I’ll let you know, once I stop twitching…
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I built the CMK MUNGA a few years back, while amassing Feldjager vehicles for my MP collection.
It was an interesting build that included a vacuum-formed top. I added gas cans and used decals from a forgotten German source that was quite comprehensive.
I also collected a metal Iltis about the same time. If I can find a reasonable price, I’ll add the Ace Models 1:35 Iltis.
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Nice little model Jim; I’m still wrestling with the sort of carrier-film of fairly substantial resin and have so far managed to break the chassis! I am disappointed in that there’s no spare wheel but also observe that the wheels in the kit are pretty poor, so I envisage utilising the Elite ones - even though they’re cast less than perfect - and see what I can do. I think it’s going to take me the rest of the evening just to remove the aforementioned chunky carrier pieces of resin (and try not to shatter anything else) to get it all prepped for assembly tomorrow.
Or, or, I might just have a gin and tonic!
PS: Was the source of your decals TL-Modellbau perchance? I use them a lot.
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I checked Scalemates, and apparently Ace Models has a MUNGA in 1:35 listed as a future release (2024), so I’m guessing 2025 sometime. No photo on SM listing. Plastic would solve that pesky resin boat-load of issues! SM doesn’t show a product listing for the Elite kit.
I believe the decal source was TL-Modellbau. There was quite a selection of markings on the site.
Gin and tonic… well, so much for lunch!
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Whilst slowly working on the CMK MUNGA – with precious little joy coming from the process – I thought I’d display my Concept of Ops, and set it all out as I envisage it:
Hopefully, it’ll all be self-explanatory; the wall has gone up overnight, a JNCO from an RMP patrol in their MUNGA, have, having found their normal route barred, stopped to remonstrate with the East German officer present. Of course, nothing will change the price of fish – and JFK wasn’t ever going to go to war over Berlin. The RMP’s fellow JNCO, the driver of the vehicle, looks on as the conversation gets heated, yet will go nowhere.
There will be a barbed wire barrier between the two protagonists – denoted at this stage by the singleton concrete blocks
A line of soldiers look on at the one-sided conversation (obviously only one shown at the moment).
And that folks, is the plan!
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I like the idea of this Brian- a neat way to tell the story.
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Thanks Karl I like to think so(!)
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Jesus …not hanging around mate
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No - unusual for me! Although to be honest that was just a bit of a staff check as it were. I haven’t even finished prepping the resin bits of the CMK MUNGA yet - and those I have - I’ve managed to break!
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Is that the German officer figure from Tamiya’s old kubelwagen?
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Excellent scene you have planned there Brian. I noticed you did some sculpting on one of the Rast German dudes, can’t wait to see how this comes out!
That Munga is a cool little vehicle!
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Haha! Eyes like a rat in a strange sh*thouse as we used to say; well spotted! it is indeed and I will explain.
When amassing the kits and figures for this I chanced upon Resicast’s RMP figure from WW2; he’ll need a few mods to his uniform and equipment but as a starter, was really the only game in town, and the pose just what I wanted for this scenario. However, he’s quite a weedy figure in 1:35.
As the basis for an NVA officer was going to be a 1:35 German Wehrmacht figure from I then, knew not what where, I began to look around. Tamiya had some good poses as did ICM, but, they were relatively large compared to the poor old RMP. Now, most RMP I’ve known throughout my career were quite handy types physically; they simply had to be to quell Tommy Atkins when he was kicking off.
All I could think of doing was to scale down a bit and remembered the ancient Tamiya offering. It’s still, in my opinion, quite a good moulding, I don’t think I’ll even change his head, although he’s a bit expressionless. Anyway, that’s why he’s there!
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I forgot to mention: the Alanger figures for the NVA soldiers tie-in perfectly size-wise too.
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One of the first figures I built and painted in 1/35 so fond memories of it. It also makes me think of stereotypical German officers in old war films.
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I agree; the Kubelwagen was one of the first kits I bought in 1:35 and I thought this figure was absolutely exquisite; the pose, the gloves, the detail, fantastic. The box art sublime. I think the same figure was used in their Schwimmwagen kit too.
The beauty of it is I don’t have to do very much at all to make him NVA; sand off the Iron Cross, chest eagle and the like, and then really just a paint job. The collar and tie ensemble came a fair bit later, so should be an easy fit (famous last words)!
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Thanks to Richard50 for the tip off re these; received this Saturday last and should have posted earlier - but there was Remembrance Sunday to survive first (!)
Anyway, many thanks Richard!
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Whilst construction of the Munga continues to frustrate – yet of course, is essential to the whole concept – I thought I’d experiment on the wall sections; I’ve been seeking a solution to replicating the rather slap-dash cement-work on the construction blocks. I tried superglue and that sort of worked but shrank a bit so needed going over again. Today however, whilst foraging around my local model shop I chanced upon this Vallejo plastic putty which has the advantage of a (separate) thin nozzle so is easier to apply. I’ve just conducted troop-trials on the Red Zebra wall sections and reckon I’ve just about got there. A bit of sanding once dry and job done (apart from painting which will be fairly laborious).
The original of course was erected overnight so no reason to point-in the cement work, after all, they were seriously against the clock!
The wall sections I’m using do not exactly replicate the East German efforts, or at least my scouring of the www didn’t throw up any precise images, but one has to start somewhere. I think with the wire, figures, and vehicle on display the idea will all come together. I hope so; now, back to the Munga and my inventory of Anglo-Saxon curses.
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To quote the former Staatsratsvorsitzenden: “Niemand hat die Absicht eine Mauer zu errichten”
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Sounds like it’s coming along very nicely Brian if not easy, I wouldn’t worry about the exactness of the concrete blocks, close enough is good enough.
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