I am in the process of building a Bolt Action 28mm Home Guard force, I did want to add some armour to them with a Mark IV Male World War One tank put into service, even if it was merely as a mobile pillbox.
The Bovington Tank Museum has on display a Mark IV Male tank that was used just in this way. It was used in World War One and then presented to the Navy. When war broke out in September 1939, the Tank Mark IV (Male) number 2324 was refurbished for Home Guard duties.
I am in the process of building a Bolt Action 28mm Home Guard force, I did want to add some armour to them with a Mark IV Male World War One tank put into service, even if it was merely as a mobile pillbox.
The Bovington Tank Museum has on display a Mark IV Male tank that was used just in this way. It was used in World War One and then presented to the Navy. When war broke out in September 1939, the Tank Mark IV (Male) number 2324 was refurbished for Home Guard duties.
The Armadillo was an armoured fighting vehicle produced in Britain during the invasion crisis of 1940-1941. Based on a number of standard lorry chassis, it comprised a wooden fighting compartment protected by a layer of gravel filling the walls of the ‘fort’ and a driver’s cab protected by mild steel plates.
This vehicle was used by the RAF for airfield defence and later the Home Guard, making it an ideal addition to my Home Guard forces for Bolt Action.
Having constructed the model I gave it a white spray undercoat. After the model had it’s white spray undercoat and this had dried, I then undercoated the underside of the model with a black spray, before giving the top of the model a spray with British Armour Green.
I painted the unarmoured windows with black paint. The wheels were painted with Vallejo 70.862 Black Grey.
I then masked the model with blu-tak.
I then used a Humbrol Tank Grey 67 spray for the dark colour.
The Rolls-Royce armoured car was a British armoured car developed in 1914 and used in World War I and in the early part of World War II. At the outbreak of World War II, 76 vehicles were in service. They were used in operations in the Western Desert, in Iraq, and in Syria. By the end of 1941, they were withdrawn from the frontline service as modern armoured car designs became available.
This mode, which I bought about twenty five years ago now, was originally designed and manufactured by the Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company (HLBSCo) they were then small and relatively new.
A version of the model is still available today and the other HLBSCo models are available from Empress Miniatures. The newer version consists of more resin and less white metal.
I bought the model for Tally Ho! but also intend to use it with my Bolt Action Home Guard forces.
I gave the model a base coat of Cruiser Tank Green (700), which I am not sure is the right colour for a 1940s Rolls Royce Armoured Car.
I think though looking at other models, that it’s probably okay, andfine.
I wasn’t too happy with it, so after a while I decided to give the model another basecoat of Army Green Spray from the Army Painter range.
Once dry I masked the model with blu-tak.
I then used a Humbrol Tank Grey 67 spray for the dark colour.
The next stage will be painting the tyres and detailing.
The Morris CS9/Light Armoured Car was a British armoured car used by the British Army in the World War II. The vehicle was based on a Morris Commercial C9 4×2 15-cwt truck chassis. On this chassis a rivetted hull was mounted with an open-topped two-man turret. The armament consisted of either Boys anti-tank rifle and Bren light machine gun or Vickers machine gun.
I have the Bolt Action Morris CS9 Armoured Car resin kit. Having constructed the model and given it a white undercoat. I then gave the model a base coat of Cruiser Tank Green (700).
Another view.
I wasn’t too happy with it, so after a while I decided to give the model another basecoat of Army Green Spray from the Army Painter range.
The green is very similar. Then spray gave the model a smoother finish.
Once dry I masked the model with blu-tak.
I tried to copy the camouflage pattern as shown in the 1940 photograph.
I then used a Humbrol Tank Grey 67 spray for the dark colour.
The other side.
The next stage will be painting the tyres and detailing.
I am in the process of building a Bolt Action 28mm Home Guard force, I did want to add some armour to them with a Mark IV Male World War One tank put into service, even if it was merely as a mobile pillbox.
The Bovington Tank Museum has on display a Mark IV Male tank that was used just in this way. It was used in World War One and then presented to the Navy. When war broke out in September 1939, the Tank Mark IV (Male) number 2324 was refurbished for Home Guard duties.
