Author: Felix

Bedford OXC Tractor with Avro Anson

Bedford OXC Tractor with Avro Anson

The Bedford OXC tractor was developed with the assistance of Scammell, pioneers in the development of articulated lorries, now used extensively for transporting goods by road. The Bedford was one of two tractors used with an articulated aircraft recovery trailer, commonly known as a Queen Mary (after the ship of the same name).

Squadron personnel were considered too busy to repair damaged aircraft so the Civilian Repair Organisation was set up to undertake the role. If an aeroplane could not be repaired on site, it was dismantled and taken on a Queen Mary to workshops for repair.

The Avro Anson was slow, cold and noisy and is the most famous British aircrew trainer of all time. Used in huge numbers, ‘Faithful Annie’ is remembered with affection by most of Royal Air Force-trained multi-engined aircrew of World War Two.

The Anson I began life in the mid-1930s as a coastal reconnaissance aircraft. Although an advanced design at the time, rapid improvements in aircraft performance meant that the Anson was hopelessly outclassed when war broke out in September 1939.

Ansons were also used extensively as light transport and communications aircraft. Development continued during and after the war, culminating in the adaption of the civilian Avro XIX for service use as the Anson C19. With a completely re-designed fuselage, and metal wings and tail plane, this second generation Anson continued in RAF service until 1968.

Land Raider Lascannons

I have on my workbench a standard Land Raider. For the basecoat I used the Foundation Paints from Games Workshop, specifically Tausept Ochre. I lost interest in the model, so, it got put into storage. However having liked the paint scheme I was using on my Deimos-pattern Rhino, I decided that I would find the model and paint this Land Raider in the same scheme. The first thing I did was spray the underneath of the model with Citadel Zandri Dust. I gave the model a couple of light sprays of Army Painter Daemonic Yellow.

Back when I constructed the model, having made the hull I kept the weapons as separate assemblies.  The Lascannons for the Land Raider had been given a black undercoat some time ago when I undercoated the model.

I gave the weapon assemblies a partial basecoat of Citadel Zandri Dust. I then gave the weapon assemblies a couple of light sprays of Army Painter Daemonic Yellow.

This is how the weapons look attached to the Land Raider.

You can also see that I have started detailing the model, painting the flamer and exhausts with Citalde Leadbelcher.

The next stage will be painting the weapons with Leadbelcher.

 

Austin K2 Auxiliary Towing Vehicle

The Austin K2 Auxiliary Towing Vehicle was introduced in 1941 to replace numerous improvised vehicles in service with the Auxiliary Fire Service. Firemen and their equipment were carried inside and a trailer pump was towed behind. The pump could draw water from rivers or hydrants to supply the hoses.

German attacks on London and other towns in the First World War showed the importance of a well-equipped fire service to protect lives. Over 40,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed during the Battle of Britain and subsequent Blitz. This Austin K2 was built in 1944 and displays the markings of the National Fire Service, formed by the merger of the Auxiliary Fire Service and regional brigades in 1941.

Painting the Land Raider basecoat

As well as the Forgeworld MkIIB Land Raider I have on my workbench I also have a standard Land Raider. For the basecoat I used the Foundation Paints from Games Workshop, specifically Tausept Ochre. I lost interest in the model, so, it got put into storage.

However having liked the paint scheme I was using on my Deimos-pattern Rhino, I decided that I would find the model and paint this Land Raider in the same scheme. The first thing I did was spray the underneath of the model with Citadel Zandri Dust.

Games Workshop don’t do a yellow spray and I don’t have an airbrush. I did use a paint comparison site to find a close alternative to Yriel Yellow. The Daemonic Yellow spray from Army Painter seemed like a good choice, and my local FLGS had one in stock, which I bought for the Deimos-pattern Rhino.

I gave the model a couple of light coats of Daemonic Yellow.

The rear view.

The main weapons will be painted separately.

Next stage will be painting the weapons and the exhausts, as well as the iconography.

