Author Topic: Bir Hakeim (Read 16910 times)

tancrede · « **on:** December 02, 2020, 12:33:31 PM »

After painting some minis for France and for the Battle of the Bulge, it's now time for my pal and me to head south.
Winter is coming, and we need sun and heat ! ^^

So here is our new project : the battle of Bir Hakeim and some fightings in North Africa.
Just as for the "Bulge project", my friend will do the battlefield (always with only one hand), and I will built and paint minis.
And we both have chosen our army : he will play Free French (based upon Foreign Legion), and I will play Italians (mainly regular infantry). So you can expect a lot of weird vehicles in a near future !

First minis are for my friend, as mine are still on the way between England and France (I've bought some minis from the Perry's and from Empress).

To begin, I've done a test mini for infantry. The base is a plastic 8th Army kit from Warlord Games, with a printed head from JJG Prints.
Not sure on the backpack, but my friend wanted the boys to have some...

Second mini is the Dodge Tanake from the Perry Miniatures range.
This vehicle was really nice to build and paint, and I'm happy with the result (color scheme was chosen by my friend, and I was happy he didn't chose something more exotic !

) :

It's enough for today, but stay tuned as this project will be running for many months !

OSHIROmodels · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2020, 12:39:23 PM »

Lovely work

traveller · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2020, 12:52:44 PM »

Awesome!

I have a old Bir Hakeim project on the shelf. Hopefully the inspiration from your excellent work can move it up on the production list

BillK · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2020, 02:07:31 PM »

Fantastic.

Will definitely be checking in on your progress.

FreakyFenton · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2020, 02:34:23 PM »

Lovely work on the Dodge!

has.been · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2020, 02:44:07 PM »

French with their weird vehicles & weirder camo schemes...
What's not to like?

Ajax · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2020, 04:46:35 PM »

Fantastic as usual, my friend

gamer Mac · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2020, 05:03:53 PM »

Cracking stuff

Ash · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2020, 08:26:28 PM »

Gorgeous painting.

Captain Blood · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2020, 08:40:42 PM »

Excellent. Love the Dodge. I’ve made and painted that model too. It’s a lovely vehicle to work on

flatpack · « **Reply #10 on:** December 02, 2020, 10:45:56 PM »

Great looking kit.

vodkafan · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2020, 10:16:59 AM »

That is a weird vehicle!

Never seen that one before. Great work on all your painting

tancrede · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2020, 10:32:30 AM »

Thanks for comments, guys !

Quote from: traveller on December 02, 2020, 12:52:44 PM

Awesome!

I have a old Bir Hakeim project on the shelf. Hopefully the inspiration from your excellent work can move it up on the production list

It will be very nice to see another Bir Hakeim project on this forum.
Hope to see it soon !

Quote from: has.been on December 02, 2020, 02:44:07 PM

French with their weird vehicles & weirder camo schemes...
What's not to like?

Yes, sir !
And desert war was a great provider of stolen vehicles and weird véhicules modifications, from all the nations involved (for example, the 102mm navy guns on trucks by the Italians, or the Breda 20mm AA guns mounted on the trucks of the LRDG).
The armoured trucks are an heritage of the Spanish Civil War. Not as efficient as a real armoured vehicle, but they were cheap and simple enough to be built on the battlefield.
And the Free French must have to fight with everything they could find, as they have no help at the beginning...

But the camo scheme could be weirder :

Quote from: Captain Blood on December 02, 2020, 08:40:42 PM

Excellent. Love the Dodge. I’ve made and painted that model too. It’s a lovely vehicle to work on

I know !
Your project for French in Syria is one of my favorite ! ^^

Quote from: vodkafan on December 03, 2020, 10:16:59 AM

That is a weird vehicle! Never seen that one before. Great work on all your painting

It's really a nice vehicle, but only a few were built and used, by Free French and the Vichy army (mainly in Syra or Lebanon for them).
For example, this one is in a museum in Damas (don't know if it was still here) :

draxx66 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2020, 04:43:32 PM »

If your doing a Bir Hakeim project will it include a Susan Travers figure?

Her Biography is interesting reading.

tancrede · « **Reply #14 on:** December 08, 2020, 12:51:06 PM »

@draxx66 :
As it's not my army, I don't know.
But it's sure that Susan Travers was a great woman !

For today, I have finished the 2 trucks with 75mm portee
They were converted to look more like the original one (as the only suitable model I've found is the Minairon one, but it's out of stock for a long time now) :