Thanks Santa!

A quick look at my toy soldiering-related presents:

I had been coveting this book since before it's publication date (October 2012) and on the strength of the quick flick through I've so far managed it looks very interesting.  I already had a vague idea for a game, so watch this space.

While reading I'll be able to quaff tea from this splendid Airfix mug.

When the book goes on the shelf these alarmingly bright green bookends can hold it up!  The 1/32 scale Tratvian cavalry officer is there for scale.

These really are big lads - 175mm tall!  I wouldn't rule out their appearing in a game...
Merry Christmas everyone!

A barrage of good wishes!

Merry Christmas one and all!
Following on from my most recent 'history of Airfix' post I rounded up all of the Soviet guns which began life as unsuspecting 5.5s.  
The whole sorry collection is above.  That's seven 122mm guns which could spoil a few Germans' days.

These two are my originals.  Both have the characteristic double wheels and one has a shield.  The tractors are Majorette toy bulldozers.

On tow is my third effort, pulled by a lightly modified ROCO M5 tractor.  Along with the two above it is on the strength of 18 Artillery Penetration Division.

Chris Willey provided this similar creation.  I'm not sure how he made the imposing tractor.

These three were built by Chris Kemp and are towed by Majorette Ford A trucks. Together with Chris W's gun they serve in the Wellingrad Artillery Division.

A history of Airfix HO/OO AFV kits - part 8 - 1966

A return now to my series of posts charting the development of that Airfix AFV kit range.  And you all thought I'd forgotten.  For some reason I only seem to add to this series during the festive season.  I have also given the series it's own label, so to see the earlier posts, just scroll down to the 'History of Airfix' label.
Anyway, enough preamble - lets have a look at the toys.  1966 saw the release of two important kits - the US Halftrack and the Matador & 5.5in Gun.
The Halftrack box above dates from the late 1980s and the kit itself builds into a fair representation, although there are apparently a number of detail inconsistencies. But how we all love it.

Above - a bog standard halftrack accompanied by a pair of FAA metal US infantry.  This particular stand is currently between engagements but will no doubt be allocated to an armoured division in the fullness of time.  Below is a very nicely done (not by me!) conversion into the earlier M3 Scout Car.

Captured halftracks are also present in my boxes, including the one above currently on the strength of 10 Panzer Division (in Tunisia), and JR's 'Hollywood'-style conversion below which serves as a recce company in 14 PD.

The Matador and 5.5in Gun is a particularly useful kit - I have loads of them, although the Matador & Gun rarely serve together.

Above - the 1970s period 'blister pack' in which most of my early Series 1 kits arrived.

This pair were built straight from the box by Steve T - I've not yet interfered with them in any way.

These guns and tow serve as part of the artillery strength of XXX Corps (c.1944).  The crew figures are metal castings by SHQ.

Above - this high mileage Matador is currently employed dragging a large AA gun around North Africa.

My Germans have commandeered a few Matadors over the years.  The one above belongs to 2 FJR Div.

JR's ever-popular stretched Matador always attracts a lot of attention when it appears in games.  The kit was probably quite a new release when this conversion was carried out!  Below is the same lorry next to a standard Matador.  Both are currently in the employ of III Armeekorps.

The 5.5 has also travelled a bit - my Russians have several lightly converted into 122mm guns.  seven actually.  You want to see them all?  Well, since it's nearly Christmas I'll see what I can do....

Not to be left out, 8 SS Kavalerie Division has this much hacked about 5.5 in service - the shield is from an '88'.

Coming soon - 1967 - and another two new releases!

(More) International Arms dealing

Friday was a pretty good day.  After a useful business meeting In Leeds in the morning, I returned to discover that the blog had passed 200,000 hits.  Then the post arrived, including a package from Ross Macfarlane in Canada.  This contained a few of Ross' own 25mm castings and this mint-condition Britains field gun.  This wonderfully generous gift will help alleviate the unemployment problem currently affecting Tratvian gunners - as alluded to in an earlier post.
The gun was accompanied by an imposing looking staff officer, and an email exchange with Ross soon yielded some history and an idea for a name.  So I am pleased to announce that Major (Retd.) Lawford College, having returned from Faraway, has accepted a contract as 'adviser' to the Army of His Imperial Majesty, Tsar of all the Tratvians, Vladimir IV.