Handley Page Halifax II

The Handley Page Halifax is a British Royal Air Force (RAF) four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. This is an unrestored Handley Page Halifax II at RAF London.

The Halifax shared with the Lancaster the major burden of Bomber Command’s night bombing campaign against Nazi Germany but unlike the Lancaster, which only served as a bomber during the war, the Halifax was used extensively on other duties including glider-tug, agent dropping transport and general reconnaissance aircraft in Coastal Command.

W1048 was built by English Electric. Assigned to 102 Squadron at RAF Topcliffe on 27 March 1942. Sent to 35 Squadron at RAF Linton-on-Ouse on 9 April 1942. On 27 April, it was one of 31 Halifaxes that flew from RAF Kinloss as part of raid on the German battleship Tirpitz. W1048 made her attack at 03:00 hours, during which she was hit by the intense flak which set the starboard outer engine on fire. Pilot Don MacIntyre made a wheels-up landing on frozen Lake Hoklingen in Norway but the aircraft sank 12 hours later. It was discovered by divers in 1971 and recovered on 30 June 1973 by the RAF Sub-Aqua Association. It has been left unrestored.

The Halifax was in the process of being replaced as a front line bomber in 1945 but it continued in service with Coastal and Transport Commands after the war. The last operational flight was made by a Coastal Command Halifax in March 1952 while operating from Gibraltar.

 

Reflecting on the MkIIB Land Raider

The Land Raider is an Imperial main battle tank and troop transport which serves as the “armoured fist of the Space Marines.” Available to the Space Marines, the Traitor Legions of the Chaos Space Marines and the forces of the Inquisition and Adeptus Mechanicus, it is one of the most resilient and iconic armoured vehicles in the galaxy.

The Land Raider’s heritage predates even the founding of the Imperium of Man, yet it remains the single most destructive weapon in the Adeptus Astartes’ arsenal.

The Mark IIb Land Raider Phobos is one of the earliest marks of the standard pattern of Land Raider, and it still bears similarities to both the Land Raider Proteus and the Spartan Assault Tank that served as the models for the design.

The Mark IIb Land Raider Phobos is the only pattern of the standard Land Raider Phobos that uses the older armoured sponsons, as they do not allow the weapons they hold to fully rotate. This pattern of Land Raider is mostly extinct within Space Marine Armouries, having been replaced with newer marks and patterns of the standard Land Raider Phobos. However, some Chapters may still possess one or two as treasured relics of their ancient past.

I got a Forge World MkIIB Land Raider and was originally painting it up as a Grey Knights Land Raider in desert camouflage.

For the basecoat I used the old Foundation Paints from Games Workshop, specifically Tausept Ochre.

This was taking it’s time, so I decided that I would try using Citadel’s spray gun to base coat the rest of the Land Raider. However due to thinning the paint too much I didn’t get the result I hoped for. I did give it a second coat, and then lost interest in finishing the model like my other Land Raider. So, it got put into storage.

However having liked the paint scheme I was using on my Deimos-pattern Rhino, I decided that I would find the model and paint this Land Raider in the same scheme.

The Land Raider does have a fair amount of Inquisitorial and Grey Knights iconography on the model, but I have decided to leave it on. I also noticed that there is a part missing the, the hull top front bolters. I will have to find where I put that piece.

The first thing I did was spray the underneath of the model with Citadel Zandri Dust.

The rear view.

Next stage is to decide what to do next.

See the full Mark IIb Land Raider workbench.

Contrasting the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers using the Tallarn Box

As well as my other Daemonhunters Inquisitorial Stormtroopers which are based on the Cadian Kasrkin I have also decided to add a unit based on the Tallarn or I may just use them as inducted Imperial Guard.

I have had these models for a fair while.

I did look at my original painting scheme that I was using for the blister pack of Tallarn Imperial Guard. For them I had used a basecoat of Desert Yellow. Having finished the base coat I gave the models a wash consisting of Chestnut Ink, Scorched Brown paint (which helps remove the gloss of the ink) and some water to thin the wash down.

