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. 

Able Archer/ RFR rules - Vietnam in 20mm (part 9) - A PBR and a few more US tanks

 

Just a short one for some new goodies. The PBR is a 3d resin print from Frontline Collection Store that you can get from Aliexpress, the M48A3 is MiniGeneral 3d PLA print and the Sheridan is Airfix. 

The PBR boat (of Apocalipse Now fame) is a beautiful, extremely detailed and well packed 3d resin printed model. Some parts are a bit fragile but a strong base around it solve most of those problems. A number of surplus guns and crew were left aside as they will be helpful somewhere else. 

Its not a cheap thing at around 30 euros but surely its a quality model.

The Sheridan tank got the 11th ACR markings as its the US unit I´m trying to make, it has virtually everything you need for ground US forces: the infantry; the M113 ACAV and other variants; the M48A3, the Sheridan and the M109 together with Huey support. 

The Airfix Sheridan is quite basic but with a number of additions it becomes a reasonable model. Years ago I converted a number of them for Kuweit 1991 with 82nd Airborne colors. The wire mesh at the front are 3d resin printed leftovers. 

This M48 is in fact the A2 variant with a lower engine. In order for it to look taller I used plenty of stowage on the engine deck. Apart from this an Airfix M2 Browning was drilled in the top cuppola of the turret. The 1st tank company of three M48s is done. 

Next: The Vietcong Local Force battalions

The Slovak Fast Brigade at Lipovec 1941 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! - Part 7: The small cars, new unexpected airplanes and some artillery

 

Making the Slovak Fast Brigade is a funny project as you can´t find many types of vehicles or guns in one place something that forces to look everywhere from plastic, resin, scratch or 3d. In this post you can find a bit of all of them. 

These ones came from Poland (Martola Model Shop) from a 3d resin brand called EMP  which, among dozens of others, has (L to R) these Tatra T82 (instead of Tatra T27 as pointed in the RF! Blue book) with the  20mm oerlikon AA, the Tatra T-72  and the Tatra 57k. The models are true beauties with very easy to clean resin debris from the 3d printing process. The interior of the Tatra 82 is very complete but I prefer to close all windows with pieces of plastic card. I did the same on the other two vehicle´s windshields as they were very detailed but also fragile. The barrel of the 20mm Oerlikon broke  and had to be replaced by a drilled piece of plastic. 

These two, a Letov S-328 and an Avia-534 from KP were very kindly sent to me by the RF! expert Alan McCoubrey. These two are very handy, an extra Avia-534 is always good as the Fast brigade had around 36 of them (three squadrons). The Letov S-328 was also missing in my collection as the one I had was sent to Poland 1939 disguised and converted as a Polish  reconnaissance aircraft. The only change I made in these two was the markings that were hand painted and the two figures on the Letov which came from the Hasegawa Kawanishi H8K. 

The Tatra T82 was used as an AA mobile platform. Not sure it was used in this way in mid 1941 but there is visual confirmation of it around 1943 at least. The figures are Hat WW1 Ottomans with Esci British paratroopers heads which is (I realised that pretty late) the best  plastic heads for the Slovaks. 

This photo is from 1943 and it shows a 20mm AA gun on top of the Tatra T82 (caption says it)  and that is why our masters mention the 20mm AA being towed/carried on top of Tatra T27 and not T82...

The Tatra T-72 will go for the Mixed Reconnaissance Force HQ and the Tatra 57k will be carrying the observation team of the 11th Artillery Regiment.

One more FtF Praga RV was used to pull the 75mm mountain gun of the infantry battalion. This time I camouflaged the truck with the same colors used in the Slovak tanks as shown in Tank Power magazine No 471. 

The 75mm mountain gun was scratchbuilt from an Irregular Miniatures barrel and some Revell XVII century wheels.  The carriage came from an old Airfix 25pdr heated and twisted until in place. The shield and other small details were made in plastic card. 

The crew is again Hat Ottomans with Esci paratroopers heads. The netting on the helmets is no problem as its barely invisible after two coats of paint.  

