Rapid Fire! in 20mm, Vercors 1944 (part 1) - First few Maquis and FFI cars

Recently, Richard Baber posted his FFI on his great blog Baber on Wargames. These lovely painted figures, together with a nice Citroën sparked an old wish of mine, the Vercors battle of the summer of 1944, which placed 4.000 Maquisards against 10.000 Germans supported by the Luftwaffe. Vercors was one of my first readings while a young teenager a few years after  our 25th of April Carnation Revolution, as these heroic acts of defiance were very common on those days literature. I don´t remember what book it was or even if I still have it but those pages got stuck on my mind.  

This battle came after the Normandy landings when thousands of young Frenchmen came to the Vercors mountains, a triangular shaped plateau close to Grenoble, Southern France. Not being able to join the Normandy or much of the Northern France Maquis, more than 3.000 young resistants prefered to join the Vercors (also avoiding the STO- Service du Travail Obligatoire, in Germany) were a few hundred Maquisards lived there since 1942. The plan was called Projet Montagnard and predicted the arrival of 4000 Allied paratroopers and heavy weapons to the plateau, something that never materialized and eventually doomed the Vercors Maquis when the Germans came in force. 

My planned models are:

For the Maquis- 

- Build 6x battalion sized units of Maquisards including some Senegalese that also took refuge at the Vercors (only 2x battalions - the ones shown here - are done, more on the way mostly from LesArméesOubliés).

- Some "heavy"weapons, 1x M2 Browning, 1 Bazooka, 1x Hotchkiss MMG, 1x 25mm Hotchkiss AA gun (both Hotchkiss guns are the only missing and were used at Saint Nizier).

For the Germans - 

- 30x paratroopers; 4x DFS 230 gliders; 1x battalions of Grenadiers (9.PD) and 2x battalions of infantry (157. Reserve ID); 4x Ost Battalions; 2x Focke Wulf  FW 190 fighter aircraft  (all these are done).

- 1x Gotha Go242 glider; 2x 105mm GebH40; 15x Feldgendarmen; 4x Gebirgsjäger battalions (still to be done). 

The Vercors Plateau is also on my mind or at least a way to raise ground with the Vercors shape, as building it in styrofoam is something very difficult to store. Even so some styrofoam escarpments, together with a raised cloth is the most probable way to show this difficult terrain. 

The figures are a mix of Irregular Miniatures, both from their French Resistance range and SCW (there were Spanish Republicans in the Vercors fleeing from Franco´s terror), Caesar and Esci. The Esci figures here still didn´t get their bonnets and are still wearing their Adrian helmets which will only stay for a few Gendarmes. 

Ladies first. They are all Irregular Miniatures with a sole Caesar figure with added bonnet. 

There were also in the middle of the Maquisards a number of Ex-Vichy Gendarmes and Groupes Mobiles de Reserve (GMR). 

Led by Lt. Vernom Hoppers there were 15 SOF US soldiers within the Vercors Maquis sent there to train the Maquisards and teach them how to operate US weapons like the M2 Browning and the Bazooka. The figures are Revell with GreenStuff soft caps. 

All figures got a French arm band and many got a GreenStuff bonnet. 

The Esci Bazooka stand got new heads with bonnets and the MMG stand is a mix of 3d printed gun, a Caesar, a Irregular Miniatures and a Revell figure. 

The command group came from Irregular Miniatures ranges including a  African/Cuban  officer with crossed arms and added bonnet. 

Finally two FFI cars, one Hotwheels 1932 Ford with new wheels and a Matchbox  1947 (ups!) Morris Minor. 

Next: More Vercors or one more Iraqi video. 

RFR/Able Archer - The army of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait 91 (part 2), the 5th Mechanized Division

One more division of the Iraqi III corps. This one, the 5th Mechanized Infantry Division Mohammed Ibn Al-Kasim, is another famous big unit of the Iraqi army with participations in the last three wars of the country, the Iran-Iraq War, the invasion of Kuwait and the US invasion of 2003. I became interested in this Division after the opening of the ground war in the 1991 Iraqi Khafji offensive were the 5th MID had a central role. It was equipped with different models of the T-55 series and APCs (in fact Chinese T-59 and K-63). Still a few heavy mortars are missing as well as some tractors for the artillery.