However I did think about doing something slightly different now that Contrast paints were available. I had painted some Star Wars Legion Rebel Troopers with Citadel Snakebite Leather Contrast paint and had been impressed with the results.

So I went to paint the models with Snakebite Leather Contrast paint, however upon closer inspection, I realised that the white undercoat was quite sparing on the metal models. This would have been fine using the Desert Yellow basecoat, however I didn’t think it would be the ideal primer for the contrast paint. So I took the models and gave them another spray with Citadel Corax White.

Then I painted them with the Snakebite Leather Contrast paint.

I am actually quite pleased with how they came out. I got a similar effect as I did when using paint and an ink wash, as you can compare here with the Tallarn models I painted before.

The next step is to drybrush with a lighter brown to extenuate the detail.

 

Consolidated B-24L Liberator

Although often overshadowed by the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 Liberator was built in greater numbers than any other US military aircraft and served with distinction in both war and peace. Designed by the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation to improve upon Boeing’s earlier B-17, the first B-24 Liberator made its maiden flight on 29 December 1939.

At its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. The wing gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load. Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. 

The type was an outstanding success, with 19,257 aircraft built by Consolidated, Douglas, North American and Ford between 1940 and 1945. 18,481 were built for the United States Army and Allied Air Forces and the remainder for the United States Navy.

The Royal Air Force was the second largest operator of Liberators, with nearly 1900 being delivered via purchase and Lend Lease. Others were transferred directly in theatre making a grand total of just over 2000.

Liberators continued in use until December 1968 when the Indian Air Force retired its former RAF machines.

Liberators also saw service as transports; indeed, AL504 Commando became the personal aircraft of Prime Minister Winston Churchill for a short time.

This Liberator was on display at RAF London.

Built at Ford Willow Run as B-24L-20-FO. Held in operational reserve until April 1945. Sent to RAF 231 Group in Dhubalia, India as KN751. Served with 99 Squadron at Cocos Islands. One of 36 B-24s restored by Indian Air Force and used as HE807 until December 1968. Presented as gift to RAF Museum on 1 July 1974. Flown to UK and arrived 7 July at RAF Lyneham. Moved to Cosford in 1976. Painted in 99 Squadron markings with the “Flying Bee.” motif. Transported to Hendon in September 2005.

Detailing the Repressor

The Repressor tank is often used by Sisters of Battle as transport, and by the Adeptus Arbites in an anti insurgency role. I said  in a blog post back in 2004 “I do like this model and I am intending to get one to use with my Daemonhunters army as a transport for the Storm Troopers”. I did get one that Christmas as a present. Though I actually started building and painting this model back in 2007, I recently retrieved it from storage and decided that I would try and finish painting it. I realised I had made quite significant progress.

Having sprayed the model with Citadel Zandri Dust. I started the detailing, using Leadbelcher on the weapons and the exhausts.

I need to add more detailing

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 served with considerable success in the early campaigns in Poland, Norway and France. The primary weakness of the Bf 110 was its lack of maneuverability, although this could be mitigated with better tactics. This weakness was exploited by the RAF when Bf 110s were flown as close escort to German bombers during the Battle of Britain. 

When British bombers began targeting German territory with nightly raids, some Bf 110-equipped units were converted to night fighters, a role to which the aircraft was well suited. 

The Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 was one of the most successful night fighters used by either side during the Second World War.

The Bf 110G-4 was designed as a radar-carrying night fighter and fitted with a Lichtenstein airborne interception radar set. As British and German radar scientists battled to gain the upper hand, the aircraft’s electronic equipment went through a series of upgrades and modifications.

The Bf 110’s lack of manoeuvrability was less important in its night fighting role than when escorting bombers on daylight raids, while its strength and capacity to carry extra equipment were both advantages.

The Bf 110 enjoyed a successful period as an air superiority fighter and strike aircraft in other theatres and defended Germany from strategic air attack by day against the USAAF’s 8th Air Force, until an American change in fighter tactics rendered them increasingly vulnerable to developing American air supremacy over the Reich as 1944 began.