M-113 bodges - batch 3

See this earlier post about the previous batch of M-113.  This batch was prompted by the arrival (some months ago if truth be told) of some turrets kindly 3D printed for me by Pete.  

I followed the usual process of carving the basic shapes from 2-inch insulation foam. The running gear was added from images found on the internet and printed on thin card. 

Hatches and grills were added from mdf and balsa. 

Dreadful Dinah?

Bringing to an end - at least for now - the epic tale of plastic, dust, glue and heroism that is Bassett’s  Broken Bits Box is this Airfix Mitsubishi Ki-46.  I’ve not yet built one and as this was in good shape I’ve not even had to rebuild one.  It’s a lovely ‘clean’ design so,I opted for a fairly plain finish and added decals from stock.  I like it.  

Contemporary Airfix box art. 

Blandford books

 I’ve made reference in posts to several of the Blandford series of books over the years.  I have mine gathered in one shelf within easy reach of my painting table.  Here are all 43 of them, inevitably sharing space with various terrain bits and a few figures, including a 1/32 gorilla.  Don’t ask.  

I used to have rather more but I’ve hung on only to the military(ish) stuff.  I gave the car and rail related books to a local RMBI care home which particularly wanted books on these subjects for a couple of residents. 

To save your eyes I also photographed the books in batches.  Let me know in a comment if you’d like to see more of any particular volume. All but three are hardbacks and I don’t think more than half a dozen were bought new. 

This pair were the first Blandfords I owned - from c1980.   One still wears it’s price tag - £3.75 - though I suspect it was actually cheaper. 

As to picking a favourite, that’s always going to be tricky.  This one, however, is a particularly well-thumbed tome, containing as it does all manner of outlandish stuff!

I mean, what sort of maniac would build anything like this?

Nieuport 12ish - Part 3. Ready for takeoff!

Well here it is and for all its (numerous) faults it looks good enough for it’s role as a two-seat recce aircraft. 

My inspiration for the paintwork was this splendid little book.  I’m sure I’m not the only fan of this series - I wonder if there’s any demand for a post on my shelf of Blandfords.  

SCW Anarchist Militia

I picked up this chap for £2 at a recent show and have now treated him to some paintwork.  Blue trousers, a grubby shirt and a rolled blanket complete his 1936 look.  He’ll fit in well with my other, largely plastic SCW figures.  

Nieuport 12ish - part 2. Build done, paint underway.

 

I actually think I’ll get away with this!  First paint on - I’m off to the decal box while it dries. 

1916 French officer

Using the Tamiya 1940 set I put together this useful officer figure.  He looks as if he’s just sprung from the command dugout while his more sedentary pals man the switchboard.  

French field telephone

Using the Tamiya 1940 French set and a delve in the spares box, I was able to bodge these chaps with a field telephone c.1916.  I think they have the right ‘look’.  

Nieuport 12ish - part 1

For a game I have in mind I need a French two-seater.  There being none available in 1/72 - at least none I could find - I decided to bodge something along the lines of the Albadross.  

I had this kit in stock and selected it as my victim. I had in mind the Nieuports 10 and 12 which saw service with the RFC and Italy as well as the French air service. It didn’t look much like the N28 but as it had the correct quantity of wings and engines I decided it was close enough. 

I hacked out a second cockpit and added a couple of figures from this useful Orion set. 

It doesn’t really look big enough to be a two-seater, though the real N12 was only slightly bigger than the N28. While the glue dries I’ll think about colour schemes. 

Mildly mangled Mitchell - part 2

 

Here is the completed B-25.  Well, as complete as it's going to get.  A fairly rough coat of silver was topped off by reasonably suitable markings from the Decal Box.

The 'shark mouth' was a good find and it more or less fitted the nose.  As £1 kits go I'm rather pleased with it!

Mildly mangled Mitchell - part 1

 

I'd already had one go at rescuing this lump of dust and plastic but somehow the dark blue paintwork wasn't doing it for me.  Mitchells should be bare metal, or at a push, green - right?

While scraping off the decals various bits of bomber inevitable came loose and I went over the thing adding glue to strengthen it's aged joints.  A rough brush of black covered any bare plastic.

Then it was on with the 'bare metal. as a heavy drybrush.  I know this works well over black - and the blue was very dark....

Multi-part French

 While I was painting the Mokarex Great War French figures I decided I needed a command/communications team.  In my search for suitable figures I dug out this hard plastic set from Tamiya.  Although the figures therein are for the 1940 campaign I decided that aside from a change in colour scheme from horizon blue to khaki the appearance of French troops didn't really change all that much from 1916.

The kits is intended to build as an infantry unit but swapping arms and heads could create more poses.

More on this soon!

Marshal Joffre

 Here’s another pair of my Mokarex hard plastic figures.  Marshal Joffre, still wearing his 1914-era uniform under a greatcoat is accompanied by General Mangin, described by Alistair Horne as Joffre’s “hatchet man.”  He certainly looks pretty unforgiving  

YAK-9D - part 2

Here is the completed Yak in ‘flight’, resplendent in new paint, decals and a coat of varnish.  Not a bad recovery and a useful model.  

Rommel at Cosnes, 1914 - part 3

 

Back on what will soon be the Western Front, Russell's chaps are atop the hill...

...and advancing swiftly.

Meanwhile the French left is having a tough time - Simon's trio are all wounded and retreating while Cpl. Diego and his pal prepare to repel boarders.

Sgt. John continues to pull his lads back through the orchard.

Rommel has reached the tip of the wood and spends a turn carrying out his recce.

Russell passing a dead Frenchman.

The French pullback continues  

Rommel's guys advance on the orchard...

...while Russell gets to the end of the hill

Overall a clear German victory, with the Germans having carried out their recce without losses.  The French managed to extract most  - but sadly not all - of their force.  A very entertaining game to run and - so I am told - to play.

I'm hoping to run the next scenario in a few weeks.