Looking at the original photograph it was apparent that the Mark IV had a camouflage pattern that looked like the kind that was applied to early war British tanks.
Mark IV at HMS Excellent
I masked the Mark IV with blu-tak and duct tape.
I then used a Humbrol Tank Grey 67 spray for the dark colour.
I did the model in stages, mainly as I didn’t have enough blu-tak to do the model in one go.
I tried to copy the camouflage pattern as shown in the 1940 photograph.
This is the same view but with more spraying done.
The rear view. I am pleased with the way this turned out.
This is another view. the blu-tak did remove some of the base coat paint, so I will need to do some retouching up.
When I reflected on possible forces for Operation Sea Lion games I was looking around to see what is available. One unit which caught my attention was the Warlord Games Bolt Action Royal Navy section. So I bought a box.
Having based and undercoated the Bolt Action Royal Navy Section I started painting their uniforms using Citadel Macragge Blue base paint.
I will then add highlights and potentially a wash.
When I reflected on possible forces for Operation Sea Lion games I was looking around to see what is available. One unit that has been released which caught my attention was the Warlord Games Bolt Action Royal Navy section. So I bought a box.
Having based the models the next step was a white undercoat. I used a GW White Corax spray can.
These are really nice models, like the fact they are metal castings as well. I am old school in that way I guess.
When I reflected on possible forces for Operation Sea Lion games I was looking around to see what is available. One unit that has been released which caught my attention was the Warlord Games Bolt Action Royal Navy section. So I bought a box.
Armed primarily with the reliable Lee Enfield rifle and often supported by a Lewis machine gun, sections of highly disciplined and well-equipped naval ratings with considerable experience of close combat fighting are a fearsome opponent.
Clad in their dark blue uniforms and 1908 pattern webbing these Jack Tars will provide a dash of colour to an otherwise khaki British force.
As the war progressed, it was Royal Navy Commandos or Royal Marines who would lead shore parties rather than Navy sailors. However in the realms of Operation Sea Lion you can easily imagine German Fallschirmjäger attacking a British Navy base to secure it to defuse any opposition. The only thing they weren’t expecting was some sailors to fight back.
Another idea would be, following a German invasion and the establishment of a successful beachhead with troops moving inland, the British command send in a Royal Navy shore party secretly to rescue a key scientist who has been left behind the lines in a seaside resort. The shore party need to find the scientist, whilst avoiding Wehrmacht patrols. They may have the support of local defence volunteers, potentially even members of an Auxiliary Unit.
Of course these Naval forces will also be suitable (as will my other Sea Lion British forces) for games set in the realm of A Very British Civil War.
You can see how in the turmoil of a British internal conflict, local militia attempting to secure weapons from a naval base, find that it wasn’t going to be as easy as they thought. They did bring a hastily improvised armoured civilian truck, however then the Molotov cocktails started to rain down on them.
The rules for the Royal Navy section can be found in the Bolt Action Campaign Sea Lion expansion. When I first read this campaign book, I didn’t expect that Warlord Games would release “obscure” units such as this for the game, however I have been pleasantly surprised by the variety and number of releases for the expansion. I am probably thinking in the past of rule publications that “talk the talk” but due to a range of issues didn’t “walk the walk”. Part of this was probably down to the fact that there were companies who made miniatures and then there were companies who published rules. There were a few who did both, but not many. Warlord Games are one of those companies who do both, and do both well; you can tell their Games Workshop heritage in their business practices.
The boxed set contains ten models. A petty officer leading the squad armed with SMG. There is a two man Lewis Gun LMG team, which will provide much needed fire support against an Fallschirmjäger attack.
There are seven unique sailors all with rifles and three have Molotov cocktails. Well that Lee Enfield isn’t going to be much use against those Jerry Panzers!
Though I have been working on a Great War Mark IV Tank to provide them with some armour.
The first stage was to clean the miniatures, and base them.
Rather than use the included plastic bases, I used some two pence pieces, which add more weight to the model and also lower their centre of gravity making them less likely to fall over during a game.
I used Citadel Sand for the bases, to give texture.
The next step will be giving them a white undercoat.
