This release sees the introduction of new defensive structures for the British. As with our other models, these are all based on original examples in the UK. Expanding a little from just the usual pillboxes, these also include a minefield control tower and coastal gun emplacement.
These will also be available soon as files for printing at home via our STL page.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new models…..
Type 22 (Light AA)
Many pillboxes had a dedicated light AA mount into the design (such as the Type 23 and Type 27) and others were adapted during or after construction with LAA mounts. This example is a modified Type 22 design with a protected entrance and a LAA on the roof.
Coastal gun emplacement
Along the East coast of England, there were a number of emplacements that were sited for defending against a seaborne invasion. These could be armed with a range of weaponry, usually older, large calibre guns (often ex-naval), but in some desperate attempts to increase the appearance of firepower, telegraph poles were used if sufficient guns were not available! This example from the North East coast was equipped with a 4” naval gun.
Mowlem Drum pillbox
The Mowlem Drum pillbox was an unusual design produced by J Mowlem Builders and found on GHQ Line B in Surrey. Essentially a thick walled Type 24, the “Surrey Drum” was simply formed due to using a curved shuttering rather than building a brick wall and pouring concrete within it. This created a larger, round pillbox.
Minefield control tower
The coast of mainland Britain is penetrated by dozens of rivers and many more smaller inlets. As it was thought that German invasion barges could make their way up these and land troops behind the “coastal crust” additional defences were added around the mouths of the later estuaries including minefields, defensive booms and buoys. At a couple of locations, the defences were extensive enough that they required their own minefield control tower. This example is based on the control tower at Burnham-on-Crouch
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We hope that you found this little bit of background history and that soon our models will be reinforcing your British Home Front!