Felix, Author at Felix's Gaming Pages

Constructing the ISU-152

One of the Clash of Steel Starter Sets have been on my wants list ever since I found out about them at the beginning of the year. I ordered Operation Unthinkable boxed set containing the British and German tanks.

I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks.

The kit also allows you to build the ISU-122 and ISU-152 variants as well. As there are five kits I think I will mix and match the different variants.

The ISU-152, is a tank destroyer based on the IS-2 chassis armed with a 152.4 mm ML-20S gun-howitzer. Since the ISU-152’s gun was mounted in a casemate, aiming it was awkward, and had to be done by repositioning the entire vehicle using the tracks. Therefore, it was used as mobile artillery to support more mobile infantry and armour attacks. It continued service into the 1970s and was used in several campaigns and countries.

The process of constructing the ISU-152 was virtually the same process as building the ISU-130, the main different is the shorter gun barrel.

This is the track sprue.

The kit also allows you to build the ISU-122 and ISU-152 variants as well.

Here are two of the models together.

The next stage is a white undercoat.

Dwarfen Mountain Holds

These Dwarfs were on display at Warhammer World.

In the grim and perilous world of Warhammer: The Old World, the Dwarfen Mountain Holds, collectively known as the Karaz Ankor in their ancient tongue, stand as bastions of stubborn defiance against a hostile world. These colossal fortresses, carved deep into the living rock of the Worlds Edge Mountains and other ranges, represent the heart of Dwarf civilisation. Far from mere strongholds, they are intricate underground cities, sprawling networks of tunnels, grand halls, and cunningly devised defences, all designed to safeguard the Dwarfs’ immense wealth and ancient traditions.

While many of the once-mighty Holds have fallen to Greenskin incursions, Skaven infestation, or the ravages of Chaos, the Dwarfs are a race defined by their indomitable spirit and their meticulously kept “Book of Grudges.”

More photographs of Dwarfs.

Constructing another T28 Super Heavy Tank

I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks. In this box there are two T28 Super Heavy Tanks.

The T28 super-heavy tank was an American super-heavy tank/assault gun designed for the United States Army during World War II. It was originally designed to break through German defenses of the Siegfried Line and was later considered as a possible participant in the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland.

This is the GF9 finished model.

This is the sprue.

The kit is relatively easy to construct. I had made one of these up already. I made the second model. Having said it was easy the tracks can be a bit of a challenge.

Here is the finished model.

Here are the two T28 Super Heavy Tanks.

Next stage will be a white undercoat.

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

These Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighters were on display in the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was a cornerstone of the Belgian Air Force during the early years of the Cold War. Arriving in the mid-1950s as a successor to the straight-winged F-84G Thunderjet, the Thunderstreak was a crucial part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP), which provided modern American military equipment to NATO allies. Belgium became a significant operator of the F-84F, with an order of 197 aircraft. These jets were delivered to the 2nd and 10th Wings, which were based at Florennes and Kleine Brogel airbases, respectively. The Thunderstreak was the first swept-wing aircraft and the fastest in Belgian service at the time, even capable of breaking the sound barrier in a steep dive, a feat that made national headlines.

Designed primarily as a fighter-bomber, the F-84F’s main role within the Belgian Air Force was ground attack and close air support. It was a rugged and durable platform, capable of carrying a heavy payload of bombs, rockets, and its six .50 caliber machine guns. In a wider NATO context, the F-84F was also certified to carry the Mark 7 nuclear bomb, making it a critical part of the alliance’s nuclear deterrent strategy. This dual-role capability underscored its importance in the face of the perceived Soviet threat in Europe.

The Belgian F-84F fleet served for nearly two decades, undergoing various paint schemes from natural metal to NATO camouflage. Despite its robust nature, the aircraft experienced a high attrition rate due to accidents and maintenance issues, which led to its gradual replacement. The F-84F was eventually phased out of front-line service in the late 1960s and early 1970s, making way for more advanced supersonic jets like the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter and the Dassault Mirage 5. However, many retired F-84Fs found a second life as decoy aircraft, modified to resemble the new Mirages to mislead potential adversaries. This final, creative use cemented the F-84F’s long and impactful history in the Belgian Air Force.

Orcs and Goblins

These Old World Orcs and Goblins were on display at Warhammer World.

Building another IS-3 tank

I decided I would add to the game by ordering the other Operation Unthinkable set, which contains American and Soviet tanks. There are three IS-3 tanks included in the boxed set.

The IS-3 is a Soviet heavy tank developed in late 1944. Its semi-hemispherical cast turret (resembling that of an upturned soup bowl) became the hallmark of post-war Soviet tanks.

I had already constructed one of the IS-3 tanks, so it was a relatively easy process of constructing another one.