Next: wether Vietnam or more Slovaks

The British 1st/6th Airborne Division in 20mm size for Rapid Fire! rules

Another big unit made along many years. The figures are mostly Esci, Revell and Airfix, the last ones particularly useful for support weapons. The gliders are scratchbuilt or Italeri. The many jeeps are Airfix, Matchbox, Fujimi or Hasegawa. Artillery is Matchbox for the 17pdr guns and SHQ for the M1 75mm howitzers. The 6pdr are all scratchbuilt. The cute little Tetrarchs are Assymetrical Wargaming in 3d printed resin. As usual there are plenty of conversions specially in the mortar and MMG crews.

Next: More Slovaks.

Crete 1941 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules: the German paratroopers

This is another old wish, being able to have a consistent force of German Fallschirmjäger for the beggining of the war. Masters Colin and Richard released sometime ago the great supplement Crete- the Airborne assault with all the information you need for the beggining of the battle, namely the arrival of the Sturm Regiment and many of the 7th Flieger division units. Later, hopefully, we can see this extended to include the Gebirgsjäger actions, which were the true victors of the battle. This group started decades ago with the Italeri Ju-52s, a sole Frontline Wargaming DFS 230 and more recently the Preiser Pioneers. In the last few months I managed to build all the rest, with the inspiration on the book: all artillery and support weapons were scratchbuilt in Evergreen plastics (the 50/81/105mm mortars, IG75mm, PAK 36s, Do Gerat rocket launcher, 75mm Geb. G 36 and the MMGs 34. The exceptions to this were the 20mm Flak gun (3d MiniGeneral), the BMW combo(Fujimi) and the Kettenkraftrad (S-models). All figures manning the support weapons and the artillery are all converted from the Airfix and Revell Fallschimjägers. All figures in the "rifle" companies suffered no conversion. The funniest thing to do was to copy in wood and BlueFoam the Frontline wargaming DFS 230, producing like this three more gliders. An excellent article on the tricky FJ artillery for Crete can be found at: https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/0

Crete 1941 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! Part 4: the gliders, artillery and support weapons already painted

 

In the last few days I´ve been painting my scratchbuilt artillery, support weapons and DFS 230 gliders. I tried to get the most common FJ uniforms painted avoiding camouflaged items for speeding the process.

Which of them is the Frontline Wargaming resin glider?...Hmmm...Damn, I was expecting some mistakes and a bit more drama but that lady in the 2nd row immediatley gave the correct answer.... Its the one on the bottom right corner...

The painted plywood and Blue Board gliders got a layer of PVA so they can be spray primed. The camouflage is the one of Blitzkrieg namely the attack on Eben-Emael. The camouflage used on Crete was very bare virtually without markings and with a lighter color on the upper wings. At least, some people say it based on period pictures. But frankly it may be just a trick of the eye due to the mediterranean light. 

The Do Gerat 150mm rocket launcher. The quest for pictures of this specific weapon gave no results so this one was based on other models of different calibre.

The 75mm IG. The Airfix figures give reasonable artillery crew (If you are not too peaky, of course). 

The 75mm Geb.G 36. 

The 20mm AA gun. Still not sure if this Flak.38 was the model used at Crete. The shield was taken out, which is a messy enterprise as the gun is 3d PLA, but like this its closer to other models of the 20mm Flak gun, just in case. 

The 75mm LG40. 

This Puppchen 88mm gun and this other 75mm LG40 are for the Carentan book. 

The 37mm PAK 36. 

The PzBuchse 39. The heavier 41 version seems not to have been used at Crete, at least I could not find any evidence of that. Of course I would love to be wrong so I could make a few of them.

The MMG 34. Again the Revell and Airfix figures got new positions, legs and plenty of cuts in order to fit the guns. 

The 105mm mortar. The wouded FJ (top) is particularly handy as it can be used to carry ammunition and/or to be placed with a pair of binoculars. 

