More German builds

I have continued with the current spurt of building effort - all of which I am enjoying immensely. Even though many of the models built are from ACE, the building is a great break from what is an extremely busy period at (home) work.

So a few special pieces that I have been working on.  First up is an ACE Citroen car which I have needed to do some surgery on to open the door so that I can recreate one of the iconic photos of my favourite battle (and also featured in a favourite supplement guide).

Does anyone know where I can get hold of a dead German officer for draping?

Then this wonderful model of a Vomag 88mm Flak from Roden.

Still need to select a crew as well as put various bits of stowage on the back of the vehicle.

Lastly, I have started one of a few pieces that I have been collecting for a few years after reading of the action at Rethem in the wonderful book “No Triumphant Procession” by John Russell.

ACE’d it

I have continued on a building spree - a great way of relaxing with work so busy.

First up is the completed ACE RSO ambulance.  I have left it in pieces until undercoated.

I have also done an IBG Mack truck for my US forces.

I’ve also pulled another ACE kit out and managed to get it done.  It’s a French truck commandeered as a German ambulance.

And lastly for the moment is a beast of an anti-tank gun.  Again an ACE kit.   I had been warned the guns are particularly hard work and that was pretty true.  Will look great with some paint and based.

There a few other pretty special things close to finished. Perhaps in the next day or two and then I’ll paint them.

ACE 20mm WWII Kits

A year since the last post ......

Anyway ... onwards without any promises :)

I was in the basement a few weeks ago and opened a large plastic storage crate and was transported back 7 or 8 years ago to a period I was accumulating a lot of 20mm WWII gear.  As I rumaged through the box I came across a number of kits from ACE.  I have always been in fear of these after hearing terrible stories of how hard they are to build ... after I had bought them.

These ACE kits were among many I found in a storage box in the basement 

So I thought what better way to start again than to dive head first into them.  I started with a late war ambulance based on the RSO chasis.

Didn't take long to need a drink

Among the wonders in the kist are photoetched tracks.  These are fiddly.

But when installed look pretty good.

Work has been incredibly busy and all consuming over the last few weeks.  So I didn't get much time to work on this - but have managed to finish the build this weekend.  It is still in three components until it gets undercoated and possible basecoated.

I have also spent some time on a few other models that I rescued from the basement.  More of those in the next couple of posts.

A few scenic items

Just got a package from Take Cover Scenics https://takecoverscenics.co.uk/ .  I have traditionally made all my own scenic stuff for the tabletop but wanted to get some of these as they looked so good on the web.

For my 6mm WWII, Modern and Napoleonics I got a flexible field as well as some bocage.  I also splurged and got a section of 20mm deluxe hedgerow.

All are very well made.  Comms with John was great throughout the process and I received some photos as work was progressing.

6mm flexible field

6mm flexible field

20mm Milicast Churchill with Deluxe Hedgerow

20mm Milicast Churchill with Deluxe Hedgerow

6mm with bocage

Numidians are done

I have finally finished all of my Numidians for the Punic Wars project.

Numidians on parade

This is the first of the armies that have been completed - although the Carthaginians and Gauls are well progressed and a small start has been made on the Spaniards and Romans.

Over the past few months I've painted:

• 1 Mounted Commander
• 1 Foot Commander
• 5 stands of light cavalry
• 12 stands of javelin armed light infantry 
• 5 stands of javelin armed skirmishers
• 1 stands of sling armed skirmishers
• 2 elephants

The full army consists of 

• 1 Mounted Commander
• 1 Foot Commander
• 12 stands of light cavalry
• 5 stands of imitation legionnaire light infantry
• 12 stands of javelin armed light infantry 
• 11 stands of javelin armed skirmishers
• 3 stands of sling armed skirmishers
• 2 elephants

That's a total of 267 figures.

Light Cavalry

Imitation legionnaire light infantry

Skirmishers and javelin armed light infantry

Skirmishers and javelin armed light infantry

More light cavalry

2 elephants and supports

Mounted commander

Foot commander

TYW Tercio

I have picked up a quantity of the wonderful 10mm figures from Pendraken.  First forces I am having a go at are for the Thirty Years War.

This is a Spanish Tercio from the early period - a central pike block that was supported on the four corners by shot.  It was intended to be able to defend itself from any direction.