More Works in progress.

February 17, 2013, 4:31 am

Picked up some of Timecasts excellent apartment blocks(23/004) from their modern range. All based on mdf with embossed plastic card for the paving. Speaking to them at the York show they are hoping to release some more modern buildings later on in the year.

front view

Front view close up

Rear view close up

I have also started on the final MIL24 "HIND F"(SMA507), from Heroics and Ros , for my attack helicopter squadron. A very nice model, cleanly cast with virtually no flash and simple to assemble.

H&R MIL24 "F"

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More stuff for Arctic Strike

March 11, 2013, 4:26 pm

≫ Next: Buildings, finished.

≪ Previous: More Works in progress.

Things had ground to a bit of a halt recently, but with some new found energy here are some pieces for Arctic Strike in April. Still unfinished but getting there!
After a bit of a click around I found this site dedicated to Soviet ECM(Electronic Counter Measures) units http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-REB-Systems.html . This is my interpretation of a ECM unit for use in Arctic Strike. These would be found as part of the Divisional Recce Battalion. My unit consists of a GAZ66 +Van Body(RM0021),GAZ66+Communications Body(RM0068) and a modified URAL375+Workshop Body(RM0071). All are Scotia models.

ECM unit

I also decided to produce a couple of HQs for the Divisional Anti Aircraft Regiment. these will consist of a Long Track Radar(RM00156) and a BTR60 PU 12(RM0058), also by Scotia.This will be used to control a number of SA6 or SA8 batteries.

AAA HQ

Also on the work bench is some assorted Armour, because you cant have too many tanks when you play Soviets.
T72 battalion with HQ. this consists of T72M(SM03) and BRDM2u(SM78), both by Heroics and Ros. The minerollers are SM85.

T72 Battalion and HQ

Slightly older T62M(SM59) and BRDM2(SM22) and T62+minerollers(SM46).

T62 coy and HQ

Even older are T55(SM06) with a BRDM2u on the HQ stand.

T55 coy and HQ

About the same age of the T55s are these PT-76s(RM0153) by Scotia.

PT-76 coy

Some additional Anti Aircraft units ZSU23-4 "Shilka"(RM0135) and a SA6 "Gainful"(RM0123), all are by Scotia.

Shilkas and SA6

Finally some blurred pics, sorry, of a H&R Mil24-Hind F(SMA507). I will add this to the other two I have to give NATO something to worry about!

MIL24-HIND F

MIL24 HIND F

Just need to finish the base, give it a varnish and it's good to go.

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Buildings, finished.

March 17, 2013, 3:29 pm

≫ Next: Air support.

≪ Previous: More stuff for Arctic Strike

Finished the Timecast German Apartment Blocks(23/004). Not happy with the car parking markings, but they'll do for now.

Front

Side

Rear

These will provide somewhere for NATO forces to hide and the Soviets to pound to bits with artillery! Just noticed how messy my painting area is, I should give it a tidy.

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Air support.

March 17, 2013, 3:55 pm

≫ Next: So near.....

≪ Previous: Buildings, finished.

Completed a couple of pieces . The SU27 "Flanker"(SMA410) is mainly for use in the up coming Crisis Point, "Arctic Strike" game. The MIL-24 "Hind F"(SMA507) is for more general club games but should see some use at Crisis Point. Both models are from Heroics and Ros.

SU27

MIL24

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So near.....

March 29, 2013, 3:02 am

≫ Next: Arctic Strike - The Pics

≪ Previous: Air support.

...so Spar. Just finished a generic mini market and some more houses. Some where for my Russians to liberate weak capitalist vodka.

And some typical German houses.

The houses are Timecast, from their modern Europe range, and the supermarket an Ebay purchase.

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Arctic Strike - The Pics

April 21, 2013, 1:03 pm

≫ Next: British Army New Units- WIP

≪ Previous: So near.....

I was lucky enough to be involved with Crisis Point 2-"Arctic Strike". Very enjoyable weekend, made all the better for a overall WarPac victory. I didn't take that many pictures, but here's what I have. All were taken on day two on the Bjerkvik and Bodo table.

Yak 38 over flies Naval Infantry around Bjervik

Medical unit attached to Naval infantry brigade, Bjervic

Mil8s ready to transport Spetznas units.

Part of the air defence regiment take up position on the outskirts of Bodo

T72s of the MRR move out of Bodo, after being landed at the docks.

SA6 SAM regiment with Radars

BMP2s strike out from Bodo into the open countryside beyond.

