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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Harry Faversham on January 05, 2021, 12:33:54 PM

Title: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 05, 2021, 12:33:54 PM
The last boxes from our move (only taken two years!) to the seaside have made it from the loft to the Emporium. Two fruit boxes of 1:72 of WW2 vehicles among them, some painted in the early 70s, which shows. So I've tickled up some of the early German armour only to discover I've nobody to fight 'em, that's where yew shower, hopefully, come in!
It's not much after said 70s that I last built a tank. I've been looking at a box of 1:72 PSC Cruiser tanks, three in a box, with crewmen but no decals. Are they any good and where would I glean early war transfers for them please?
I'm cogitating on a quick block paint, wash and weather so they fit in with the rest of the crap tanks in my collection...
which looked pretty good nearly 50 years ago!

:-[




Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: fred on January 05, 2021, 08:00:55 PM
I like the PSC kits - I have a their 15mm A9/A10 box for the desert - it comes with an incredible number of build options to cover the various variants. They are much easier / quicker builds than old airfix kits. I’ve not tried their 20mm ones but I guess they are very similar to the 15mm ones.

You could try Minibits for decals https://www.minibits.net/i-94-decals/british/
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Ultravanillasmurf on January 05, 2021, 11:00:19 PM
I have a number of the PSC kits, though I have only finished a 15mm Cromwell.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZLyAFZnoWs/XWJ_g2kD12I/AAAAAAAAFwM/MLHiLVwOcUALzbjINjh7snSvd6Ye8cDTgCLcBGAs/s1600/psccromwell5.png)

A lot less complicated than an Airfix kit.

I got my decals from PSC at Colours 2019. Not sure if they have some suitable for your Cruisers.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Uk-6T-vrjM/XXwOaC_3wII/AAAAAAAAFyc/GeI7rsOPOEMotGF7o8jvT8sWq47GoxjpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/psccromwell10.png)
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: bluewillow on January 06, 2021, 09:45:10 AM
Black lion decals would be your best bet I think

Cheers
Matt
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: NTM on January 06, 2021, 10:57:31 AM
I have a number of 15mm PSC kits and like them a lot but some are not without issues. For example the desert sand shields included in the Cruiser kit are not correct being the same both sides when one was actually cut down. Those for the version used in France are correct to my knowledge though. From feedback on the web some of the 1/72 kits are a bit overscale but not sure if that is the case here.

Minibits are usually my first port of call for decals but due to the way they're packaged you will probably have to get multiple packs for your three tanks and have a fair bit left over.
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 06, 2021, 12:42:12 PM
Thanks chaps, your advice is most appreciated.

 :)
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: fastolfrus on January 06, 2021, 10:41:03 PM
If you cannot find the markings commercially why not put out a plea on here for spare ones - most chaps will probably have some knocking about if they've had kits with multiple options over the years?

I'm sure the collective hive mind would help out - most LAF members that I've met are basically reasonable types.
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Truscott Trotter on January 07, 2021, 03:03:13 AM
By Early War are you looking for BEF in France or Desert stuff.
BEF I have searched for and only really found two sources.
Black Lion
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/black-lion-decals-72055-bef-in-france-1940--1030171
Millicast
http://www.milicast.com/shop/product.php?productid=1213&cat=85&bestseller=Y
you can also go direct to Aleran
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 07, 2021, 12:57:02 PM
Thanks T, just ordered the early war decals from Black Lion.

 :)
Title: British Infantry, from the dawn of time!!!
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 08, 2021, 01:36:40 PM
Released by Almark, and if memory serves sculpted by Charles Stadden for a battleboard game I can't remember the name of? The figures had a prong on the bottom of their stand which fitted in holes all over the battleboard, you had a spring loaded popgun that traversed beneath the board which blasted the little man into orbit to splashdown under the sideboard, that's if you'd guesstimated yer ranges correctly...

:o
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Jeffers on January 10, 2021, 02:11:55 PM
I had loads of those! Can’t remember who, but I bought bags of them really cheap from a trade stand at Colours in 88/89. No idea what happened to them. Probably gave them away.
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: zippyfusenet on January 10, 2021, 08:18:36 PM
Tommies look a bit dusty, Harry. Run them under a warm tap, maybe give them a light scrub with a worn-out old toothbrush.
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 11, 2021, 01:02:12 PM
Tommies look a bit dusty, Harry. Run them under a warm tap, maybe give them a light scrub with a worn-out old toothbrush.

Silence in the ranks there, those Tommies are straight from the front line, every man an Emperor!
Then again, the military always love a fashion parade!

::)
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: zippyfusenet on January 11, 2021, 01:26:29 PM
Well done, that man!
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 11, 2021, 02:39:30 PM
Thank you Sir, permission to carry on?