Dassault Mirage 5

This Dassault Mirage 5 was on display in the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

The Dassault Mirage 5 holds a unique place in the history of the Belgian Air Force, serving as its primary fighter-bomber for over two decades. In the late 1960s, Belgium sought to replace its aging Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks and RF-84F Thunderflashes. After considering various options, including the F-5A, A-4E, and Draken, the Mirage 5 was selected, largely due to its cost-effectiveness and Dassault’s willingness to allow license production by SABCA in Belgium. This led to Belgium becoming the largest operator of the Mirage 5, with an initial order of 106 aircraft.

The Belgian Air Force retired its Mirage 5 fleet in the mid-1990s, replacing them with the more advanced F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The Tomb Kings of Khemri of the Old World

The Tomb Kings of Khemri army in Warhammer: The Old World is a truly unique and visually striking force, embodying the ancient, desiccated might of a once-proud civilisation. Unlike the shambling, reanimated dead of the Vampire Counts, the Tomb Kings are not mindless zombies but rather the resurrected rulers and warriors of ancient Nehekhara, driven by the unwavering will of their mummified monarchs and the potent incantations of their Liche Priests. Their armies are a terrifying spectacle of bleached bone, rusted bronze, and an alien, ancient grandeur.

Skeleton Cavalry

Necropolis Knights

Khemrian Warsphinx

At the heart of every Tomb Kings army is the absolute authority of a Tomb King or Tomb Prince. These mummified rulers, often awakening with a renewed thirst for conquest, command their legions with a silent but absolute will. Their presence is vital, as the very cohesion and movement of the skeletal forces are tied to their magic. Alongside them stand the Liche Priests, the architects of the Tomb Kings’ unlife. These sorcerers of the Mortuary Cult wield the unique Lore of Nehekhara, which not only allows them to blast enemies with powerful curses and destructive magic but also to mend shattered bone and even re-animate fallen skeletons, ensuring the relentless advance of their army.

The rank and file of a Tomb Kings army consist of Skeleton Warriors and Skeleton Archers, seemingly endless hordes of reanimated soldiers from millennia past. While individually weak, their strength lies in their numbers and their terrifying resilience. Being undead, they are immune to psychology and cannot be broken by fear or casualties, simply crumbling away if too much damage is inflicted upon them. This allows them to form unyielding battle lines, holding back even the most ferocious charges through sheer weight of numbers. Supporting these infantry masses are the swift Skeleton Horsemen and Skeleton Horse Archers, providing mobile flanking forces or harassing fire. The thundering charges of Skeleton Chariots, crewed by skeletal warriors or even the elite Tomb Guard, deliver powerful impact hits and sow chaos in enemy ranks.

Beyond the basic skeletal legions, the Tomb Kings boast a terrifying array of monstrous constructs and elite animated guardians. The heavily armoured Tomb Guard, the sworn protectors of the kings in life and death, wield great weapons or halberds, forming unyielding elite infantry blocks. Towering Ushabti stalk the battlefield, colossal animated statues often armed with massive bows or great blades, capable of cleaving through entire units. More exotic horrors include the serpentine Sepulchral Stalkers that emerge from the sands to strike down foes, and the swift Necropolis Knights, fearsome riders atop giant, coiling constructs. For truly devastating blows, the Tomb Kings can field immense Necrolith Colossi or the terrifying Necrosphinxes, gargantuan constructs that embody the wrath of the ancient gods. Finally, the Screaming Skull Catapult hurls enchanted, flaming skulls that ignite the very air, spreading fear and destruction. The Tomb Kings army is a stark reminder of a glorious past, a relentless, unfeeling force that seeks to reclaim its ancient glory and sweep away the living empires that now stand upon the sands of their ancestral lands.

McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II

The McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II was an all weather tactical reconnaissance aircraft from the United States. The first flight of the Phantom was in May 1958. This McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II is on a long term loan from the USAF museum. It was 1991 when the aircraft arrived at the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.

The McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II was the unarmed tactical reconnaissance variant of the venerable F-4 Phantom II fighter-bomber, playing a crucial, though often less heralded, role in the Cold War and various conflicts. Unlike its more famous brethren, the RF-4C was designed to gather intelligence, not to engage in dogfights or drop bombs. Its distinctive elongated nose, lacking the radar of fighter versions, housed a sophisticated array of cameras, infrared sensors, and later, even side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) systems.

Despite its lack of offensive weaponry, the RF-4C was often at the forefront of reconnaissance efforts, providing critical information to commanders. Its adaptability allowed for upgrades throughout its service life, incorporating more advanced sensors and data links. The RF-4C’s contribution to intelligence gathering, though not as visible as air-to-air combat or bombing raids, was indispensable, highlighting the vital role of reconnaissance in modern warfare.