Random Modern Soviet Armour

Today is some random Soviet armour.
Again I was shopping for options for sci-fi vehicles and the majority of the items below are variants of the MT-LB platform.  They really didn't push my buttons like the BTR-80 variants, but the 2S6M Tunguska is going to be a bit of  a beast!

Heroics & Ros SM14 - MT-LB APC

Heroics & Ros SM13 - MT-LBu (ACRV) Command

Heroics & Ros SM43 - SA-13 Gopher (9A34 Strela 10)

The SA-13 launcher on top of the MT-LB is a separate piece of the model that I just dropped into the hole to take the picture.

Heroics & Ros SM65 - 2S6M Tunguska

The Tunguska is obviously in pieces.  When assembled I believe it will look something like this:

Victory Day Anniversary Parade Rehearsal, Tverskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, May 5, 2008.
Photo from Wikipedia taken by Leonid Dzhepko

H&R BTR-80

Right-o!
One of the MANY New Years Resolutions (more on that later) is to get more posts in this year.
To write more posts I need to do more hobby stuff, so it's actually a two-for-one package.
To assist me with that I had a couple of posts started before I went on hiatus, so it seemed like a good idea to get those finished first.

I've also given the blog itself a quick refresh, with a more modern template and a new banner.  Hope you like the changes.

But enough guff!
Here are the BTR-80 variants from Heroics and Ros.
I actually purchased these to use for some sci-fi vehicles, as I think the BTR-80A in particular with its turrent is quite "futuristic" looking.

Heroics & Ros SM66 - BTR-80

Heroics & Ros SM67 - BTR-80A + 30mm Turret

Heroics & Ros SM90 - BTR-80 UR Sn Command Vehicle

Next up, some more Russian armour from H&R...

Irregular Riot Range

While we're looking at moderns, here is a novel range from Irregular; their Riot range.
There's even a set of rules and they sell packs with rioting figures from different periods and the rules together.  I have never seen the rules, but here are the specific Riot figures:

SIR3 - Base of two mounted police (one base per code)

SIR2 - Base of two policemen (two bases per code)

SIR1 - Base of two rioters (two bases per code)

SIR4 - Reporter (2 per code) and SIR5 Camera Crew (2 per code)

I have a few ideas for these figures in the back of my mind that will hopefully (one day) see fruition...

Irregular Modern Arabs

Continuing in a similar vein with Moderns, here are the codes from the Irregular Miniatures 6mm Modern Arab range.
As with the Afghan range, and most of the moderns these come with 3 bases per code.  I have only pictured two to give you a front and back view.  Click for larger versions.
I think that these could also be used as special forces (SAS, etc.) troops.

MAF66 - Arab Infantry Advancing

MAF67 - Arab Infantry Firing

MAF68 - 3 Arab Infantry with HMG

MAF69 - 3 Arab Infantry with Rocket

MAF70 - 3 Arab infantry with Mortar

MAF71 - 3 Arab Infantry HQ

Irregular Modern Afghans

Since we did the H&R Modern Brits last, that I intend to use in Modern Afghanistan, I thought it might be worthwhile looking at the Irregular Modern Afghan Range.
Below are samples of the five codes available.

The pictures below show the front of one base and the back of another from the same code.  You get 3 bases per code.

MAF24 - Afghan HQ

MAF20 - Afghan Tribal Infantry

MAF23 - Afghan missile launchers

MAF22 - Afghan Mortars plus crew

MAF21 - Afghan Infantry with Rocket Launcher

Note that the Irregular Moderns are taller and bulkier than some of the other Irregular ranges and so don't blend well directly with H&R.  I've done the comparison earlier with the H&R US (below), but I haven't directly tried these against the Brit figures.

H&R M18 - Modern British Infantry In Action

Today we have the Heroics & Ros M18 Modern British Infantry in Action - New Helmets code.
The code consists of eight strips - four each of two types.

Standing  Infantry Strip - 4 per pack

Prone Infantry Strip - 4 per pack

Scotia Recoiless Rifle with H&R crew

One quick deviation before we jump into some more World War 2 models.
A while back I based up one of the larger (105mm-ish) Scotia Micromodels Recoiless Rifles with some Heroics&Ros WW2 US artillery crew (so sort of on track for the WW2 thing!).  This is again for my Argentine forces for the Falklands Project.

This shows the Scotia model a bit more clearly than some of my earlier shots.  I think they fit together quite well.

Heroics & Ros Modern German Support

While I wait for a sample of steel paper to arrive so that I can push ahead with my MicroDux basing, here is a quick post of the contents of the Heroics and Ros M9 Modern German Infantry Support.

