ESCI Nebelwerfer 41: Part 4

After a week or two of procrastination, I decided to base my Nebelwerfer Section while my boy was watching 'Courage the Cowardly Dog', and being very good I might add!

I use heavy card to base crew serviced weapons. At the moment I am using a box my PS2 came in. I use a Tamiya 100ml spray can lid as a uniform size to cut around. I then spray both sides with black primer paint to prevent warping, then a light spray of green paint. Next some PVA glue is spread all over and the figures and weapon are based into the glue. Flock and ultra fine beechwood shavings, and any debris are then sprinkled from the top to cover the surface area. Wait 10 mikes then tip outside down to remove excess flock. We are then done!

I am quite wrapped with this Rocket section, even after 30 or so years this kit is still worthwhile to field on the table, and will give the Red Horde something to cringe about.

Caesar Modern US Part 2

One Section to each M2 Bradley.

All wear the rough tan desert boots. Some of the figures have quite bad moldings for the boots.


Weapons include M4Carbines, M16A2 and A4 models and LAWs

After the primer I used flat aircraft camouflage grey for the base colour of the uniform, then speckles of desert yellow and light olive drab. I hate that part of the painting.

For the body armour and equipment pouches I used a matt ochre for the base to contrast from the uniform.

I omitted several of the poses from the set as they are more specialized than what you would find in a leg company in Iraq or A-ghan.

Still I will have to buy another set of Revells Modern US in order to gain some common weapons and poses to make at least a Platoons worth of figures.

Caesar Modern US Part 1

After stocking up on paint, I decided to paint up a squad of "Caesars Modern US in desert Uniforms".

There was no problems getting a set of these figures as my mate Phil had got me a packet 18 months ago during a swapmeet.

I had primered them in flat black about 12 months back and then let them gather dust in the model lair...tisk, tisk, tisk.

Since the US has replaced all its types of Combat uniforms with just one cam pattern, it was a no brainer on what scheme I was left with.

The colour scheme of the Army Combat Uniform is composed of a slate gray, desert sand and foliage green digital pattern. The colour black was omitted from the uniform because it is not commonly found in nature.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Combat_Uniform .

Paint & Cement

Having used up all my Cement for constructions over the past 3 years. (It did last quite a while I suppose.) I walked into the local Toyworld to restock. I also had a list (12 colours) of Humbrol enamels to purchase to either replace or acquire. The new colours are to paint up my Caesar Modern US in desert uniform. The new UCP cam will be quite a mission to paint, judging by the photos.

No Tamiya Cement, had to get Revell instead...$9.99 for 25g...ekkk! $4.99 for Humbrol 28g, 3 years ago...They did not have Tamiya then either.

As for the paint 8 out of 12 isn't bad. $3.50 a pop. $2.99 last June. They don't stock any paint numbers above 100, I suspect because they would have to buy another stand.

$34.99 in total.

I almost wept.

I will get over it...in time...

A great link for digital cam schemes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_camouflage#Digital_camouflage

Airfix M113 Update

I finished painting this kit up last night while watching Band of brothers on Sky.

I decided on a 1980's MERDEC scheme, the "On the Way" website has a nice article on this, see attached link; http://www.onthewaymodels.com/articles/MERDECcamouflage.htm . I was not to concerned with the actual colours as time and supply changes the look anyway. That's called artistic licence.

I was quite happy with the outcome of this kit, and it has rekindled my interest in my modern (1980's) US Force.

Comparison with the old ESCI (Italeri) M113. 30 minutes for the Airfix kit and about and 90 minutes for the ESCI.

M2 Bradley IFV

Here is the latest batch of trademe pre-loved AFV's I have been collecting over summer.

A Platoons worth of the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. 4 Revell and Dragon Plastic kits and one Dragon Diecast (above). These beasts are huge, almost 3m high in real life, tempting RPG magnets.

They did not travel that well, and will need a bit of work to put some pieces back together, but for $30 it is still a bargain.

Coming to a beach near you!

Just arrived today, the result of another Auction. 3 AAV7 Tracked Amphibious Assault Vehicles.

Dragon Recovery Version

Another Dragon with add on Armour

This one is Diecast

Cost:$30 for all three, you can hardly beat that, they are between 26-34$ apiece new.

I will have to paint up some US Marines in Desert Cammies to go with these little beauties.

African Panzers

Nothing looks better in the government newspapers of the democratic republic than a strong leader who can put main battle tanks on the street of the capital to calm his peaceful subjects.

Lucky for my African Modern Army it has a quantity of top class hardware donated by one of its past colonial masters in happier times. Kept shiny and in pristine condition by his loyal Presidential Guard, this armour has never been out in the countryside outside the capital.

Stationed on inner city crossroads during times of unrest and single party elections these M48's keep an eye on law and order African style. While the Regular Army makes do with T34's and 20 pdr Centurions the Presidential Guard struts out in style with 90mm and upgunned 105mm beasts from Detroit.

ESCI M48 A2/A3 and A5 1/72 rebuilds.

AIRFIX M113A1 ACAV

I could not stop myself from building this kit straight away. Compared to the ESCI/ Italeri kit this one is very simple and basic. The running gear is all pre-moulded and the body shell lacks all but basic details from the other kits.

The ACAV sprue weapons are very chunky, no problems for me as I will deck it out as a US M113A1 from the 1980's - 1990's for my NATO based US troops. I intend to paint it in a MERDEC scheme later this week.

A bargin for $11.

Holiday Shopping

While on a short holiday I could not resist popping into a model shop to see if there was anything that took my fancy.

2o minutes and with $60 less in my wallet I walked out satisfied with some more purchases to add to my stash.

Airfix Command Post. Classic kit with lots of goodies inside, great for wargaming. My mate Phil has one of these, but he cannot bear to make it up.

Woodland Scenics Tree Kit. 21 Trees at a good price.

Italeri ZIS-3 AT Gun. Nice and simple AT Gun at a cheap price. No fiddly bits and a nice crew.

Airfix M113 ACAV. Copy of JB Models ACAV. I love M113's and again this one is a simple kit to make up.

Revell Australian Infantry

Revells Australian Infantry captures the classic early to mid war digger in the Middle East or Greece or Crete. With their long tunics they are also good to change to WW2 British Paras.The Officer pose with the 38 Webley Revolver, putty can change the slouch hat to a tin helmet.The Radio operator can also be used for any British or Commonwealth Unit. The Bren gunner pose looks sharp, and the gun is well moulded.

Reloading the Lee Enfield SMLE Mk III, a rare pose for WW2 figures.

Firing the Rifle, the men being in shirts gives the painter scope to to add some colour to the figures.

A drawback to this figure is a spindly looking fore end to the SMLE
Rifleman carrying a ammo tin, natural looking action in this pose.Lying Riflemen are a pain to base.
The spirit of the Bayonet is to kill! The sword bayonet is well displayed in this pose.
It would have been nice to have the Thompson with a 50rd drum magazine.
The Vickers gun crew provides some heavy support to the Unit.

The Vickers gun includes the watertin and hose missing on many other sets.

I combine my ESCI 8th Army figures with these troops. They blend in well and can be used in the same theaters of action, especially Crete where Units were often made up of troops from anyone who was on hand.