Russian Houses from 4ground

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Originally posted 21st April 2013

So I made the usual pilgrimage to Salute on Saturday. Much busier than the last couple of years (could this be a sign of the end of the recession?!) and with a real buzz.

There were the usual problems with the queue: it took an hour to get in which, given the show is only on for a day, is neither big nor clever. 

Met and chatted to loads of Lardies, and picked up some new toys too. One purchase which I couldn't wait to build were some Russian Front log houses from 4Ground. Very nice models which go together surprisingly easily once you get the hang of them. No need to paint them either: these can go straight onto the table, and I will definitely be getting some more. I love the smell of laser-cut wood in the morning!

SdKfz 234/2 Puma

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Originally posted 27th December 2012

And still more of the Forged in Battle late war Germans: this time it's the SdKfz 234/2 Pumas from the Panzerspahkompanie's heavy platoon.

I've always thought that these were a must for any later German force, but apparently only 101 were ever produced. However rare, however, these are very nice models: the crew figures painting up very nicely as well.

Panzergrenadier Schwerer Zug from FiB

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Originally posted 25th December 2012

More of the Forged in Battle late war Germans: this time it's some of the half-tracks from the Panzergrenadier Schwerer Zug (Heavy Platoon).

In a genius bit of packaging, the FiB set comes with two SdKfz 251/2 (81mm mortars) and two SdKfz 251/9 (75mm gun): all you need for a standard schwerer zug. Each vehicle comes with crew and, as is normal for FiB, has an integral base.

Only one small problem: they are considerably shorter than my Plastic Soldier Company SdKfz 251/1 models, which is a bit of a pain no matter which manufacturer  has their models scaled correctly. No matter, however, I am sure the difference won' t be too noticeable on the tabletop.

SdKfz 251/8

SdKfz 251/9

German Support Units from Forged in Battle

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Originally posted 9th December 2012

I've been wanting to get Forged in Battle's StuG support set for some time:  I love collecting the 'tail' elements of an army as well as its 'teeth'!

The Warfare show in Reading (well, Caversham if you want to be precise) gave me the opportunity. Even better, the stand they were on (West Wind Productions I think) had a five for four offer, so I bought the StuG support vehicles, some Hetzers, some half-tracks, some Pumas and some Marder IIIs.

I've only had the opportunity to paint the first lot of StuG support vehicles and the Hetzers and I must say I'm very impressed. I like the integral basing (all my vehicles are based: mainly for protection when handling and in transit), and the models take paint very well indeed.

StuG Support

Hetzers

Fallschirmjaeger 2cm FlakGuns

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Originally posted 4th December 2012

Next, here are a couple of Fallschirmjaeger-manned 2cm FlaK 38 guns for the Germans. I haven't got many anti-aircraft assets for my WW2 armies, as IABSM doesn't really emphasise that aspect of things, but these two are a start. They are Battlefront models: easy to put together and paint...although I hate the way they don't sit flush to their bases. I might glue them down in a moment!

Oh, and the observant amongst you will note that I have the mounting stand round one way on one base and the other way on the other. Not intentional, I assure you, and a lesson to be learnt in paying attention!

Soviet Flamethrower Tanks from Zvezda

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Originally posted 4th December 2012

I haven't had the time to do any actual gaming recently, what with getting Q13 ready and real-life work, but I have been painting a little.

First up, the excellent 15mm KhT-26 flamethrower tanks new from Zvezda. These cost only a couple of quid each, snap together in seconds, and paint up really easily. I'm a big fan of the Zvezda kits, and these babies will give the evil Germans a very nasty surprise!

More Soviet WW2 Planes from Little Fokkers

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Originally posted 14th October 2012

Two more 'planes from the Old Glory Lil' Flyin' Fokkers range: the Polikarpov biplane that I remember fondly from Johnny Red and the Ilyushin IL-2 Sturmovik which I suspect will appear more often than the others.

