A pair of M3s and More

Along with the two M10s, I was also short two M3s for the Stolberg Corridor campaign game.  I took my time, but they are now ready for the next session (coming soon).

While tempting to go for uniformity,

I went for variety.

Late War

Mid War

But wait, there's more...

The Zvedza scout car was damaged in the previous game, 

or rather it proved too delicate 

for the rough and tumble of the table top: 

its wheels fell off.  

So, it was best to base it.

These next lot of models are Peter Pig and were part of a collection acquired from Dave.  I've just done a little work on the basing and an odd bit of painting here and there.

Just painted the canvas tilts.

And the little straps.

Brrrm!

Interesting to contrast this M3 with the Battlefront one.

Personally, I have a soft spot for the Airfix halftrack.

I did repaint this Sherman and applied decals/transfers.

As with the two M3s,

applying the transfers

is the hardest part.

This guy certainly feels the part, being solid metal.

Again, brings back memories of the Airfix Sherman.

A Pair of M10s

For Stolberg I am short two M10s.  I was planning to use spare armour, but Tactics had a pack and so...

While not stated on the box they came with options for M10 GMC, M10C 17 pdr and M36 'Jackson'.

This caused a bit of confusion and searching to find which bits I needed,

wasn't that hard, but...

Everything went together well, but getting the crew in was a bit fiddly.

The main challenge was applying the transfers.

It required a bit of perseverance.

The crew does add life to the model.

Interesting to compare with one I already had and can be seen here: One M10.

A Nice Pair of 88s

Part of a pack shared with Simon.  I really only needed one, but a pair is nice - one early and one late.

Rather than crowd the base, I made up an extra one to use as a fired marker.

Hand painting late war camouflage has not yet been perfected.

I'm also tempted to give it a matt varnish spray

in the expectation of getting an adverse reaction again.

All plastic, went together okay, except the seated crew man.

To get him to fit I had to carve off his left arm.

I have left the barrel and mount unglued

I also see I haven't finished removing loose flock.

Couldn't resist.

And I did go and see 

Nick Mason's

Saucerful of Secrets

last week.

Great show!

Sd Kfz 250/9 (2cm)

For the Stolberg game I needed a proper German late war recon model.  While the single pack Flames of War models have all but disappeared, I was able to pick up a triple pack of Battlefront Sd Kfz 250 models that can be built in different configurations.  All plastic, but nice models, although perhaps not as good a fit as Zvezda kits.  

Anyway, this little chap and the separate little 3D printed ammo markers suffered the same dry dust varnish problem as befell the Soviet artillery.  At least it just adds charm to this model.

The mottling is most noticeable on these blown up images.  On the table you don't really see it (as you will see in the next post on the Stolberg game).

And now without the flash

And a little something extra I finally finished.

109 grams of Soviet artillery

I'm going with Battle Front as the gun model manufacturer, but the crews are mostly Command Decision (and I was short a few figures, but then any more on the base and it would look crowded - the extra crew are off somewhere loading ammo).

But crew shortage is not the problem here.  It is climate change!  It is late Autumn here in Perth, WA and the weather is unseasonably and wonderfully warm, not that I'm complaining.  Normally I spray varnish my models in the morning, but as it is rather damp these days (in keeping with the season, morning dew etc) I went with spraying later in the day.  I didn't appreciate how warm it was.  Now my models have a nice layer of dust, which thankfully looks rather effective.

I was able to scrub off some of the dust on the trail leg,

but the rest wouldn't budge.

Making the best of a bad situation, 

the clear spot represents where some of the crew have been sitting

and in shuffling about wiped it clean.

Anyway, I think these are 122mm Howitzers, Model 1938.

Two Panzer Four

The kits were purchased for last Xmas and have been waiting patiently to be completed.

Zvedza

Battlefront

Comparison.

Zvedza looks crisp, the Battlefront chunky.  The Zvedza is about a third of the price and a tenth of the weight (I did give it a bit of ballast to stop it being blown away).  I did like the fully moulded open hatch with the Battlefront.  It is a pity that Battlefront seem to be reducing their supply.  I was late to 15mm WW2 and miss being able to browse in Tactics and pick up the odd kit.

144 grams of Soviet artillery

I've had these almost finished for a good while, but they are done now.  Excess to what I need, but fits in nicely with what I want.  Crews are Battlefront, although maybe a few Command Decision figures have crept in.  I would have liked some extra figures to add to the bases, but three will have to do (and if I did have more crew they would be best on a separate base hauling ammo).

76mm Divisional Gun M1942

Exactly what these are is a bit in doubt.

Could be 122mm Gun M1931

or

152mm Gun M1910/34

or 

something completely different,

I like the figure at the middle of the centre gun:

He's looking puzzled.

218 grams of Soviets

My Soviet forces continue to put on weight, although the gain of late has been a bit slow.  In part this has been due to the need to source a few additional figures to make up crews etc.  So what follows contains additions to my original 10kg purchase.

And now for something different

Komissar Karenski calling Uncle Joe

Your call is important to us and you have progressed in the queue

I demand to be put into focus!

About time.

And give me some natural light!

And finally...

Let's revisit this vignette to do it better justice.

Still perfecting use of these textured bases.

The tank rider pair look suitably dug in.