Category: workbench

Constructing the Flames of War Cromwell IV

The Cromwell Tank was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in World War II. The Cromwell tank, named after the English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell, was the first tank in the British arsenal to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed from the powerful and reliable Meteor engine, and reasonable armour, all in one balanced package. Its design formed the basis of the Comet tank. The Cromwell first saw action in June 1944, with the reconnaissance regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps.

As with my Cromwell ARV (which I did first) I glued the track guards to the tracks and the main weapon to the turret and the hull MG to the hull.

I then glued the tracks to the hull.

I also glued the hatches to the turret.

This time I decided that I would not use the tank commanders.

Unlike the boxed set these models are all the same.

See the full workbench feature on the Flames of War Cromwell IV.

Undercoating the Universal Carriers

The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier is a common name describing a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrong.

Produced between 1934 and 1960, the vehicle was used widely by Allied forces during the Second World War. Universal Carriers were usually used for transporting personnel and equipment, mostly support weapons, or as machine gun platforms. With some 113,000 built in the United Kingdom and abroad, it was the most numerous armoured fighting vehicle in history.

As with some of my other metal models I can’t remember the manufacturer of these.These metal models are not as well defined as the Flames of War resin models, so in the end I might use them for scenery or objectives.

I gave them a white undercoat.

Full workbench feature on the Universal Carriers.

Perry Miniatures North American Farmhouse

I have the Legends of the Old West rules and will be using them for games. I already have quite a few miniatures suitable for the Old West style game. One of the key things though is to also have some scenery. Have been tempted to get some resin buildings, but when I saw this plastic kit from Perry Miniatures thought this could be good. It’s 1/56th scale to suitable for 25/28mm miniatures.

In the box you get three sprues.

Two are for the building.

The third is for fences.

The model went together reasonably easy. The instructions are very clear and the parts fit well.

With the model you also get a couple of barrels and a chair.

This is the rear view of the building.

See the full workbench feature on the Perry Miniatures North American Farmhouse.

Perry Miniatures North American Farmhouse

I have the Legends of the Old West rules and will be using them for games. I already have quite a few miniatures suitable for the Old West style game. One of the key things though is to also have some scenery. Have been tempted to get some resin buildings, but when I saw this plastic kit from Perry Miniatures thought this could be good.

It’s 1/56th scale to suitable for 25/28mm miniatures.

See the full workbench feature on the Perry Miniatures North American Farmhouse.

Ned Buck

I was lucky enough to get for one Christmas a few years back two packs of Foundry Old West Outlaws (thank you Simon). I am in the process of painting the models using a variety of colours.

This is Ned Buck from the VOW232 The Outlaws blister. I painted his coat Brown Violet (887).

Have a look at the Old West miniatures Gallery and Old West Workbench.

French Renault R35

The Renault R35, an abbreviation of Char léger Modèle 1935 R or R 35, was a French light infantry tank of the Second World War. Designed from 1933 and produced from 1936, the type was intended as a light infantry support tank, equipping autonomous tank battalions, that would be allocated to individual infantry divisions to assist them in executing offensive operations. To this end it was relatively well-armoured but slow and lacking a good antitank-capacity, fitted with a short 37 mm gun. At the outbreak of the war, the antitank-rôle was more emphasized leading to the development and eventual production from April 1940 of a subtype with a more powerful longer gun, the Renault R40. It was planned to shift new production capacity to the manufacture of other, faster, types, but due to the defeat of France the R35/40 remained the most numerous French tank of the war, about 1685 vehicles having been produced in June 1940.

Like some of my other models I am unsure of the manufacturer of this one. After a bit of internet research I believe it is an old SDD miniature. Not convinced totally, but other miniatures in the box it was in carry SDD codes.

I am going to use this one as the test vehicle for my Flames of War French tanks to try out different paint schemes. Tempted though to paint as a captured German version.

I gave the model a white undercoat.

Huck Klosterman

I was lucky enough to get for one Christmas a few years back two packs of Foundry Old West Outlaws (thank you Simon). I am in the process of painting the models using a variety of colours.

This is Huck Klosterman from the VOW231 Posse blister.

Though I did highlight the jacket, I think I might need to emphasise the highlights more.

Have a look at my Old West miniatures Gallery and Old West Workbench.

15mm British Vickers Dutchman

I have had this tank for sometime. Don’t remember the manufacturer. It actually took me a while to work out which tank this was exactly… I used another website as a reference.

Mechanically similar to the Mark IV, though armament and other features were like the Mark II, the “Dutchmen” were a 1936 commercial version. 40 vehicles were sold to the Netherlands. All 40 were taken over by the War Office in 1939 before export. All vehicles were used for training only by the British Army. The term “Dutchmen” or “Dutchman” was an unofficial moniker.

Though never used in service, in the event of a German invasion (Operation Sealion) they probably would have been used to help defend the country.

After a bit of internet research I believe it is an old SDD miniature. Not convinced totally, but other miniatures in the box it was in carry SDD codes.

I gave the model a white undercoat.