#173 Bofors 40mm and Tractor
Bofors 40mm and Morris CS8 with crew deployed with the British 8th Army in North Africa 1942. Depicted with the Airfix 1:76 kit and figures.
Notes
Designed in 1930 by the Swedish Bofors Company, the Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun was adopted by some 18 countries and became the standard light anti aircraft weapon with the British forces.
The Morris CS8 15-cwt 4x2 General Service Trucks were made in large numbers and they became the backbone of the British Army.
By the 1942 British gun drill, the crew was organised approximately as follows:
| No | Appointment | Typical rank | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gun Commander | Sergeant | Commanded the detachment, selected/identified targets and controlled firing |
| 2 | Line | Lance Bombardier | Traversed the gun left/right |
| 3 | Elevation layer | Gunner | Elevated/depressed the barrel |
| 4 | Loader & firer | Gunner | Loaded the four-round clips and operated the firing pedal |
| 5 | Ammunition runner | Gunner | Supplied ammunition clips |
| 6 | Ammunition runner | Gunner | Supplied ammunition clips |
| 7 | Deputy to No. 1 | Bombardier | Assisted the commander and could take over his duties |
The Kit
A02314V - Bofors Gun & Tractor (A) is the 2008 boxing of the 1976 tooling. Purchased from Hobby Bounties for SG$23.90 (Sep-2021).
Paint Scheme
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloss Black | Humbrol 21 | ||
| tires | Matt Black | Humbrol 33 | |
| shells | Metallic Brass | Humbrol 54 | |
| interior | Matt Khaki Drill | Humbrol 72 | H81 |
| vehicle body | Desert Yellow | Humbrol 93 | H79 |
| soft covers | Matt Pale Stone | Humbrol 121 | H27 |
Figures - Gun Crew, 8th Army
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| boots | Matt Black | Humbrol 33 | 70.862 |
| skin | Matt Flesh | Humbrol 61 | various AMMO flash tones |
| uniform, helmet | Matt Khaki Drill | Humbrol 72 | H27 over H81, various Vallejo |
Initial Construction
Planning the diorama and preparing the ground work
Painting and Weathering the Morris CS8
Painting and Weathering the Bofors 40mm
Figures
Final Diorama Assembly
Final Gallery
For an alternative way to experience the final diorama, see Command Vol1: Bofors Away!
Final Gallery - Diorama Details
Credits and References
- this project on scalemates
- Bofors 40mm Gun & Tractor Airfix No. A02314 1:76
- on scalemates
- on airfix.com
- instructions
- Purchased for SG$23.90 from Hobby Bounties Sep-2021
- WWII British 8th Army Vintage Classics Airfix No. A00709V 1:76
- on scalemates
- Purchased for £4.99 from airfix.com Jan-2024
Research References
- Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun
- Morris CS8
- https://history-making.com/product/british-tank-crew-uniform-north-africa-1940-1941/
- https://www.fategate.com/en/archiv/i/4321-ww2-british-forces-charles-black-8th-army-infantryman-north-africa-1942
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_Army_(United_Kingdom)#The_battles_of_El_Alamein
The Bofors 40mm AA gun
YouTube by Lessons from the front
Build References
Airfix 1:76 Bofors 40mm Gun & Tractor Full Build and Review
YouTube by Scale Stuff
