Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: zirrian on November 22, 2017, 07:41:42 PM
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Well, as most of us, I have a tendency to jump around with projects...but for December, I want to do something from start to finish - a 1/72nd scale US Rifle Platoon plus support weapons. The aim is a 1000 points Bolt Action army, solely consisting of infantry with vehicles added later or taken from my shelf as I have a few painted stuff already. I want to use PSC figures for the most part, with conversions where necessary - and oh boy, it's necessary with these...why 9 of the figures needed to have a BAR? Why both of the SMG poses use a Thompson instead of a Grease Gun, and why are they almost useless? Why no M1 Carbine? The other kits have some really nice options for interchangeable weapons like in German set you can arm some with MP40s or rifles...or the Soviet kit has practically perfect distribution of weapons and maybe one useless pose. And what's more important, the other boxes have enough stuff for a platoon. Okay, maybe the Brits don't, as the 2" mortar and the PIAT was integral, but still...from this kit, you don't get enough riflemen to have 3 squads of 12. Swap out 2 BARs per sprue for Garands and you're set. But if converting it not up your alley, then you have to get at least another sprue. But I digress.
As for the current state of the project:
(https://i.imgur.com/bZhJlUq.jpg)
I got an army's worth of figures if not more from a friend. I de-based them this afternoon and my thumb really hurts. They'll be remounted on 25mm rounds, or bigger where needed. At the moment I want three 10-men squads (as I have 2 2-men bazooka units and a 2-men sniper unit, one can argue that this keeps it a full platoon), 3 .30cal MMGs, the aforementioned 2 Bazooka teams and a Sniper team, a medium mortar, a medic, an air/arty observer, platoon HQ (2 men) and that's about it. I need to assemble the .30cals and the mortar. As the weapons themselves are rather bad in the PSC sets (shame on them), I'll borrow them from the "oversized" Valiant kit that are still smaller than the ones supported here...I want to get everything ready by the 1st of December, so I only need to paint them. Also I'll add various bits like backpacks from Valiant, and add GS bandoliers and such as they are really lightly equipped.
And for my other in-progress WW2 US stuff, three AFVs:
(https://i.imgur.com/l2KrmrP.jpg)
The Priest needs crew, all of them need weathering and basing plus a healthy dose of matte varnish. The Stuart is from PSC, the M4A1 from Revell (a secondhand model - no idea how or why the barrel is not straight) and an Italeri Priest.
Also, an older finished vehicle - as it turns out the only WW2 US vehicle I've done is another Revell M4A1.
(https://i.imgur.com/4AI06VL.jpg)
For the vehicles part, I have a whole lot of Shermans, including some Easy Eights for the later parts, but for the moment, I want to make a third Revell M4A1, and after that, not sure. Maybe I'll make a poll.
Hope you'll enjoy this venture and I'll have the stamina to finish, and ACTUALLY play a game with them in January!
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Interesting project. I look forward to seeing how it goes.
Are you basing them individually on 25mm bases?
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This photo is the first time I have seen PSC figures....must say not too impressed, although I really like their vehicles.
I would have gone all the way with the Valiant ....but good luck, I am interested to see how they turn out.
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Interesting project. I look forward to seeing how it goes.
Are you basing them individually on 25mm bases?
Yep, one dude per base, with the exception of weapon teams like the sniper, the bazookas, and I'll put the observer with his radioman on a bigger base together as well.
This photo is the first time I have seen PSC figures....must say not too impressed, although I really like their vehicles.
I would have gone all the way with the Valiant ....but good luck, I am interested to see how they turn out.
It's nothing to get your heart racing, but they'll be pimped enough to make them look nice. My aim is to make them look like Pegasus' D-Day Rangers (a set I need to get...well, after this project, I'll grab at least two I think), figures that look like soldiers burdened with gear, and not chaps on a Saturday afternoon stroll with a rifle.
I have a lot of Valiant minis...I like painting them, but their scale bothers me immensely. There are rumours around that they'll re-do them in actual 1/72, which is something I'd really like, and would pick them up again. The US figures were really close in scale to be excellent, and the bits from that set can be used for a lot of things. I'll probably paint up a platoon of those as well (have half a dozen figures ready anyways), but I might base them for Rapid Fire/Ostfront.
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Thanks.
I have not seen the 20mm figures, I have some 15mm on 20mm radius Renedra bases and the 28mm Russians. I look forward to seeing what they look like painted and en masse.
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I agree that the weapon mix in the PSC set is a little.... odd.
I found it pretty simple to just cut down the excess BARs into Garands though.
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AARGH this thread and another Valiant thread on here has made me drag out all my 1/72 stuff out again to look over. It was safely all boxed up for the last 5 years...
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AARGH this thread and another Valiant thread on here has made me drag out all my 1/72 stuff out again to look over. It was safely all boxed up for the last 5 years...
:D Glad to be of service
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:D Glad to be of service
Oh man this is not to be taken lightly. I am having one of those huge rumbling shifting upheavals of total scale shift. I thought I had finished with 1/72 for ever now the madness has started again. I thought I was back on the virtuous straight and narrow of 28mm, now it's like where will it end? Is reality really real? Am I gay? Can I travel through time? Stuff like that. :(
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Oh man this is not to be taken lightly. I am having one of those huge rumbling shifting upheavals of total scale shift. I thought I had finished with 1/72 for ever now the madness has started again. I thought I was back on the virtuous straight and narrow of 28mm, now it's like where will it end? Is reality really real? Am I gay? Can I travel through time? Stuff like that. :(
The big advantage of 1/72 is that it's not THAT big of an investment not in time, nor in money. That's why it's my favourite scale.
