RFR/Able Archer - The Israeli army for the Lebanon campaign of 1982 in 1...

First of all a big thank you to Neil Patterson for reminding me of CMSC and its history, as I forgot the name of this lovely brand in my Syrian army video. Also the "Fabbri" and other nonsense I said in this and the previous video about mystery resin and metal "collectibles" were in fact 1/87th scale Salvat models, as I checked in old posts from my blog. Fortunately I keep on finding them in flea markets and 2nd hand shops. Again you can see plenty of Roco Miniatures (1/87th scale) together with Peter Pig and QRF (1/100th). Some of the M60 MBT are Chinese toy models, and after covering them in ERA they play the part very well and are almost as good as the Roco or Salvat models. The infantry are whether Atlantic plastics or Peter Pig. The Aircraft are all 1/100th scale from Tamiya, Fabbri diecast and Revell.

Middle East/Arab Houses in 20mm (1)

I've been thinking about Middle Eastern houses and a way to produce a number of them quickly for a long time. For most of the  WWII games you only need a few but for modern games, specially the Lebanon, Gulf Wars or Syria, you need more as the action tends to happen in more urban environment.

These houses are also easy to build as the roof is generally the most complicated part of a house and middle east roofs are quite simple.

I used several types of card and acrylics textured with sand before drying. The bases are plywood and the palm trees are plastic. For ease of construction most of the windows are glued pieces of card as the defenders can use the roofs or the many low walls available for protection.

                          

I placed some brick floor I had around in this one to make it look like a richer house.

The well is a piece cut from an old hose.

This one pretends to be an embassy or a museum. 

The dome is half of a Kinder Egg. How can a modeller say that chocolate is bad for the health?

This building is an apartment block of a typical type seen in the big Middle Eastern cities.

You can see them in Istambul or big cities of the region were some old stone structures are mixed with newer brick or cement ones.

This one is a simpler house but with plenty of places for infantry to dug in.

And the simplest of them all. " Hey, I´m small but  I`m  the only one with a chimney!"

The last one intends to be one of the many arches connecting houses over small streets.

On top of them some Iraqi infantrymen from SHQ survey the area looking suspiciously at the newcomers...

Lebanon 1982 - QRF 1/100th scale models for the Syrian Airforce

The SU-20/22 was the mainstay bomber of the Syrian Airforce in the Lebanon campaign of 1982. Apparently they attacked with success a number of Israeli AFV columns. This QRF model is made of resin and metal but it's showing its age as it needs some filler here and there.

The Mig-21is a much better model and I presume more recent. The Israelis destroyed many of them after blinding the SAF with the destruction of the Syrian missile and warning ground system in operation Mole Cricket.

Now I'm eagerly trying to get both the Mig-23/27 and the Mig-25 in 1/100th scale. Does any one have some surplus or know were to find them?

The most successful aircraft of the SAF was the Aerospatialle Gazelle equipped with Hot missiles. As usual Syrians and Israelis give different numbers for the casualties inflicted and suffered by these small machines. The QRF model comes quite bare with no Hot missiles nor the dark gray box for target acquisition over the pilots compartment so they had to be scratch built.

Next: more Contemporary Russian Wars in 1/72nd scale  for you to stop biting your nails.

Lebanon 1982 - IAI Kfir and helicopters

The two IAI Kfir were transformed from the Fabbri Mirage 1/100th scale (top) and the one at the bottom right is based on the Tamiya model of the Mirage III. Some changes are the extended nose, the two side fins, and the extended central rudder. The Fabbri 'Kfir' is not correct as it is based on the Mirage 2000 and I should have used their two Mirage III that came in the collection. Unfortunately I painted those two simply like Mirage III used in reserve by 1982.

Fabbri Cobra and Huey repainted for the Israelis.

Huey from Roco Minitanks in 1/87th scale. 

Lebanon 1982 - Latest 1/100th scale T-72's and Phantom's

A few more Syrian T-72's for the 82nd bgde of the 3rd AD.

The command T-72 had their telescopic mast made out of a metal sewing needle as I run out of that size of Evergreen tube. The spider web structure are plastic broom threads. Exceptuating the Zvezda T-72 close to you  all others are Battlefront.

The Phantom to the left is a repainted Fabbri model with an elongated nose made of GreenStuff. The one to the right is a straight-from-the-box Tamiya kit.

