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This M5 Combat Vehicle Stuart Gun Tractor was on display at Duxford.
This was a second world war artillery tractor used mainly by US forces, but this one was used by British forces. It derived its tracks and its vertical volute spring suspension from the Stuart tank.
Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action. Though we know the tank wasn’t real, and there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank.
Having constructed the model I gave the tank a white undercoat.
I did the underneath first followed by the top.
The turret was undercoated separately.
See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.
Dwarf Anvil of Doom on display at Warhammer World.
The Anvils of Doom are ancient devices forged with great skill by the Runesmiths of old in the bowels of the Thunder Mountain. Using the energy of the volcano’s heart, Kurgaz, the most skilled of the old ones, melted gromril to forge the anvils. As they cooled, Kurgaz beat the Rune of Sorcery onto each gleaming anvil.
Another view from Games Day 2005. (includes the forge).
See more pictures of Dwarfs. See more photographs from GamesDay 2005.
In addition to the Bolt Action Citroen Civilian 1000kg Dropside Truck I also bought a slightly bigger truck, the Citroen Civilian 4,500kg Truck with Canopy. Citroen made many of these trucks in the 1930s and 1940s.
Having constructed the model and given it a white undercoat, I gave the rear canopy a basecoat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow.
See the full workbench feature on the Bolt Action Citroen Civilian 4,500kg Truck with Canopy.
These Chaos Dwarfs were on display at Warhammer World.
I think these were the kinds of figures that really put me off Warhammer at the time they were released. Those tall hats and flat end guns.
Throw in weird centaurs and those beards….
I have never been a fan of Chaos, but these miniatures didn’t for me work. I did however like the original Chaos Dwarf concept. I did get some of these models. This one with a fantasy bazooka is from my collection.
This concept was more about “normal” dwarfs who had been corrupted by Chaos and more often than not looked like short Chaos Warriors.
For Bolt Action I am in the process of painting some partisans to fight Simon’s Italians. I have been looking for some vehicles and Warlord Games actually make a fair few civilian models for Bolt Action.
Looking through the Bolt Action website I quite liked the look of the Civilian 1000Kg Dropside Truck. The other civilian vehicles in the French range also look quite useful. In the main I will use them as scenery or as objectives. In the end I did get the Warlord Games Bolt Action Citroen Civilian 1000kg Dropside Truck.
Having given the model a white undercoat, I gave the rear of the truck (which was separate) a basecoat of Vallejo 70912 Tan Yellow.
See the workbench feature on the Citroen Civilian 1000Kg Dropside Truck.
Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action. Though we know the tank wasn’t real, and there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank. It appears at first glance to be a Mark VIII with a turret, the reality was that it was built specially for the film and was built up from an excavator.
I wrote back in 2012 about finding a 28mm model of the tank, since then I found it was available from Empress Miniatures, I was able to order it and go through the resin pieces.
This is quite a big model. The first stage was to glue the two track units to the main hull. I stuck them together and then used weights to ensure that the join was secure.
I then added the sponsons, one at a time. I also added the turret hatch to the turret and the main weapon. This was a challenging as there wasn’t much of a way to join the main weapon to the turret, so I got the drill out.
I did something similar with the sponson guns.
The periscope (which I worked out from watching the film) was then added, as was all the stowage.
You can see how big this model is compared to other 28mm models. Here it is next to the Bolt Action Citroen Civilian 4,500kg Truck with Canopy.
This is the tank next to my Tally Ho Rolls Royce Armoured Car.
The next stage will be a white undercoat.
See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.
On my most recent visit to Warhammer World there was the lovely model of the Dwarf High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer at Warhammer World.
Thorgrim Grudgebearer is the current High King of the Dwarfs and the ruler of Karaz-a-Karak. He is a throwback to the High Kings of old — eager for new conquests, mighty in battle, and a merciless enemy. Yet upon his worn brow, there also sits a pearl of great wisdom, and he is able to uphold the ancient traditions as well as to accept, if not embrace these needed changes, such as alliances and new technology. Thorgrim is forever brooding upon how to return his people to their former glory. As the ultimate ruler of the Dwarfs, the Dammaz Kron or the Great Book of Grudges is entrusted into his honourable keeping.
This model was painted years ago (years and years ago). Here is the same model from Games Day 2005.
See more pictures of Dwarfs. See more photographs from GamesDay 2005.
Probably my favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The combination of archaeology, mythology, nazi soldiers and lots of wonderful pulp action. Though we know the tank wasn’t real, and there was no actual historical version of it; I am sure most of us who have thought about recreating the Indiana Jones films on the table have wanted to use that tank. It appears at first glance to be a Mark VIII with a turret, the reality was that it was built specially for the film and was built up from an excavator.
I wrote back in 2012 about finding a 28mm model of the tank. I did think about buying it back then, but put off my purchase. It was originally made by the Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company (HLBSCo). I did some web searching and found that the tank is available today from Empress Miniatures. Well I made the leap and ordered the tank from Empress Miniatures.
It arrived in a small brown box, but it is quite a big model. The model consists of two large complete track units.
The main hull.
I was impressed with the quality of the sculpting and the castings.
There are separate sponsons as well as the turret and the turret hatch.
You also get as part of this kit, a range of stowage and baggage. When this was sold by Copplestone Castings, the baggage was an add-on extra to the model.
You can break this down into bundles of tarpaulins or other materials (maybe tents) as well as what are probably roles of barbed wire, or telephone cables.
Then there are wooden beams, jerry cans and what look like metal storage containers.
I did start to then look at the original film and stills to see how I could add the stowage to the tank.
A slightly wider shot of the other side of the tank.
The stowage supplied is similar, but doesn’t quite match what we see on the prototype, but this model isn’t supposed to be an exact copy, it’s more like “inspired by” the film tank.
The next step will be to start constructing the tank.
See the full workbench feature on the Mark IX Beast tank.
This Arvus Lighter on a landing platform was part of a display at Warhammer World.
The Arvus Lighter is a small, general purpose cargo shuttle that is widely used by the Imperium of Man for many tasks, both in space and on the surface of planets. The Arvus is commonly used by both Imperial Navy warships and Imperial merchant vessels, including Rogue Traders. The Arvus is just one of many types of small, void-capable shuttles used by the Imperium. The Arvus is piloted by a single pilot, and is not equipped with any weapon systems, in fact, the Arvus possesses only the most basic navigation equipment, external sensors, and proximity alarms. The Arvus has a powerful engine that allows it to carry heavy cargo to and from a planet’s surface.