Polikarpov Biplane

Ilyushin IL-2 Sturmovik

The Polikarpov I-16 from Old Glory/Little Fokkers

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Originally posted 6th October 2012

Old Glory advertised their "Little Fockers" range of 15mm aircraft on TMP a couple of weeks ago, and such is the power of advertising that I couldn't resist buying the four different WW2 Soviet 'planes that they do.

First to leave the painting table is the teeny tiny Polikarpov I-16 fighter: very dinky!

Yet More Gebirgsjaeger

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Originally posted 9th September 2012

The final two units of the Gebirgsjaegers company:  the third platoon, and an anti-tank gun zug from Regiment. 

Again I'm struck by the contrast in quality of figures from Battlefront. The anti-tank gun team are works of art: a joy to paint and come our brilliantly. The infantry are manikins:  horrible compared to the ATG crew. 

Ah well: just a few Peter Pig skiers to paint to finish the project, and then on to the Harook: bird men with guns from Mad Robot!

Gebirgsjaeger MMG Teams

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Originally posted 19th August 2012

More Gebirgsjaeger: this time the MMG platoon. I'm very disappointed. The casts from Battlefront were very poor, especially on the chaps actually firing the machine guns. If you look closely, you can actually see that one of them is missing half his head!

Well, Rob, you may say, why didn't you just get them to send you some more: they're very good at that sort of thing. 

Well, I'd reply, they're very good at that sort of thing because they have plenty of bleedin' practice! If they had the quality control to start off with, then I wouldn't need to bother! I love BF stuff, on the whole, but sometimes they do themselves no favours.

No, the bad casts can stay up here for all to see: I'm bound to buy the three MMGs I need for theSchwerer Zug anyway so, assuming they are of respectable quality, they will be the ones I eventually use on the tabletop. Pity it's only Battlefront who do Gebirgsjaeger in 15mm. For now! Plastic tank anyone?

More Gebirgsjaeger from Battlefront

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Originally posted 26th June 2012

More Gebirgsjaeger from Battlefront. Some of my initial enthusiasm has worn off, but I still think they are very finely sculpted figures. I'm almost sure two sculptors did the range: most of the figures are amazing, but there are a few that are more blobby mannequins!

First off, I'm loving this Big Man. Full of character and paints up really well.

Next, here's the first infantry zug completed. I particularly like the standing LMG team, far left in the middle squad as you look at the picture:


Note that I've changed the way I base my infantry. Rather than singles on 5p pieces, I've used doubles on 2p pieces, with a five-2p-piece movement tray allowing even quicker deployment. The 2p coins do come out of the movement tray for casualty and in-cover deployment.

And finally, here's a group shot just to let you see some more of the sculpts:

Right: on to the mortars now!

Gebirgsjaeger from Battlefront

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Originally posted 9th June 2012

Even if I am now buying all my tanks and other vehicles as plastics from the likes of PSC and Zvezda, I still have a soft spot for the Battlefront infantry. Some of it is far from perfect (British Paras!) but some of the ranges are exceptional...including the relatively new Gebirgsjaeger.

I've only just started painting them up, but here are the infantry guns and an FOO:

Zvezda SdKfz 251 Half-tracks

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Originally posted 4th June 2012

Buying all the vehicles you need for an armoured infantry company is always a painful experience, whatever nationality you're collecting. My late war Germans need half-tracks, but the thought of buying four per platoon caused my wallet severe palpitations!

Step forward Zvezda! They do a lovely little SdKfz 251/1 that I managed to pick up at only £2.99 a go. With P&P, my nine models cost only £30: a bargain considering what purchasing them from other manufacturers would have cost me.

The models snap together easily in about five minutes...once you have the knack of it. You need to take care you don't bend the front axles when popping on the wheels, and the curious thread-through, over-and-under body construction took me a bit of time to figure out.

So, how do they look? well, judge for yourselves:

PS  I know these are the Ausf. B so technically early war...but who's going to notice once they're on the tabletop!