And now for an update - on the road to December I've dug out some Valiant spares, replaced the three .30cals (man, the Valiant MGs look a lot better - the water cooled version is really nice from PSC tho), gave most of the figures backpacks from that set (which already improved their looks a lot), now I only need to find 8-10 more backpacks and break out the putty. Then bases to be made, then undercoat, and hope it'll be done before the 1st of December.
(https://i.imgur.com/quEuacq.jpg)
Also included a .50cal MG that was already assembled, so I'll slap it on the project's bottom and do it too. I'll need to borrow a mortar from the Italeri Elite Troops (they did not differ that much from US mortars...), plus find my Renedra 30mm round bases for the bazooka teams, forward observer and casualties. Also, I'm considering doing rifle slungs for the figures...if anyone has a good tutorial, or tips for it, please share them!
Till next time!
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Good start. The packs do improve the looks of the PSC figures no end. Talking of mortars, am I correct in thinking that the mortar in the Valiant US set is the 60mm company level mortar, not the 81mm? It is very small compared to the 81mm mortar in the German set.
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Good progress.
So how are you going to clean up those coins?
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Well done and I salute your commitment to making silk purses out of sow's ears! ;)
One small criticism; the .50 cal looks the size of a 20mm auto-cannon, I'm guessing that was borrowed too?
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Interesting. :)
...the Valiant MGs look a lot better - the water cooled version is really nice from PSC...
Do the Valiant and PSC figures mix well together? Could you just buy a box of each?
(I've never seen either in the flesh...er...plastic. ::) )
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Interesting. :)
Do the Valiant and PSC figures mix well together? Could you just buy a box of each?
(I've never seen either in the flesh...er...plastic. ::) )
Here is a pic of Valiant compared with Esci And Revell....the PSC (vehicle crew) figures I have had in my hand were same height as the latter two but less thin, so kind of in between those and Valiant
http://www.miniatures.de/britain/esci-valiant-miniatures-revell-scale-comparison.jpg
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Sorry folks, I didn't get notifications for replies for some reason...
Good start. The packs do improve the looks of the PSC figures no end. Talking of mortars, am I correct in thinking that the mortar in the Valiant US set is the 60mm company level mortar, not the 81mm? It is very small compared to the 81mm mortar in the German set.
Thanks. The Valiant mortar is the 60mm, correct. And the so-called medium mortar in the PSC set is like...a weird 60mm mortar injected with growth hormons to give birth to a godless abomination.
Good progress.
So how are you going to clean up those coins?
Coins will be tossed, they are not used in my country for some years now, and I have tons of them stacked away to sell 50 years from now...tho they won't worth more than their current value then I think.
Well done and I salute your commitment to making silk purses out of sow's ears! ;)
One small criticism; the .50 cal looks the size of a 20mm auto-cannon, I'm guessing that was borrowed too?
Criticism for PSC :P It came already assembled, and I'm not feeling replacing it, although I have tons of the Revell .50cals from their Ardennes set (a really lovely kit by the way, the next US platoon I'll do will probably be for the Bulge).
Here is a pic of Valiant compared with Esci And Revell....the PSC (vehicle crew) figures I have had in my hand were same height as the latter two but less thin, so kind of in between those and Valiant
http://www.miniatures.de/britain/esci-valiant-miniatures-revell-scale-comparison.jpg
Sadly the two don't mix at all. I was considering giving some carbines and Thompsons from the Valiant set, but nah...
Weirdly enough the Bazookas are the exact same size from both kits. I'll dig out my Hasegawa US Infantry Combat Teams to get some Tommyguns and Garand, plus I have some more from an unknown sprue...that was really helpful for doing Airfix Paras as it had small-ish 60mm mortars and BARs, something both Airfix and Matchbox really hates.
I couldn't make much progress besides cutting the bases and mounting the casualties and remaining teams on them, except for the mortar...we had a game of Warhammer Quest with some friends, and got a bit tired.
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Thanks. The Valiant mortar is the 60mm, correct. And the so-called medium mortar in the PSC set is like...a weird 60mm mortar injected with growth hormons to give birth to a godless abomination.
I am thinking about using the Westwind US medium mortars....
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...an unknown sprue...that was really helpful for doing Airfix Paras as it had small-ish 60mm mortars and BAR...
I'll bet that was the old Nitto US Infantry sprue. It's so old that it's not even listed on Plastic Soldier Review. The figures are mostly hard-plastic copies of Airfix USMC and British Paras, with extra infantry weapons and a couple of 37mm AT guns. Fujimi took over the Nitto product line and re-issued the kits:
http://henk.fox3000.com/Fujimi/76070/04.jpg
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...an unknown sprue...that was really helpful for doing Airfix Paras as it had small-ish 60mm mortars and BAR...
I'll bet that was the old Nitto US Infantry sprue. It's so old that it's not even listed on Plastic Soldier Review. The figures are mostly hard-plastic copies of Airfix USMC and British Paras, with extra infantry weapons and a couple of 37mm AT guns. Fujimi took over the Nitto product line and re-issued the kits:
http://henk.fox3000.com/Fujimi/76070/04.jpg
That's it! I've been looking at the Fujimi sprues, but somehow missed this. A really useful sprue if I might say - I might pick up some from my favourite Tokyo-based shop from eBay...I wanted to grab a few kits from Fujimi anyways :)
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Sorry for the subpar quality, sadly it's getting dark really early.
(https://i.imgur.com/yI7JSAn.jpg)
Everything's based, and I've decided not to add anything with Greenstuff for now. 57 figures if I counted correctly incl. the 3 casualties.
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Well, as I don't feel like priming today, I finished the three vehicles shown on the tray...
(https://i.imgur.com/idyPpRq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MGUyIts.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lOpr17R.jpg)
Hope you like 'em.
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Very good.
