The Commander Series Forum

With NATO going on the offensive in Septembers crisis point it became obvious that my Americans lacked the engineering assets needed to conduct bridging operations.This situation was made worse by no manufacturer making any of the models needed...or so I thought..



These are Scotia BM0046 Alligator ferry ramp. I'am sure these are in fact M812 5-ton with Ribbon Bridge. A US copy of the Soviet PMP Bridge, I now have enough for 2 bridging companies.

As well as the Ribbon bridge I ordered a BM0045 M2 Alligator ferry;
http://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/p717/s...

I don't think these are the same vehicle, to my mind this will make a very good M88MFAB/F Amphibious bridging system.

Excellent news. Does Scotia do the ribbon bridge deployed as well or is that a scratch build in the offing?

Cheers

Andy

Hi Andy,
it would appear not,these are from Scotia's modern British range. I think a scratch build might be required unless Scotia would supply the deployed bridging from their Soviet range. I'am tempted just to use the existing bridging I already have for my Soviets.
I stumbled onto these by accident having originally ordered one of each of these models about 18 months ago for my Brits and being a bit nonplussed when they arrived, and not sure what they were supposed to be, they got filed away in my bits box. I stumbled upon them again at the weekend and realised they matched the pictures of some engineering units in a Tankograd book I have. So I decided to take a punt and ordered enough for 2 companies of ribbon bridge and a pair of ferries.
As a French player you might be interested in Scotia FM0046 EFA Amphibious Ferry, pic here,about half way down; http://www.microarmormayhem.com/Models_Fro...
Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

Yes, got the EFA, I assembled it in travel mode as I couldn't face the amount of grinding/filing needed to level the main ferry body with the ramps. I've also got the Leguan bridge kit and the French equivalent of the ribbon bridge. I'll post some piccies tonight. The Leguan bridge was a challenge to put together without instructions and the ribbon bridges comes on massive articulated lorry transporters. Cool!

Cheers

Andy

Maybe this might fit the request for a deployed floating bridge: http://www.shapeways.com/model/934042/1-300-pms-bridging-set-x-10-deployed.html?li=search-results&materialId=6

BTW, visit Mastersofmilitary, they do a lot of modern equipment in 6mm not covered be other ranges.

That's a nice set and reasonably priced. I've got a set of 2 ramps and 2 centre sections from Scotia, but those are tempting.

Thanks

Andy

French bridging equipment.

EFA ferry and Leguan bridgelayer


PFM pontoon bridge in travel mode


PFM bridge deployed


Details of codes etc on my blog http://sedimentswargameblog.blogspot.co.uk...

Steve, I have always wondered what they looked like very useful for the US not very British looking.
Andy, those French are awesome in more ways than one. Can't wait for September! Cheers Richard P

Andy,thanks for posting those pics,they look great.Have you any pics of the Scotia rubber boats you did for your US marines last year?
Richard,I agree not British looking at all. Just glad I found them as American bridging kit isn't, as far as I know, produced by any of the other mainstream manufacturers.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

There are some pictures of the rigid raiders on his blog here

http://sedimentswargameblog.blogspot.co.uk...

Note the comment about ordering them manned next time.

Cheers

Richard P

Hi Steve/Richard

I did get some rigid raiders with crew (including an LMG armed version), and some of the rubber boat versions. Can't find the photos on the blog, so must have forgotten them. I'll dig them out and take some photos over the weekend.

Cheers

Andy

Thanks Richard.
Cheers
Steve

Sorry, forgot about WMMS over the weekend, so got them out tonight.



The rigid raider on the left and rubber raft on the right, both with crew and passengers. The rigid raider seems a better overall model, the rubber rafts are a bit blobby.

Codes and some more pics on the blog.

http://sedimentswargameblog.blogspot.co.uk...

Cheers

Andy

Oo, they look handy! Something else to put in the want but don't actually need pile

Andy,
Thanks for posting, good to see what they actually look like.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Andy,

They look great. I like the look of the rigid raider. Is that the 8 man rubber raft? I was thinking of getting some of the 12 man ones as well as 8 man.

Cheers

Richard P

I'll be honest Richard I can't remember. I think based on a blob count it's the 10-12 man but could be wrong. I found the rubber boats quite challenging as you have to interpret what the blobs represent and there was quite a bit of variety in the way the castings came out. I finished up dry brushing uniform colour and then adding blobs of flesh colour for faces and hands where it seemed right on each casting. Similar for the black grey for weapons. The rigid raiders were much better defined IMHO.

Cheers Andy

Steve,
Are the ribbon bridge sections separate to the truck base? I could use them on a H&R West German MAN 7t base.
Cheers
Richard P

Hi Richard,
the ribbon bridge sections are separate. They appear identical to their Soviet equivalents.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

I will add a few to my next Scotia order.

Cheers

Richard P

Hi Richard,
I wonder if its worth getting in touch with Scotia and seeing if they will supply the ribbon bridge sections on their own, without the trucks?
Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

Might be an idea Andy at H&R does it.

Cheers

Richard P

Just as an update to this subject regarding the deployed ribbon bridge section. Steve Graham came up with the great idea of using Double Glazing Spacers cut into small sections as the deployed bridge. Cheap and really effective!

The bridge being deployed.


Cheers

Richard P

The original idea was yours Richard, I just got around to doing it first.
Cheers
Steve