This is my attempt at a 1/76 model of Horsa Bridge (le Pont de Ranville), the bridge across the Orne River which was captured by Major John Howard’s glider-borne coup de main force along with Pegasus Bridge (le Pont de Benouville) in the early hours of D-Day. I’m a complete amateur and have never attempted any modelling before (except for Airfix kits when I was young) and have certainly never done any ‘scratch’ modelling. So it has been an extremely steep learning curve, taking me many months and many, many mistakes and false starts. However, I was keen to make a model of Horsa Bridge, because it was where my father’s unit, F Troop, 318 Battery, 92nd LAA, was deployed after landing on D-Day. The troop’s six SP Bofors Guns were assigned to protect both bridges from air attack. Guns were stationed each side of Horsa Bridge, each side of Pegasus Bridge and the other two guns were deployed on the road between the bridges. My father’s gun, F3, was dug in on the west bank of the Orne on the north side of Horsa Bridge and I have tried to depict it on the model. The SP Bofors is by Milicast Models, and I have improvised a few other bits and pieces, such as the piles of shell cases and transit tubes that built up as the gun was fired. The positioning of the gun close to the bridge is illustrative, because the real gun was stationed much further back along the riverbank. However, that would have made the whole model too long and unwieldy, so I have used a bit of artistic licence. All the other bits and pieces around the gun are also just to provide some context - they're not meant in any way to be an accurate illustration. I’ve placed an Airborne Jeep, also by Milicast, on the bridge to give some idea of scale. (Incidentally, I do know that slit trenches were dug near the gun, because my father dived into one when the troop was bombarded by German mortars for half an hour on June 10. Unfortunately, he was wounded and was evacuated on a stretcher fitted across the bonnet of an Airborne Jeep). The bridge itself is as good as I can get it. Although by no means perfect in every detail, it is quite accurate in its dimensions and general building style . I was lucky enough to obtain from Calvados Archives an original 1870s constructors’ profile plan of the bridge, showing its dimensions and some other details. I used old photos to try to get further information. The bridge was originally a swing bridge which opened to allow shipping up and downriver between Ouistreham and Caen, and once carried a light railway. But it was put into a fixed position many years before the Second World War. I know the model is rough and ready, and can never match the superb standards of those displayed on WW2Talk, which I greatly admire. Doing it has made me appreciate more than ever the superb skill (and patience) of you real modellers. But I thought it would be worth having a go to give a bit of a ‘new life’ to Horsa Bridge, which has long been overshadowed by the fame of Pegasus Bridge. I still need to put a few finishing touches to it. My only problem now is where to put it, because the diorama measures some 3ft x 4ft.
Well done excellent work and thank you for posting Re the SP where did you purchase that from thank you regards Clive
Thanks, Clive. I got the SP from Milicast, along with the Jeep ... Milicast Model Company :: Premiere Range (1/76) :: British & Commonwealth :: Softskins :: Morris C9/B 40mm Bofors SP
I have also made (small) dioramas in the past: To manage a project with these dimensions in this quality demands a lot of respect. regards Olli
