Year: 2020

Cruiser, Mk IV (A13)

This Cruiser, Mk III (A13) was on display at Bovington Tank Museum. This example was built in 1939 by Nuffield Mechanisation & Aero Ltd and was used for development of the improved turret armour for the Cruiser IV. It retains this revised turret which is why at first glance it looks like a Cruiser IV.

Cruiser, Mk IV (A13)

This vehicle is one of the 65 Cruiser IIIs delivered between December 1938 and November 1939. It was apparently retained to prove the attachment of armour plates on the turret in fulfilment of the Cruiser IV’s armour specification (30mm), which is the configuration in which it survives. It was held by the School of Tank Technology until 1949, when it transferred to the Tank Museum. It is painted to represent a vehicle commanded by Ron Huggins (who later volunteered at the Tank Museum) of 10th Royal Hussars – a part of 1st Armoured Division, which served in western France in June 1940.”

The Tank, Cruiser, Mk III (A13) was a British cruiser tank of the Second World War. It was the first British cruiser tank to use the Christie suspension system which gave higher speeds and better cross-country performance, previous models of cruiser tanks having used triple wheeled bogie suspension. Like most British cruisers, the A 13 was fast but under-armoured and proved unreliable mechanically. Most were lost in the French campaign in 1940, but a few were used in Greece and the North African campaign in 1940-41.

As you can see in this photograph the Mk III had a slab sided turret.

I have had a 15mm model of the tank for sometime. Don’t remember the manufacturer, though I think it may be an old SDD Miniatures model. It’s made of metal and is quite well detailed. After cleaning the model I gave it a white undercoat.

See the full workbench feature on the A13.

M3A1 White Scout Car

The M3 Scout Car (known as the White Scout Car in British service) was an American-produced armored car. The original M3 Scout Car was produced in limited numbers, while the improved M3A1 Scout Car saw wide service during World War II and after.

At the Imperial War Museum in Duxford is this M3A1 White Scout Car.

M3A1 White Scout Car

There is also an M3A1 Scout Car at Bovington.

Duels

This lovely St George’esque Bretonnian Knight was one of many duel dioramas which were on display at Warhammer World. The knight is facing down a lovely red dragon (which I didn’t photograph).

I really like the scenic base, which is nice and rocky.

This is one half of an Elven duel, this was the High Elf, his opponent was a Dark Elf on a Cold One.

This is a Warhammer 40000 duel between a Space Marine Chaplin and an Exodite Eldar. The Chaplin is riding a bike.

The Exodite Eldar is on a lizard.

Exodite Eldar

The Exodites were a concept that had Eldar using giant lizards as mounts and large mounts for weapons (in a similar way to Elephants or Squiggoths). It was never taken further by Citadel, though some Epic concepts were sculptured and cast, but never went on sale. The concept proved popular with some and as a result there is an unofficial codex out on the tubes and some lovely models such as this one.

This was a Golden Demon winning Duel which I photographed on my most recent visit to Warhammer World in January 2020.

I first photographed the duel on a visit to Warhammer World back in 2007.

pace Marine Chaplin on a bike fighting an Eldar Exodite on a giant lizard

 

First game of Star Wars: Legion

Played our first game of Star Wars: Legion.

Star Wars Legion Boxed Set

To be honest it was quite confusing, and I think I need to sit down for a long time and read the rules. I thought it might be like X-Wing, it is, but more complex. I really didn’t understand how all the dice worked and I don’t think we had enough dice…

This is the AT-RT which comes in the boxed set. Yes I realised that these models are not painted, they’re not even undercoated, but that day will come, one day….

Darth Vader was in the mix and to be honest he was rather nasty. Why would we expect anything less.

I did have a couple of scenic items that I got. These are the Gale Force Nine Galactic Warzones Defense Turrets. They certainly made the table look the part, though we used them just as scenery. As I said in a previous blog post I am looking to create a Scarif style scenery for my games.

You get two different types  of turret in the boxed set and they are very Star Wars in their appearance.

I might get another box in the future to complement the set I already have. I like the fact they are pre-painted as well.

There are other models in the range which I might get later:

I am though quite liking the Desert Buildings…

These red based Rebel Troopers are skulking behind the armoured barricades that come with the game.

Get Star Wars: Legion from Amazon.

AEC Dorchester Armoured Command Vehicle

British WW2 4×4 armoured command vehicle fitted with radio and communications equipment.

AEC Dorchester Armoured Command Vehicle
AEC Dorchester Armoured Command Vehicle

This vehicle is one of 416 Armoured Command Vehicles built on a modified ‘Matador‘ chassis. They were used during the war as command posts for divisional (and sometimes brigade) commanders. One was captured by Rommel and he was so impressed he used it as his personal command post vehicle from thereon. After being stationed at Bovington post war this vehicle was used as a protected firing point on the missile ranges at Otterburn Northumberland. Wartime service unknown.

Darth Vader

Something I have been thinking about getting for a while now was the Fantasy Flight Games Star Wars Legion boxed core set. So I was well pleased to get it for Christmas.

There are thirty-three easily assembled figures in the boxed set including Darth Vader.

Once a heroic Jedi Knight, Darth Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force, became a Sith Lord, and led the Empire’s eradication of the Jedi Order. He remained in service of the Emperor for decades, enforcing his Master’s will and seeking to crush the fledgling Rebel Alliance. But there was still good in him…

Darth Vader has three components, his body, arm and light sabre and his head with a cape.

The model goes together very easily.

Due the nature of the plastic used for the model the light sabre is a little bendy and doesn’t sit straight. I am wondering if I should replace it with some plastic (or even metal) rod.

I used superglue to stick the model together and to it’s base.

Jeep

The Willys MB and the Ford GPW, both formally called the U.S. Army Truck, ​1⁄4-ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance, commonly known as the Jeep.

At the Imperial War Museum there are a fair few Jeeps on display, which show the varying uses which were made of this useful and ubiquitous vehicles by the allies during the second world war and later.

Jeep – Willys M38
Ford GPW Jeep at Montgomery’s Headquarters

The jeep became the primary light wheeled transport vehicle of the United States Military and its Allies in World War II, as well as the postwar period, with President Eisenhower once calling it, “one of three decisive weapons the U.S. had during WWII.”

Monty’s Bedroom Caravan

This is the second of Montgomery’s caravans. It was Italian-built & mounted on a Lancia Chassis. It was captured by the 8th Army in Tunisia in May 1943 from Field-Marshal Giovanni Messe, Commander of the 1st Italian Army during the final stages of the North African campaign. Messe told Montgomery that it had also been used by Rommel. The caravan was subsequently mounted on a Mack chassis in Tripoli & Montgomery, promoted General after the Battle of El Alamein, subsequently used it as his bedroom for the remainder of the war.

Monty's Bedroom Caravan

WW2 Italian caravan body remounted on a British 6×4 truck chassis. Used as sleeping quarters by General Montgomery as part of his mobile tactical headquarters.