Middle East/Arab Mosque in 20mm (2)

A Mosque is mandatory in all places in the Middle East. In fact their minarets is one of the main characteristics of the landscape and they can be recognized for miles.

The minaret on this one came out too large. It looks more with a lighthouse than with a minaret.  I only realised that after finishing gluing it to the building and base but then it was too late. At least its sturdy...well, we have to find some satisfaction on our own blunders, right?

Many Middle East construction have beautiful varandas and woodwork.

The base of the minaret is a yogurt cup.

The dome is a half of a christmas tree decoration ball.

Next: as you fly away from middle east you will go back to Georgia 2008 soon.

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 - 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 - 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 towed artillery

130mm M46 guns and crew by QRF and a few Peter Pig (1/100th scale).

152mm M37 guns by Irregular Miniatures (from its Really Useful Range). Crew are Peter Pig and QRF.

Lebanon 1982, 1/87th &1/100th scale Syrian Missile battalions and Self-Propelled Artillery

The Syrian Scud B were also placed in Lebanon, but kept as  a strategic reserve. These models are QRF.

Same with the Frog 7, both role and brand.

The BM-21 are QRF and uncamouflaged as some photos I saw.

These are Made In China trucks transformed into BM-21. They are roughly 1/90th scale and fit nicely with the previous QRF´s.

The main changes were new resin wheels (from 1/43 cars) and Evergreen rocket tubes, alongated sides and side exaust tubing.

 These are refuelling trucks of unknown origin, with a new paint job inspired on recent photos of these kind of trucks.

T-34 122mm SP are  conversions from the Kopro T-34  in 1/87th scale. The 122mm had to be scratchbuilt and some rectangular boxes and other details were made in Evergreen. The figures are 15mm Peter Pig Syrians.

The BRDM-2 AT-5 Spandrel are Skytrex.

The 2S1 Gvozdika and  2S3 Akatsyia are also QRF. The latest were not in Lebanon in 1982 but are nice models.

Lebanon 1982, 1/87th &1/100th scale Syrian SAM´s and AA units

SA-6 Gainful and radar vehicle. QRF 1/100th scale. These were most of the "Bekaa SAM´s" along with the SA-2´s not shown here (wait, cool down boys -and girls- one of these days... they still have to be scratchbuilt).

SA-8 Gecko. QRF 1/100th scale!... I think...but made by another company(?).

Shilka´s. To the rear there is a 1/87th scale Trident kit and to the front 1/100th scale QRF.

SA- 9 (front) and SA-13 (rear). Skytrex 1/100th scale.

A marriage (forced one...) between two 1/87th Roco pickups and (left) Evergreen scratchbuilt ZU-2-23 and Peter Pig  ZU-4-23, this one in 1/100th scale. Figures are 1/100th scale Peter Pig.

Again, Roco 1/87th scale Unimogs with Peter Pig guns and crew.

Toy truck of unknown origin and Evergreen scratchbuilt ZU-2-23 with Peter Pig crew.

37mm from the Really Useful Range (I agree) of Irregular Miniatures with Skytrex 15mm-1/100th scale crew.