27 December 2012

Xmas Haul: Support Vehicles for D-Day

Xmas Haul: Allied Support Vehicles for D-Day and El Alamein


Allied Support Vehicles for the Late War campaign: 
Some collector's items, destined to become table top gaming pieces: 

Lledo and Corgi Trackside models

Some may say it is sacrilege, but these will be repainted and join my Allied Armies in North Africa and Europe.


AEC Mamouth Tank Transporter


D-Day Allied Command Vehicles, including Caravan

D-Day Allied Soft-skin support Vehicles and Command Car


  El Alamein Soft-skin support Vehicles and Command Car

23 December 2012

6 December 2012

Allied Commonwealth Forces start to muster for El Alamein

Allied Commonwealth Forces start to muster for El Alamein


Being as enthused as I have been of late with gaming  El Alamein and the Desert War on the one hand, and Kursk on the other has led to some confusion. Having just converted all my Desert Themed armies to European theatre of war the Desert Lust grabbed me again. so here I find myself building Gun Tractors, 6pdr guns and painting Desert Rats again...

Thought I might convert some Aussie Jungle Fighters to Desert Fighters, and Some regular  8th Army and Ghurka figures into Indian Troops, giving my 8th Army a bit more Colonial flavour. 


My Indian Division have received a couple of coats, and have been glued to their bases. Still a way to go before they are ready for the table.


Turbans and Kukri, cold steel and conquered warrior tribes, all in service of the Empire


While on arriving from down under, we have a boat load full of Aussie cobbers


In the confusion of a dust storm on my workbench Friend and Foe seem to have been thrown together: Luftwaffe Gunners, Heer Artillerymen, Regular English 8th Army Sappers, and Aussie Infantry mill about, waiting to be based.

I have struggled to find figures in 1/72 scale with the obiquitous tropical pith helmets that both sides were issued with, until I stumbled upon some Hong Kong made copies of the old Airfix figures that were not too badly cast, except for their over-sized tin hats. Just perfect for converting to tropical helmets!

The South African troops in particular seemed to have been issued with these useless items (did block the sun, but no protection against flying metal). The conversion to Indian headgear is relatively straight forward, and the turbans are drying as we speak. The Aussies came with bush hats, and most of the Ghurkas too, so no issue there. Some Ghurka also wear a fez or kepi-like cap. No hope of finding a NZ Lemon squeezer hat though ! The truth is that all of these exotic headgear saw little use in battle.

Arrivals from the Reich: More Boys of Summer

Fresh Arrivals from the Reich: More Boys of Summer

Received a fresh batch of arrivals for my 20mm German WW2 Forces over the last few weeks:
Mixed box of WW2 soft skinned vehicles: 


Kettenrad and Kubelwagen for my Recce Zug and a Utility Willys Jeep for the Allies


Bridge-layer Sd.KFz 251/1 for the Pionier Zug...


... and a 234/4 packing a PAK 40 75mm gun as tank destroyer while teay lay that bridge


And just for good measure a Raketenwerfer Sd.Kfz 251/2 Ausf D


Two 88mm bolster the Luftwaffe's artillery, and a Pak 38 "Doorknocker"


A Great little find off Trademe (NZ Ebay equivalent): A complete coastal defense battery! ($15 including postage! One may's junk is surely another's treasure)