T72s on the move, BTR60 "TAC P" ready to call in air cover.

The excellent buildings on the Bodo table where scratch build by Richard Philips. To see more of his excellent work visit http://arcticstrike2013.blogspot.co.uk and http://littlesoldiers-cardophillipo.blogspot.co.uk/, both are worth a visit.

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British Army New Units- WIP

May 22, 2013, 3:51 pm

≫ Next: New British and Yet More Soviets!

≪ Previous: Arctic Strike - The Pics

After painting nothing but Russian green for quite a while I thought I might revisit my 80s British. To add some flexibility to the armoured units I have decided to add some more HQs so I can split the brigades in two.

Challenger and Chieftain HQs

The Challenger stand consists of a FV105 Sultan(BM17) and a Challenger 2 MBT(BM45). The Chieftain stand has a FV439 signals(BM19) and a Chieftain MBT(BM03).All models are by Heroics and Ros.
At the moment my non mechanised infantry are in "4 tonners". This makes them very vulnerable on the table, so they will get to ride about in some Saxon APCs(BM58).

Saxon APC

The HQ stand for the new infantry battalion consists of a 3/4 Ton Landrover Signals(BM20) and a Bedford MK Signals(BM21).

Infantry HQ

To add some weight to my Brit artillery three stands of 155mm FH70s(BM28). These come with crew figures but all are stood at attention so I've mixed in some other crew figures.

FH70

To act as tows and keep them supplied with ammunition they have a FODEN 6x6 FH70 GUN LIMBER(BM50) and a FODEN 6x6 FH70 GUN TRACTOR(BM52).

BM50 and BM52

Additional units consist of two FV 180 C.E.Vs(BM40) to give engineering support.

FV180

1 TON LAND ROVER(BM34) and STALWART(BM38) and a FV 434(BM41) with a 1/2 ton Landrover with a trailer.

Ambulance and Stalwart

Landrover and FV434

The landrover with trailer might be used to carry a milan team and the FV434 will go with the FV432s in the mechanised battalion.
As usual the models from H&R were cleanly cast with virtually no flash, requiring minimal preparation prior to mounting.

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New British and Yet More Soviets!

May 27, 2013, 2:09 am

≫ Next: American Units WIP

≪ Previous: British Army New Units- WIP

Some of the guys on the Cold War Commander forum were surprised at the quality of the Heroics and Ross Challenger 2 and Chieftain tank models. I must admit I was impressed with these offerings from H&R an wondered if they had been remolded at some point. This prompted me to dig out the command units I did for my Brits a few years back.

H&R Challenger and Chieftain

Not that you can tell much from the painted models but I think they were probably of the same quality as the newer casts I featured in my previous post.

As I'm doing some new units for the British the unwritten law of the "little lead arms race" comes into force. The Soviets I had been working on had to be finished to maintain the status quo. Some T72s by H&R(SM03). These are T72Ms but they will do as Soviet T72As.

T72 battalion

HQ T72 and BRDM2u

Also recently completed a battalion of H&R T62Ms(SM59). You don't see many pictures of Soviet T62s with sand shields out side of Afghanistan but this is such a nice model I decided to use it anyway.

T62 battalion

HQ T62 and BRDM2

As well as the two tank battalions some more engineering units have been finished. These are all by Scotia and consist of MDK 2M Rotary Excavator (RM0061), a ST210 Mobile Crane(RM0062), a BTM Trench Digger(RM0026) and a TMS65 Decontamination Tank (RM0079)

Soviet Engineering units

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American Units WIP

May 27, 2013, 2:23 am

≫ Next: American Command Units

≪ Previous: New British and Yet More Soviets!

I'm still working on my 80's Americans and have just added a couple of vanity units to the pile. These have no use in game terms but add to the overall effect. Both by Scotia they consist of a M113 Fitters Vehicle(MM0003) for my M113 battalion and a pair of M922 FAASV(MM0051) to keep the M109 artillery batteries supplied.

M113 fiters vehicle and M922

All very nice models the M922 fits very well with the Heroics and Ros M109.