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Well, it's December, so - Week 0, Day 1, status report:
(https://i.imgur.com/TeLOsUW.jpg)
The whole affair is primed. I call this week zero because there are exactly four more weeks of December after this to paint it all up, so these three days will be kind of a warm up. I'll do the bases (without the static grass), and probably minor colors like Olive Drab or dark grays for guns. The .50cal, a single rifleman and the casualties are kinda like bonus figures that are not part of the plan, but hopefully can do them. As for the rest, the exact list with color coding because I love color coding:
Platoon HQ - 1st Lt. +1 rifleman
Forward Observer - 2 men with a radio
Medic - one man with a pistol
Bazooka Team 1 - 2 men with a Bazooka
Bazooka Team 2 - 2 men with a Bazooka
Sniper Team - 2 men, one sniper rifle, one SMG
MMG Team 1 - 3 men with a .30cal
MMG Team 2 - 3 men with a .30cal
MMG Team 3 - 3 men with a .30cal
Mortar Team - 3 men with a 81mm mortar
Rifle Squad 1 - 10 men, 1 SMG, 1 BAR, 8 riflemen
Rifle Squad 2 - 10 men, 1 SMG, 1 BAR, 8 riflemen
Rifle Squad 3 - 10 men, 1 SMG, 1 BAR, 8 riflemen
Also, made a list for vehicles as well. For a 2k list, I need:
3 M4A1 (76) - two done
2 M5A1 Stuarts - all done
1 M4 Mortar Halftrack - needs to be assembled, Science Treasury kit, original from Hasegawa I think
3 M4A3 tanks - Armourfast, assembled, needs to be painted
1 M7 Priest - done, need to make crew from PSC heavy weapons set
Also, I'll need to get a bunch of stowage for them - even for the painted ones, as I did them when I had no stowage. And I hope superglue will be strong enough and I won't need to rub the paint off from the vehicle. As for sources, I'm aware of Early War Miniatures and Steel72, possibly Value Gear Detail and SgtsMess, if anyone knows any other good sources for allied stowage, don't hesitate to tell me.
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I do like to see a Man With A Plan....
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Week 0, Day 1
(https://i.imgur.com/8D6NqCM.jpg)
Because my social life is generally nonexistant because I enjoy sitting at home on a Saturday night, I did some painting. Made all the bases (static grass and tufts added when the figures are varnished), applied basecoats to roughly the third of the platoon, plus painted every Olive Drab part like helmets, mortar, MG tripods and so forth. What's missing for the first third is the basecoat for the webbing, but I might do that today...
Also, after December I might transform this thread into a general "zirrian paints 1/72" thread.
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Good start. Going out on Saturday night is over rated, anyway.. lol
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I wanted to try out the colors I planned to use, so painted up the Platoon Commander's assistant.
(https://i.imgur.com/8AaQ4py.jpg)
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Good start, and I like your plan.
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Sorry for the long delay, thankfully managed to make some progress.
(https://i.imgur.com/sOn19rS.jpg)
This week, I wanted to paint one squad, HQ and three MGs - well, they are all done! Only varnish and basing left, plus some touch ups that I can do once I get better lighting...a disadvantage of winter is how early it becomes dark. Once they are deemed finished, I'll take better photos of the completed lads :)
And since I finished early, I might treat myself with the assembly of a kit purchased this week, namely this:
(https://www.michtoy.com/michtoy2010/products/Picture_ACE-72298-01.jpg)
For me it feels like a vehicle belonging to the PTO, but as far as I'm concerned it was used in Europe as well.
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Despite the dying interest...
The ACE model is not exactly the greatest, but it will do. Don't think I'll finish it this week, maybe at the end of this project...
(https://i.imgur.com/MlO8sXd.jpg)
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Haha no dying of interest here! In fact you have started me off but my project will be using Valiant figures as I already have some.
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(https://i.imgur.com/4QSLW9B.jpg)
2nd week's planned figures are done. Also, finished basing up some Italeri winter germans, sorry for the quality.
(https://i.imgur.com/CPkRqOw.jpg)
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Looking good. I just noticed your pinned/casualty markers. Is the square recess to hold a die? Great idea
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Looking good. I just noticed your pinned/casualty markers. Is the square recess to hold a die? Great idea
Yes, that's correct. Thank you.
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Very good.
Is that an astronaut off to the left of the laptop?
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Yup, an old Soviet toy I picked up at the flea market. I'll fix him up a bit as some point as there are some fuzzy details, then paint him - also I'll need to find a suitable visor for his helmet.
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Well, for my two followers of this painting log/blog/whatever...I finished the painting part for the core of the platoon.
(https://i.imgur.com/3GPCAWJ.jpg)
Now five bonus figures remain - the 3-men .50cal team, a rifleman and a casualty. I'll paint them tomorrow, and this December project will be wrapped up in 19-days.
Also, finished assembly of the command M4A1(76):
(https://i.imgur.com/bT1dqhS.jpg)
I had a Revell kit with some missing parts, and used up an Italeri Sherman purchased mostly to be used as a spares vehicle, as it had its turret and other parts missing. Also, had to borrow the hatches from a Matchbox Firefly and a (possibly) Fujimi Easy Eight. Added a commander from the PSC Stuart, a .50cal from the Italeri Sherman kit, and stowage from a Black Dog set, I can call it done - maybe I'll put some tarps on the front of the hull, but it'd mean I'll paint it only in Jan/Feb as I need to order those.
Now that the painting is done, I'll need to varnish and base them, probably a day's work all in all. And then I'll spend the rest of december cleaning out my backlog, most probably - lots of half-finished figures on my desk, among them some NVA leaders, Revell's 8th Army, Chechens, converted Chindits, and can't remember the others.
Thanks for looking.
