L6 WOMBAT

 For my Anti Tank Platoon organic to the Cold War British Battalion I wanted something a little more original than a Milan, I wanted a WOMBAT! 

 I used tow pieces of sprue, some parts from the spares box and two wheels from a old Jeep. 

 Not my best work, but I am reasonably happy with the look of it.

 Figures are of course Matchbox NATO Para's with minor conversions.

 The .50 Cal spotter rifle is the propeller shaft of a Airfix LCM III cut back

 This was my last stand to finish the Support Company off, so that sub unit will probably be the next post.

Model on!

The Spares Box 2 : 1/144 Aircraft

 This is the last lot of aircraft, with all in fairly rough shape. Academy Minicraft and perhaps a few Dragon kits as well. I think I can rescue 80% of them and was thinking of a type of Red Flag Wargame use for them. 

 Jaguars, one of which I should be able to make a new tail for.

 One Tornado, I am sure there is another one around somewhere.

 Four Phantoms, mostly all the parts are there. You can never have enough Rhino's.

 F111, missing drop tanks, but a useful asset.

 F16's, One is a D model and I have found a few more parts while taken these photo's.

 Marine air power, an F/A 18 and AV 8B Harrier. 

Lastly a F5F Tiger II, again I will have to fabricate a tail. Quite inspired to do something about these, but it will have to wait as I have a TOW to scratchbuild.

Model on. 

1980's Cold War British Bn Pt3 C Coy

 Far too hot to get up into the loft tonight and get some photo's for the spares box posting tonight so it will have to be the Third and final Rifle Company of my 1980's British Infantry Battalion.

 First Platoon, again the standard Matchbox figures with head swaps.

 For the Command Stand I managed to pop in a old ESCI NATO figure. He looks a bit of a muncher!

Final Platoon Stand, I really should have cut back the bi-pod for the L4. Quite glad to get these out of the way as I can now move onto the Support Company.

Model on!

The Spares Box 1 : 1/72 Aircraft

 In carrying out a little email tag with Tim from http://megablitzandmore.blogspot.com/ and Al "http://20thcenturywargames.blogspot.com/ " I mentioned that we all should do a post or two on the legend  of the spares box.

The spares box is something that all gamers and modelers probably have tucked under the table, just within reach. I love the spares box as it opens so much more opportunities in projecting what you want to show on the table.

If you have a problem like myself, you may have more than one spares box. I actually do not know how many boxes/containers I have in current action, it must be more than ten and while I am carrying out this blog quest I plan to cut them down a bit.

First up we have the Aircraft box in 1/72. While sorting this shot I cut down four boxes into two-ish.

 First container is the loose parts. Not much to show here, lots of canopies (Sorry Tim, no Phantom II types), landing gear and weaponry, fuel tanks etc.  Also a complete set of bi plane wings for a Matchbox Fairey Swordfish.

 A couple of Cold War planes now, with a Academy Mig 21 and Hasegawa A4M. The Fishbed is missing the Canopy but I may fudge one on at some stage. The Skyhawk is complete an just needs painting.

 More Cold War action with two Airfix Jaguar GR1's. Enough to rebuild a complete example, maybe two. I love the Jaguar, while I was at RAF Cranwell on exchange a couple of years ago I mentioned in the Mess that it was a shame that they had been retired as I had a soft spot for them...Within fifteen minutes transport had been laid on and I was taken to RAF Syerston where there are two sitting on a dispersal apron and used for Officer Training aids. A great time was had by all (Well probably just me). I just google mapped RAF Syerston and they are still there, so one day I may diorama that scene, especially as they are in the awesome winter scheme.

 Even more Cold War examples with two Mirage III's.One Airfix Mirage III and the other is another manufacturer that I don't know. Ideas? 

 Last of the Cold War parts, Airfix F86D and the remains of a Matchbox GR1 Harrier. Unknown what I will do with these. I really want a GR3!

 WW2 springs into action with a Hasegawa Mustang and a unknown type of Spitfire. These may end up as crashed markers.

 Me 109's, Airfix I think and enough to complete at least one. I have no German aircraft in the fleet so this would be welcome, perhaps in a month or two I will get onto it.

The dregs...Half a C130 fuselage and a 1/100 Bell Kiowa minus the skids and glass. Again I have just been hanging onto these with no set plans.

Next up 1/144 Wrecks!

Matchbox Panzer II ohne Aufbau

 This post is a bit of a blast from the past. Back in Febuary 2009 http://plasticwarriors.blogspot.com/2009/02/nice-surpise.html I posted that I had received a Matchbox Panzer II without a turret and was planning on converting it into a Ohne Aufbau or turret less engineering/pioneer vehicle.

 Finally yesterday looking for something different to work on I actually did it.

 In a rather simple piece of conversion work I added a roof to the turret ring. I also added a towing wire, MG42 and some sort of handle rail at the front.

 And some stowage to the rear deck.

 The roof to the turret ring was a Fujimi Sherman turret floor, and the surrounding area was the floor from a Fujimi Panzer IV.

 Stowage was gathered from the spares box, with a jerrican from Al. Hard plastic figure from an old kit that I cannot remember. He does look very much like a Tamyia figure though...Perhaps ex Hasegawa.

All in all, not a bad hours work I think.

Model on!

OP Galvanic" Tarawa Pt5 Final Moves

 The last post in this series from our Battle of Tarawa Day 1. Above Davids Regiment pushes forward and manages to regain some of its momentum lost after Banzai charges and Suicide Tank Hunter rolls.

 My share of Air Support aimed at the defences around the Airfield. David was a generous Commander and it always seemed to be my turn with the Air Support. 

 With the addition of a under strength Company of Shermans, my blocking force became hammer and aggressively entered the Japanese lair. At the top right hand corner Japanese Armour decides the time is right for a counterattack...

 Which was not successful at all. The rounds simply bounced off the Sherman, much to my delight and Al's disappointment.

 LVT advancing into a ville with Infantry support. The Japanese continued to contest this area even though they were in danger of getting cut off. 

 The Sherman Company starts to swing into the rear of the Airfield defences after the abortive armour attack. My Marine Battalion here had almost spanned the width of the island and with Davids Regiments to the centre actually onto the airfield proper it was tim for night to fall and the USMC to consolidate their gains. 

Thus came the end of the game. Truly epic work from David in supplying a super map to work with. He really put a lot of work into (with lots of help from his slaves) this and it payed off. Kudos David, and cheers for the three Pill boxes!

Al as usual was a great host and rounded off the scenery and layout well. Ten out of ten to both of them.

Model on...

Unimog 404 S

 I have had this kicking around for around 9 months or so, and after a visit to the dentist today I decided to do something simple so I painted it up.

 I need it for my Cold War British Battalion's Anti Tank Platoon, something to tow the WOMBAT. I have scratchbuilt a WOMBAT for the ORBAT and could not be naffed throwing another Land Rover into the mix.

 In doing a little research this morning I came across a British Unimog 404S towing a WOMBAT in Berlin in the 1970's, so that was that.

 ROCO Mini Tanks 404S, with simple paint job.

I like it, perhaps it is because of the basic-ness of it.

Model on!

1980's Cold War British Bn Pt2 B Coy

 Tonight's follies see's the 2nd 1980's British Infantry Company of my newly formed Battalion. All figures once again are Matchbox.

 Rifle Platoon with GPMG figure wearing the normal headswap helmet.

 Command Stand again both figures having to deal with helmets rather than berets.

And the last Rifle Platoon. I think the helmets conversions really make these poses more squaddie like.

Model on!