Empress Modern Battlegroup Project - CROWS finished

[Queeg]

Hi all,

This is the first couple of posts for a "newish" project for us which involves making some battlegroup sized forces to use with the new modern rules we're developing with the Empress ladz called Oscar Mike (the working title).

The forces here are starting forces and will be expanded as time (and cash) allows into full platoon establishments and to gives us more choices in both equipment and force composition. They were also chosen with some conversion and modelling projects in mind as those that have peeked into the blog know I can rarely assemble/paint stuff purely OOB  

So as we have the bulk of the troops painted (although the Russians need a second platoon) we chose to start with some supporting US and Russian AFVs.

Russian

We're starting with a full platoon of T90s. As we've decided to set our games predominately in the "ultra-modern" period we thought a few modifications might be in order. As the tanks are the early T90 cast turret version we plan to convert 2 into the welded turret T90As and one into the trial T90MS version.

The BMP3s will be mostly stock with just a few added details such as grab handles, tow cable and aerials etc.

US

Not so much surgery required with these guys as the planned changes are mostly add-ons rather than basic configuration changes.

The Abrams will be updated to roughly the M1A2 SEPv2 standard with TUSK kit addons (CROWS, ARAT, LAGS, TIP, CSA-MM and PDB amongst other cool acronyms). The Bradleys require a little more detail work but again it is mostly add-on parts required to convert to a later M2A3 BUSKIII format with the most obvious changes being the ERA blocks, CREW/DUKE antenna and the large CITV mounting.

Soooo, I'll be building these amongst a host of other projects (commissions, rules testing etc) so while it will get steady updates don't expect a daily stampede .....

cheers
Brent












      

[commissarmoody]

Will you be posting up a how to for those of use who also want to update are Bradley and Abrams?

[Queeg]

Will you be posting up a how to for those of use who also want to update are Bradley and Abrams?

Definitely .....   The plan is for a build log of progress including the changes, detailing and painting.

[commissarmoody]

Very nice. Looking forward to seeing this come along. I currently have three BMP-3s, and 2 BTR80A2s on order. Along with a platoon of Russian troops.
Also have a golden Eye up armed T-54/55 which I am thinking will be a tank used by rebel forces or some such thing.
Looking at adding another platoon of Russians and picking up some upgraded T-72s or T-90s, and a regular BTR80. 
Need to source some Russian soft skin or armed cars for the scout sections and convoys.

[MajorTalon]

Word of warning on using CROWS on the Abrams. DoD is phasing it out, as the Abrams crews apparently hated them.

[Queeg]

Word of warning on using CROWS on the Abrams. DoD is phasing it out, as the Abrams crews apparently hated them.

Yup, I know. Still going to add at least one with it though as it'll take some time to get the units already procured and fitted replaced, and it looks cool. 

On the current events, I thought the stop work order was an interesting public move, especially with the lack of detail that followed it. I've never really thought it was smart adding all that height to an already big profile let alone what the TC has to cope with. Watched an exercise video of an Abrams with one being manoeuvred around thick brush and it was a complete 'mare. They have their places, mixed station MRAP units (some gunner OPGK, some CROWS) for sure, but unsure about on top of an MBT.   

[Queeg]

Very nice. Looking forward to seeing this come along. I currently have three BMP-3s, and 2 BTR80A2s on order. Along with a platoon of Russian troops.
Also have a golden Eye up armed T-54/55 which I am thinking will be a tank used by rebel forces or some such thing.
Looking at adding another platoon of Russians and picking up some upgraded T-72s or T-90s, and a regular BTR80. 
Need to source some Russian soft skin or armed cars for the scout sections and convoys.

That's a tidy force already. You could look at BRDMs or older BMP2s for protection convoy work and EBAY has a slew of cheap and pretty detailed diecast Russian trucks. For softskins the slightly larger 1/43 size shouldn't be an issue, we've certainly been looking at them for some "technical" Syrian/Ukrainian conversions and to do some bombed out wrecks for urban clutter .... 

[MajorTalon]

On the current events, I thought the stop work order was an interesting public move, especially with the lack of detail that followed it. I've never really thought it was smart adding all that height to an already big profile let alone what the TC has to cope with. Watched an exercise video of an Abrams with one being manoeuvred around thick brush and it was a complete 'mare. They have their places, mixed station MRAP units (some gunner OPGK, some CROWS) for sure, but unsure about on top of an MBT.   

It certainly does have it's place on an MRAP, but I think throwing it on the Abrams was the result of lobbying from whatever group made it.

On that note, any plans for some MRAPS?

[Queeg]

It certainly does have it's place on an MRAP, but I think throwing it on the Abrams was the result of lobbying from whatever group made it.

On that note, any plans for some MRAPS?

You mean like these? 

While I'm on the CROWs theme I thought I'd make one as a plug in replacement for the manned turrets, the mounting should be a pretty straightforward swap-fit.

I would like to get another and make it a proper SOCOM truck but fundsies are a bit tight ..... we were also eyeing up a Foxhound or two (Evil Bear Games) to go with the brits, but again too many things have emptied the piggy bank at the moment.

