ROCO Minitanks M26 Stand In

Al from 20th Century Wargamers is conducting a wargame soon based on the Inchon landings during the Korean War;http://20thcenturywargames.blogspot.com/2009/09/inchon-demo-map-2.html . Needed for the US Force is a couple of M26 tanks. These I do not have, but I did have a couple of M103 ROCO Minitanks which sort of belong to the same family, abet a later generation. Although being a little smaller than 1/76 or 1/72, the type being a heavy tank instead of the M26 Medium type, it generally balanced out. Offer accepted and I set about tidying up these beasts.
I cut down the muzzle and applied a new OD paint scheme.

Simple decals were added and some light weathering applied.

Not for rivet counters but just the thing to stand in for a Pershing.

Matchbox Hanomag 251/2 Update

I gave the Matchbox SdKfz 251/2 Mortar Carrier a second coat of Panzer Grey as I was not too happy with the shade...it was almost Black with the first coat. With Humbrol 93 aka Desert Yellow I concocted an disruptive scheme for the transition from Panzer Grey to Brown Yellow for about 1942-43. I have been looking for some crewmen and will start these tonight, as well as some minor touch ups.

Update Problems

Here at the Manor we have been experiencing problems with the Internet, however after (it would be fair to say lackluster) effort from the telecommunications sub contractors the web is back!

It was interesting to note the extra amount of time the grounds have had spent on them and the amount of sleep I have caught up on over the last six days. It was however, quite frustrating playing tag with the tele-boffins.

Happily the half done shelf has been taking a bit of a battering over the period and I will be posting some updates as they come through the camera.

Still More Scenery...

I spent last night still in scenery mode, it must be a September Spring thing... I started off adding a little flock and rock to the roads I had cut out previously, I had just pasted some PVA onto two segments when I had a message from Al at 2oth Century Wargaming telling me to hold off until he had caught up with me later in the week...I guess he has an idea he wants to show me. Still the PVA was on the roadside so I was committed to dressing up these two at least. PVA, gravel, flock and foliage, you know the drill. They added a bit of 'ompth' to the roadside, so am happy about that.
Since the glue was out I decided to dress up an old Faller Rail kit, I added some grass and gravel along with a couple of ex Matchbox WW2 German posters from the Sd.kfz 251/1 Hanomag kit. Again it was a well spent ten minutes, it also gave me a chance to practice with some static grass that I just haven't got the knack of yet.

Rebox RM Light Infantry

Having just looked at PSR review on this set from Redbox, I am struck by the idea that these would make a nice base for conversion to 1940ish British Home Guard. Rifles and forage caps along with minimal webbing suit the look. The trouser's could easily be lend to conversion by knife to a 37 pat gaiter look as well,

I have always been curious to battle 'Sealion' this could be a good start. Click the link to look at the figures http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1541 .

Rock Mound

We were having such a fine weekend this weekend, I let the model table gather dust while I caught up on some gardening, lawns and planting the veges. I did manage to remove another overdue project from the 'to do' shelf. When I constructed my tree bases a few months ago I had a base left over. Going through the shelf last night I thought that it would make a nice rock mound that you sometimes see on the edges of paddocks or the centre of fields, once the farmer has plowed the area, the rocks that were brought up are usually piled up until they can be used for some other purpose such as building or fencing.
Having a nice crushed gravel driveway here at the Manor, gives me plenty of material to work with. So PVA, rocks, foliage flock and 10 minutes left me with quite a simple piece of scenery.

Roading 2

Results are in for bathroom tile roading...fair. I didn't get round to checking them out yesterday as the temptation for a few lagers got the better of me. The roads remain slightly tacky, but not overly worrying. I like the texture left on the face of the road, it leaves quite a nice 'cobbling' effect. I think I will make some narrower versions as these seem almost two lane, which take up valuable land on the table.
The colour needs a taste of earth I think and I will have to flock the edges with some PVA and foliage matter. All in all I think I am on the right track...so to speak.

Roading

Since it was such a nice day, and I was in the garden already, I decided to spend ten minutes working on some roading for my wargame table. I have made roads before but have always been disappointed with the results, so I thought I would try something a little different.

First up I brought a packet of self-sticking vinyl bathroom tiles at the local hardware store, these are cheap $4.99 NZ for .557 m2. I then draw the roading on the paper back side of the tile and cut them out with the kitchen scissors.

Peeling the paper off I then spray painted the sticky side in a mixture of earthy type colours. I have left it drying in the garage tonight and will have a look at them tomorrow. I will then decide how to dress them up.

Airfix 1/32 US Marines

Dave has sent me a few photo's of his re-released Airfix 1/32 US Marines.He has been working on them for the last week or so.

For their day Airfix were the leaders in the field for their range of products. The bayonet stands out on this Marines webbing.

As Dave pointed out to me, Nice M3 Greasegun...too bad about supplying the correct ammo pouches.

Same again for the BAR, nice work on the weapon finish.

A nice natural pose, nothing like a stroll in the sand...with your M1.

Same old problem with the ammo pouches in this classic pose.

Dave was really pleased with the way these figures came out, and I too think they have a nice feel to them. Well done Spanky!

Nice work on the uniform, it just needs a base to explain this figure. I am toying with buying the British figures in this range as a project for next winter.

