I have toyed with various ideas and kits for this but have finally settled on my original plan.
This will be a little diorama 1/76 scale, to include Airfix's New tool "King" Tiger Ausf "B" and a cheap and nasty Fujimi M3A1 Halftrack and Willy's Jeep.
I am still to purchase a squad of figures but got plenty of time to fine tune this build...
My plan is to have a little confrontation down the lanes towards Caen and will include some hedgerows, a farm building and a small road with a surprise just around the corner...
My ideas have come about after reading various campaigns based on the attempt to capture Caen over the first few weeks of June/July 1944..
Many attempts were made by the British forces to capture the town and try as they might the Germans fought hard and well..
Here are some links to various Wiki pages and History pages detailing these missions..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_Caen
http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/WWI ... f-Caen.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Goodwood
I was going to copy pages of info into my post but thought you guys would sooner check out the linked pages as opposed to scrolling down sheets of repeated facts and specs..
I will post up some info, just not it all..
The Battle for Caen from June–August 1944 was a battle between Allied forces of the mainly Anglo-Canadian Second Army and German forces of Panzergruppe West during the Battle of Normandy. The Allies aimed to take the French city of Caen, one of the largest cities in Normandy, on D-Day. Caen was a vital objective for several reasons. Firstly, it lay astride the Orne River and Caen Canal; these two water obstacles could strengthen a German defensive position if not crossed. Secondly, Caen was a road hub; in German hands it would enable the enemy to shift forces rapidly. Thirdly, the area around Caen was relatively open, especially compared to the bocage country in the west of Normandy. This area was valued for airfield construction.
On D-Day, Caen was an objective for the British 3rd Infantry Division and remained the focal point for a series of battles throughout June, July and into August. The battle did not go as planned for the Allies, instead dragging on for two months, because German forces devoted most of their reserves to holding Caen, particularly their armoured reserves. As a result German forces facing the American invasion thrust further west were spread thin, relying on the rough terrain of the back country to slow down the American advance. With so many German divisions held up defending Caen, the American forces were eventually able to break through to the south and east, threatening to encircle the German forces in Normandy from behind.
Various Operations took place to secure the town, Ending with Operation Goodwood.
Operation Jupiter in early July saw two Heavy Tiger tank Battalions involved in the conflict, mostly from the 10th SS Panzer Division..
I am going to involve one of the Tigers in this Dio, and have my Ambush involve the M3A1/M5A1 as it will be most probably and some British troops making their way towards the Village clearing Axis forces on route..
If I end up using US troops then the Halftrack will stay as an M3A1.. The reason I say this is because some reviews point out that the Fujimi Halftrack is actually a lend-lease version used by the British....
I am no rivet counter, nor a Historian so will let the availability of the 1/76 figures decide the version..
My inspiration for this build is based on a few images I came across while reading up on D-Day a short while back...
The Tiger in Normandy...
The M3A1 inspiration.....
...and lastly the diorama itself.....
Okay I will stop for now....
Next time I will show you guys what I have been up too this last week...
Thanks for dropping by, more soon...
Happy Modelling..
.... but a bit of scratch building and diorama making for sure...
!!
I did expect it though!
one popcorn to many. ..
. Keep it up Andy and forward 
