African/Cuban Para's 1980's Support

I have been quite busy today with my Soviets, which will feature this week. Basing and painting, basing and painting...It does get to you after a while, so I took a little time out to add a vehicle to my African/Cuban Para force.

Land Rovers were much the mainstay of the African bush from the 1950's to the 1990's, so I used a diecast Series III LWB to use as a mount for a DShK 12.7mm AAMG. The AAMG is from the Matchbox T34/76 set, while the Land Rover is from Kongwell and was over painted from the UN white colours it came in.

I will attach it to the Support Company where it can add a little punch to the Battalion.

Post Photo Puzzle

Cheers for all the feedback on yesterdays post, and I was quite impressed with some of answers provided. The AFV is question is a hybrid of Roco 1/87th scale Marder hull with a 1/76 Airfix Scorpion/Scimitar turret.

A few years ago my mate Dave threw some Marders my way which were surplus to his requirements. They did not have any turrets but I decided that I could do something with them at some stage.

Cleaning out the man cave the other day I stumbled across them and had a play with various turrets looking for something and found that the Airfix turret looked the best and also had that 1970's or 80's feel about it.

Going though the answers I could see that some of you have a terrific knowledge of vehicle recognition, while some of you aren't treadheads at all, who cares it's about getting knife on plastic, glue on plastic, then paint on plastic and finally plastic on table. Kudos's to you all.

500th Post Photo Puzzle

Well, 501st anyway, to celebrate I am running a little contest, simply name this AFV type pictured in this post along with its different models, and the manufacturer.
I have been building these over the last few days as a break from all the basing I have carried out over the last week or so, more than 100 since Friday...and not a photo posted. I am saving them up until I start finishing Units.

You have to be in to win!

2nd Company African/Cuban Para's 1980's

Continuing from last nights post, this time it's the 2nd Company up for review. Above the 4th Platoon (Soviet numbering, not mine) with AKM and SVD rifles. For some of the Beret poses I cut down the headress a lttle to make them look a little more western styled.
The 5th Platoon with Paratrooper armed with AKM and on the right a RPG-7 from the Warsaw Pact set.

6th Platoon which is the Command stand with on the left a Czech pose with AKM (he's the Officer) and Paratrooper again with AKM.

The usual Company frontage shot with Government M48 in the background. What a bunch of tough buggers!

1st Company African/Cuban Para's 1980's

After painting up these ESCI classics's from the 1980's a couple of years ago I have finally got round to basing them this weekend. I plan to use these as African or Cuban Paratroopers (read Red Dawn). Using standard Soviet formats as three Platoons to a Company and two or three Companies to a Battalion I based them up. Above Command stand with ESCI Modern Russian Paratroopers Spetsnaz on the left and a Warsaw Pact Troops figure, which is probably a East German pose on the right. Both armed with AKM's.
Rifle Platoon with two ESCI Paratroopers with the bod on the left armed with a Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova (SVD), of which one per Platoon was the usual standard.

Final Platoon with figures both from the Warsaw Pact set. Gunner in front is armed with a 7.62 PK General Purpose Machine Gun, while the figure at the rear shoulders a RPG-7 which was carried at squad level.

Company pose. Most pleased to get these based, 2nd Company tomorrow.

25 Pounders, Italians, Sunshine and Beers.

With the start of a long weekend, I took the opportunity to catch up with Al from 20th Century Wargaming at his house for a few hours in the sunshine. Beer was consumed,trash was talked and plans were hatched. A few months ago I grabbed from Spanky some Airfix 25 Pounders and limbers, however I had not the chance to actually pick them up as I was on an Officer exchange to the UK and Dave got posted to the Middle East. Phil stepped up to the plate and gave them a home until Al picked them up a month ago. So today I got my hands on them and they are all in good order. I already have Quads for them and now my British and Commonwealth troops can go into the breech with some solid arty support alongside the 4.5's already in service.
I also went through Al's spares box and picked up a few more French for my WW2 Battalion which will be around three Companies when finally finished. Al also chucked at me a almost complete set of the old ESCI/Italeri Italian Mountain troops. I have probably two other sets of these and am thinking of fielding a Regiment of these in the Eastern Front theater. Nice start to the long weekend, cheers Al!

Rapid Fire Rules

Typical, three day weekend is here and I am feeling crook. I brought a copy of the Rapid Fire ruleset earlier in the week and it arrived today. I paid NZ5$ for it which I think was quite a steal as a quick look puts it at over 25 quid in the UK. Settling in for a early night tonight and will go through the rules and eight game scenarios for the 1940 - 1942 period with interest.

Desert Daves Dispatch on Diorama Disaster

My old chum Spanky (aka Desert Dave) is currently doing a tour of duty in the Middle East, and whilst on leave in Cairo reports;

"Also went to the Egyptian national Army museum, that was really a dissapointlment as you saw heaps of busts of Generals etc, but no information in the imperial grunts that did the killing and dying work. I also enclose a picture of the diorama showing the storming of the Suez in 1973. They are not big on detail or realism at the Army Museum I am assuming. (Fozie, you can put that on your website if you want) I also expected to see models for sale at the museum, but guess what, there were pucking none but heaps more plastic pyramids!"

Well put Dave, I would have expected a little more effort on figure selection and even a splash of paint. I myself would hope you all donate some help and indeed correct period figures to this establishment, please for the kids sakes!

French Anti Tank Gun Crew

I took a day on the Queen today, and with the HAT WW1 French figures Al has given me I have made a Gun Crew stand.
I think they came out rather well and I have revised my opinion of the actual figures once painted.