ROCO Minitanks:'Shermania'

Finally the end of the Wagon Freight saga, ROCO Minitanks M4 Sherman's. Eight basic model tanks coming to a trainset near you!
The intentional use of two shades of olive drab can clearly be seen in these photo's.

Once again, 1/76 and 1/72 decals were used for the 1950's "Saturday Sci Fi" look. I am still upset about the time in 1986 when 'Chintz' destroyed my ROCO M4 with his Matchbox Stuart...sad times.

Flakpanzer Platoon Endstate

Comparison shot of the two Eidai-Arii Flakpanzer kits that I rebuilt to form my late war Flakpanzer Platoon. The turret of the'Wirblewind' is too cramped to fit a figure in. I was checking on ebay earlier and saw a 'Mobelwagon' snapped up for over $30.00 NZD...madness. Perhaps Hat/Armourfast should purchase the moulds for their 'Fast Assembly' range. Still waiting on their Hanomag Sdkfz 251/1...Its been 4-5 years now.

AR ii / Eidai: 'Wirblewind'

Another second hand purchase was this Wirblewind. From what I remember the hull was from a AR ii or Eidai Panzer IV and the 20mm Quad turret was part of a junk lot brought much later. It took me a while to realise that they fitted together.
Not the prettiest kit I have re-constructed or re-painted, but it fills a gap in my AA Platoon.

Again PVA and tobacco hide the turret assembly from the evil Allied 'Terror' fliers.

One more project off the shelf!!!

Ar ii / EidaiPanzer IV "Mobelwagen": Part 2

I spent a few minutes last night with my PVA bottle and a few ounces of loose cut tobacco. Since the German Flakpanzer forces were basically a late war development when they had lost air superiority, to help their vehicles survive the Allied air power camouflage in the field was a necessity.
I find tobacco to be an awesome foliage substitute for models...you can also use it for smoking...unreal!

My Wirblewind tonight will receive the same treatment. My AA Platoon nears completion...oh joy!

Italeri/ESCI M13/40 :Part 6

Decals added, from a Matchbox/Revell Panzer Mk III. Now I can attend to some drybrush weathering and some minor touch up painting, such as the rubber rims and tools.
I probably should find a Commander figure for the hatch as well.

ROCO Minitanks: M20 Scout Car

Companion to the M8 Greyhound, the M20 Armoured Scout Car replaced the Greyhound in production in 43-44, with production figures of 3,680. By then the 37mm gun was practically useless on the battlefield so the turret was removed and new radios were installed, leaving a more useful vehicle.

ROCO Minitanks: M8 Greyhound

Short post tonight as I have a head cold and have been busy decaling. ROCO M8 Greyhounds armed with 37mm guns for wagon freight. Thinking I should grab some of the Italeri kits for my French Indo-China forces.

ROCO Minitanks: Softskins

I have been finishing off the ROCO Minitanks vehicles that will be used as Wagon Freight for a trainset. Tonight I completed the softskins. Dodge 'MASH' Ambulance, Deuce and a half Truck and 'BEEPS'
I used decals from the spares box and although being 1/72 or 1/76 scale they seemed to fit reasonably well with these 1/87 vehicles.

I really enjoy the clean and shinny look of the 1950's US Army, especially with the bright white stars and numbering. Quite a nice change from grimy WW2 field vehicles.

Italeri / ESCI M13/40:Part 5

Disruptive paint applied to M13/40, I had a bit of trouble finding images of it in German service but chanced upon a site with a 1/35 scale model of it. I have loosely based my kit on this. It can be seen on the following link; http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~TANK-GUY/Gallery05/TE-m1340.html
This kit goes into the decaling shelf.

Ar ii / EidaiPanzer IV "Mobelwagen"

Like most procrastinators I have quite a pile of kits in various stages on the shelf, having completed a power of kits over the last few days I have decided to finish a few of them off this month. First up is an Arii/Eidai Panzer IV 'Mobelwagen'.Long out of production, these kits were around in the 70's and were simple to construct with very few parts.My mate Dave picked a completed kit for me a year ago in quite reasonable shape bar the caked enamel paint plaster over it. The furniture wagon side hinges were broken and super glued in place so I decided to leave them fixed up in place.
Base coat, which was applied around 10 months ago.

Brown-Yellow and Panzer Grey disruptive stripes added. For late war I use the so called 'Czech' pattern cam...for no other reason than I like it and my 'Ambush' patterns take far too long to complete.

Decals and foliage to be added, I have a Pz. IV Wirbelwind from the same company which was in the same type of condition, I plan to use these two together as a AA unit.

ROCO Minitanks:Train Freight 2

Continuing on from yesterdays work on the ROCO front, washed and primed some M4 Sherman's, tiny kits compared to 1/76; note the rice in the sink to use as a scale indicator.
After the black primer coat I applied two different versions of OD to the kits to give them a bit of variety. Wheels were then repainted.
Next on the ROCO list will be decals, I plan to give them a 1950's post war look, with plenty of white stars ans white serials.

Italeri / ESCI M13/40 :Part 4

The sun made an appearance today, leading to a paintfest.
After a soapy wash and air dry, a black primer base coat was applied, note to self flog more paint from work.

After a quick dry, the main coat of Olive Drab 2 (Soviet) was applied. Detail painting coming up...