Rapid Fire!/ Able Archer, The Gulf War in 20mm - The French made AMX -30 AuF1 of the Iraqi Republican Guard

 

These models come from the excellent Altaya range. I ended up with a total of 12 of them, with 6 going to the IRGC (Iraqi Republican Guard Corps) and the other 6 going to one of the Gulf War enemies, the Saudis. At the beggining the RF system was giving two pices of artillery per battery but recently I´ve noticed a decrease with just one model representing the whole battery. So like this you can have one or two battalions of artillery. 

The IRGC apparently got all of the 85 (some sources say around 70) of these artillery systems and they seemed to have mostly survived the Iran-Iraq war, 1991 and 2003 wars as rows of them were present at Camp Taji, Baghdad, after 2003. Probably they were at rear echelons in the 1991 ground battles (even if some show up abandoned/destroyed) and around 2003 they were missing spare parts and became immobilized. I painted the red triangle of the IRGC on both sides of the turret without being sure it was there. I saw modellers painting these but with the top white part painted grey. 

The good thing of having these together with BMP-1s and T-72s of the Saladin AD is to quickly put together an armored or mechanized RG divisions like the Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar, Medinah or the Tawakalma . 

Another possible type of markings is this one as seen on a Hammurabi AD vehicle, a photo I´ve found after finishing this lot.

The models were repainted Vallejo Iraqi sand as usual and changed with the addition of EverGreen plastic side skirts, stowage at the turret rack, antenna and a Soviet AA machine gun. 

Next: a big brawl of WW2 tanks between the Slovaks, the Soviets and even the Americans. 

Little Bighorn 1876 in 20mm (part 14) - A few more Indians stands and some scenic figures with a big Thank You to Stuart Jarman

 

This is a very nice and useful group of Atlantic, Imex, Lucky Toys and Airfix figures that a fellow wargamer, Stuart Jarman,  sent me for free from the USA. There are still another group of them not shown as they were used to replace a number of broken Atlantic figures after a plastic drawer decided to learn how to fly. As the figures were quite brittle some 17 of them broke in some 10 stands and were replaced by very nice Imex figures offered by Stuart Jarman. I also kept aside the Apache Atlantic figures for the future.

The idea is to use as much as possible these figures to beef up whether my fighting stands of Sioux and Cheyenne for Little Big Horn or start some vignettes to give more color to the Indian camp. 

These became very handy as they are necessary for the Little big Horn squaw trail from were children and women escaped from the 7th US cavalry.  

Six more fighting stands were added. The Imex figures are particularly welcome as they have a very nice archer shooting its arrows. 

These two represent the  suicide boys (more or less some 24 sioux and Cheyenne that vowed to die in the battle if necessary) that were apparently vital in opening holes in the lines of the 5 companies of Custer. If the same had happened at Reno´s position maybe the outcome of that particular fight could have been different. 

Now a few vignettes. The idea is to give some life to the Little Big Horn big camp. These are Imex figures.

These canoes will be inside the river even if more probably in another scenario. 

These Atlantic horses can be used for the herds inside the camp or to go along with dismounted warriors. 

A peaceful meeting just because we need them. 

Next: more Iraqi artillery

The Japanese Infantry Division in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules

Most of these models were inside the cabinets with figures hidden in card boxes and glued to thin card for many years by now. Recently the Pacific bug bit me and this one had to come out, particularly after reading books and seeing films and videos about Guadalcanal. So I painted the last few boxes of Japanese infantry on the stash and mixed them with the old ones already made. For artillery I found Assymetric Wargames in Italy, which makes in 3d printed resin everything you may need for Japanese guns (including prime movers), together with the possibility of getting quickly the great Simon´s Soldiers figures. Regarding tanks and SPs I simply cleaned some dust out of them as they were made for a long time.

Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 13) The 2nd US Marine battalion

 

One more Marine battalion made mostly of Revell figures but with plenty SHQ in the support weapons.

These battalions are organized for late war with this structure heavy on support weapons. If you place just a part of these support weapons on the battalion command they can be used also for Guadalcanal. 

The mortar tube is Esci and the bipod is a 60mm one from Valiant 1st edition. The pair matches quite well as the tube is "normal" 1/72 and the small bipod is a big 1/72nd part. 

The Bazzoka No1 figures are Airfix and hard plastic Esci and all No2 are conversions from a flamethrower (L) and riflemen from Revell.

All figures are SHQ with the exception of the lying down one that is Matchbox. The 60mm tubes are Valiant but instead I used the MMG tripod of the sprue and converted it into a mortar bipod. The mortar like this looks smaller and closer to 1/72nd scale. 