 :P
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 12, 2021, 08:59:00 AM
Found the 60s game that used the figures...

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x0lX220booY/THvHAT5tpoI/AAAAAAAACPY/x1Lrg-6gLco/s1600/Triang+Battle+Game+3.jpg)

 :-*
Title: Re: British Infantry, from the dawn of time!!!
Post by: bluewillow on January 12, 2021, 09:56:19 AM
Released by Almark, and if memory serves sculpted by Charles Stadden for a battleboard game I can't remember the name of? The figures had a prong on the bottom of their stand which fitted in holes all over the battleboard, you had a spring loaded popgun that traversed beneath the board which blasted the little man into orbit to splashdown under the sideboard, that's if you'd guesstimated yer ranges correctly...

:o

Gosh I remember them, quite jealous of my mate who I gamed with, I  never had any as I was a plastics man as I was after quantity for a long time at least until the 2000s

Cheers
Matt
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: gamer Mac on January 14, 2021, 10:50:43 AM
I have recently built and I am building at the moment, PSC kits.
They are great kits for wargamers, very simple to put together and sturdy
I have built cromwells
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/47/1912-040820111649-47723239.jpeg)

PZ38t and Marder kit
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/1912-140121103118-49993281.jpeg)

and am currently building the 231 8-rad armoured cars
(https://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/1912-140121103116-49991711.jpeg)

my only complaints would be the lack of decals
and my Pz38t did not have instructions
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 14, 2021, 12:31:25 PM
They look good though! As I said earlier, two fruit trays of kits from the 70s have been excavated from the very bowels of the Emporium...
they're that crap, they almost look good, how's that work!

::)
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on January 17, 2021, 01:49:57 PM
Herself's just told me I'm an idiot, a position I cannot defend, to be fair. Yesterday I gleaned two A10 Cruisers from fleabay for a steal. After several celebratory lagers I pressed the button thingy to pay for them...
and they're now heading off to my lad's house in Sheffield. Much ranting ensued, at this lager fumed catastrophe, which resulted in Herself's unsolicited testimonial.
I fear the war will be over before mi' tanks rumble onto Cleethorpes beach.

:-[  :'(  :-[
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on February 04, 2021, 11:48:48 AM
Cruiser tanks have now reached the New Emporium by the Seaside, I'm guessing reliability and track problems slowed their progress from Sheffield?
They're S-Models and quite laughable. About five bits to assemble which makes a half decent model then, wait for it, brass etch super detailing thingybobs! Even with these additions they're still missing turret smoke discharges.
I fully intended going low tech, but I'm thinking piccys of this tat, can but only bring the Brethren's ridicule!

:'(
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: gamer Mac on February 04, 2021, 03:12:29 PM
We would like to see pics away
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on February 06, 2021, 02:32:24 PM
Your command is my wish. I always flinched when my old mate used to say...

"Stop fretting, they're adequate for wargaming."

He'd just love this one!

(https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=271746&d=1612621434)

(https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=271747&d=1612621449)

(https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=271748&d=1612621464)

(https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=271749&d=1612621483)

(https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=271750&d=1612621508)

 :'(
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Iain R on February 06, 2021, 08:07:17 PM
Nice work! I have a couple of those S-Model A13s myself (I love S-Model, their Cold War stuff is excellent), along with the Dan Taylor upgrade set for them that really pretties them up.
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: gamer Mac on February 06, 2021, 09:59:37 PM
Looks great :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on February 07, 2021, 01:02:03 PM
Looks great :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

Better get to Specsavers!

 :P
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: gamer Mac on February 07, 2021, 04:14:52 PM
I am sure it looks great with the 3' rule at table top range.
I could do with a trip to specsavers though this lock down my eyes are getting bad :D
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: bluewillow on February 07, 2021, 05:40:10 PM
Not bad looking kit, I like the bronze green you used too.

Cheers
Matt
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on February 08, 2021, 12:54:17 AM
The flash kind of buggers up the colours and makes everything glossy. This piccy without flash is nearer to the finish on the actual model...

(https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=271747&d=1612621449)

 ::)
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: vtsaogames on February 11, 2021, 02:37:00 AM
I find using all the spare lights (and natural light too, if available) without flash works for me. The "all the lights" idea came from a friend who is a photographer of the non-gaming variety. Your tank looks swell.
Title: Re: Plastic Soldier Company.
Post by: Harry Faversham on February 11, 2021, 11:38:39 AM
To be fair, back in the day, we did a lot of tabletop photography using natural light, big apertures and very slow shutter speeds. But that was when a Pentax Spotmatic was considered a 'proper' camera!

:)