Guadalcanal 1942 in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules - (Part 2) The Japanese tanks

 

This group was initially planned for the whatever tank encounter of the Pacific from Khalkin Gol to  Saipan or even the last few Battles with the Soviets in 1945. In fact the tank duels in the Pacific, or even a large armored assault by the Japanese, was not a very common sight, specially compared with the Western theaters. In the meantime, Guadalcanal entered as a solid project, and upon reading on the issue, the two main Japanese tank assaults of this campaign (Tenaru and in one of the several actions on the Matanikau) only had between 6 to 10 tanks (Ha-Go and Chi-Ha models) each as the Japanese on the Island(s) were an infantry force with just a few tanks. 

So, besides Guadalcanal, this force allows for pretty much everything you need in terms of Japanese tank actions. 

This Type 89 Chi-Ro is a 3d PLA print from MiniGeneral. This is the type of early tanks used in relatively large numbers which makes a few more necessary.

This one is my most recent Japanese tank with all others made already years ago. As this Chi-Ro is an early version I changed it into a later version with a turret that can be opened and a metal crewman (CP models , I think). 

 

This Type 93 Kokusan by Skytrex was also an early reconnaissance vehicle and, up to now its the only one I have. Maybe Wargaming China can send me few of his Japanese unique and fabulous armored cars? After all that would strenghten the commercial relation between the two neighbors, Portugal and Australia. 

The early mediums Type 97 Chi-Ha with the smaller turret with short 37mm gun. The two to the left are Fujimi and the ones to the right are Airfix. The command version is the Type 97 Shi-Ki with a coaxial long 37mm from Frontline Wargaming.

The Type 97 Chi-Ha with the new turret housing a 47mm gun. The ones closer are Fujimi and the two on the left are Skytrex. On the back are two Altaya die-cast models. 

Again from Fujimi you have here two Type 1 Ho-Ni with 75mm gun and a Type 4 Ho-Ro with  15cm gun from Frontline Wargaming with Fujimi crew. 

The Type 95 Ha-Go is an essential both for Guadalcanal and Tarawa, the two Pacific settings I´m nowadays around. The Ha-go with crewman is Skytrex and the others are Frontline Wargaming. 

The tankette Type 97 Te-Ke and the Type 98 Ke-Ni (sucessor of the Ha-Go) are both Frontline Wargaming. 

The only Japanese artillery I have up to the moment are these two Emhar 75mm model 38 improved (in late war green and not  Artillery Brown as they were originally painted after seeing "Flags of Our Fathers" a late war episode) towed by two Frontline Wargaming Isuzu. The crews are conversions from Fujimi and Airfix. 

Next: Whether a video on the Confederates at Gettysburg or the Japanese infantry of WW2. 

Great War Spearhead II - Gallipoli 1915 in 20mm (part 10): Australian infantry

 

The Australian WW1 infantry from Hat that showed up in 2003 was a nice addition to their WW1 range. The figures are beautifully modelled and very elegant. Before this box being produced I was thinking to use some Airfix Australians (with slight changes in the ammunition pouches)  and Airfix WW1 British infantry with Aussie heads instead. A small group of these were included in this brigade. 

The Airfix Australian figures are smaller than the Hat ones but go along with them reasonably. The Airfix officer had its scabbard taken out and the sword melted and cut to the shape of a pistol. 

The three types of figures side by side. As you can see in the rear left figure (Airfix Australian) you need a few cuts in the 1937 ammo pouches in order to turn it into the P08 WW1 model. This figure also got a bayonet stuck into the rifle. 

One Emhar officer also entred the ranks due to its position favouring the company of other marching figures. 

The Vickers MMGs are WW2 British Hat with Aussie heads from Airfix. The Airfix range is in fact a good source of heads as when they were made the idea was mostly diorama building and not wargaming. Thus you have plenty of useless figures (for wargamers at least) that can donate parts of their bodies to science, sorry, to wargaming. 

Before painting. In fact you have the same type of position in the WW1 Hat Anzac support box but these were just hanging around without much prospect of ever being used (and they are cheaper this way). 

The brigade command stand is all Hat but the left figure is in fact a WW2 Polish officer with an Airfix head. 

Next: Anzac beach, Gallipoli 1915

Great War Spearhead II - Gallipoli 1915 in 20mm (part 8): British infantry with Service Dress Cap

The majority of British and Anzac infantry at the Gallipoli landings of the 25th of April had the Service Dress Cap with no Brodie helmets arriving, apparently, during the campaign. For many decades the only source of early British infantry was Airfix. Not bad figures but with several relatively useless figures for wargaming, that at least can be a good source of heads. In recent days Hat released a small box with 32 beautiful early British infantry figures and all these were mixed together with conversions from the Emhar late war figures . 

