ACW equipment build stage

I wanted to do some carts and limbers and thought that if am going to get the spray gun out and paint mixed then I ought to do it for all my equipment at once.

Hence we have:
- 38 Limbers
- 18 Ammo carts
- 5 Battery wagons
- 2 Ambulances
- 7 wagons (plus another 5 on my desk)
- 4 water carts
- 46 guns of various types

This has been hard labour as approx 50% of the wheels had flash between the spokes.

Base coat on the Galaxy

Did some more on the Galaxys today.  Undercoated and then put on first of the three colour camouflage.

Tomorrow will make up some masks and apply the second colour.

Big Little aircraft

On the Guild Forum they are running a "Wings" speed build.  The idea is that we build / paint something that has a wings theme prior to 2 January.

So I am building my C-5A Galaxy - in 1/300 scale that is.


I have had these for a few years after getting them for a few dollars off ebay.  I have no idea what I would do with them - but they are big and it is good to have big things.

Not hard to build - just some fitting issues and quite a bit of flash to get rid of.  There was a need for a bit of filler - much more needed on the underside, especially around the tail.

Just to show the size - here it is with a prop that was handy (one of the few left from Christmas Day).  Don't forget this is 1/300th scale.

I built this one with the undecarriage up - just tossing up whether I should try and brave the undercarriage build on the other one.

French Line Regiment

A line regiment minus mounted command. 

Missing the flags also as I am waiting on a shipment of the good looking Vaubanner flags to dress them up.

French Dragoons

Some more French Napoleonic cavalry - Dragoons from Adler this time.

French Cuirassiers

Again, these are Adlers.  One of the 11 Cuirassier regiments sitting on the shelf.

 

Brunswicks

These are all Adler miniatures  They have been painted over a number of years.

Uhlans

Hussars

Artillery Battery

Avant-Garde



The lot - with the Light and Line Infantry and the Leib Battalion on the right



A new building company

Got a few of the 20mm buildings from Total Battle Miniatures http://www.totalbattleminiatures.com/index.html together with some 6mm ones (more on that later).

Thought I would try one out so this is first.

TBM (right) with a Sentry / Raventhorpe building (left)

With a few (unfinished) Brittania figures

More photos of the game

LZ / DZ through Oosterbeek to Arnhem and the Bridge

The goal

German counter attack - well placed dice!!

1st A/L Bgde approaching the outskirts of Arnhem

Brigade HQ

Paras forming up for an assault

All of these photos were taken by Greg Blake.

British Airborne Supply Dump

The British felt secure in Oosterbeek after they dispatched all of the defenders in record tim. So they established their main RASC location in the park opposite the Hartenstein.

The Prize - Arnhem Bridge

Just a few photos of the "prize" - the Bridge over the River Rhine at Arnhem

The Bridge over the rooftops of a damaged Arnhem

The "Prize"

Last photo courtesy of Greg Blake who took some great shots of the game - I will share some more in coming days.

30 Corp and air support

The inital advance by 30 Corp was progressing well until the head of the column met resistance and lost a few vehicles.

Black smoke at the head of the column means trouble

So some support is called up ....

Almost a gun camera

and the resistance is silenced - well at least that particular threat.  There were many more to come.

The idea was copied by me from a similar setup at  the wonderful Market Garden game played in the US a few years ago.

March of the Airborne Recce Sqdn

Very tired so just a few selected snippets of the game we spent the weekend playing - a large Market Garden game on fantastic terrain with great company.  There are more pitcure to come over the following days.

Thought I would focus first on my beloved 1st Airborne Reconnaisance Squadron.

Forming up on the LZ

Moving out through Wolfheze



On their way to an appointment

Appointment kept - but the Germans only got one man - no jeeps

Approaching the northern suburbs of Arnhem

Cautious advance

Which way now?

Proof we did get to the bridge - and they did some damage too!

Nearing the end of the US Paras

I am close to the end of the line for the US Paras.  A bit more work on the bases, some highlighting of the weapons metalwork, glueing all of the jeep crews in and then finishing off the gun bases. 

Hamilcar WIP

Never ever again will I buy a Vacform kit.  This has taken most of the day to get to the stage below and I am sure when I hit it with undercoat and then paint tomorrow I will find all sorts of blemishes.

Anyway, I will only ever build one Hamilcar and so I guess the effort is worth it.  It is also very fragile - so we won't be launching it to see if glides onto the correct LZ. 

Pathfinders

Wanted to get a photo up to satisfy myself that I am making progress.  But as always once I take a photo I see the bits not done - the metalwork on the weapons need some work.  Anyway here they are.

Continued effort on the paras

All base coated.  Two thirds have been dipped and varnished with about a battalion almost finished.  Vehicles and guns have been basecoated.  Gunners are in the shed drying from a spray of Dulcoat this evening.  Still lots to do.

And here's one of them after dipping and mat varnish waiting for selected highlights.  It is part of the superb Grubby landing parachutist sets.

Progress on the paras

Work has continued apace on the US Paras.  I have basecoated all of the infantry, engineers, pathfinders  and HQ units.  They have now been dipped and I am waiting to give them a matt varnish before highlighting some of the colours.

Also took advantage of the sunny weather today so that I could do all the CA glueing outside.  The stuff has started to have an effect on me - similar to asthma - so I only do it outside now.  All vehicles, guns and trailers built and undercoated. Need a trip to Robbyco to get some Tamiya paint to spray them with over the next week.

Next week should see quite of few of the infantry finished and the gunners and jeep drivers cleaned up and undercoated.  Hopefully get the basecoat on the guns and jeeps also.

US Para Regiment

Wondering if I have bitten off more than I can chew - or considering that I should have started a lot earlier.

Photo this morning of most of the US Para Regiment that I need to paint for the September Market Garden game.  Not shown are the a/tank guns and the artillery (because they have not been made yet), and the gunners (because I have not got them yet).

Reg't HQ, 3 Bttns, Engineers, Pathfinders and Jeeps

Airborne motor pool

Finished off approx 40 jeep crew this weekend and "dusted" the remaining jeeps which allowed me to come very close to finishing off all these vehicles.  I do have a two or three more to go.  That will be all then - unless I add another Parachute Brigade to the unit which will mean more artillery and a/tank etc.

A few of these have been seen before - but most not - and never together like this.



1st Airlanding Brigade - Brigade HQ



Airlanding Battalion 6pdr guns and tows

RASC

1st Airlanding Anti-tank Battery - 6pdr troop

9th Field Coy RE