Putting boots on the dark continent!

[Digits]

Ha!

I knew one day my enthusiasm for things shiny would bite me in the arse!

Thought I’d throw in and join in with some of the guys who play AK47.  Before you could shout “Debout les morts!” I’d ordered myself what I thought to be suitable minis and equipment for a Colonial / Settler force.   Thought I’d go French as I like the look of the VAB armoured carriers and having lived in French Cameroon and Algeria for a while when younger, the idea of a French intervention force just grabbed my imagination.

However, it subsequently transpires I jumped the gun a bit and half of this would prove a waste of money!  That will teach me…..dig deeper first! 

Shame really as I was quite impressed with the Team Yankee carriers, a nice combo of resin and white metal, clean cast.



I had already started making a little scenery whilst waiting on delivery



And I had ordered a few “Settler” looking minis from Peter Pig which I have to say I find quite nice looking little figures.  I started painting them…



And I ordered a pack of Team Yankee French infantry.  Funny enough, I prefer the PP minis, but they aren’t too bad.

I even ordered a box of armour from the Team Yankee range thinking I’d need a few tanks.



Anyway, long and short of it, just spent cash on stuff that I’m now unsure what to do with! Lol

There may be a glimmer of hope though……in the box of tanks, there appears to be a rule book for Team Yankee.   WW3 itself holds no real interest to me, but I will give them a read and see if I can salvage something.

[has.been]

David, check your e-mail. I've sent you suggestions.
To my mind none of that stuff would be wasted.
Even if you didn't end up using it in army No 1,
you have a kick start for army No 2 

I know you only went for one tank in your first draft,
but (as I've pointed out) your political flow chart
might produce three more!

I also wouldn't  be too precious about vehicles. My
first army's 'trucks' are all 1960s cars 
Flatpack has some 'trucks' that are VW camper vans.

The main thing is to enjoy what you are doing. I do like
the French equipment.

I will post my (amateur) map to Jamie, as soon as I get
his address, then he will work his map magic, so talk to
him about adding your country.

[Westbury]

Just do Team Yankee instead?

[juergen c. olk]

Awesome.

[ulverston]

I wonder what you did with this? I am contemplating the Team Yankee starter set just for the soviet vehicles as I have just dug out my AK47 ruleset....
If you have made progress it would be fascinating to see what you have done.
Also I struggle scratch building actual buildings in 15mm ... I have no problem in 28mm hacking foam board around but I think I need to learn a few more techniques and general sizes to make 15mm look convincing. Any advice would be most welcome.

[has.been]

Also I struggle scratch building actual buildings in 15mm ... I have no problem in 28mm hacking foam board around but I think I need to learn a few more techniques and general sizes to make 15mm look convincing. Any advice would be most welcome.

There are a lot of nice castings already out there in 15mm.
See Timecast
http://www.timecastmodels.co.uk/buildings_catalogue/buildings_catalogue.html
Also look at HO/OO gauge railway buildings. I once made a nice
AK46 Hospital by taking the lower level of bricks off an old Airfix
Station & turning the windows into veranda doors. When Diecast &
toy fares start up again lookout for the damaged 2nd hand models,
as most can be easily turned into run down African buildings. Even
if you just take the roof & build new (15mm) walls.

[ulverston]

Thanks for the advice has.been I usually prefer to create my own terrain but the Timecast stuff does not seem expensive. I have a collection of 28mm moderns for Spectre but the old AK rules (I have the 2006 version) are tempting me to commit the sin of doing a period in two different scales.
I will try a few African type buildingd today in the hope of getting them to look about right. I do like the idea of your hospital conversion, thanks for sharing that tip!

[has.been]

You are welcome. Keep us informed with your progress.

[flatpack]

Another thought (if it helps).
Peter Pig actually make AK47 style buildings.
Here’s a photo showing the square one and rectangular one.

I found these after looking for has.beens homemade hospital, but unfortunately I couldn’t find a photo of it.
Hope this helps.

[has.been]

The building at the bottom right of Flatpacks photo
is a scratch-build. An of cut of wood with shanty
roof made from ribbed offcuts left over from a
previous build.
The water tower is a toy barrel, film tub lid &
scratch built struts (Biro tubes if I recall).

[vodkafan]

Peter where to find in scale corrugated tin for roofs in 15mm? That seems to be the key thing for African shanty huts.

[has.been]

Peter where to find in scale corrugated tin for roofs in 15mm? That seems to be the key thing for African shanty huts.

I horde useful bits. This includes anything embossed.
Off-cuts of wall paper, various birthday/Christmas cards,
wrapping off sweets etc. If all else fails make some.

1)Take a bit of card
2) Score it with a Biro, or glue kitchen foil onto it, then (gently) score that.
3) Put some horizontal lines in. Edge of a steel ruler works well.
4) Cut out various rectangles & glue them onto the roof.
OR
Use Greenstuff (or equivalent) roll it out thin on paper.
Before it sets draw across it with a fine toothed comb (I got one
in a Christmas cracker this Christmas) Put in the horizontal lines.
Then, before it sets cut
it into rectangles & glue to the roof.