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Well done, very productive and good looking output. Great job on the Sherman, I love to go scrapping. "...maybe I'll put some tarps on the front of the hull, but it'd mean I'll paint it only in Jan/Feb as I need to order those." A scrap of toiler paper rolled up, tied with sewing thread and painted makes a dandy tarp, in my experience, and you can size and position it just as you like on the model.
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While you have used your time productively these last couple of weeks, I have done absolutely nothing :(
This is a good little mini-project, very well done!
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While you have used your time productively these last couple of weeks, I have done absolutely nothing :(
This is a good little mini-project, very well done!
Thank you. What I can help you with is to advise you to make a timeplan with realistic goals, and then stick with it. Even if you overachieve, don't start the next phase that earlier as you'll burn out quickly.
Also:
(https://i.imgur.com/Fvnbh59.jpg)
We'll see when I can take pictures of the individual squads, but till then - I finished this project earlier than anticipiated, and I'm proud of myself. This year I've painted a lot of figures, and so far this is the second finishes "army" I think (maybe third, not sure). Hopefully my next year will be even more fruitious, and I can make all the armies I wanted to play in Normandy.
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Very interesting, I will start (hopefully) a new 1-72 project soon: I will follow your progress and this will be of great motivation for me! Great job so far!
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Nice work! Only saw this thread now, but definitely something to be happy with.
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Well chaps, sorry for the long radio silence - admittedly I can be a bit lazy when it comes to logs and blogs.
Now with the infantry portion of the army ready, I turned to AFVs, and finally finished my M4A1(76) that's been on my shelf unloved for some time. It's the command tank with some Blackdog and GS stowage, PSC commander, and Revell base kit. Maybe I'll get one more, but since Sherman troops were a mixed bag (I've read an account of a platoon that had 5 different Shermans in it, some 75, some 76mm), I might just add an M4A3(76) and be done with it - I have around 10 of the Italeri Easy Assembly ones anyway...
And now the picture!
(https://i.imgur.com/JMkUg3S.jpg)
Appears to be a bit fuzzy - sorry for that.
Also, some other projects I've worked on:
SdKfz 251s for the Ardennes:
(https://i.imgur.com/1Ye8Zto.jpg)
Airfix Bedford QLD from the D-Day set:
(https://i.imgur.com/qdpjmuq.jpg)
Next platoon project is a British rifle platoon with some halftracks in case I want to make a motor rifle platoon. I have two halftracks done already, only basing left, need to do the third, and grab an S&S conversion kit for a command halftrack, or make use of the Esci M3A1 White Scout Car I managed to get from Poland.
As for the infantry, PSC troops and HaT heavy weapons. Sadly one of my PSC sprues has some missing figs, so in case someone has a spare sprue or some riflemen and an NCO from there, please drop me a PM.
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These all look really good. I especially like the winter germans!
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Very nice!
Keep up the good work. I especially like the winter camouflage on the Sd.Kfz.
Cheers!
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Thanks folks! Hopefully they'll soon be on the table too, we plan to play a Normandy campaign soon-ish. I have a platoon of Airfix US paras for the airborne actions, they weren't used on the tabletop yet either...
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This has been good to read - I'm doing 1/72 as well so it's useful to compare against what you're doing.
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I loved the truck with the Mickey Mouse camouflage. Excellent work. Nice contrast between the body and the tarp. Tempting me to look into 1/72 again. But for some bizarre reason, when I moved, I decided to start to all over again in 28mm... :-[ but 1/72 the range and options in kits are just exceptional, and encourages 'kitbashing'. Up until now, I was put off by the limited range of 1/72 infantry, but now that's being remedied and it makes 1/72 an even better choice.
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Very inspirational and proving yet again that 1/72 is the best scale for WWII.
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Well, if you remember some months ago I've got an ACE US staff car to go with the project - managed to finish it now. Slow progress, but still.
(https://i.imgur.com/EE9IQLI.jpg)
And my plan with it - to make a command base for a higher HQ. 80mm round base, officer and MP from the Airfix USAAF set, will probably add a chap with a walkie-talkie wit the Matchbox set, or the casually standing rifleman from the Airfix US marines.
(https://i.imgur.com/NADmdJa.jpg)
And for some shameless self-promotion: I have a Facebook page where I post my stuff, feel free to follow me.
https://www.facebook.com/zirrianfest/
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Well, just a planning update...pulled out some lovely Valiant German Paras from the stash, assembled the ones that weren't, and painted 11 of them. Plan is to make a 1000 points army for Bolt Action with 2-men HQ, 3x5 paras with an SMG and an LMG, a 75mm recoilless rifle, an AT rifle, a medium mortar and a spotter, a flamethrower and a sniper, all for Crete. Then a 1000pts army for the Brits, from the Valiant sets again, using the coverless Mk II helmets. They promised Commonwealth figures for Crete, but that was years ago...
Will convert and kitbash a bit, as some weapons are not covered by the FJ boxes. Also, once it's done, and I can play Trench Hammer and Winter Hammer enough from Nordic Weasel, I might try to make a supplement for Crete...but we'll open that door once we arrive to it.
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A somewhat awful pic of the Valiant Fallschirmjager:
(https://i.imgur.com/ieQME8j.jpg)
They are really nice figures. I hope Valiant will break the silence and release some new figures soon. In 2016, they mentioned a metal Commonwealth range for Crete, that I'd really like to get.
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Coming to this somewhat late, but just wanted to say I love the weathering on the vehicles, and it's very inspiring for my 1/72 project (for Chain of Command). mostly plastics with some SHQ coming to fill in the gaps for the platoons.
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Coming to this somewhat late, but just wanted to say I love the weathering on the vehicles, and it's very inspiring for my 1/72 project (for Chain of Command). mostly plastics with some SHQ coming to fill in the gaps for the platoons.
Thanks! Be advised tho that SHQ is small, even compared to MAtchbox and Airfix figures.