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American Command Units

August 10, 2013, 2:18 pm

≫ Next: American Armour

≪ Previous: American Units WIP

After sometime away from 6mm gaming completing an American Civil War project in 15mm, I now have some Modern American units completed. The MERDC cammo pattern is based on an article by Steven Zaloga, originally published in Military Modelling. I was fortunate to find a copy at the Grimsby club, for those interested a PDF can be found on this site http://www.hobbyhavoc.com/oldhavoc/index.php?topic=1230.0 . At the club we have all decided to base our armies around 1985. This was an interesting time for the Americans as they were undergoing another structural organisation as well as introducing new equipment and transitioning from MERDC to NATO 3 colour camouflage. Because of this you see plenty of older equipment in MERDC and newer equipment in a basic Forrest Green factory finish, as the NATO scheme wasn't officially adopted till about '86/'87. Its this mix of old and new I've tried to depict in my units.
First up is the CO stand on a 40mmx40mm base and consists of a a H&R M113, M577 and a Hummer personal carrier.

CO Stand

Next are the FAO and FAC stands based on 2 pence pieces. These consist of 2 FIST-V artillery observer vehicles and a air liaison team in a Hummer. The FIST-V is identical to the Improved TOW vehicle so this is the model I've used.

FAOs and FAC

Next; American Armour.

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American Armour

August 10, 2013, 2:57 pm

≫ Next: American Artillery

≪ Previous: American Command Units

The M1 Abrams was a quantum leap in American armour design. Fast, quiet and heavily armoured with the emphasis placed on crew survivability the M1 was a totally different tank from its predecessor the M60, so different a new set of tactics were formulated for the M1 as well as a new infantry vehicle, the M2/3 Bradley fighting vehicle introduced to complement the M1s high mobility.
The HQ stand is 20mmx30mm and has a H&R M1 Abrams and a M577 command vehicle. The M1s are still in their factory applied Forrest Green paint and the M577s are in Winter Verdant MERDC.

HQs

The eyes and ears of the HQs are the recce units. The M3 bradley is Identical to the M2 so to avoid confusion they are painted in MERDC. The only pictures I've seen of Bradleys in MERDC were taken at Fort Hood undergoing trials.

M3s

Two HQs add some flexibility to my M1 battalion as they can be split into 2 separate groups.

M1 Battalion

M1 Company

Next; Artillery

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American Artillery

August 10, 2013, 3:17 pm

≫ Next: American M2 Bradleys

≪ Previous: American Armour

Traditionally the main killing arm of any army is its artillery. These units tend to be some of its most technologically advanced units, the American army is no exception, fielding some of the most up to date units of any modern army. The most common of these is the M109 series of self propelled howitzers.
The artillery is organised into 2, 3 battery units and a support vehicle. The M109A1 is by H&R and the M922 FASVV is by Scotia.

Artillery

M109s and M922

Next; Bradley fighting vehicles.

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American M2 Bradleys

August 14, 2013, 2:22 pm

≫ Next: American Support Units

≪ Previous: American Artillery

The Bradley fighting vehicle was Americans response to the Soviet BMP series of mechanised infantry fighting vehicles introduced in the mid 1960s. Faster than a M113, its greater speed allows the infantry to keep pace with with the M1 Abrams.
The Hq consists of a Heriocs and Ros M577 and a M2 Bradley.

The Battalion.

Bradley Battalion

Bradley company

Next; support units.

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American Support Units

August 19, 2013, 2:13 pm

≫ Next: Soviet Airborne

≪ Previous: American M2 Bradleys

Support units consist of anti tank, air defence and self propelled mortars organised as direct support under command of a HQ or as general support commanded by the CO.
The anti tank company consists of 4 Improved Tow Vehicles by Heroics and Ros.

TOW vehicles

Air defence is either a M163 Vulcan or M730 Chapparrel, with a pair of Stinger teams in Hummers, all by H&R.

M163 Vulcan & M730 Chapparral

M163 & M730

Hummers

Stinger Teams

Stinger Teams ans Hummers

Finally direct fire support is provided by a M125 81mm mortar carrier and a M106 107mm mortar carrier, both by H&R.

M106 & M125

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Soviet Airborne

December 1, 2013, 9:27 am

≫ Next: "Warthogs"...

≪ Previous: American Support Units

I did these units for last years Arctic Strike game, since then they have yet to see the light of day. While I was reorganising my Soviets I thought I would take some pictures. All the models are Heroics and Ross.

The CO unit consists of a BMD+30mm(SM20) and a BTRD(SM21), the AA unit is a ZPU23+crew(SM48) and the figures are from the Soviet Airborne Troops(M7).The anti aircraft units in the background are ZPU23s mounted on BTRDs.

Co and air defence units

The Soviets realised that airborne forces are vulnerable to counter attack by enemy forces and often lack the mobility to move far from their landing points .To give their airborne forces the mobility and improved fire they needed the BMD series of air deployable vehicles were developed. The first of these was the BMD1(SM19), listed as "BMD Paratroop" in the H&R lists.

