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

Oosterbeek's defenders

Here are a few of my British Paratroopers dug in.  I have another set the same which I have just finished painting. 

AB British Airborne dug in

Hamilcar Glider

Got home this evening and a nice big package was waiting for me from Sanger UK - a vacformed Hamilcar glider

It was nicely wrapped in quite a bit of bubblewarp and thankfully Royal Mail / Australia Post had treated it with due care.

Inside was a large vacformed sheet - must be almost 50cm wingspan.



With various metal parts - axle, wheels, tail wheel and skids.  There is also a clear plastic canopy taped under the vacform.

Some decals that look pretty good.

and an instruction sheet

Never made a vacformed kit before - so looking forward to the challenge.  Also think it will take a bit of modelling as various openings for the clear pieces need to be located and cleanly cut.

Will post photos as I build.

Beginnings of my game cave

Finally.  It was spur of the moment thing 8 years ago when we renovated the house to excavate dirt from under two of the rooms and lay a slab.  Since then, one has become a wine cellar. 

In the other I have had a desire to turn it into my own modest space to put a table and store my painted things.  However, this has stayed a storage space - partly because it has a tendency to become an indoor pool when we have heavy sustained rain (once or twice a year).

So today two builders who have been doing some other work for us put in a pit and sump pump in the hope of preventing the water getting in.  All the gurus tell us it should work - but won't know until it pours again.

Anyway, first steps - with lots of work to go.  The room is approx 12 x 12 (feet).  So I am thinking of a 8 * 5 table with a two foot folding extension on it.  Some shelves at the end between the piers to hold buildings and terrain and some shelves covering the storm water pipes to hold painted armies.  Will find some form of cheap carpet to put on the ground so that it is easier on the feet.  Will also need much better lighting.

Ideas / suggestions welcomed.