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Thanks! Be advised tho that SHQ is small, even compared to MAtchbox and Airfix figures.
Thanks for the heads-up, any recommendations for metal matches for the usual plastic makers (Revell, Italeri, Pegasus, etc.)?
Chris
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Thanks for the heads-up, any recommendations for metal matches for the usual plastic makers (Revell, Italeri, Pegasus, etc.)?
Chris
AB, Elhiem, possibly CP.
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(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29572990_157528361583677_8391299140081971924_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=d4ea3449f7a7ffc350e9ea392e3fa77f&oe=5B377F6D)
My US troops went to war for the fist time...and got their asses handed to them deservedly. I played really badly. Had 2 10-men troops, an Lt, a medic (who saved like 10 men), 2 Bazooka teams and a 76mm Sherman. It was all played out in Bolt Action. My enemies were some SS chaps, some guys with Assault rifles, some others with ARs and an MG, a mortar team, an Lt and a Tiger. After I lost most of my anti tank capacity, it was just a matter of time till I lost...because I was too cocky with my Sherman, I lost it on turn three - should have brought more infantry and a 75mm Sherman (or an 57mm gun and more support), but oh well. My opponent was still learning the game, and I wasn't playing that much effort into tactical thinking, as my terrain department was lacking too...but overall a good time, my medic got a Medal of Honor, looking forward doing some terrain!
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Always fun when you get to play with the miniatures you've spent some effort painting. And don't worry about putting effort into the Tiger - you can ignore it and go for the other stuff.
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(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/29662693_157931901543323_6674983173970284540_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeGF4Omz7WbBGF6W6SEpuz1vjVUtVXv_slN4_4Q13zXUX_GNY_mLotnOHVVerKTpXlSd8NImT3NFlJLPHOsUxniZkCqQKsZKBUfNSzQa0YgS4A&oh=560c0ffa32f418a8b06fc9b0669bdc80&oe=5B712217)
Some finished stuff - a Dragon and a UM Firefly, with Blackdog and S&S stowage, plus a DAK Pak 36, courtesy of HaT.
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(https://i.imgur.com/Nf0b6qa.jpg)
Esci/Italeri Marder III Ausf. H. Built and painted yesterday, added some weathering today.
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Little bit of something else - Zvezda's WW1 Russians.
(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35405035_176890182980828_9069501045314420736_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=265fbc903615188af7ccae184792867a&oe=5BAE74B6)
WW2-wise, I've painted a lot of things that needs to be documented. A British platoon with SHQ and Frontline figures, plus some Britannia heavy weapons (that will be sold off, due to the rather noticable difference), a Cromwell CS, 48 Winter War Russians, a T-28, almost done two BT-7s, and a full platoon of German Panzergrenadiers from SHQ - a bunch of figures that have been lying around for around a year, I almost sold them off twice, but kept them, and with the arrival of a lot of similarly sized Brits, I kept them, and I'm really happy that I did, as they are really nice figures.
So stay tuned, maybe I'll manage to photograph them soon enough...
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(https://i.imgur.com/Z3m8wQk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7rxLZlH.jpg)
Two BT-7s from Pegasus to my Winter War Russians.
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Nice.
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(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36530572_186525595350620_4205100933601820672_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=61a22a501d009b02830f68c8024e0ca6&oe=5BE577C0)
A humble Humber Scout car. I don't know who made the base model, I got it assembled and undercoated (bit too thickly), and I added a Bren mount from SgtsMess. I only noticed now that I fucked up the wash a bit, but eh, it happens. Maybe I'll remedy it on another model in case someone does it in plastic.
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And now some Revell US Marines
(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36464034_186705325332647_8622358842010763264_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=f52764678ad6a0a5ea517c42647c798d&oe=5BA793EE)
(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36427060_186705321999314_4106369123049537536_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=5fb74094f3d53cda091ac664120e88ef&oe=5BE97CBA)
(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36525282_186705341999312_6221817318658277376_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=7b57bbf281c05d5f58ef76f5f4fe3ff5&oe=5BE1428B)
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Love your 1-72 Zvezda's WW1 Russians!!!!! I am also working on some of these so can you please share your paint references on these. Also, I am having a hard time getting primer to stick to the Zvezda plastic....any good recommends for primer coat that won't flake off???
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Love your 1-72 Zvezda's WW1 Russians!!!!! I am also working on some of these so can you please share your paint references on these. Also, I am having a hard time getting primer to stick to the Zvezda plastic....any good recommends for primer coat that won't flake off???
Thanks! :) Let's start with the primer - I'm not sure if I airbrushed some watered down Vallejo Black Primer, or used Evolution Pinty Plus black spray, but both works really nicely. The uniform is Middlestone, the belts, ammo pouches, satchel is Vallejo Flat Earth, greatcoat is Cold Grey+some white, the end of if on the side is hull red, puttees are again Flat Earth, and I think that's it. Possibly not 100% correct, but Russia is a big country with lots of different suppliers...also, originally I wanted a simple paintjob, so only did base color+wash on most parts except the face, but decided to go the extra mile, and added some extra highlights. To be honest, I'm not a fan of these minis, the faces are a bit weird (somewhat bloated), but en masse they'll look good.
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Thanks!
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And some more Ivans, this time from '39-'40.
(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37601723_200422550627591_2412364971317919744_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=d6c4f5c74a2f8905c05dfacc153e65c7&oe=5C127DC3)
Lovely chaps from Strelets, their Winter War sets are really great, and a single box gave me more than enough figures for Winter Hammer, using 5 figures/unit. Got some RCW winter Russians too as reinforcements in outdated coats and some not too warm peaked caps, but a sprue of them was around an Euro...so I had to grab them :)
What's left to buy for these are some T-26s from Minairons, a KV-1, some artillery, mortars, command, extra metal miniatures, another MMG from Combat Miniatures. Will obtain those probably in September...