The Gun here is just a hoch-poach set up meant to represent my 25mm AT Gun, although I might be tempted to field it as a 47 mm APX anti-tank gun.

Bring on the Boche!

Commando Ballet?

I have been reading a old book on Commando's and their training during WW2 ("From the sea" by Major Hugh Jass) and I was most surprised to find that they used ballet training to teach discipline and silent movement. I quickly decided to incorporate this fact into my wargaming by creating a 'Ballet' stand for special attacks. Using Matchbox Commando's I have constructed such a stand. Above a Platoon stand carring out various stages of the Pirouette.
The rear of the Platoon, the Pointe work is clearly visible. I must ask Al if they still train this way, with Al being a man of many talents it would not surprise me...Fascinating stuff!

HAT WW1 French Headswaps

I cut off some heads of some HAT early WW1 French Infantry and swapped them with some HAT WW1 French Artillery crews. Both sets donated by Al.
Trying to create some WW2 French Infantry. I have carved the spats into webbing as well. Some look better than others...

HQ & Support Coy / 2nd Bn British Indian Army

Back from a weekend training stint, and straight up to the stable loft after giving the cook a pat on the bum and the boy a pat on the head. First up tonight my HQ element for the 2nd Battalion, Matchbox Officer with helmet head swap and Airfix Australian Infantry radio operator.
Support Company with 3"Mortar Platoon, figures both Matchbox with British Infantry on left and 8th Army on right.

Last Platoon in the Support Company is the Recon Platoon. Again both Matchbox with British Infantry in front with Bren and ANZAC rifleman behind. Hmmm... might pop back up later on and see what else I can base. Al's Soviet Battalions are inspiring me to pull my finger out on my red hoard.

Lastest Buys

I picked up two helicopter kits on a online auction earlier this week and they arrived today. No real hurry to build as I have about 10 other helio's waiting assembly, but they were a very nice price and I could not resist. The Wessex will find a place in my British 1980's force which as stalled construction as of late.
While the Twin Huey will go into my 1980's Marine force along with an unbuilt Fujimi example.

Wednesday's Website

Today's site is a handy one that I stumbled across while looking for info when researching what colours to use for my French Infantry Company. Lots of info and ORBAT's from the Fall of France period and beyond.

http://france1940.free.fr/en_index.html#Army

Info on the colours I used for my painting of Caesars figures; http://france1940.free.fr/armee/colours.html

WW2 French Infantry Company

Over the last few nights I have been working on a reinforced French early war Infantry Company with some brilliant Caesar figures given to me from Al. Taking a wee break from from a long running project such as my current far east forces is a nice change. Above Platoon stand with Chatellerault M24/29 light machine gun and what looks to be a MAS-36 rifle.
Next stand two riflemen with possibly Lebel Model 1886 rifles.

MAS-36 rifle armed Platoon.

Lebel Model 1886 rifle on left... maybe, and MAS-36 on right. Limited figures mean some double ups. Al also gave me a few early WW1 French to help but I have not found the patience as of yet.

Command stand with riflemen with Lebel and Officer with MAS Model 38 Submachine Gun which appeared in limited numbers before the downfall, and on April 28, 1945, it was used by Italian partisans to shoot the former dictator Benito Mussolini...Cheers wiki!

Nice change of pace, and I am still building a gun crew for my 25mm AT gun. Long term I will probably build up a Battalion once I get hold of a set myself or if Pegasus ever release their set. Cheers Al for the figures, nice one mate.

D Coy 2nd Bn British Indian Army

Getting down to the home stretch for the 2nd Battalion, Above the Command stand with Matchbox Commando with head swap as the Officer and a Matchbox Boys AT gun conversion from the 8th Army and Infantry set. AT guns are organic to the Command stands, but I think its nice to show them now and again. The Boys stayed in service in the Far east till the end of the war. Japanese armour was within the penetration effect of the .55 right to the end. The Aussies also found them handy against croc's as well.
Platoon stand, both Matchbox Infantry.

2nd Platoon stand with Matchbox ANZAC with head swap on left and another Matchbox Infantry rifleman on right. The shooting pose looks a little taller than normal because I stood on him by accident and he seemed to flatten out a tad...Nice one.

C Coy 2nd Bn British Indian Army

The third Company of the 2nd Battalion,British Indian Army. Platoon stand above with Airfix Australian Infantry Bren gunner in the prone pose with a Matchbox rifleman beside.
Command stand made up of totally Airfix Australian figures.

Last Platoon stand with in the foreground Matchbox ANZAC rifleman and a Matchbox Commando with headswap to the rear. He's chomping at the bit...

Company frontage.

HQ & Support Coy / 1st Bn Far Eastern Troops

Battalion Command stand for the 1st Bn, the Officer is a Matchbox Commando with a Airfix Gurkha hat, while the radio operator is standard a Matchbox ANZAC pose.
The Support Company comprised of two only stands, which again is very light on the ground. Above the Recon Platoon stand with Airfix Bren gunner and Matchbox Thompson SMG.

3 inch Mortar Platoon, all Matchbox ANZAC figures and Mortar. Nice and simple, but I must tidy up the webbing strap of the figure on the right.

B Coy 2nd Bn British Indian Army

2nd Company of my gallant Indian Imperial forces, 1st Platoon above with two Matchbox figures, to the front 8th Army top/British Infantry legs conversion for the Bren gunner and normal Infantry Sten gunner.
Matchbox Infantry charging on the left with a Airfix rifleman from the series two set for this Platoon.

Command stand, Matchbox for both with the Officer being the now quite familiar ANZAC pose and a Infantry rifleman with the No 4 Lee Enfield...Mk 1*...just for the rivet counters.

Company complete.