[20mm] Soviet Armour

Continuing on with the WWII in 20mm theme I've finished some Soviet armour to provide a heavy punch against those dastardly invaders. I tried not to go overboard with the weathering and think I've more or less succeeded. Maybe a little more dust around the lower hulls would have enhanced the look even further, but even after all those years I'm still not comfortable with those weathering powders

First is a BA-6 by UniModels, an Ukrainian company. Not the best kit around truth be told but it'll do. The plastic is rather brittle and the fit of the parts wasn't the best. Wouldn't be surprised if the moulds were already manufactured during Soviet reign.

As I'm aiming at Kursk and beyond a BA-6 is probably a little out of date, but I love armoured cars and for some reason this one has a special place in my heart. By 1943 armoured cars were already more or less replaced by light tanks in the reconnaissance role.

Next we have a venerable ESCI Churchill Mk. III pressed in Lend-Lease service. Also not the greatest kit around but it was free. The kit was originally built for North-Western Europe, but as I don't own any troops for that theatre yet it simply got a new lick of paint and a Soviet tank commander by AB miniatures. Lend-Lease vehicles delivered to the USSR were usually fielded in whatever colour they were supplied in rather than being re-painted in 4BO upon arrival. Still I decided to give it the same paint job as with the other vehicles to better tie it into the theme.

Then we have a real beast, or better beast killer (russ.: zveroboy) as it was called by the soviets, the formidable ISU-152. The kit is by Zvezda and apart from some niggles was a joy to build. I am really beginning to like "proper" model kits as compared to the more sturdy and easier to build wargaming variety. Not much else to say about it other than I don't expect it to see the table very often. The 152mm gun would give a Tiger II a headache, so probably a little overkill for a Skirmish game.

Next come four Komsomolets T-20 artillery tractors. These are 3D prints of files I got from wargaming3D.com. They were originally scaled for 1/56 but were down scaled by me to fit with 20mm miniatures. Details are a little fragile but came out nicely. I can't really think of any reason requiring me fielding four of these but hey, they were fun to paint. They'll probably see service as Jump Off Points in games of Chain of Command.

Next in line are two (fairly) early production T-34/76's with the large one piece turret hatch. Kit is an easy-build Italeri one (wargaming approved as they like to call it) and lacks somewhat in detail, especially the tracks. Not too shabby though when painted.

They're followed by their younger brother, the T34/85. Again this is a Zvezda kit and fun to build. I even went and did some extra detailing work and added hand rails made from thin copper wire as well as towing cables made from twisted electrical wire.

And last but not least we have a T-70 light tank by PSC. Though easy to build I think it fell somewhat short of my expectations. Detail is heavily exaggerated, like for the air intakes on the vehicles side and rear for example. A good and sturdy kit for the wargaming table probably though.

OK, that's it for today. 11 vehicles in 4BO will give me a grand total of 165 points to add to my running total for this year. 776 points thus far. Thanks for viewing and enjoy the summer!

[20mm] More Soviet reinforcements & First German Squad

Following on from my last post today we have some more Soviets as well as the first Germans in 20mm. But let's start with the Soviets shall we? Again these are lovely sculpts from AB Figures. 

[20mm] Soviet ZIS-3 AT gun and medics

Well, usually I feel somewhat exhausted after the three months of AHPC but not this year apparently. I'm still on fire and chomping at the bit to crack on with my foray into the world of 20mm wargaming. Thus this the Vaccination Challenge mate Curt has currently declared over on the corresponding blog should be just the ticket to keep me focused. If you fancy a bit of good humoured banter and need some incentive to get the finger out in these troubled times, why not simply join in in the fun?

Reinforcements for the 20mm Soviets project

So here we are, yet another challenge has drawn to an (untimely) close. As others I haven't painted nearly as much as I planned for but I definitely painted more than I had hoped for. With this final submission I will have a good few support selections for my 20mm Soviets in games of Chain of Command. A force I hadn't even planned to paint this year at all. Well laid plans and so on...

WW2 Soviets in 20mm (Dohh!)

A new scale Hurrah! It's not like I've already got a good collection of 28mm and a somewhat smaller one of 15mm for WW2. No, I've had to branch out into 20mm as well it seems.

I actually blame this latest fools errant on friend Curt of Analogue Hobbies fame, who despite my strongest objections, didn't stop trying to lure me into the abyss. What kind of person must he be to do something like this to one of his weaker minded fellow men I ask you? Quite a devilish one, I tell you! 

Anyway, years later and quite a few bucks poorer, here I am with not only a readily playable force of 28mm Soviets for Chain of Command, but a fledgling one in 20mm as well. And all that while I actually don't really fancy gaming the Eastern Front.

Wrapping up the Airborne project

Yet another submission to the AHPC:

I'm sure many of you know the feeling. In the one moment you're happily beavering away on a project when all of a sudden you feel it has run its course. For the moment at least. Now that's exactly what happened here. I got a few more British Airborne for Operation Market Garden done and that'll be it for now. I might get my acts together and add a few things to round out the opposing SS force... or I might not. We'll see.

1940 BEF - Matilda II

Yet again another entry in the Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. At the moment I'm experiencing a rather uncommon quiet time at work meaning I find myself with more time at my hands to pursue the hobby.

British Intelligence Officer

The Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge is still going strong, so here's my fifth submission for those of you who don't follow our progress there:

Another chamber that took some heavy head scratching. I mean, like many of you I do have a few Fantasy figures flying about the place which would have fit the bill. But I'm not a Fantasy gamer and only once in a blue moon actually fancy the idea of painting anything Fantasy. Thus I was on the verge of skipping this chamber...

Para Support Choices

The Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge is in full swing, so here's my fourth submission for those of you who don't follow our progress there:

As we step into the chamber, portentously named Pit of the Pendulum, we stop dead in our tracks. "What's that? That's no bloody pendulum!" we mutter to ourselves as from out of the dark comes a trio of men in camouflage smocks. Their faces, half hidden beneath their helmets, curiously distorted by the dim flicker of a flame not bigger than a candle. It's only when they stop just a few feet away that we realize with horror it's no candle but the pilot flame of a flame thrower...

British Paras

As some of you fine folk may know I'm eagerly (ah, well more like glacial-ish) painting away on a 28mm Para force for gaming Operation Market Garden since... ahem... since AHPC VI, so 2014 actually. Now I bet that wouldn't strike even the slowest painter amongst us as particular ambitioned, or indeed eager, and rightly so. Having painted a playable SS force as opponents over the course of that (wretched) last year I decided I better get my finger out and finish those Paras.