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Also, some work on the Finns, started converting some infantry to wear a snowsuit, and some PSC heavy weapons into Finnish weapon teams.
(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37421689_200823367254176_8700880821390671872_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=6445088cf5f1f5266f529f4e91b2e831&oe=5BC77482)
(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37419249_200823380587508_1373985060469866496_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=76b703c943c2df57a9dda652b6b4712f&oe=5BDEF336)
(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37500443_200823373920842_1824021998716583936_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=2c57ca489d9cd104a0bab25b64c76636&oe=5BD1CF8D)
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(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39558051_224986141504565_1564254684368076800_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=974f130976e209f27f0920290a2a7580&oe=5BF466FE)
Got another game in yesterday, Brits vs. Krauts in Bolt action, in 1000 points.
My Firefly and my 17pdr practically did nothing, which was great, since they were approx. half my army's worth in points. Like really, they fired each like 2-3 shots, and 0 hits. Though they both survived, so it was nice, and eventually I could keep all 3 objectives, and thus won the game.
Other lowlights include approx. 7 morale rolls over 10, and my arty observer calling the guns on my army AGAIN (last time this pinned my army into oblivion on turn 2...so I won't take it again, even if it's free), but better luck next time, I guess.
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(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40572514_232007474135765_7836297530974404608_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=6ad2e4a177a1ca8b0c3de73c97108c93&oe=5BF1A44D)
Thread resurrect!
An Italeri Sherman III. I was organizing my stuff the weekend, and found this tank. Got it in a lot with a dozen others for a tenner. It was nicely assembled, so I thought why not...sprayed it, painted it Saturday night, then did the weathering on Sunday.
I have another one on sprue in my stash, as well as 3 assembled Esci M4A1s for the Brits, and with that, most of my El Alamein armor is sorted out, maybe I'll get some Churchills and Stuarts from PSC later.
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Lovely looking collection. Love the Sherman.
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(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/40883822_233724143964098_3400573204517879808_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=4deaafa0b789cd48fe8743ed2b694a5e&oe=5C3B50EB)
IBG Universal Carrier with PSC tracks and driver.
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Nice carrier.
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(https://scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/42309722_237257636944082_2719323384860114944_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&oh=715f7c2441354b49f667844dee2be993&oe=5C2952DD)
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Some freshly completed/photographed stuff. First, a Zvezda Pz IV H., great model, however commander's hatch is moulded shut. Replaced it with a Revell cupola, and added an SHQ commander.
(https://i.imgur.com/hjyw0VT.jpg)
Next, a First to Fight Pz 35(t).
(https://i.imgur.com/J1XpZKz.jpg)
And finally, a German sniper team, minis from Caesar.
(https://i.imgur.com/KPIWbBl.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/uIEZRKe.jpg)
I forgot to post in this blog for a while now, but here's a completed Trumpeter Easy Eight with S&S stowage, and a crappy Hasegawa commander that'll be probably replaced in the future.
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Nicely done. Will you also base this tank?
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Nicely done. Will you also base this tank?
Thanks! Yes, I will, but I need to cut a base for it.
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Grand, so most of the pics disappeared...fantastic.
Freshly added, ACE M5 AT gun with crew from Milicast.
(https://i.imgur.com/dyfg5vh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YdyPEGo.jpg)
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I'll eventually replace the lost pics...or idk, delete the whole thread, upload them to somewhere that doesn't change their bloody URLs like it was underwear.
But anyway...
A bit of an off-topic like the WW1 Russkies, but I've dabbled into 15mm too, and finished these PSC Shermans recently.
(https://i.imgur.com/ssRPfuA.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/kiLdVoF.png)
A tiny Matchbox Pz II F, without the basing. Got it as part of a lot, I had to fill some parts, and the tracks were extremely brittle (they broke on 2-3 points), but in the end, it looks nice I think. Or at least I'm happy with it, and it's my first DAK vehicle.
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(https://i.imgur.com/sXMkG3J.jpg)
Right! I managed to figure out how to take good pictures with my phone, the only thing I needed was a big ass lamp :D Finished Matchbox Pz II Ausf. F, a cute little vehicle.
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Very nice.
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Great salvage job (y)
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(https://i.imgur.com/3QP9mMJ.jpg)
Well, now you'll enjoy a lot of reposts with better pictures of my works...I'll re-photograph my entire display cabinet!
This setup works nicely I'd say.
(https://i.imgur.com/55vEC9N.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/VyPC2Vu.jpg)
I gave in to the hype and tried AK's Real Colors...first try, Faded Olive Drab, so far I'm enjoying it - tho the thinner smells quite badly :?
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And now for something completely different - I've built IBG's Type 89, a really excellent kit with the best link and length tracks I've built so far.
(https://i.imgur.com/lNjZj5E.png)
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nice work, and that photo booth looks good.
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Despite the declining interest in my log, I'll continue :P
First, an Airfix Crusader
(https://i.imgur.com/idDyNkA.jpg)
Fujimi Sherman
(https://i.imgur.com/QIV417d.jpg)
And an Italeri IS-2
(https://i.imgur.com/5YjZ3RV.jpg)
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Lovely additions (for every comment there's probably another 10+ people who are shy/lazy/lost for words ;) - remember you're doing this for you mainly :P).
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Yes keep going. Lovely work!
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Nice work.
That Crusader looks great.
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Well done. How was the Fujimi Sherman to assemble? I’ve had very mixed experiences with Fujimi kits.
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Well done. How was the Fujimi Sherman to assemble? I’ve had very mixed experiences with Fujimi kits.
No idea - I got it assembled. Slapped on some stowage, and painted it, that's why you see the gaps and the missing towing hook on the left side of the tank.
