The Garrison of Radabad - 28-6-2011: Officers and other vultures

[Westfalia Chris]

Hi there!

Following my recent foray into Games Workshop sillyness, I wanted to do something more historical again for a change. Being who I am, however, I decided I did not want to put too much work into it, opted for a small Back of Beyond force to pit against my Bolsheviks, and went for an Indian Army motorized column for use in T&T.

The force will feature some squads of infantry and machine guns, some trucks to carry them, officers and an armoured car. I may build an airplane to support them or to act as a scenario feature ("Handley Page Down", or similar), but I will have to see what  comes out of that.

For starters, at Partizan, I purchased a bunch of Woodbine WW1 Brits and Indians, the majority of which are currently hard at work getting their primer coat dried. Last week, I dug through my medium-sized box of bare pewter to see what I already had lying around, and found two Copplestone officers. The size difference is a bit noticeable, although I don't think it will be that bad once they are all painted to a coherent style - worst case, I will sell these and get a pack of Woodbine officers instead.



Also, I converted an armoured car to support them. This is not really a historical design; the body is basically the 1915 India Pattern Standard with a roof, adding a roofless turret from a broken-down Rolls Royce, and mounted on a Citroen Truck chassis which I got cheap (2,99) at my local Modelzone. Basically, I imagine the nearest railway workshop took what was available when the original Fiat chassis broke down, and refitted the armoured body to a new truck chassis. It's Back of Beyond anyway, and if Mark Plant has a fit over it, I am sorry. Just want to have fun.







The turret rotates through 360°. The store also has some other trucks with a box drivers cabin and tarp, which I will get for the transport and re-paint. Not a British make, but they are nice regarding size, and cheap enough for me not to worry. I'm somewhat following the "Major General's Approach" with this project.

[Mancha]

The truck is GREAT.  I like how the curve of the turret is mirrored in the truck body.

[Hammers]

That's the stuff. It reminds me that I need to take photos of my India Army AC column to. Two Crossleys, a RR tender, a Lancaster, a Mk II and a number of Ford AA trucks. And a Ford A sedan.

[Svennn]

Fabulous truck 

[Driscoles]

That looks great...

Indian Army motorized column...

Damn you...I am almost instantly  infected with this Back Of Beyond virus again...

[Poiter50]

Spiffing show, old chap!! 

[Ignatieff]

Tip top truck Chris!

[OSHIROmodels]

Very nice weathering on that truck Chris  We need to see more 

cheers

James

[Traveler Man]

A lovely piece of work! 

[Westfalia Chris]

I have to agree with all other comments. it has atmosphere in spades, and looks great.

I have one tiny comment. The wheel ruts on the left side are fine, but on the right the rut of disturbed earth is just inside the front  wheel track and well inside the rear. It does not affect the quality of the model one iota but struck me as slightly odd.

You're right, of course, and it is very visible in the picture. Somehow, the right track turned out much darker than the one on the left, and the structuring was also a bit out of line, so small flaws stack up. I've started repainting the base on that and will add some grass which should take care of the problem, I hope.

[Trooper]

Chris,

I've got a Woodbine British inf section and an officer group, plus the 18 pounder, All with Wolseley helmeted heads, that I have done nothing with as they are too small for my Copplestone Brits, if you want to do a deal, I'm open to offers.

[Captain Blood]

Jolly good Chris. Like the specs on Colonel Mustard 

[Westfalia Chris]

Jolly good Chris. Like the specs on Colonel Mustard  

Col. Smith-Erins, if you please. Although he IS remotely related to the Mustards on his mother's side, who was a born Curry.

[Wirelizard]

Chris,

I've got a Woodbine British inf section and an officer group, plus the 18 pounder, All with Wolseley helmeted heads, that I have done nothing with as they are too small for my Copplestone Brits, if you want to do a deal, I'm open to offers.

In that vein, I've got 10 riflemen and 4 Lewis gunners from Copplestone that do not match up with my Brigade & Pulp Figures Brits. Anyone (Trooper?) want them? Going cheap, I just want them out of my Lead Mountain! (PM me, so we don't further hijack Chris' thread!)

Pardon the minor hijack - love the homebrew armoured car and the look of the officers. Must add to my Brits sometime soonish, maybe a batch of Brigade's Indians.

[HPFlashman]

Ohh - verry, verrry nice, I`m rather stunned...