I´m not sure of the real size and shape of the thing so a bit scaled up 81mm mortar will do the trick. 

The 81mm mortars. 

The 50mm mortars. 

The FO (I think this is my shortest comment ever). 

The containers both for the small and support weapons. 

The command groups with a few Matchbox officers. 

Next: The FJ companies and the JU 52s. If mail arrives in time I´ll add a couple of Kettenkrad. 

The 1939 Polish army in 20mm and for Rapid Fire! rules

Still on the Hastings battlefield, it´s time to show you my Polish army for the 1939 campaign. This one was possible when Hat industries released its infantry and artillery and FirstToFight started the job of producing in a very comprehensive way the vehicles and artillery of the Blitzkrieg period. There is also the help of 3D prints and the usual scratchbuilding, particularly the Smialy armored train. Lastly, the Polish air force is also covered as you can find in plastic virtually everything Poland had in 1939.

Soviet ZTZ-5 Tractors in German service in 20mm size for Rapid Fire! rules

 

For many years already I wanted to build a second "winter" Volksgrenadier division as two are necessary for the actions of the 5th Panzer army around St.Vith in late 1944 (18. and 62. VGD). They were small units compared to the German infantry division and not very difficult to build. The 105mm artillery was generally pulled by RSO but I had these six 3d resin prints ZTZ-5 offered by my friend Mário Laranja sitting in a box that can replace the RSO (well sort of..). In fact the RSO came after the Germans found the ZTZ-5 from the beginning of Barbarossa. The main difference was the larger track set and different wheels on the RSO. 

Frankly I couldn't find any evidence of the usage of the ZTZ-5 by the VGD in the Ardennes offensive just a similarity between the Russian original and the German copy. For sure, camouflaged like these in white, they can be used in the winter of 1943 and 1944 at the eastern front. 

Mário´s model is a beauty of detail. The tri-color camouflage was first applied and then some white was splashed on for a winterized look. The snow is simply fine sand mixed with acrylic white and a bit of wood glue, everything applied with brush. 

Different stowage also offered by Mário was spread all over together with my own stowage and gauze camouflage nets. 

Next: 'What If ' French for 1941. 

French vehicles in German service in 20mm size for Rapid Fire! rules

 

My usual fear that the end of the world is near and that I have to have all models available otherwise Kit God may punish me led me this time to amass too many 1940 French vehicles. So a number of different theaters were the Germans used French captured vehicles saw a few additions. 

These Lorraine 28 are resin prints from my friend Mário Laranja. A quick Panzer Gray treatment makes them ready for the Eastern Front or an eventual usage in internal service in France or maybe at Dieppe 1942. This last option is just a guess as I have no idea if the Lorraine 28 was used there. 

The site from this Lorraine 28 picture came, kfzderwehrmacht, is a nice source for German vehicles, specially the captured ones. 

This Laffly W15T is a MiniGeneral PLA print. The figure is my usual  soft plastic torso with legs and arms in GreenStuff. 

One of the users of this Laffly version was the 305.ID. After been formed for the second time in France  (the first formation was destroyed at Stalingrad), the 305. ID fought in Italy up the end of the war, being also involved in the Monte Cassino operations. I´m guessing that it was the second formation that used the Lafflys as it was formed in Brittany and probably managed to collect some French vehicles.

These Laffly S25T are also MiniGeneral. The PLA lines can be largely effaced by using two coats of spray gloss varnish before the primer. 

The 46. ID used the Laffly S25T in its artillery and they must have been collected by this unit during its long staying in France that lasted almost a year before being sent to the Eastern Front in April 1941. 

The Laffly S45 tanker was used by the French aviation as thus its not the most wargame friendly model as a scenario for it is not easy. So this one was dispatched no North Africa were one day it may be used in a Barce style raid. No proof of this, though, only a guess. 

I can't really understand were this photo of captured S45 tankers was taken but it clearly shows that the Germans found them valuable. 

Next: Soviet tractors in German usage.