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I especially like the crusader !
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Managed to get another game in yesterday, Bolt Action in 1/72, and I could score a 9-6 victory.
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Good to hear, which toys did you get to field?
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Good to hear, which toys did you get to field?
Right, the only thing I forgot to add was the picture :D
(https://i.imgur.com/ctibUfE.jpg)
I've put an infantry platoon of platoon HQ, 3 10-men sections of 2 SMGs and an LMG, a Vickers, an arty observer, a 2" mortar, a medic, a Cromwell and a Daimler AC on the table, and as usual, the arty fell on my men...next time, even tho they are free, I won't take them.
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Awesome thread. You should seriously start a blog though!
Really like the look of those WWI Russians. Great colour choice. Also, how difficult was the IBG kit to assemble? I recall reading a review somewhere describing it as very fiddly?
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Awesome thread. You should seriously start a blog though!
Really like the look of those WWI Russians. Great colour choice. Also, how difficult was the IBG kit to assemble? I recall reading a review somewhere describing it as very fiddly?
Thank you! I have a blog in Hungarian, but I'm not exactly good at keeping up writing blogposts. I run this army log, a Facebook page as Zirrian Paints, and a Gallery at Benno's....enough for me.
IBG kits are generally fiddly, but the Type 89 went together pretty nicely. Lots of small parts, but the fit was really good, overall it was excellently engineered. I managed to break off the opener of the engine compartment when I was removing the masking putty, so that'll not be part of the vehicle sadly.
Overall - not recommended for beginners, and some practice is needed on simpler models before tackling any IBG models.
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Well, time to rebrand/name this blog, as I'm expanding into other scales as well...I've been working on my 15mm Americans recently, plus painted up a Dragon US paratrooper in last month, and also got a box of Perry Americans from a friend who went to Salute...so yeah, lot more than just 20mm!
So, as I just added 5 Shermans to my Americans, I'd like to present you a quick group shot.
(https://i.imgur.com/oZdGbbt.png)
2 M4A1 platoons, 2 Armored Rifle Platoons (with one platoons halftracks missing their crews), a para platoon for Arnhem (should have painted them in khaki for Normandy), an engineer platoon (without HMGs), and the armored rifle company HQ. Lot more to do, including a platoon of M4A3s, some stray halftracks and Jeeps, recon platoon, an infantry platoon, artillery battery, mortar platoon, 3 M3 and 5 M5 Stuarts, 2-2 M10s and M36Bs...I want to finish them by the end of August. Also, as I got an Anycubic Photon 3d printer recently, I will add some misc. vehicles here and there like a dozer Sherman and trucks for the engineers, M16 MGMC, etc. etc.
And for the 1:35 part, I've picked up some kits recently as I like to do some models for the sake of modeling, and I can try out new techniques on them. First infantryman I've spent more time on than usual is this Dragon American paratrooper with a bazooka. Enjoyed doing it, but not sure what I should do with him, maybe a diorama, or give him his own base...not sure.
(https://i.imgur.com/dwmTNk4.jpg)
Thanks for looking, and I hope you don't mind the upcoming mishmash of scales.
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(https://i.imgur.com/rfU2TWA.jpg)
Armourfast Firefly WIP - dust, aerials and base to be added.
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And for the 1:35 part, I've picked up some kits recently as I like to do some models for the sake of modeling, and I can try out new techniques on them. First infantryman I've spent more time on than usual is this Dragon American paratrooper with a bazooka. Enjoyed doing it, but not sure what I should do with him, maybe a diorama, or give him his own base...not sure.
(https://i.imgur.com/dwmTNk4.jpg)
Nice work.
Have you thought about using Firefight Normandy by Warwick Kinrade?
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(https://i.imgur.com/2rIjr5y.jpg)
Sherman Firefly practically done :) I got this model in 2013, as my first newly purchased kit in 1:72, painted it to a meh standard, then gave it away. Earlier this year I bought a huge ass collection (approx. 60 vehicles and a couple hundred infantry), and it was included there. I've decided to refurbish it - added a PSC commander, some stowage, fired up my airbrush and AK Real Color paints, and ta-da - I think it turned out really nicely.
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It has.
Wait - you didn't get the same model pack in that massive haul?!
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It has.
Wait - you didn't get the same model pack in that massive haul?!
I did :) But it was only sprayed with olive drab, and then drybrushed with a lighter shade. It also had the hull MG, so I had to hide that too somehow, that's why the stowage is put on.
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Time for an update!
I've painted mostly 15mm recently (I'll take a lot of photos once I don't feel like my balls are playing water polo in my pants), but yesterday I've come across an Armourfast model from the February lot, and I thought "what the hell", so slapped some paint on it.
(https://i.imgur.com/mgNjKvK.png)
Also, I know that black muzzle break is wrong, but eh.
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(https://i.imgur.com/ODDqrnu.jpg)
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Very nice work.
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I'm on a roll.
(https://i.imgur.com/oRh0adV.jpg)
Esci JagdPz IV, a secondhand model.
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Those are really nice work.
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Agree - I'm liking the dust weathering.
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(https://i.imgur.com/XlVXIiD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/u9ZUcIk.jpg)
Another 1:35 figure, this time it's an Academy SS infantryman with a Panzerfaust. The kit is a year younger than me, and this is the figure I like the least from the kit tbh.
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(https://i.imgur.com/xmNGKtD.jpg)
IBG Models' lovely Type 89 model. Went together like a dream, even the tracks.
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(https://i.imgur.com/XjtAd53.jpg)
SHQ T60, a quick paintjob.
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Nice work.
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(https://i.imgur.com/93rLDvD.jpg)
Armourfast T-34/76 for a friend.
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(https://i.imgur.com/0w7EIwz.jpg)
And the second T-34 for my good friend Conrad.