Airfix (olive green), Hat (bottle green) and Emhar (grey) are all very different both in design as in size (Hat are large 1/72 while others are closer to normal 1/72). The surplus Airfix figures gave heads to the Emhar figures and backpacks to the Hat ones. 

In order to create a certain uniformity the Airfix figures got bayonets from stiff fibers taken from a plasticbroom stick . They were glued with superglue, then primed like the rest of the models with black acrylic and PVA glue and, finally varnished which made a strong bond between the the two types of plastic. 

The Airfix charging figure got the company of an Hat Anzac officer and two Hat figures. 

The Emhar Vickers MMG No1 crewman got an Airfix head. The two other are Airfix without any change. 

Next: X beach, Gallipoli 1915

The British/Empire infantry division 1915-18 and Corps support, Great Wa...

This Division is made of converted WW1 British infantry and WW2 Japanese Airfix and Atlantic figures with pinned Brodie helmets. The Artillery is mostly Irregular Miniatures and the tanks are Airfix and Red Star. The few aircraft are the usual Airfix and Revell. Made years ago and before better models showed I even had to make the Lewis LMGs out of GreenStuff.

Great War Spearhead II in 20mm. The support weapons of the British Infantry Corps in WW1.

I´ve just finished rebasing a full British infantry division and supporting artillery and waiting for the arrival of a few boxes of Hat Canadians to make the missing division. I´ll show you these in a next video. In the meantime, and as an appetizer, here goes some tanks, command  and mortar stands. 

The Mark I tanks are Airfix with no change but the anti-grenade cover for the one in the middle. 

For a staff car this old timer will do. I already found a few in the local fish market that were converted for French and Belgian WW2 staff cars. The only serious change was the wheels, replaced by 3d printed ones (even if not correct).

The figures are Airfix artillerymen for the seated figures and Emhar for the officers. The one to the right got some Evergreen in its shorts and became a proper Western front Officer.  

For a much better model of a true British staff car you have the Roden Vauxhaull D-type.

The 6" Newton mortar is Hat and crew comes from converted old Aifix and Emhar artillery box. 

The Emhar mortar doesn´t have a bipod and got an Evergreen one...

...as well as all the others, based on the Airfix Stokes, the one with the ugly triangular with full plastic piece as a bipod.

The crew are all sorts of plastics, Emhar, Airfix Infantry (including the medic) and Airfix Horse Artillery. 

Emhar Brigade command stands with the helmeted figures converted from shorts to trousers. 

Next: Maybe the video of the WW1 British Corps.  

The German Infantry Corps of 1916, Great War Spearhead rules in 20mm

This video enlarges the previous one from one division to a full corps. The miniatures are Irregular Miniatures for the artillery, Britannia for the Jagers and plastic (Airfix, Revell, Hat and Emhar) for the Infantry. The Aircraft and tanks are Vacuum-formed and Revell and Airfix kits.

The German Infantry Division of 1915-16, Great War Spearhead rules in 20mm

This is my first video on a series related to WWI. This one shows the German Infantry Division at the beginning of 1915 when the regiments were reduced from 4 to 3 and packed into one sole brigade. The figures are mostly Airfix, HAT and converted Revell and the artillery is Irregular Miniatures.

Rapid Fire! France 1940 in 20mm - 1st British AD almost complete

The 1st Rifles Motor Battalion and some armour takes control of the village of Just Fontaine, not far from Huppy, where the 1st AD will find glory but also defeat. In the next parcel from Pedro Pato the 1st AD will be complete as only 9 vehicles are still missing for the six tank battalions of the division. 

By having a more careful look at the stash I found the Atlantic 'Fusiliers' (the blue ones to the left) which in fact by not carrying the hoe shovel on the back become ideal 1940/BEF infantry. Only the gas mask was applied in all of them and made from Milliput. 

Also some Esci infantry saw the hoe shovel carved out. 

This battalion became a mixture of Atlantic, Esci, Airfix, Emhar and Hat. 

The command group had mostly figures from the two boxes that HAT made for British infantry (2' and 3' mortars stands), the Boys AT stand are converted Esci figures with a MiniGeneral 3d printed AT rifle, and the command stand has Emhar and Esci officers and a Hat radioman. 

A typical Motor company made from Atlantic, Esci and HAT figures. 

The Cruiser A13 Mark IIs are MiniGeneral 3d prints in PLA. They have different mantlets in this group, with the ones with the biggest becoming the Mark II A version. 

One last A10 MkIA CS missing joined the Division here in the colors of the 5th RTR. For some time by now I´m using 2/3 coats of clear varnish before priming in order to disguise the printing lines on the PLA models. 