The MMGs are hard and soft plastic Esci with Airfix Marines as No2s. These got a bent arm with fire as they are originally throwing a grenade. 

The HMGs are all SHQ less one that has an Esci gun and firer (bottom right). This one got a new tripod made of plastic replacing the original which is a one piece figure+ HMG. 

The radioman is the wading Revell figure with changed arms, new Thompson SMG and Hasegawa radio on the back. The antenna can clearly be used also as a telegraph pole! The Marines didn´t use the camouflaged helmet at Guadalcanal with this only showing up at Tarawa but I prefered to paint it as it can be used in plenty of actions and its a famous characteristic of WW2 Marines. 

Next: the last few Japanese prime movers and staff cars. 

Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 12) More Asymmetric Wargames artillery and Simon´s Soldiers figures

 This post completes the regimental artillery (75mm guns), 81mm mortars and regimental command stands for a Japanese Infantry Division.

The Asymmetric Wargames guns are Tiger Ace 1945 resin prints and Simon´s Soldiers Japanese artillerymen go very well together. 

The guns are the Type 38 model and the figures are a mix of both field artillery and anti-tank figures. 

I didn´t have around any bigger bases so instead of six figures in a base, each regimental command was divided in two bases, one with officers and flag and the other with telephone and radio operators. 

According to witnesses (me, so don´t bet any money on it) this dialogue was real: 

- Don´t worry Major Toyota, this will be our last Banzai charge.

- I know Major Suzuki, and our first...

The 81mm mortars will go to the second and third regiments. The Japanese tended to have few medium mortars as they had plenty of knee mortars of 50mm distributed at company level.

Next: the last post on build up of the Japanese Infantry Division with Asymmetric Wargames prime movers and staff cars. 

Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 11) The first US Marine battalion

 

This first Marine battalion is set for late war Pacific, from Tarawa up to Iwo Jima. There is more heavy infantry weapons support is this battalion than in the ones at Guadalcanal. Up to May 1944 a RF! Marine battalion should have only one of these three 60mm mortars, two MMGs (no HMGs) and the 81mm mortar, everything allocated to the support company, while in late war these heavy weapons were integral of the rifle companies and thus in larger numbers. Also the Marines at Guadalcanal still didn´t receive the bazooka, even if this one was already used at Operation Torch, in Tunisia. 

A problem while doing the WW2 Marines is, at least in our 1/72nd scale, to use or not the camouflaged helmet, something that changes the appearence of the soldier and miniature. In fact the Marine´s camouflaged helmet was first introduced after Guadalcanal, at Tarawa, but was used on all other Island hoppings up to the end of the war. So I cheated Guadalcanal by a few months and painted the helmets in three color camouflage as it can be used for several years, from November 1943 up to march 1945, while the plain helmet is only useful for Guadalcanal Marines.

The figures in the rifle companies are mostly Revell with some Esci and hard plastic Hasegawa for variety. The intention of Revell with its Marines look to have been a bit like the 1st edition of Airfix Marines with most of the figures arriving at a beach, looking for cover or wading ashore.The Revell figures are quite well sculpted but the Revell plastic is very bad with figures breaking quite easily after some time of light and air exposure something that doesnt happen with Atlantic or Matchbox, for instance, which are much older. 

These are the extras that the three rifle companies have from may 1944 on. 

The three HMGs are late Brownings M2 turned into the 1917A1 model by inserting an Evergreen tube. The figures are Matchbox, Revell, Hasegawa and Airfix. 

The MMGs (M1919 Brownings) are Hasegawa (previous copies of the hard plastic Esci) and, to the rear, a sole Airfix that originally had the bipod, mostly used by the US paratroopers, here turned into a tripod. Two of the number 2 are Matchbox. 

The Battalion HQ company has two bazookas, a 81mm mortar and two flamethrowers. The last ones were used by the first time at Guadalcanal by the 2nd engineer batallion in January 1943.

The Bazookas No 2s were converted from Revell and Hasegawa while the firers are Airfix and hard plastic Esci. 

The 60mm mortars are from the 1st edition Valiant and are my first models from a set of over 200 sprues offered last month to me by master Colin. See? This is what you get for being loyal serf of your master and never escaping its dominium (or other sets of WW2 rules..).

The figures are a bit small as most are SHQ and Matchbox. 

The 81mm mortar is SHQ with a converted figure from Revell, the one wading ashore with its rifle above the head, an Esci and Matchbox figures. 

The Co group is Revell with a figure with the Hasegawa radio/telephone on its back. In fact the radioman should have a lighter rifle than the BAR but this Revell BAR is quite flimsy and looks like a small calibre rifle. 

Next: Asymmetric Wargames and Simon´s Soldiers Japanese artillery and crews. 

Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 10) An odd bunch of a Japanese divisional staff car, anti-tank rifles and mules

 

The divisional stand is made from an Hotwheels car and plastic figures. The idea was to place a tank commander (Fujimi) presenting the report of the last failed tank attack on Guadalcanal (look at the map! Its Guadalcanal). The good thing is that the officers (Chinese Airfix copies) may also be pleased as it depends on the wargame result. 

The HotWheels car was this thing I found in a supermarket as it had potential to become a Japanese Staff car if you just consider the front. 

The usual wheels were replaced with 3d printed ones, a 3d printed canvas cover was placed on top and lots of Milliput was used on the back part of the car. Some plastic parts at the rear - fortunately they were plastic-  were taken out with a X-Acto. 

A small table was added and a hand painted map of Guadalcanal was glued on top. 

This is the kind of divisional stand I like to use in my miniature divisions. This one had this Hotwheels model trying to represent the Nissan model 97 staff car something I couldn´t find anywhere. 

I found this Matchbox Dodge 1940 in a 2nd hand fair and it quickly became a captured vehicle from one of the many US enterprises spread out in the Pacific islands. In fact I have very few transports for the Japanese infantry and anything closely suitable is welcome. 

The Japanese AT rifle teams are made from plastic figures firing the Type 96 LMG with 3d printed anti tank rifles and added bipods. The number 2 operator was generally firing a rifle and is now holding an extra 20mm cartridge box. 

Here they are finished. One will go to each battalion of the division. 

Inspired by the latest videos of Wargaming China a group of pack mules pulled by (left) the Esci figures using the rifle as a club; (center) the Airfix figures of the Jungle Outpost and (right) the Airfix figure running with its rifle in the air. The mules are from the Esci Italian Alpine set. 

Next:  a batch of Japanese coming from Assymetric Wargames, both 3d prints and Simon´s Soldiers or the beginning of the US Marines. 

Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 9) The 7th Japanese infantry battalion and the Anti-aircraft artillery

 

I´m done with Japanese infantry as I finished all models in the stash with two battalions still missing.Years ago I collected enough Japanese figures to make a full Japanese infantry division but some went to my Tarawa board as SNLF and others, specially HMGs, went to the 1914-1940 French and a few other places. 

This battalion is mostly Atlantic with some Chinese Airfix (1/32 downsized)  copies as they are about the same size. In fact not all Chinese copies are this nice and the more recent productions being clearly inferiors to the ones from the 80s and 90s. The Atlantic figures are not much loved by PSR but mixed with others of the same size they look good. In fact the figures are very tall, not a Japanese thing of those days, but if placed in its own units they provide extra variety. The HMGs are the Type 3, very similar to the original Hotchkiss guns and came from the FFL Strelets sets with my own conversions for the firers. 

The resin 3d printed 20mm AA guns came from Asymmetric Wargames and are very beautiful in just 3 pieces. The crews are modern Atlantic and are innacurate and small but fit nicely the small seats available. The puttees are non-existent and the helmet is missing the typical rim of the Japanese helmets. 

The Type 88 75mm AA gun is provided in two different firing positions which is a great idea. The figures are again Atlantic. 

Next: probably more Japanese artillery, Simon's Soldiers figures and staff cars, all from Asymmetric Wargames

Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 8) 6th Japanese infantry battalion and 150mm and 70mm artillery

Asymmetric Wargames from Italy is a great place for you to get Japanese WW2 stuff both 3d resin printed and Simon´s Soldiers figures. They also have plenty other stuff for many wargaming periods and scales.  While the Simon´s (Japanese) Soldiers don´t arrive I added one more infantry battalion and six 15cm artillery pieces. 

This infantry battalion is made around the shirt order Matchbox infantry, with officers from Atlantic and a few Esci and Airfix mixed-in and my home made Juki HMGs. 

The firing Type 96 150mm Howitzer from Asymmetric wargames is a beauty that comes in two slightly different gun tube positions. The artillerymen are converted Atlantic. The dying figures got new arms and a shell and the heavy load and pain is visible in his bent neck. The snipers covered in leaves had these carefully cut out (Atlantic placed leaves only in the exterior parts of the uniform for you to cut it out if necessary) and the arms were repositioned in order to hold shells. 

A third variant of the Type 96 is this one ready to be towed. 

Some prime movers are also on order to tow these ones. With some pity I found that no horse towed artillery was used in the pacific by the Japanese. They would have made a hell of a sight. 

These Type 4 150mm howitzer were also printed by Asymmetric. 

The last group of Asymmetric artillery is the Type92 battalion gun. The figures are converted Airfix with the converted binoculars and loading figures coming from an old and not particularly beautiful hard plastic set from Fujimi. 

Next: more Japanese