There are 8 strips in the code, four each of the following two strips:

Observer, ATGM and crew, Man-pack SAM operator

Heavy Mortar, HMG, AT weapon

These were purchased to provide some support weapons to my Argentines for the somewhat languishing Falklands project.
I WILL get back to that soon (once I get over my Dux Britanniarum diversion)!

Some bits from Scotia

We've got visitors here at home so I can't get down to my desk, but I just had to put up some shots of some of the bits and pieces I got from Scotia Grendel this week.

The big winners were the three different types of boat I picked up from their Ship-To-Shore range.  Below (clockwise from left) are the following models:

STS53 Rigid Raider with Passengers
STS15 Modern UK Gemini
STS50 Gemini with Passengers

I'm going to have some fun with these!

For the Falklands I picked up some of their recoilless rifles from the neutral equipment 6mm range:
NE024 Recoilless Rifle 50-80mm (5)

NE025 81-110mm RCL (5)

Particularly the big 105s are going to end up in the hands of Argentine crews once I can get back into my model cupboard.

I also picked up samples from a number of their sci-fi infantry ranges.  More on those later...

Finally I really want to recommend Scotia as a company to deal with.  The first time this package was sent, it went awry in the post due to a post code error on my part late at night when I submitted the order.

After waiting a reasonable time for delivery, Robbie at Scotia sent a replacement, for which I am very grateful.  An excellent customer service experience!

 

Alternate uses for H&R M7 - #1 Special Forces

As promised in an earlier post I believe that there are a number of alternate uses that the Heroics and Ros Soviet Airborne infantry pack can be put to use as.
First up we have Special Forces.
Below are some UK special forces for my Falklands War games that I've just knocked together (larger images if you click).  These are a mix of figures from the Soviet Airborne and the Royal Marines packs.
This is the first time I've ever flocked or grassed a base, so please be gentle...

The soviet pack is particularly useful for the sniper figure and the figure with the binocular (both on round bases).

And here are some work in progress pics.  

First up the "conversions", which were simply just adding a squarish blob of greenstuff to make bergens for the Soviet figures.

Then the undercoat makes it all look like it was meant to be.

Slap on some paint and you're done!

Heroics & Ros Modern Germans

So I picked up one of the M8 Modern German Infantry codes in my last order from Heroics and Ros.  The main reason was to attempt to find suitable figures for my Malvinas Argentine forces.  The H&R WW2 US troops are a little to stiff and parade ground for what I want, and the M1 Modern US all have packs, which appears to have not been common at all in the Argentine forces on the islands.

The pack I received had some pretty bad flash which I've attempted to quickly clean up for the pics, but you can still see traces.  I have no idea how long my pack may have sat on the shelves, but Andy from H&R was going to go and check the moulds, so hopefully you won't have the same experience if you purchase.

Enter the M8 Modern Germans!  (click the pics to enlarge)

First the Infantry Strip - five of these in the code.

As you can see, these have a bit more "get up and go" than the WW2 US.  A comparison pic below.

My infantry sections are made up of bases of figures from both codes.  With a strip of each I get 3 x 5 rifle bases and 2 x LMG bases.

The Modern German infantry code also has some ATGM (Milan probably) strips as per below.  3 strips per code.

Probably useful if the Cold War repelling the Soviet hordes fantasy is your thing, but basically into the bits box for me.

I really need to come up with something I can do with all the ATGM teams I've accumulated from the Brits and now the Germans...

With the pack of M8 Modern German Infantry I now have an understrength (2 platoons) infantry or marine company for the Argentines based and undercoated.  I need to pick up another pack to round out the entire company.

Update and some Argentine Aircraft

Well folks it's been quite a while since my last post.
Things have been pretty hectic with work and around home so I haven't had much chance to post.
On hte hobby front things have slowed down, but not quite as much as the blog posting!
Teh main thing that has been holding me up was getting some figures for my argentine infantry that had more animation than the somewhat parade ground posing of the H&R WW2 US figures.  A batch bits and pieces arrived from merry old england a couple of weeks ago, and so we're back up and running again.  I've done some simple conversions that I want to complete painting before I post them, and I now have an understrength Argentine company based and undercoated.
So more updates hopefully in the month of July.
In the interim I'll leave you with some pics of the Pucara and the Puma models from Heroics and Ros (click on them for enlarged versions)
.
I haven't done any aircraft modelling since I was a kid, and based on my experience with these two and the Wasp and Wessex for the Brits, I think I have a lot to learn.

First the Pucara.  The horizontal tail planes come as a separate piece to be attached at the top of a stub tail cast to the body.  In the front-on pic you can see the kink where they join.

 The model doesn't come with any stores for under the wings, so I think I'll need to pick up some suitable rockets and bombs from somewhere.
 