A group of MiniGeneral Dingoes were also added, one for the division´s command and two other for the command of each of the Armoured Brigades. The figures seating on top of the hatch are HAT (they simply didn't fit inside) . 

A resin printed Austin Ruby by Mário Laranja joined the BEF. I could only find evidence of the cabriolet version in France 1940 (there is famous picture of one abandoned at Dunkirk) and not this one. In fact I´m not sure of the military use of the fully enclosed Ruby. Nevertheless this was an offer and it had to fit somewhere. How those three to the left will fit inside the Ruby that is a different matter, and the driver is already seating!

Next: whether Italians for the desert, HG Germans, Soviets for Dubno or 1940 French. 

Rapid Fire! France 1940 in 20mm - The figures of the 2nd KRRC Motor Battalion

With all transport done for the 30th Brigade, the 2nd KRRC figures were made in the last few days. The main issue here was the obvious temptation to use the figures you already have for the 1944-45 period maybe with a few extra Boys ATR's. The problem is that the equipment of 1944, based on the 1937 Pattern Web Equipment, was the same as the one of the BEF infantry in 1940 with a big difference; the gas mask bag which makes the British soldier of 1940 quite different from the one of 1944 (besides new Helmets and new SMG`s, PIAT's and other pieces of equipment introduced after 1940).

So, what figures to use for these conversions? 

- I have stocks of  classic Airfix and Matchbox, detailed figures, plain helmets but a bit too small (around 1/76th ) to go with the HAT figures I used for its transport Carriers and CS8's. 

- Also a stock of big Valiant boxes could be used but by far not enough plain helmets as these figures were made with  Normandy in mind.

-I ended up by using the Esci British infantry with a few Airfix figures; WW1 Emhar British; Australian Revell and a few Matchbox for certain positions. All of them got a two component paste gas mask bag and a back pack were they didn't exist. Some of the Revell's Australians have the old Service Dress instead of the newer Battle Dress, which is correct as there was resistance to this change in the British army, one Guards officer saying it looked like a "third rate chauffeur" dress.

The HQ of the battalion has two Emhar officer figures (the service dress of WW1 is virtually the same in both wars and specially in this scale) and an Airfix radio man Commando with a new Brodie helmet; Esci PIAT firer and Matchbox figures in the ATR stand and Esci and and Matchbox figures in the 2"mortar stand (this one converted from the Matchbox mortar). 

The HQ figures painted and ready to fight the Jerry's. The Boys ATR are extras sent to me by 3d Minigeneral boss, Pedro Pato.

All 2nd KRRC figures got the green and red shoulder title they used in WWII. The SMG's are a later Thompson model but I left it as it was as any change in such a small  weapon would be too complicated.

The company's Boys ATR got an inverted T as support, and an Airfix lying figure next to it. They are ready to defend Calais up to the last man! Or better, to go along the Southern counter-attack of the tank brigades even if not historical...

Next: wether more Brandywine 1777 or Mohacs 1526.

Rapid Fire! France 1940 in 20mm - British reinforcements from Minigeneral and a few other bits

The British prepare another counter-attack close to the village of L'Infanterie-N'Arrive-Pas. Unfortunately for the Allies in this campaign this 'village' happened too many times.

The Minigeneral model of the A13 MkII is a beauty. Finally I can soon finish my 1st AD thanks to the printers of Pedro Pato. Still 13 to go but I hope to have them finished in the next few months. After these still some 15 MKVI light tanks are still missing.

All essential details are present in the Minigeneral model. I just added the usual antenna, crewman and some stowage.

For the crew you just need to glue some new hatches made of plastic. The model also needs some time to clean from the printing fibres but after some 5 minutes its ready to prime. The crewmen are resin copies of the PSC figures.

The 18 pdr gun was still numerous in the BEF. I used a conversion from Emhar WW1 model with crew and Morris tow from Airfix.

Some artillery men are extras from the 3 inch mortar crew from Zvezda.  

For the WW2 Version of the 18 pdr you need to place the wheels axle a bit down from the original place. I used some old Atlantic soft plastic wheels I had around for maybe 40 years (is it possible? I'm that old?...).

The crew received anti-gas mask bags made from two component paste.

 Each of the Airfix Morris C8 had a crewman from Esci with new arms. Also the mud guards of the trailer were carved out for the 18 pdr version and its top desguised with stowage.

The Scout Carriers are (left) BPM and (right) an Airfix conversion. The 3 inch mortar is Zvezda.

The Airfix Carrier (here on the left) is an easy conversion from the original Universal Carrier. You just need to carve the left side panel and replace it with two boxes. To this one I added some front lights, a Bren LMG and an antenna. All crew are Esci with new arms in both carriers.

Next: wether some WW2 desert Italians or French 1940.