15mm WW2 British infantry

Not a lot happening on the painting table at the moment.  I've been putting together various Plastic Soldier Company kits that I picked up at various shows, so they will need painting up shortly.  I've been putting together the makings of a British infantry company for FoW games at the club, based mainly on various Skytrex packs that I bought probably 20 years ago or so, with some Peterpig and Battlefront figures, mainly specialist troops and crews respectively.

1st platoon, 6 stands of infantry, one each command, PIAT and 2" mortar stand.

3" mortar platoon, 6 stands of mortars, 2 observer teams and command.

Some very old Battlefront 6pdrs with command and PIAT team.

2 Sniper teams.

2nd platoon

 3rd platoon

 4th platoon

Vickers MG platoon, 4 MG stands and command.

4.2" heavy mortar platoon, 4 mortars, 2 observers and command.

Pioneer platoon, 3 pioneers and command

25pdr battery, 4 guns, 2 observers, command and staff team

17pdr battery, 2 guns plus command

Pheasant 17pdr battery, 2 guns plus command

2nd 25pdr battery, 4 guns, 2 observers, command and staff team plus a Universal Carrier observer vehicle.

The staff team, a despatch rider hands over an urgent fire request.

As above.

When I finish the Shermans and Cromwells I've been putting together, I'll post pics of the British armour.

Thanks for looking.

AMX-VCG conversion

While building my French armoured division c. 1985, it became apparent that I needed some engineering vehicles, primarily for mine clearing.  Based on responses on the TO&E site, it became apparent that in the mid 80's, mine clearance was still being done with an AMX-VCG, effectively an AMX-VCI with a dozer blade, jib and winch plus a trailer.

The look I'm aiming for, but in plain green drab rather than the later tri-colour scheme and with the jib folded back and dozer blade lowered..

As no one makes these in 6mm, I decided to try a conversion of my own.  I picked up two packs of AMX-VCI from Heroics and Ros, from the old Davco/Skytrex range they bought out last year.  I also picked up a pack of 10 dozer blades on e-bay from Keep Wargaming (some of their old Davco stock).  To this I added  a couple of packs of 1 tonne trailers from the neutral equipment range at Scotia.  To create the jib, I used some copper wire from Hobbycraft, bent into a suitable shape, with an offcut of plastic strip to act as the winch and jib support.  Once the jib and support were superglued into place, the dozer blade was attached to the bow of the AMX and this, with the trailer, was mounted on a suitable mdf base and painted.

Hey presto!

 

 

So, I converted 8 of these to provide me with two companies of armoured engineers for CWC.  Should do nicely for mine clearance duties.

Thanks for looking.

Turning to the Dark Side?

Taking the advice of various wartime (WW2) entreaties to "Know Your Enemy!", I've been slowly creating a Warsaw Pact Motor Rifle Regiment, based on T-55s and BTR-60s, plus varied support vehicles.  Longer term, this will provide me with an opponent for the USMC forces, for some solo play, and the flexibility to take on either side in any club games.  I've used T-55s so I can represent Soviet CAT II or Warsaw Pact units (I was thinking East German or Czech) - if I go the East German route I can always upgrade the tank battalions if I want to field units for the late 80s.

This is as far as I've got, although there is a veritable mountain of unpainted lead waiting for me to get the time.

Skytrex PTS-M (M773) heavy amphibian.

 H&R ASU-85 (SM27).

 BRDM-2 and Spandrel (AT-5) by H&R (SM25).

 H&R SA-8 Gecko (SM41).

H&R ZSU23-4 Shilka (SM37).

 

 H&R SA-6 Gainful (SM40).

 H&R SA-9 Gaskin on BRDM-2 (SM42).

 

 H&R SA-13 Gopher on MT-LB (SM43) - unfortunately I managed to mount the support for the missile array the wrong way around so the Snap SHot ranging radar is pointing backwards - ah well, that's another one to order next time.

 H&R BRDM-2 recce (SM 22).

 H&R PT-76 light amphibious tank (SM08).

 T55 HQ stand by H&R (SM06).

 Two tank battalions from Motor Rifle Regiments on the workbench.  I plan to upgrade one of them from three companies to five, to form the Independent tank battalion of a Motor Rifle Division. 

All are base coated in white acrylic gesso, washed in dilute Vallejo Cammo Olive Green (formerly Russian Green).  Tracks are picked out in black, wheels in black grey, exhausts in flat brown.  All are washed in Army Painter dark tone ink, heavily diluted with thinners, then varnished with Wilkinsons Matt Acrylic varnish.  Basin is on ERM 2mm laser cut mdf, textured with Vallejo desert basing medium and washed with flat earth, then partly covered with spring meadow flock.

As ever, thanks for looking.