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(https://i.imgur.com/KjOTbOK.png)
A Trumpeter 1:35 KV-1. My father started to convert it to a 40k tank for me, but I've decided to make a proper tank out of it. This is my first fully completed 1:35 vehicle, and I like it.
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Nice.
Going to need a bigger board ^___^.
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(https://i.imgur.com/9vx87U9.jpg)
It's been a while since my last post...I've painted an Italeri M4A3 with an Armourfast turret as I needed the Italeri 76mm turret for my UM Easy Eights.
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Nice.
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(https://i.imgur.com/Xm7FScs.jpg)
A nice little kit from First to Fight, the SdKfz 247. I have painted a Pz III and Pz IV for early war too that I need to take proper pictures of.
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Nice.
An interesting looking vehicle.
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Cool collection! :D
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(https://i.imgur.com/aU572BS.jpg)
UM M36 Jackson with S&S stowage, need to get some crew for it. Most probably from S&S.
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(https://i.imgur.com/i1YeMdz.jpg)
No new posts for more than 120 days...sorry for the lack of updates, guys. Finished the base T-34 yesterday, need to add crew, a wooden log and base. I'm really happy with how it turned out.
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Great job on that 8)
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Thank you, Captain.
And now for something different
(https://i.imgur.com/K1B1UPo.jpg)
An Academy P-40B. Nice and simple kit, with absolutely useless decals.
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Quite good! You've made it look quite excellent! :)
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Love the new editions especially the Flying Tigers P40.
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Lovely work.
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Thanks everyone.
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Well, hope the admins will forgive me for this "threadomancy", I just work really slowly on my WW2 stuff...but here's something new, in the sense that I finished it today. Crew was painted at least 4-5 months ago.
(https://i.imgur.com/Z7Ml27e.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/q8U560Z.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hkevmrt.jpg)
An Italeri ZiS-3 for my Stalingrad/Winter Soviet force. More or less happy with it, turned out suitably winter-y
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(https://i.imgur.com/8NYVvd3.jpg)
Painting dreadfully nothing lately...but I took out to finish this HobbyBoss 1:48 Easy Eight with some Tamiya crew. Tracks are left to do I think.
Also, two IBG Zrínyis.
(https://i.imgur.com/ujSRzzu.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/3eiIKRE.jpg)
Larger scale stuff continues...this time a Tamiya Pz II that turns 50 this year. A vignette with soldiers preparing to attack will be made for it once I get around buying the relevant figures, but otherwise I'm pretty happy with this. Decided to make it relatively quickly, I did not spend days with the weathering only, painted it over the Easter weekend.
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That Panzer 2 looks great!
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Very nice.
I like the Panzer II especially.
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Thank you very much guys. Next topic most probably will be 1:72 again, as I know myself and that I would burn out with big models quickly :) I have a small diorama/vignette to be finished in 1:35 tho, I will put up some pics once fully done.
Might do another "one month platoon" American project as I sold away the PSC guys and bought much better AB Figures instead. They are based and waiting in a metal box to be painted.
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Another airplane, this time an ICM I-16
(https://i.imgur.com/vAiDLx3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/89A4XTW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bYvsGGK.jpg)
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Very nice! The chipping is very convincing!
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Thanks molterei!
And now something for tha AFV guys, an almost finished PSC T-34 with the 76mm turret.
(https://i.imgur.com/z2L3mls.png)
I got him in 2017 as part of a bigger lot, set him aside, built sometime last year, and sprayed the 4BO on it around the same time. After that, back to the box, and yesterday I thought I could finish him up with the two others from the same box. Some dust, fuel leak from the fuel tank and exhaust stains remain for tomorrow. Sadly they were all built except for the tracks when they got here, so cannot add a commander.
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(https://i.imgur.com/WPhkuW0.png)
And welcome back, no new stuff for a long time...finally finished up the UM 1:72 T-34/76 with Xan crew and wooden log, varnished, ready to defend Mother Russia!
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(https://i.imgur.com/85vzX5p.png)
After a long while, another vehicle - this time an Armourfast StuG. Somewhere on the Eastern Front or Italy, done to try out the AK Dunkelgelb modulation set I grabbed on a clearance sale. I really like how it turned out.
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The StuG looks good. So does that Sherman earlier in the thread. Didja ever finish its tracks?
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The StuG looks good. So does that Sherman earlier in the thread. Didja ever finish its tracks?
Thanks. Yes, I did, just did not get around taking a pic yet.
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Wow! So much to love in this thread. Your vehicle weathering is amazing!
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That Panzer looks great
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Thanks for the compliments.
Finished up this 3D printed US 57mm M1 cannon. It will be for the Ardennes, but as far as I know, they were not whitewashed for the winter, so will remain in this lovely olive drab.
(https://i.imgur.com/nxlvJpe.png)
Also, a small conversion...the Italeri DAK set has three mortars with crew and 9 men with SMGs in total - for North Africa I would need approx. one or maybe two mortars, plus I have at least two of this kit, and 3 SMGs per platoon, so converting the rest into riflemen. First conversion is the mortar operator who got turned into a leisure rifleman - you might ask why he's hugging his rifle if he's dropping bombs into a tube with his other hand, but I could not answer. Makes for a great riflemen, tho.
(https://i.imgur.com/sGNLK79.png)
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(https://i.imgur.com/IMMtiBW.jpg)
One more 3D printed item, this time a Tetrarch tank. Designed by my father and printed by me, some stuff is missing (like the lamps), but will be available on release along with the three barrel types (2pdr, 2pdr with Littlejohn, CS). Currently printed at 1:72, but it's detailed enough to be printed in 28mm or 1:48 too. We'll probably make an openable hatch version too, tho no interior details as it's still more or less aimed at wargamers.