The 3 colour scheme is made of Vallejo Iraqi sand, GW Mournfang Brown and Warboss green.

All markings are, as usual, hand painted (Uauuu...) so it's good to keep some distance not to see the flaws :)

Lebanon 1982 - 1/100th scale Syrian Mig-21 and new aircraft stands

 

Tamiya 1/100th scale Mig-21 from Tamiya. Quite old moulds but recently re-released and proving Tamiya is a hell of  a brand. But I think many of us will never forgive Tamiya for never having made small scale tanks while making dozens of them in 1/35th scale! Bahhh, what a waste of fine plastic and talent, it remembers me GW...

 

 

Now for some aircaft stands. These champagne flutes can be found nowadays in supermarkets. They are plastic and cheap. Glued to balsa or other wood  bases  that you only need to texture and paint they make aircraft stands with a nice balance and capable of holding metal models. While glueing the flute to the textured base don't use super glue as it will release some white dust from the cyanoacrilate to the inside of the flute ruining the work. Use instead wood glue or hot glue.

It's always better by the dozen!

 

Turned upside down the flute has a recessed base which is ideal for ammunition and reserve tanks to enter and better support the model.

 

 

Lebanon 1982 - 1/100th scale Israeli F-16 and A-4 Skyhawk aircraft

 

 

Repainted Fabbri 1/100th scale aircraft again. The camouflage of the Israeli aircraft in Lebanon is one of the attractions for wargaming and modelling this campaign and the Syrian, as you will see, also have striking colours.

 

No decals, all markings are hand painted. The decals in wargaming  for me are always tricky specially when applied on planes. If you want to use several models of the same aircraft what generally happens in 1/100th scale is that numbers specially tend to be hard to find. Besides that if you paint your markings there isn't that problem with shining decals then a product to eliminate that, and then gloss varnish, and then matt, and then... something else in an apparently endless chain of tasks.

 

Next, some Syrian Mig-21 from Tamiya. See how organized this blog is becoming? It even warns the spectators about the next program like in TV!

And now let's everybody shout: 

SPOOOOOOORTING!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Lebanon 1982 - Latest aircraft for Syrian and Israeli.

Recently I bought in OLX in 2nd hand the full collection (52 models) of the Fabbri/Italeri 1/100th scale aircraft, at 1 Euro each,  that roamed the skies a few years ago. On those days I was already probably around other collectables and another collection would have been too much as this kind of buying doesn't stay cheap and besides you buy what you want and what you don't want.

Eleven of them suits the Lebanon 82 campaign both for the Israelis (pretty much) and (only a few) for the  Syrian.

As they come already painted and the seller had already built them I didn't have much work only a few new camouflages and markings.

Only the Hind on the top is new, the one to the left is a Revell model. The full squadron is ready in spite of the Syrian Mil-Mi-24 Hind didn't participate that much in the campaign as their crews were not familiar with their new machines leaving the main task of attacking the Israeli ground forces to the Gazelle fleet.

This Mig 29 was not in fact in Lebanon in 1982 but it will be useful in a 'what if' scenario.

The Mirage III was kept in reserve, with their task being left to their younger brothers the IAI Kfir.

The F-15 bore the brunt of the fighting in the skies with the usual zero losses against many as said by the Israelis and a few losses according to Syrian and even American sources. The 'Turkey shoot' that the Israelis annouced on those days over Bekaa valley may not have happened in fact. The Syrians admited their losses in the air - over 80 - but the Israelis may have lost 21 of their aircraft.

Plenty more to fly in the next few weeks, while the fever lasts. Stay tuned.

Lebanon 1982 - 1/87th and 1/100th scale Israeli army

This is the Israeli army I managed to put together up to now. One of the Merkava was painted just a few days ago but most of this collection has already many years. 

The same is happening to my Syrian army were I also use both 1/87th and 1/100th scales. If I had started these armies recently I would have stuck only to one of these scales. 

But in the late 80's and 90's the variety we have nowadays didn't exist and I was mixing all 'small scale' (these two I'm referring) and keeping the 'big scales' (1/76th and 1/72nd ) together for other modern conflicts like Vietnam, Angola or the Gulf. 

