate equipment and valuables, transport fuel and convey the wounded. Due to power interruptions and snow drifts, by January 1942 the tram traffic stopped completely. Weakened by hunger and cold, people were forced to cover long distances on foot while empty trolley cars were disappearing into snow drifts, so restarting the tram traffic became a matter of life and death. After more than 150 km of overhead line had been restored, cargo trams resumed their service on March 8, 1942 and by April 15th five passenger tram routes were reopened. After that time, St. Petersburg’s tramway system never stopped working and by January 1945 the number of routes reached 20.

View attachment 371659

Cargo tram with wagon-dosage at Leonova depot (№2) in Saint

 

[Tim Marlow]

Nice pics Mark, those look purpose built alright.....very interesting stock.

 

[Gern]

Found this about them, makes sense considering the time.

Siege tram
During World War II, the work of St. Petersburg tramway changed completely. Operated and maintained mostly by women and children, they no longer just carried passengers, but were also used to evacuate equipment and valuables, transport fuel and convey the wounded. Due to power interruptions and snow drifts, by January 1942 the tram traffic stopped completely. Weakened by hunger and cold, people were forced to cover long distances on foot while empty trolley cars were disappearing into snow drifts, so restarting the tram traffic became a matter of life and death. After more than 150 km of overhead line had been restored, cargo trams resumed their service on March 8, 1942 and by April 15th five passenger tram routes were reopened. After that time, St. Petersburg’s tramway system never stopped working and by January 1945 the number of routes reached 20.



Cargo tram with wagon-dosage at Leonova depot (№2) in Saint

.... and wouldn't THAT make a great addition to a dio!

 

[Bortig the Viking]

Stalingrad perhaps....

 

[Dave Ward]

Looking for the February updates on the Trumpeter & HobbyBoss websites - both have been down for several days - could be the Chinese New Year, but given the coronavirus situation........................
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

On the Zvezda Facebook page - colour art for variants of their upcoming Pantsir

The Trumpeter version sells for £80+, and the Meng for £120+, so it will be interesting to see how this is priced!
Trumpeter & HobbyBoss websites still down.....................
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Further on the Zvezda Pantsir, from the Zvezda.org.ru website

It has 677 pieces, you can download the instructions, and see the level of detail. ( a lot! )
Zvezda has the Pantsir locally priced at 2900 Roubles - which converts to around £35 - It'll be revealing to see how much it will retail for in the UK
Dave

 

[AlanG]

At least £42 with VAT then

 

[Dave Ward]

I'll be happy to part with that sort of money, compared with Trumpeter & Meng versions!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

You can download the MiniArt 2020 catalogue from their website.........................
Rather underwhelming to be honest. They announced a new range of 1/48 Aircraft - but didn't say what!
Only two new moulding 1/35 models, a T-34/85 full interior model, and a Pz.kpfw. IV Ausf. J also full interior. Since MiniArt already produce the hull, engine, tracks of the T-34 for the Su-85, SU-122 etc, then its already halfway there for the first!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

On YouTube a wander round the Trumpeter/HobbyBoss stand at the Nurnburg Spielwarenmesse 2020

The Revell Stand - including the braille scale Marder, Grille - looking good - what scale is the new tool Blackbird??

Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

I found the answer to what scale the Revell SR-71 new tooling is.....................

It's in 1/48, but you'll have to wait for a year or more..................
Dave

 

[Nicko]

For the bike fans out there, I see that Hasegawa are producing two more Suzuki kits this year. An RG400 (near enough to the road going 500 for me) and an early model GSXR750.

Nick.

 

[Dave Ward]

On the MiniArt Facebook page 'in progress'


Why Afghans?, could they not be Kurds, or any other citizens of that area?

On the Zvezda Facebook page boxart for their upcoming 1/48 Mil-24V Hind

Their 1/72 Hind was very detailed, so this promises to be a real beauty (!)
Dave

 

[Guest]

Why Afghans?, could they not be Kurds, or any other citizens of that area?

These are Afghans (or perhaps from areas immediately surrounding that country): the hat worn by the man on the left is pretty typical for that part of the world, for example, and so are the long shirts worn by the men and the boy, while a woman wearing a blue burqa with that little piece of netting to allow her to see out is also very typical of Afghanistan.

Kurds typically dress in a much more western/modern style. I highly doubt you’ll find many Kurdish women wearing burqas — the kind of clothes in the following photo are probably rather more representative (ignoring the web gear and rifles, of course, which very few Afghan women would have either ):

View attachment 372082 (Wikimedia Commons)

 

[Guest]

On the Zvezda Facebook page boxart for their upcoming 1/48 Mil-24V Hind

Their 1/72 Hind was very detailed, so this promises to be a real beauty (!)
Dave

Saw this on Instagram yesterday, can't wait. After building the 1/72 I wanted a larger scale. I'd considered the big trumpeter but heard rumours of this so hung fire.

Might be a bit of a wait but I'll be getting one for sure.

 

[Dave Ward]

From an emailshot from MiniArt


I must say, what's the point in armour, if you stand up to fire your mg?
Dave