Ponderings...

I have spent the night pondering what I should be doing next. It is not as though I am short of projects at the moment, in fact the hoard of kits in the model room has never been so large.

I have many (lets face it, all) project armies still at various stages of completion, and I am not that unhappy that I have yet to actually complete a army to what I would call complete. In all reality I don't think that any true hoarder worth his salt actually finishes an army.

I had planned this year to tidy up at least 2 forces and get some terrain in order, and I have started on this by rebasing alot of German and Soviet WW2 kit, and of course a new table and trees.

But I have been lead astray by modern projects, and am quite close to having two modern armies finished.

So at the end of this rant I am still no closer to deciding what to do next. Bugger, still tomorrows another day.

Nice Surprise

The models I purchased on trademe the other week under the 'German Purchase' contained 2 sdkfz 251's and a Panzer II. The Fujimi 251 was missing its front axle, I was a bit disappointed about that, so I got in touch with the Rick, the seller and explained to him about the missing part. I also showed him via the blog what I had done to the models he had sold me.

Rick, is a good bloke and had a hunt around and found it, Awesome! He emailed back and said he would forward to me along with some other bits and pieces he had left. I was just happy to be getting the missing axle and thought any other bits and pieces would be a spare wheel or odd bit etc.

The package arrived today and upon opening it I was flabbergasted to find along with the axle, two incomplete 1/76 kits and a few old series one Airfix soldiers!

The first kit is a complete Matchbox Panzer II hull including tracks minus its turret. It is in good order, first impressions are I should use this to convert it to a Panzerkampfwagen II ohne Aufbau.

One use for obsolete Panzer II tanks which had their turrets removed for use in fortifications was as utility carriers. A number of chassis not used for conversion to self-propelled guns were instead handed over to the Engineers for use as personnel and equipment carriers. This should be quite simple.

The second kit is a German halftrack of some description, with 'bluebox toys' on the deck, seems that the deck has been attached afterwards as a conversion of some type. Looks like a old Nitto Sdkfz 251.

I will probably use this as an Engineers vehicle as well, and have sprayed oven cleaner on it already to remove several thick layers of enamel paint.

Very happy with this surprise today. Cheers Rick.

FUJIMI T34/76 Model 1940

"Quite remarkably, Lt Steup's tank made hits on a T34, once at 20 metres and four times at 50 metres with the PzGr. 40 projectile without any noticeable effect...The T34's came nearer and nearer although they were constantly under fire. The projectiles did not penetrate but sprayed off the side" PzKpfw III crew 1941.

The reason why I started a Soviet Red Army was simple, economics... Quantity has a Quality all of its own-Josef Stalin. My friend Phil who started a Red Army six or seven years ago ran into a problem, while getting Armour for his horde was no worry, however getting infantry in reasonable quality poses and amounts severely restricted his purchases. Six years later it all had changed, now Infantry was available to go with your Armour. About this time I brought a model lot online for around $120.00, its value in a model shop was about $400.00, I lucked out for a change.

I had purchased 26 or so model kits and around 300 figures, the majority of them were Soviet WW2, and the T34 was in attendance in no less than five types of kits in the 1/72 and 1/76 range. I was in Red heaven!

Two of the kits were Fujimi T34/76 Model 1940, or as they call them T34/76 A. These kits are a hassle free build with two options of roadwheels, a figure and a nice choice of decals. Another bonus for me was that the fenders were easy to remove, as to give the vehicles the individual look.

Matchbox Dingo Scout Car

In my opinion one of the nicest kits to come out of the Matchbox range in the 1970's was the Dingo Scout Car. It was a nice simple kit to construct and was accurate in every respect (maybe apart from the chunky Bren LMG). The main drawback of this kit was you had to buy Monty's Caravan to get it, and how many Caravans do you need on the battlefield?

Revell has re-released it and it is quite pricey for a 1/76 kit, but since it is the only Dingo available in plastic they have you by the short and curlies. I brought this set new for $10.00 on trademe, which is about one third of the cost of one from a model shop, so I lucked out.

I would love to get two or three more of these for my British Force, as they were very common vehicles in their ORBAT, but I don't fancy my luck.

German Purchase 4

The Panzer II was repainted at the same time as the Sdkfz 251.Base coat Panzer Grey.
Yellow Brown transition scheme applied.

Decals applied, from and old Matchbox 251 set, again very happy with the outcome. I will have to find another PzII to make up the Unit.

German Purchase 3

After the Base Panzer Grey came the Yellow Brown, and realignment of the front bumper, Jerry-can addition along with AA MG on rear mount. Ran into some minor trouble when I dropped it and one of the front wheels came off, but thats what Superglue is for!
Decals added from a old Fujimi 251 set,and That is the finished product.