CO and BMD1 battalion

CO and BMD1 coy

In the 1980s the BMD2 was introduced(SM20). This is listed as "DMD+30mm" in the H&R lists.

CO and BMD2 battalion

CO and BMD2 coy

Also used to provide limited fire power to the airborne was the ASU85(SM27)

ASU85

Additional anti tank capability was provided by BRDM3s with Spandrel AT5 atgw(SM25) but these were replaced by a modified BTRD the BTR-RD(Robot) which carries the AT5 Spandrel on a single firing post. These are a simple conversion done a while back.

BTR-RD and HQ

BTR-RD and HQ unit

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"Warthogs"...

December 1, 2013, 10:07 am

≫ Next: American Engineers.

≪ Previous: Soviet Airborne

A10 Thuderbolt(USMA417),not the best model from H&R but they paint up just fine. Camo is "European 1" scheme, low vis decals are by Dom's Decals.

A10 "Warthogs"

Too direct these beauties on target are some Forward Air Controllers.

FACs

Next up American engineers.

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American Engineers.

December 2, 2013, 2:35 pm

≫ Next: Happy New Year.

≪ Previous: "Warthogs"...

Finished some engineers for my American battle group. First up the heavy stuff, a M728 C.E.V(USM33) and a M60 AVLB(USM37) both by H&R.

M728 and M60 AVLB

M60 AVLB with bridge deployed.

3 platoons of engineers in M113s (USM11) including a Dragon ATGW, form an Engineering support company.

Engineering coy

The engineering company can also be used to bolster the regular infantry, especially in defence.

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Happy New Year.

December 31, 2013, 10:46 am

≫ Next: British vs Soviets

≪ Previous: American Engineers.

Happy New Year and all the best in 2014.

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British vs Soviets

February 15, 2014, 12:37 pm

≫ Next: British vs Soviets pt2

≪ Previous: Happy New Year.

Played a game of CWC today, Brits vs Soviets. A lot of stuff on the table so we only managed 4 turns, so it was called a draw, though the British had inflicted significantly more casualties on the advancing Russians. First up the Soviets, a mix of Motor rifle and Armour with plenty of artillery from Corps and Divisional assets.

The Soviets

more Soviets

yet more Soviets

some more Soviets

finaly some more Soviets

The British consisted of Mechanised Infantry and Armour as well as a battalion of Territorial Army(TA) in 4 ton trucks and a battalion of the Parachute Regiment on foot.

British infantry

Paras

Artillery

British armour

Harrier and Jaguar

Lynx AH1s

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British vs Soviets pt2

February 16, 2014, 2:45 pm

≫ Next: Birthday Preasent

≪ Previous: British vs Soviets

For a change we decided to play up the table, giving the Brits a width of 6ft to defend. The objective for the Soviets was the town and main road at the far end of the table.

Looking up the table from the Soviet start point.

Soviet objective

Centre of the table, the extent of the British deployment.

British central deployment

British rear area deployment.

The British deployed their Chieftains and 2 coys Mech infantry on the Soviet right flank and the TA dug into the woods on the soviet left. Almost the whole width of the table was protected by marked and unmarked mine fields. Fearing a Soviet flanking march the Challenger1s were deployed on the left and right flanks supported on the left flank by the paras and on the right flank by the 3rd Mech infantry coy.
Precluded by the usual, but largely ineffective, massed artillery barrage, the soviet attack was split into a left and right flank, with both sides feeding units through the centre. Playing up the table presented the soviets with a problem as the centre became very crowded and presented a target rich enviroment for the british artillery and armour. Although slow to get going the Soviets managed to advance to contact with the mine fields.

Soviet left flank

Soviet centre and right flank taking hits

centre action

Soviet centre "thinned "out.

British adjust their position

Soviets exploit a gap in the mine field and take tank and Carl Gustaf fire

Soviets breach the mine field and attempt to move through.

T64s slowly advance up the road on the right flank

Soviet aid station, kept very busy!

Although we only got in 4 full turns it was a most enjoyable game. The Soviet advance was slowed somewhat by a large number of failed command rolls, especially on the right, and 3 or 4 blunders rolled! We called it a draw as neither side fulfilled their objectives, though the British lost 4 units to the Soviets 36. To the credit of the soviet players they did get a toe hold into the British lines, which they might have been able to exploit had we played on.

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