 Next the Puma.  Not sure whether to put the blades on as provided or replace with transparent plastic disks for that "blades rotating fast" look.  I have a lot of helicopters to do for this project and I probably need to select one method or the other....
Keen for any advice.

H&R Scorpion and Scimitar

Undercoated Scorpion (BM05) and Scimitar (BM06) from Heroics and Ros that will be used to represent the Blues and Royals in my Falklands games.  Seen here with (STILL) the only painted base of my UK Falklands infantry. (larger image when clicked)

6mm Temperate DPM - better pics

Some better pics of the first attempt to do 6mm DPM for my Falklands UK forces.  Clicking on the pics should give you a larger image.
Here is the half section I've done to date.  The figures are a mix of Heroics and Ros M5-British Infantry (helmets) and M14 Royal Marines (berets).  I've given the beret figures a green beret as I suspect my early games will be Royal Marine Commandos rather than the Paras or the Guards.

I'm very happy with my experiment using scatter to scrim the helmets.  I've done it here as an experiment, but in future I'll only be doing it as the final precursor to sealing the figures with a flat varnish (after the bases are all done).
Probably needs some further experimentation with colour and technique, but overall I'm pretty happy.  The flesh colour I used was too runny, which created issues, particularly with the marine on the left.

I have three more bases to do that have only had the base uniform colour at the moment.  The four bases you see below are the product of mixing one strip each of the two codes (M5 and M14), with two figures firing Carl Gustav or similar put into a bag for later.

6mm temperate DPM roughly

I have been drowned under a wave of work of late, so no further progress on the Reading List, as all of my communiting time is currently spent emailing and writing proposals.
My cable internet has failed the last couple of nights, so while I've been sitting on hold for an hour each night, I put together a couple of infantry bases and have started to play with painting DPM. 
Here is a blurry picture of last night's effort, as the SD card for my main camera has given up the ghost and I had to take this with my phone.

More pics soon as my wife just called to say the internet is dead again, so I have another hour on-hold to tech support planned for this evening.....

6mm Argentine Vehicles

I picked up a number of helicopters (and a Pucara) as part of the recent order from Heroics and Ros, but these really need to be assembled to be appreciated, so I'l be putting up some pics of those when I get that done.
Also for the Argentines I picked up a few vehicles.  Because of the soft peat that constitues about 80% of the islands, most vehicles had to stick to the few roads, or risk getting heavily bogged down.
First up FM06 - AML H 90. (click the pics for a larger image)

 This is a nice model.  The body and turret are separate pieces.  The Argentines had a number of these landed at Stanley, but they apparently never left the town.  I'm still going to pick up a few for some what-if scenarios, and they are useful for a range of post-WW2 conflicts.

Next we have USM13 - LVTP-7 and US38 - Jeep.
These are nice, single part casts.  The one issue with the single cast approach is that there is a large piece of flash/sprue beneath the gun on the LVTP to enable it to be cast.  I'm uncertain whether to paint it out, or attempt to cut.  Further investigation required...

The LVTP's obviously were involved in the original landing, so I'll be using them to game those, and maybe some what-if scenarios as well.

6mm Argentine Heavy Weapons

Today its the Heroics and Ros USR2 - WW2 US Heavy Weapons code.  I picked up a bag of these looking for heavy weapons for my Argentine forces, with the same reasoning that lead me to select USR1 - WW2 US Infantry as a possible option for infantry forces.  Don't forget to click the pictures for larger versions.

First up, the command strip.  It seems that most of the H&R WW2 "weapons" codes includes the ubiquitous command strip.  These consist of two three-man command teams as below, inclusive of radio operators.  Certainly workable for my purposes, but there is a little flash around the second operator from the left.

 Next, the Mortar/Bazooka Strip.

 This is the real reason I picked selected USR2 - WW2 US Heavy Weapons: Bazookas!
Quite a useful strip:

• One figure with flamethrower (not useful for this conflict, but he can be put away for other duties)
• Two-man Bazooka team (note that there is some sprue connecting the rear of the bazooka to the Assistant for casting purposes that needs to be trimmed - it's not some massive oversized bazooka!)
• Three-man Heavy Mortar team
• Two-man Light Mortar team

And finally, the MG Strip.

This strip is less useful.  Many of the MGs are obviously older WW2-era models which are unsuitable for the Argentine inventory of MAG MGs and US 0.50cal's.  The MG in the middle is an obvious water-cooled model.  Maybe with some judicious filing?  The final AA MG is useful "straight out of the box", as is the engineer/mine sweeper.

And there you have it.
The crucial item I am missing is 105mm Recoiless Rifles....more on those another day.
Tomorrow : some Argentine vehicles...