Rapid Fire! Western Desert 1940-43 in 20mm - Benito´s anniversary

Benghazi, 28th of July 1942. Right in the middle of Maydan al-Shajara square, the one that unites Gamal Abdel Nasser Street and Amr ibn al-As Street a group of Italian military gathers for the commemoration of Mussolini´s birthday . 

This apparently cultivated paragraph is nothing more than a pretentious way to show a kind of knowledge that I don´t have as all of it came from the Internet. The proof of that is that by re-reading the name of the first Street mentioned, the name Nasser popped out and - after searching in the Internet - its obviouly the ex-president of Egypt of the 50´s and 60´s. 

This post is also an homage to the great Rapid Fire! Monty´s Desert Battles by Master Richard Marsh. This book is in fact among the best researched rule's supplements I've seen but sold less when compared to others like D-Day or the old Market Garden as Master Richard pointed out a few months ago. So, Master, don't worry as you forgive them as they don't know what they buy, sorry, say! 

The models are mostly MiniGeneral 3d prints and a few repainted Amercom DieCasts. The figures are Waterloo1815, Italeri, Esci and Airfix. 

This will be the command of Ariete armoured division and it is made of surplus Italeri figures from their artillery sets. 

Here Generale de Brigata Fancesco Arena comforts Generale di Divisione Guiseppe De Stefanis about the course of the war:

 - Its not your fault, Sir. We choose sides poorly... once again!

This MiniGeneral AS37 was turned into a Bersaglieri gun truck with the help of an Altaya 20mm Breda and a few converted plastic figures. 

In order to achieve the "Italian Sand" I mixed Vallejo Yellow Green with Desert Tan Base.

The netting is normal gauze dipped into a pool of Khaki Grey and PVA glue and modelled in situ while drying. 

The figures came from Waterloo1815 and the firer is a heavily torned Airfix Italian soldier. 

The 20mm AA Bredas are MiniGeneral with Airfix converted Italian figures. Most of them got new arms in order of to perform new duties. 

Well, here they are defending very well the well. 

 

These two will go to one ot the Bersaglieri Type AS battalion. I don´t have many Italian figures with their characteristic colonial sun helmet so the M33 helmet had to do.

This Lancia R3O was also became another gun truck and again for the Ariete 8th Bersaglieri Regiment.  

I had never seen the small 47/32 mm gun on top of such a big truck until I found this picture in Batailles&Blindés Hors Série nº26.

Again a MiniGeneral 3d print without printing lines. 

The gun is Waterloo1815 from their Folgore artillery set and the figures are Italeri leftovers with a new plumed helmet.

The figure raising its left arm was originally pulling the string of a heavy gun with its right hand. A flame lowered it but many scars can be seen from the brutal surgery. È la Guerra. 

The M13/40 is another nice model from MiniGeneral. Even the flimsy side step is implanted on the model which is a very detailed piece with all rivets and small parts clearly showing. 

There are some printing lines showing through in the frontal armour of this one. They are in fact easily disguised as the Italians used sand bags in order to increase their 30mm frontal armour.

The command tank of 1st company, X tank battalion.

With a battalion of medium M13/40 done this is the start of the second battalion.

These oldies but goldies L3 tankette and Lancia 1ZM (Amercom) were also added just because they were waiting for too much time in the painting cue. But they are only good for the first RF yellow book related to 1940/41. 

These two Lancia 3RO will tow the Italian 88mm guns I made years ago or can be used in a multitude of roles as supply or troop carrier trucks. 

 

Lastly, two AS37 for the command groups of the Bersaglieri battalions. Some light printing lines can be seen in the engine cover but a pair of flags solve the issue.

Next: With too much stuff waiting and mail coming it will continue to be WW2 for sure.