After speculating about plastic Sherman tanks for Flames of War and finding that in the end they were resin, I have heard a new rumour that the new third edition starter set, Achtung! due to be released on the 28th April will contain plastic Shermans and Stugs.
Tracking the Challenger
The Tank, Cruiser, Challenger (A30) was a British tank of World War 2. It mounted the 17 Pounder gun on the Cromwell chassis to add heavier anti-tank firepower to the cruiser tank units.
The next stage was detailing the tracks and equipment. I started to paint the tracks using German Grey (995).
See the full workbench feature on my Challenger A30.
Armageddon pattern enclosed Medusa
Armageddon pattern enclosed Medusa at GamesDay 2008.
Tracking 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 first saw action in June 1944, with the reconnaissance regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps.
Having given the Cromwells a basecoat, the
next stage will be detailing the tracks and equipment. I started to paint the tracks using German Grey (995).
See the full workbench feature on the Flames of War Cromwell IV.
Great Knarloc
Great Knarloc from the Forge World displays at GamesDay 2005.
15mm German SdKfz 251 Half Track
The SdKfz 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251) half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Germany’s Hanomag company during World War II. One of the most common, and best armoured of the wartime half-tracks, the SdKfz 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle. Widely known simply as “Hanomags” by both German and Allied forces, they were widely produced throughout the war, with over 15,252 vehicles and variants produced in total by various manufacturers.
This is an old metal model that I think was made by SDD. I am using it as a testbed for which method I should use with my Flames of War resin models and I suspect in the end it will probably end up as a piece of scenery.
Having given the model a basecoat of Warpaint German Armour the next stage was to add the disruptive camouflage. I thought long and hard about how to do this, and I didn’t have or really wanted to buy an airbrush, even though that appears to be the accepted method for doing late war German camouflage. What I did was take an old paintbrush and cut off the bristles leaving a quarter inch. This brush is then used to stipple on the camouflage pattern. I used Reflective Green (890) and Chocolate Brown (872).
I was quite pleased with the initial effect.
Though the official German manual during the war told how the camo pattern was to be applied, it said the raw paint mixture was to be mixed with petrol and sprayed onto the vehicles. Reality and short supplies of petrol meant that more often the camo pattern was “painted” onto the vehicles, sometimes with brushes and sometimes with rags.
I do like the effect that the airbrush gives these models, I am not sure if I have the requisite skill to do it justice on small models like this.
The next stage was to paint the tyres and tracks and I used German Grey (995). I then gave the models a wash using Devlan Mud wash from Games Workshop.
Quite pleased with the end result, though I think I might have used a lighter or thinner wash next time.
I painted the MG with German Grey (995) and dry brushed the model with Middlestone (882).
See the workbench feature on the German SdKfz 251 Armoured Half Track.
Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39
Despite having been designed from 1933 as a rather slow but well-armoured light infantry support tank, the type was initially rejected by the French Infantry because it proved difficult to steer while driving cross-country, instead being adopted in 1936 by the French Cavalry. From 1938 an improved version was produced with a stronger engine, the Char léger modèle 1935 H modifié 39, that from 1940 was also fitted with a longer, more powerful 37 mm gun.
Having made up the hulls, the next stage was to sort the turrets out. The metal components were fitted to the turret.
See the workbench feature on the Flames of War French Hotchkiss H-39.
Basilisk
This very nice Forge World Armageddon pattern enclosed Basilisk was made up and painted by Warwick Kinrade. It was in the display cabinets at GamesDay 2008.
More photographs of the Armageddon pattern enclosed Basilisk.
15mm Ruined Houses
One of my Christmas presents was a couple of ruins from Total Battle Miniatures.
I got the ruined row of three houses and the ruined row of four houses.
What you get , if you go for the unpainted version is a nice resin casting.
The first stage was to wash the resin to remove the mould lubricant and then clean the flash from the casting, especially the windows and the doors.
Attacking the Dwarf City
Probably my favourite display game at GamesDay 2008 was the Dwarf City that was under attack by a sea borne Orc and Goblin army. The scenery was beautifully constructed, some amazing Venetian inspired buildings and bridges.
In previous blog posts (here, here, here and here) I posted some photographs of the Dwarf buildings. In this posting there are some photographs of the Orc sea vessels that were attacking the city.
The Orc boats were wooden attack boats that looked like the Orcs had just thrown them together.
There were many vessels that had landing craft abilities.
In the background of this photo, you can see a Dwarf Monitor steaming out to defend the city from attack. The Orc boat in the foreground has siege engines lashed to the deck.
