Combat Tanks Collection 1-7

Here are some photos of the models in the first few issues of the CTC Magazine. As I previously posted on the Auckland Wargaming Club Website the Combat Tanks Collection Magazine from the UK is now available here in NZ (having been available in Australia for sometime, and in a different format as the non-English Panzer Magazine in other countries)…

And you can subscribe on line or pick it up from most book stores. Each issue includes a 1/72nd Scale Die-Cast Model similar to those produced by Dragon Armor; Forces of Valor; and similar.

The magazine covers World War II and more Modern Vehicles. This is a great way to get some good quality models for Wargaming World War II & Modern conflicts in 1/72nd (20mm) scale. Issues cost NZ$19.95 each so you get the model for about half what a Dragon Armor, or about 1/3 the what a FoV, model would cost – albeit the models aren’t quite the same quality as the latter 2 manufacturers (e.g. no weathering effects). So here’s the photos of the first 8 models (Issues 1-7 plus the subscription bonus)…

While some of the tanks have a slightly ‘plasticy’ look, this is easily dealt with by doing suitable washes on the vehicle, then matt varnishing (or use of items like the Testor’s “Dull Coate” lacquer) and adding final weathering (such as with the excellent Tamiya Weathering powders). The issue is caused as most of the models are being cast in a coloured plastic that is used as the base colour for the colour scheme (i.e. they don’t have a primer or base colour painted on before camouflage or other detail is painted).

I’ve ended up picking up 2 of the Tiger E (at the introductory issue 1 price of about NZ$8 each you couldn’t say no really)… And 3 of the T-34/76 (below), which really is a very nice model and the best so far, as well as 2 of the Panther – even at full price these are very good value compared to Dragon. I have a large number of Dragon Tiger’s and variants, T-34’s, and Panthers, plus plastic kit versions too, but have still picked up extra of these CTC models as they are models of different units & camo schemes…

The next few issues are:

08. Chieftain MK V (BAOR, Brussels, Belgium – UK 1979)
09. Merkava III (188 ‘Barak‘ Armoured Brigade, Israel 1990)
10. M48A3 Patton 2 (1st Marine Tank Battalion, USMC, Da Nang, Vietnam – USA 1968)
11. PzKpfw. III Ausf.G (Afrika Korps, Sidi Rezegh, Libya – Germany 1941)
12. Leclerc Mk 2 (501-503‘eme RCC, France 1997)
13. T-54 (Vitava River Sector, Czechoslovakia 1978) – There is a Polish T-55A 1968 in issue 18 also.
14. Centurion Mk.III (8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars, Seoul, Korea – UK 1950)
15. C1 Ariete (132 Brigata Corazzata “Ariete” Norvara, Italy 2002)

See the website for more info & discussion forums: DeAgostini Combat Tank Collections and/or you can subscribe online in New Zealand at: Netlink Distribution. The series is intended to run for at least 60 issues (i.e. 30 months – but may run longer as it has been suggested demand may result in extra issues/models).

See the full final list of all 121 Models (120 Issues and the subscriber bonus) in my Combat Tanks Collection NZ Update post.