This view shows one of the armoured squadrons in more detail.
The regimental HQ with command AMX-10PC.
One of the AMX-30 platoon stands.
Same again from the opposite side.
The subordinate HQ AMX-30 stand.
The AMX-30s are all by Heroics and Ros (FM01), while the AMX-10 SAO Command apc is from Scotia (FM00027). The paint scheme is a Tamiya NATO green base, Army Painter dark tone ink washed and oversprayed with neat NATO green, then with a couple of drops of white and finally yellow added. Tracks and exhaust are Vallejo flat brown and the models are dry brushed with Iraqi sand. Searchlights are oily steel, vision slits blue and weight marking lemon yellow. I still need to paint tools visible on the hull and tow cable visible on the front armour and find a fine enough black pen to mark the weight on the yellow spots. The models are really nicely detailed, although the hull front has prominent casting marks which need to be filed away, the rear of the turret had excess metal in c. 75% of the models and the little autocannon turret had a bulge in the fixing pin in most examples, which was particularly fiddly to hold and file at the same time. However, the end result was a really nice model.
These are going to form part of the French 7th Armoured Division (7e Division Blindee, 7e DB),
probably the 3rd Armoured Regiment (3e Regiment de Cuiriassiers), part of the French 1st Corps allocated to NATO's reserve and counter-penetration forces to reinforce CENTAG and prevent Soviet forces reaching French territory. Looking forward to see how the rest of the unit shapes up and performs on the tabletop.
Thanks for looking.
They look great Andy, I am looking forward to following the progress of your French Division. A great start. They will look great on the table in September.
ReplyDeleteTake care
Richard P
Looking good Andy. The AMX-30's a really nice model, though it is a bit of a pain cleaning them up. Does the airbrush speed things up or just make life easier?
ReplyDeleteCheers
Richard N
Cheers guys. The airbrush does put a really thin coat on which dries quickly, so I was able to undercoat, base coat, ink wash, recoat, add white to dusting and yellow to a really light dusting one after the other in the space of c. 30 minutes. I still need to be careful to cover the sides of the model - it's easy to miss tracks under the hull for example. Cleaning was relatively easy, although it helps to have good access to a water and a sink and it's worth investing in the airbrush cleaner. I think overall it is a bit quicker, gives a better finish and isn't as much hassle to clean up as I thought. I want to try some Late War German vehicles or possibly some Leclercs, to see what spraying cammo is like.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Andy
I have a load of Leclercs if you want them?
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Richard
Looking good Andy, looks like NATO might give the WARPAC boys a run for their money this year.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Steve
Nobody said anything about running, I think you mean "NATO might give the WARPAC boys a leisurely stroll for their money this year" and that coming from an EX WARPAC player! :)
ReplyDeleteCheers
Richard P
I was hopping for at least a jog! Maybe even work up a sweat.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, looking at the AMX-30 stats, I think there will certainly be some sweating to be done. Certainly interested in the Leclercs Richard!
ReplyDeleteCheers
Andy