The Guild Short Build - Quick Build Kits - Work-In-Progress Day 1

The Guild is running a "Quick Build Kit" build from now until September 10.  You only need to build 1 model kit to enter - but I'm going to use this as motivation to try and build and complete 4 to 6 new kits that will fit into my Arctic theme.

Tonight I started kits 1and 2:

2 x BMD-2 for my VDV.  Off to a bad start already as one of the barrels is broken - so will have to deal with that first up.

Off and running...

Thanks

Richard

What gun is this? (Now with an answer!)

This is not a test - it's a genuine question on my part as I can't work it out.

Sticking with my Arctic Front theme, I've been looking at pics of Norwegian AFVs - in particular the NM135 as I'm trying to work out how to scratch build one (based on an S-Model M113 kit).  Here's a couple of pics for reference:

Whilst looking around I came across a nice Norwegian site Stormskadron 3 which has some terrific shots of NM135s and also some shots of mechanised infantry.  Again - great reference shots.

Looking through them I found one long arm in particular that I couldn't quite work out.

This chap has one next to him

The chap on the far left has one.

Maybe the chap in the front row, 3rd from the left has one.

If they are all the same gun, based on the bottom photo it might be an AG-3 with an underslung grenade launcher.  Maybe the chap in the middle photo has popped the breech open?

I've no idea - but before I start work on my Norwegians I'd love to know.  I do like how all their AG-3s have extendable butts.  Very cool and useful inside a cramped AFV.

So - let me know if you know!

**UPDATE**

I have now been reliably informed that my guess was correct and they are indeeed AG3 assault rifles with an undeslung HK79 40mm grenade launcher.  Just out of interest the last photo also has several chaps with HK MP5 sub-machineguns.

Thanks

Richard

Airfix Land Rover 1 Tonne FC Truck GS Body

OK - so without any further delay - onto the models.  Here is the first plain Land Rover:

And now the second, slightly more jazzy Land Rover:

Now the two of them together:

And now together performing a couple of roles I'll be using them for my Royal Marines on the tabletop.  First up as a light gun tow:

And as a Milan Firing Post Carrier:

Please note all the figures shown with them are from Elhiem

So that's them done.  I'll be posting up the BW Models Land Rover 101 Signals Van next - once I've done a little more work on it.

Thanks

Richard

Land Rover 101 FC - Painting Guide Pics

Over the last few days I've been painting some Airfix and BW Models (I think) Land Rover 101 FC models for my Royal Marines (and whomever else might need them).  This is the Airfix kit box so you'll recognise it if you stumble over it in a shop (or your stash!):

Sadly this excellent little kit seems to be rare as hen's teeth and the one I recently found on ebay was asking for a ridiculous price.  This is extra sad because I could easily live with a couple more of these little guys.  So if see one going cheap - buy it!

You will recall that this is where I was up to a few weeks back:

Well - to be honest it remained where they were up to until last weekend...

So I did some digging and came up with so photos to help me paint them - sourced through Google Images of course.  Here they are.

This is what I consider to be the classic image of the 101 FC and how I wanted at least one of them to look.

A number of photos showed the canvas soft top also painted - so I guess the other one will look like this.

And here's a couple of photos of the hard top radio van variant - which is a pretty slick looking vehicle.

So - next up - the completed models - starting with the two soft tops.

Thanks for your patience

Richard

Soviet Military Policeman - by Elhiem Figures

Recently I've had a concentrate on WWII so have not had much of a chance to work on any Cold War stuff - so I thought I'd like to paint something a bit different for a change - and decided to tackle Elhiem Figures Soviet Military Policeman.

Fortunately - Matt's great little figure is fairly similar to the Ron Volstad illustration of a Soviet MP is Steven Zaloga's Osprey classic "Inside the Soviet Army Today".  Bear in mind, by today we mean 1987!  Here is the pic:

And here is my guy:

Please ignore his zombie-like face - not sure what that's all about, but I swear he doesn't look quite so "dead" in real life....  I might just re-visit his face at some point.

So - no idea if I'll ever use him in a game.  I do have MP units in my lists which have the "Rear Area Security" special ability - which allows you once a game ro re-roll a reserves/re-inforcements roll.  If I want to field that unit I need to paint up 3 more MPs...  I can see that happening now!

Thanks

Richard

More S&S News

I don't do may newsy posts, mainly coz I don't see myself as the font of all Cold War gaming news, but every now and again I see a new release that I think is really worth sharing, and making sure people are aware of it.

In the last week I've seen a few of these - all S&S Models

First up S&S Models has made a MT-12 Rapira 100mm smoothbore anti-tank gun.  The first reason this is important is that in many Soviet Category 2 (or B) divisions, these guns would still have been found in the 1980s - certainly a must have for what I have in mind for my Northern Flank games.

The second reason this is important - IS BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY NO ONE MADE ONE OF THESE!!!!!!!  Certainly not in 1/72 or 1/76.  The closest you could find is the older WW2 version called a BS-3 which would require a far amount of conversion - or just squint when you look at it.

All the following pics come straight from the S&S Photobucket gallery:

The second release is probably even more momentous for a 20mm Cold War gamer.  It is slightly more modern than the MT-12, certainly more likely to be found in almost any Soviet Category 1 (or A) division and again - HAS NOT BEEN MADE BY ANYONE!!!!!!  It's the Soviet 2B9 Vasilek automatic 82mm mortar.

This unique weapon system is still being used today and fires 4 round clips of mortar shells.

S&S have also made gunners for the 2B9:

And gunners for the MT-12 (this and the following photos all come from the S&S Models Facebook page)

Some funky AT rounds there!

My final bit of news from S&S Models is one I can honestly say that I've been hanging out for for almost as long as I've been running this blog and planning and playing Cold War games - a 20mm Jaguar1 and Jaguar 2

Here on Shaun's workbench we can see (from left to right) a Raketenjagdpanzer 2, a Beobachtungspanzer, and Jaguar 2 and a Jaguar 1.

Some close ups:

Raketjagdpanzer 2

Beobachtungspanzer

Jaguar 1

Jaguar 2

So all EXCELLENT news in my book.  S&S Models have also created a very nice looking D-30 artillery peice and crew which is well worth a look at and significantly better than the two D-30s I have... Rats...

My understanding is that the Jaguars are (maybe) available now, while the guns will be available shortly.

Have fun

Richard

The Whole Lot (thus far)...

So a quick pic post today of all the Liberation Miniatures Royal Marines completed thus far:

So - that's it for now.

Thanks

Richard