30cm Nebelwerfer - part 2

Here is completed lash-up.  It's not quite a replica of the original but conveys the message - a big scary rocket launcher!  I cannibilised two of the rocket crates to provide 'empties' as clutter and rockets for two of the crew to lug around. They don't look too pleased about it.

I rather like the result - what do you think?

 

30cm Nebelwerfer - part 1

Perhaps inevitably there was a chat about Nebelwerfers over lunch during the Twin Villages game a few months ago.  It was agreed that the 30cm version was a relatively rare sight in wargames, so needless to say I took this as a challenge!  I knew I had some suitable(ish) rocket crates from a 1/43 halftrack model, so these were swiftly adapted and mated with a chassis frame and wheels.  Crew were sourced from a Tamiya gunners set. Dubious origins but really no worse than the real one. 

Nebelwerfers

 

Among the toys making their combat debut at the recent Ardennes game was this pair of Nebelwerfers.  These are 3d prints, with crew figures sourced from what came to hand.  They're Tamiya figures, mostly from the 88mm gun set.  

Austro-Hungarian MG team, 1917 style

 Another kuk MG team. The sand-coloured parts are from an ICM kit and the figures began life as….modern Chinese infantry!

Polish Bofors 37mm AT gun

 

To accompany my lashed up Polish infantry battalion - and in anticipation of a game - I dug out this 1/35 kit and set about it.  It was every bit as horribly fiddly as I feared and it will come as no surprise that several tiny parts remained on the sprues.

My patience really ran out when I got to the axles - half a dozen tiny pieces on each side!  I did the sensible thing and replaced them all with a single axle cut from brass rod.

Crew figures were assembled from bits in the spares box.  The MG team are rather lovely 3D prints from Speira figures in Sweden.

More Kriegsmarine Troops - part 1

I decided I needed more German naval troops for a game planned for later in the year.  I already have the Mars set as per this post.  Knowing I’d end up converting ‘ordinary’ German infantry I reviewed my stocks  I wanted guys with light weapons - especially MG34 and wearing fairly light kit  - just water bottles and gas mask canisters, without satchels, bread bags and the like.  This Tamiya set looked promising and it wasn’t one I’d previously tackled.  It contains eight figures and I’ve (so far) built six.  More when the varnish dries!

Plastic Warrior show 2023

 Yesterday I had a jolly day out at the PW show in Twickenham, West London.  It seemed well attended and some brisk trading was observed.  I sold a bit and bought a bit less - the difference being more than enough to cover my petrol costs.  It was nice to see so many old and newer friends - to name but a few, Jack, Paul, Brian, Anthony, Mike L, Mike C, Graham, Steve, Diego…..well you get the idea.

Here are most of my purchases.  The Basevich WW1 German cavalry were  - for plastic figures - fantastically expensive (£25 for a box of four mounted figures) but are very lovely. 

Replicants always has a new set or two for the show. This year it was two sets of medieval peasants - always useful!  

I was rather taken with this unsmiling Del Prado Red Army officer. 

Great War British officer by Tradition. 

Probably my favourite figure of the show - Great War British sentry.  Skewered on his bayonet is a chemically treated gas indicator.  Though it looks to me like cheese on toast!  

Going for a Schwimm - part 2

 

Here is the completed model.  I opted for a plain sand finish.  The driver is from a Tamiya Kubelwagen kit - he looks decidedly apprehensive about taking to the water!

Going for a Schwimm - part 1

According to the date stamp on the photos I built this back in January.  So here it is, better late etc.  It's a nice crisp kit and small vehicles like this are always useful.

 

Italeri Panzer crew - part 2

 I finished these chaps ages ago but forgot to post the photo!  Part 1 can be found here

For some reason I didn't photograph them all so this will have to do for the moment.

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.  

Soviet 76mm Infantry Gun - part 1

 

It feels like - and probably is - months since I last built a kit, so today I dug out this tatty box and set about the contents.  I knew it would probably be a bit fiddly as the gun uses the same carriage as the 45mm AT gun (itself a development of the German 37mm).  Gun aside, the appeal of the kit is that it also includes the limber, a pair of horses and five rather nice crew figures.  

Two hours later and the build is largely complete.  I have, of course, dispensed with several of the more delicate parts including many of the bits of harness. But so far so good. 

CTS Type 97 medium tanks

These were painted some months ago but for some reason I never got round to posting the photos. They are simple plastic models - no assembly required - by CTS in about 1/35 scale.

Big name for a tiny tank

I picked up this set a few months ago as I had a (vague and as yet unrealised) idea for a game. As the photos suggest, the box contains the makings of three figures and two Goliaths, making it a pretty handsome buy for under £10.

Esci 7.5cm light infantry gun - part 2

 It’s been hanging about for a while but I finally finished this kit today.  Here it is posed for some hasty photos.

Esci 7.5cm light infantry gun - part 1

I’ve always liked these German infantry guns so when I spotted this antique kit at a decent price I clearly had to have it.

Helpfully it includes five crew figures.

Despite the kit’s antiquity the figures went together well. The gun was more of a challenge as several of the parts were warped but it all came good in the end. I suppose I’d better paint it now....