Starting with some heavy stuff I managed to build up to two battalions of Merkava I. They are all collectable Salvat 1/87th scale from a nice collection we had in Portugal over 15 years ago. This collection was made by the Italian Andrea Miniatures company. I run to all paper shops I could find even in other towns. 

When the Salvat Merkava came out the collection was maybe in its middle and these guys were already hard to find opposite to the number 1 which normally floods the market. 

The M577 command vehicles and the M152 jeeps are Roco Minitanks. 

The Salvat/Andrea Miniatures were very nice models made in both metal and resin. The original painting was not very good but it was a useful primer and detail is good enough for washes and dry brush. 

Only the second M60 Magach to the left is Roco, all others are Chinese copies I found don't remember where. As the Magach was covered with Blazer armour most of the inacuracies are hidden with plasticard pieces. The top right M60 is the only Salvat model I could place my hands on with added plasticard grading it to Magach. 

This is the final result of the Chinese copies.  The commander is a resin copy from the set of US vehicle commanders. 

The Centurion Sho't are also Salvat covered with Evergreen Blazer armour. 

The M109 are old 1/100th scale Eko while the Lance recharger, the truck and the M107 are 1/87th scale Roco. The crew for the M107 is 1/100th scale Peter Pig. 

I built a set of two frontal stowage equipment for the M109 and cast a few copies in resin enough for an artillery battalion. 

The Vulcan to the right is a CMSC model. Years later CMSC was closed and I scratchbuilt the one to the left on a Roco M113. The figure is a soft plastic Atlantic 1/87 taken from their small naval and  landing craft box. 

The Israeli mechanised infantry is made from 1/87th Atlantic infantry with loads of conversions as charged arms and added backpacks, antennae, Dragon missiles and RPG's from Esci ( yes, different scale but only you know). The M113 are Roco and the M125 mortar versions are Eko. 

The Roco M113 have added extensive stowage all over, rear fuel drums, MG's and an Evergreen exhaust pipe to the right side. 

The RPG's conversions. Parts from Atlantic and Esci and arms from GreenStuff. 

And the Dragon conversions (Roco Dragons and Atlantic bodies). 

This other mechanised infantry group is all 1/100th scale metal mostly Peter Pig which makes some very nice Israeli infantry and vehicles. I base the 1/00th scale vehicles in the same base as the 1/87th if, as it is the case of M113, I use both scales to the same vehicle.

The Chaparral is Roco as well as the other M113. This group is the beginning of a divisional command and/or other divisional assets. 

Still to be found/done: 

- 2 Merkava (1/87th scale) for the command of those tank battalions. 

- 1 M60 Magach (1/87th scale) for the command of its tank battalion.
- 2 M48 Magach half made and 5 new ones I have to find somewhere.

- 3 Sho't (1/87th scale) to finish the battalion. 

- at least 2 other Vulcan and one Chaparral. 

- 2 M109 (1/100th scale) on the way from Zvezda. 

- 3 M577 and 3 M125 in 1/100th scale to complete the vehicles for the last 3 infantry battalions.

- enough figures for 2 infantry battalions. 

- some helicopters, Defender and Cobra  in 1/100th or 1/87th scale.
- plenty of planes in 1/100th scale, Mig, Phantom, etc...

Let's begin the work and may the Force be with me. If the Force isn't, I'll return to the AWI...

Lebanon 1982, 1/87th &1/100th scale Syrian SA-2 Guideline and SA-3 Goa (painted)

This is the final post of  the SA-2 and SA-3 Syrian systems with all parts - missiles and radars- already painted.

The SA-3 GOA system was uniformely painted with a scheme inspired on some of the 1973 T-55, with a green base with blotches of sand outlined in black.

 The SA-2 Guideline was painted in another uniform scheme more used in Lebanon by many others AFV´s, green base with blotches of sand and (a little) grey.

This camouflage scheme is the one present in many of the Damascus Tishreen museum  AFV´s and weapons systems.

Lebanon 1982, 1/87th &1/100th scale Syrian SA-2 Guideline (cont.)

These SA-2 Guidelines were made out of the usual materials: The rockets itself are aircraft missile plastic parts "frankensteined" from different kits and evergreen tubing and the bulky green part is made out of three 3 milimeters soft styrene sheets glued and sandwiched together and then carved with X-Acto.

 The full SA-2 Guideline battery with the Fan-Song radar.

The SA-3 Goa battery with the SNR-125 Low-Blow radar.