Ready to join its mid war Platoon. This was a 3 hour refirb and well worth the effort.

German Purchase 2

While the Matchbox Sdkfz 251was in good order, I decided to repaint it into my mid war transition scheme. I try to paint all units a similar colour, or scheme.

As purchased.

With Panzer Grey Base and the Vehicle No Plate cut back. Next the Yellow Brown...

German Purchase

Just arrived in today was a trademe purchase I made last week. Like any good kiwi I am used to making do with what I have got, or what I can get secondhand. So for $15.00 I grabbed a Matchbox Panzer II, Matchbox Sdkfz 251/1 and a Fujimi Sdkfz 251/1 or 251/10 (depending on what you arm it with. Buying these new cold set you back around $50.00, so I am aways keen to buy them secondhand and rebuild, refirb or repaint them into something I can use.

Matchbox 251/1. This is in good order and just needs a new paint job and rear MG.

Matchbox Panzer II, again in good order, the 20mm gun is missing from the turret but came in the box. New Paint job mid war scheme.

Fujimi 251/1. Bit of a mess, front axle missing, the odd wheel missing, maxim gun mounted on rear (oh dear) and a British 8th Army figure firing a rifle inside? Total rebuild.

AIRFIX SD Kfz 222

Airfix's Sd kfz 222 from the Recon set is a nice simple model to put together. Used on all fronts from the start of the war till the end, they are a great addition to any German force.
I have half a Platoon of these armoured cars and one that I converted to a Sd kfz 221.

The SD kfz 221 conversion, I simply removed the 20mm gun and replaced it with a MG34 GPMG. I then scatchbuild a frame and added some mesh.

ESCI Modern US Soldiers

When ESCI's Modern US Soldiers hit the shelves in 1987, I brought a box straight away. At the time I could only get one box and aways wanted more, and over time I have picked up a few figures here and there, and am always on the look out for more. I love the Grenada invasion look about them.
Bit of a strange running pose, I have ran with a M16A1 and this looks a little awkward, you usually hold the rifle closer to your body at the high port.

M47 Dragon AT launcher, I painted the majority of these figures around 1990, black paint on hands to represent leather gloves.

These Infantry are lightly equipped.

M47 Dragon missile in carry bag. I never did find out what colour these were issued in.

M16A1/M203 Grenade launcher. I like the t-shirt under the body armour.

Again this running pose is a bit off, you just don't take your master hand off the pistol grip.

Classic kneeling pose, by 1987 when this came out the M16A1 was on the way out in favour of the M16A2. A tiny change in the foregrip sculpturing could have given this set an extra 10 years.

Under fire?

M60 Gunner, good to see ammo belts, again in t-shirts, I painted the DPM on the forearms on the soldier on the left to look like long shelves's.

Another M60 gunner, great sculpturing of the GPMG.

RTO, he has sunnies and I couldn't bring myself to paint them on.

I think these two figures go with the command element, the M203 Gunner is almost the same as the later Revell pose.

Command Team, natural leader poses. The bino's are a good touch.

MARS still issue a copy of this set. Along with my Revell Modern US these figures make up the Bulk of my Light Infantry Company.

Trees III

One hours worth of flocking for 21 Trees, a bit painful if you aren't in the mood.
I don't know if I bulked up the foliage enough but without the correct glue it is a little tricky.

It does seem to break up the landscape better than my Xmas tree offcuts.

Overall well worth the money, I think, with still half a bit of clumpy flock left.

Trees II

Flocked the bases yesterday, PVA and flock, simple and no mess.
I place a piece of gravel here and there just to break them up a little.

I am quite happy with these even without foliage, the Autumn look

I will finish these off tonight.

ESCI M60

ESCI's M60 Blazer, this was the last tank I brought in the 1980's. For a long time it served as the only tank for my modern US force.
Seen here in MERDEC colours, this tank is in its 4th paint job in 20 years.

It as been though 6 house shifts and 2 major rebuilds, the last one seeing the reactive armour removed and broken and missing parts replaced by M48 parts.

I have a M48A5 still to be built, that will go with it, as one tank seems lonely. My M48/60 series of tanks are based as 1980's US tanks in South Korea. They always seemed to stick in my mind as being in better condition than the armour in Europe, and the took their job a little more seriously with more use of cam and concealment.

This was the first tank I constructed that had plastic link tracks instead of the old rubber band style, I found these a pain to put together. I have since learnt that they are in fact quite simple compared to some of the more modern kits.