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1947 Mexico

Sherman 18

Master at Arms
1947 Mexico



Colonel Fernando Perez Herrera looked out across the Coahullu desert one last time before climbing down off the heavy tank. It was quiet; it has been two weeks since last contact with the Americans or their Allies. He looked around again before awkwardly sliding jumping off the tank. This gave Jose, his driver, a little shock as he moved to try and catch Fernando if he fell. Standing up right Fernando waved off Jose and then tugged his uniform back in place before making his way to the morning briefing.



The light wind carried the odor of grease, gasoline, exhaust and fresh soil. Fernando inhaled held it and then exhaled. He enjoyed the smell of the machines. As he started walking over to his command halftrack his thoughts drifted to the war. 1947 had not gone well for the Axis. At the end of 1944 Mexico finally sided with the Axis powers and y 1945 started to receive equipment and training from German and Italy. The equipment they got for training was Russian. The production lines for what the Emperor and his Field Marshals had selected for the new Army and Air Force were not up and running. The new German and Italian allies promised the lands of California, Arizona, New Mexico and of course Texas in return for helping them rid the world of the capitalist. Well that is what the Mexican military and people were told.



Colonel Herrera had an easy life before the war. His family owned a large plantation in southern Mexico. His family name made someone like himself, with no real direction for life. His older brother was going to get the plantation by being the first born. Fernando’s father tired of his rebellious attitude and sent him to a military school in hopes he would quit embarrassing the family name. Fernando was an intelligent boy he used that to his advantage in just doing enough to get by. After college he had a number of easy posts in the Mexican Army, the last being the presidential parade Calvary. When the corruption of the president was exposed and a few in political positions seized power his post was eliminated. With that came the order to command heavy tank company. In the training with these big Russian machines he still just got by. Once the invasion of America started, standing in the open hatch of a large tank something came to him. Fernando’s mind clicked, the rush of combat, the pace of the battle, he found life. Everything went like clockwork until the supply lines became long and vulnerable to the Allied Air Forces. The Mexican Army and the Axis powers struggled into Kansas. The Mexican Army’s JS-2s really wore out. The supply problem grew into real trouble for Axis. Outside a forgettable named Kansas town is when Fernando almost met his end. While in reserve and watching the attack by Honduras infantry and armor, as he stood in the commanders hatch it happened. Fernando was struck by a piece of shrapnel, taking his left forearm and settling in the left side of his head causing the loss of his eye. He woke up in a hospital outside of Mexico City. There he found out the doctors took his arm at the elbow and they were not very good at repairing face wounds. His face was now disfigured from his jaw to his forehead, sunk in, tracks of pink and purple lines. In the months of recovery he read and listened to the government controlled media how they were winning the war. War for liberating land
lost years ago. At night Fernando would quietly listen to news out of America. The war was not going well for the Axis. The Japanese forces on the west coast had been split in two and being reinforced or supplied was now almost impossible. Allied B29 bombers rained bombs on Mexico and other Central American counties at will. The Central American Air Forces is unable to replace their pilots. German troops are just too few in number to make a difference. There was German designed and Russian built equipment making the trip from Europe. The number of ships sunk by the Allies was growing monthly so who knew how long that would last. This he learned by breaking the law of listening to foreign radio. Fernando recovered enough to return to his company outside Austin Texas. They were refitting with the new VK4502 (P) Ferdinand Tiger. From there they fought defensive battles, the heavy tanks being able to hold up the advances for a little extra time. Not only did his company have to fight the enemy but they fought their new equipment. Fernando had learned to leave the broken down ones behind to hold off the Allies. The new Ferdinand’s had issues with the motor and overheating. The electrical system was dangerous; it would short out and catch fire. There was also the problem with the ammunition made in Russia. Then the biggest problem they had was the gun was weak. The new Allied tanks could and would out range them. The Allies had new Super Heavy tanks that could take shot after shot. His crews fondly named the Ferdinands, Tiger Shit.



Now the question was where the Allies would strike. All across the American front it has been quiet. Well, he thought, let’s hear lies from the Field Marshall as he grabbed a handle to pull himself up and into the halftrack.



Here is my entry into the fun campaign; In Another World 2. I love alternate history and this type of campaign drives my brain into overdrive.

I really like the looks of the VK4502 (P) so why not make it a Mexican Army heavy tank. I'll be using the Hobbyboss kit in 1/35 scale with some extras. I have had the kit on my watch list on eBay since the second In Another World was announced. I found a seller out of China that was below list with free shipping, but never pulled the trigger. In October a seller on the east coast had one a couple bucks cheaper and free shipping. Pulled the trigger since I was bogging down on a different build.

The stuff for the build;
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Start up photo
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I started off building the suspension and which I have yet to take pictures off. So as in the story the tanks were built in Russia, I felt with that I can make some parts cast with rough texture. Also some parts can be cast that on the real German prototype were not.

I then played around with texturing the turret and since the kit has a full turret interior why not use it. For the flat plate I used Testors liquid cement and softened the surface. Then stippled the soft surface with a stiff brush. I let the parts sit over night or longer before sanding while 600 grit sand paper. The casting texture I used 3M blue spot putty mixed with liquid cement.

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Up next was the upper hull. I drilled out the tool and cable mountings and then plugged the holes with stretched tree sprue. Filled the low areas with 3M blue spot putty. Finally textured with liquid cement, then sanding with 600 grit sand paper.
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Closing the upper and lower hulls

I made three covers from sheet styrene to covers the engine vents for blocking out the light.
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painted the inside of upper and lower hulls Tamiya flat black paint
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I also painted around the engine vents with the black paint.
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I did some flame cut texture on the parts from the kit for the front lower hull. I did this by swiping a number 11 blade on the surface.
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Great backstory! I loved IAW builds! You almost could have called your Mexican Tank "Stachelschwein" or "Puerco espin"
Looks like fun!! :ro:
 
Thanks everyone for the kind feed back. My proof reader now wants more to the story. They said; "don't leave me hanging, what happens next." I told them, well I just wrote it so I can build a model. Glad some liked it.

primed and base coated the turret basket. Base coat is Tamiya flat black

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That is all I got done yesterday
 
I'm slowly getting there. Hoped to have this in paint at least by last weekend.

PE on and I gave it some wear and damage with a hobby knife. I need to do some welds on parts before paint on the hull.
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I did the basis colors on the turret basket.

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Going to be a couple days before I get back to the bench
 
Thanks guys.

Had some time the last couple nights to work on this a little bit

Black base for some more parts, the black paint is Tamiya. Then I sprayed the road wheels with Tamiya hull red with some (not enough) Tamiya flat red mixed in.
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I sprayed the interior Tamiya white mixed with gray. Detail painting was done with Vallejo paints. Chipping was done with a torn sponge. I started with a interior wash from Ammo. Then used a dust wash by AK. I liked the look of the dust but it was not what I had in mind. I wanted the corners and other areas dirty. I then used a grime wash from Ammo and took it to far the other way.

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Well thats all as of this morning. Still lots to do and some redoing

Merry Christmas everyone. Stay safe.
 
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