[Mr. Peabody]

How will this excellent new project impact development of SABOT?

[Queeg]

How will this excellent new project impact development of SABOT?

On this question it might be worth a note on rules development, where we are, what's we're doing and what's coming up.

Firstly this project or more importantly the rules development side of it will come first, before our "in-house" skirmish rules. We have rules in two camps, skirmish and by that we mean genuine skirmish as they all have an RPG feel and strongly include a growth/skill development side to them, FIRE TEAM and SABOT falling into that camp. Both of which by the way are hovering around 80-90% complete.

And we have combined arms rules that will play the same periods but at the platoon-plus or battlegroup level. Our traditional in-house WWII rules, Wheels of Terror, is a set of these. It's also what we thought we'd be basing all similarly sized "bigger" game rules on as they play well enough for us to have never used commercial rules for anything but a playtest when pushing around WW2 on the table.

The rules we're currently working on for and with Empress are a bit of a breakthrough though to be honest. They are certainly more of a pick-up style than we thought we'd ever play but ..... I think we hit on a combo of things that still kept the game feel and results we wanted and always got from playing say Wheels of Terror but with a vastly simpler mechanic. In fact we like the new set/style so much that we intend to make a WW2 and Sci-fi set for ourselves (and free to anyone who wants a set eventually) in the new format.

So what coming up?  Obviously the Empress modern combined arm set gets the maximum effort and will come out first. Odds on extra nation and period lists, scenarios and campaign follow ons to expand game play for it will follow.

From us after that it's polishing SABOT and FIRE TEAM and probably a fast play WW2 set, as it's almost written itself based on the new modern set game mechanics. Longer term plans are for a WW2 Skirmish development of FIRE TEAM (always wanted to skulk around a ruined Stalingrad on Berlin with a 10 man team), finishing our post apoc survival RPG and to replace our Sci-fi skirmish and big game rules with ones based on the new systems. Worth mentioning is that the intention is for our own in-house rules to be available as free PDF downloads, or of course if liked a friendly donation could be made

Enough to keep us busy at night at any rate .........

cheers
Brent

  

[Queeg]

And a bit of modelling progress ............

First was basic prep on the castings, cleaning off the casting lugs etc and prepping the track to hull fits. As in all things resin a few basic precautions make sense and I have a respirator mask which I think is worth the investment considering the amount of resin kits I work on. For the occasional work a paint/face mask is ok and easily disposed of after.

I have access to a bench grinder and dremel but the big grinder is really a labour saving tool rather than a requirement, a few swipes or passes being much quicker than sanding and filing. Of course it's in the garage workshop because it's needed for working on the Stockcar but I use it sometimes on resin bits.

The T90 track units required a chamfer to be filed on the top face to allow them to fit better inside the track guards but everything else was basic clean-up. One Abrams required tracks to be straightened by plunging into hot water, bending slightly and setting in ice cold water. No drama though and very common with resin parts to see a little warpage. 




The big change is the T90 turret mods. First step was to make some scale plans. No big trick here, I pilfered the web for some plans, printed them off then adjusted the size ratio until they matched a T90s dimensions at 1/50 scale. This gave me a turret profile I could adjust to in the correct ratio to match the kit.



Next step was to remove the gubbins (bins and ERA blocks) from the T90 turret using my favourite tool, a diamond razor saw. Once clean I formed the basic shape of the welded turret with a few careful passes on the bench grinder, some filing and sanding. The plan is to match the overall shape then apply flat "plates" from plasticard to get the correct final shape, finessing with filler and files as required. Finally detailing will add the bits back on, new ones being made as needed.








The only work on the other vehicles was to grind out a hatch on one of the Abrams so a tank crewman can be fitted (only the loaders hatch is supplied open) and removing the front light clusters on the Bradleys as ERA block gets fitted there with the lights attached back on top of them.

I also removed the rear bins on one Bradley as I wanted to fit the big air-conditioning units to one, not typically fitted to European vehicles but as an indulgence because I like them ......






cheers
Brent

[Mr. Peabody]

Thanks for the big picture on your rules projects.

If you ever cover the late 1960's early 70's, I'd love to get my 20mm 'Nam stuff back on the table!

[Queeg]

A little more progress, on the first Bradley BUSK conversion this time. Decided to experiment with both 3D printed and laser cut acrylic for the ERA blocks to get a more repeatable and accurate finish. Ended up opting for the laser cut acrylic and pretty pleased with how they're working out so far ...


Laser cut parts sheet and bluetac test fitting .....






Base ERA blocks fitted. Made a backing plate for the side blocks using 2mm styrene sheet and filed "castellations" onto the top to represent the ERA mounting rails. Also mocked up the basic CITV viewer.



And how it sits now with most of the detailing in place. Still have some filling and sanding to do but the main stuff is all there. Just waiting on the up dated 3D printed air-con units to arrive and then I'll be able to finish the back end up properly ....

[commissarmoody]

These need to be done as kits add on's.