Gettysburg in 1/72nd scale (part 2), the Army of Northern Virginia

The second part of this Gettysburg big units video is about Lee´s army. Same brands, and same techniques as in the Union army, so nothing new here. Even if the ANV didn´t have any Zouave units the Confederate army is always colorful with all that butternutt, Cadet gray and civilian items. I forgot to show you Jeb Stuart´s cavalry but you can see it here in this blog´s post: http://jpwargamingplace.blogspot.com/2018/12/fire-acw-rules-set-gettysburg-in-20mm_19.html

Gettysburg in 1/72nd scale (part 1), the Army of the Potomac

This one is made from all available plastic figures from the venerable Airfix to the more recent Strelets R, including A Call to Arms, Revell, Italeri and also some metal Irregular Miniatures. I tried to characterize all famous individuals from regimental commanders up to Corps commanders since this is a period with abundant information. This army is complete for Fire&Fury brigade rules and it will be followed by the Confederate army. The houses are made of card and maybe one or two more will be added in the future. All other structures, roads, hills, stonewalls, trees, etc are not shown as most of them are generic and useful for a number of periods.

Rapid Fire! Spanish Civil War armies in 20mm

Still far from finished - this one is one of those that will never be finished - you can see here a few models that are enough for some battallion sized RF games on the SCW theme. Together wilth my usual conversions based on Revell, Airfix, Esci and Zvezda there are plenty of proper Irregular Miniatures and some BUM figures. Tanks, artillery and armored cars came from FtF, Minairons, Panzer Garage, Irregular Miniatures and Pegasus. The aircraft are Special Hobby, KP, Azur, Valom, Super Model, Italeri, SMER, Heller and Airfix.

AOE (Age Of Eagles rules) 7th Belgian infantry in 28mm at Waterloo 1815

 

The 7th Belgian infantry line regiment was part of Bylandt famous brigade that fought at Quatre-Bras and also, two days later, bore the brunt of the massive d´Érlon´s attack. Here, using brigade level AOE rules, the 7th Beçgian line represent the entire brigade. The 7th was a veteran unit with many soldiers that previously fought for Napoleon. For a good story of this unit, use this link: 

http://7delinie.be/en/history/

The figures are a mix of parts from Victrix and Perry British plastic boxes. The main changes is the usage of the stovepipe provided in two different Victrix boxes on Perry´s bodies and the erasing of the lace. This last one is particularly time consuming. The officer in a circular stand is a marker for advancing/breakthrough unit (Irregular Miniatures with a shako from Victrix). Next to it is a Perry casualty marker. 

The good thing about mixing brands is that you don´t get two figures alike. 

 If you don´t want to have this trouble you can wait until Warlord releases a number of plastic boxes of Belgian/Dutch infantry and cavalry. They are next on their On the making list and I found them by accident while looking for inspiration for these ones. 

The Command stand. The Flag is warflag and all typical British uniform details - the strips of lace on both cuffs and coat - were erased with a scalpel and  now look more like a French uniform as it should. The "French" cuffs were simply painted on. 

The Grenadier company. 

Centre companies. 

Light company. 

Casualty and breakthrough markers. 

Next: The British Foot Guards at Waterloo

The French army at Waterloo for AOE rules in 28mm size

This is one of the three Waterloo 28mm armies I´ve been slowly building since the cheaper plastics from Victrix, Perry, Warlord and Hat started to arrive. These plastics were coupled with some metal from Perry, Victrix and Irregular Miniatures. Perry Miniatures gave a lot of life to this period with plenty of characters of many of his top brass officers, specially for the French side (and that includes Napoleon, obviously). Many times I refer Warlord as the battalion commanders when in fact many are metal Victrix. As usual you can see many conversions as the engineers in the cover photo made with bodies from Hat, heads from Perry and Milliput trousers.

The German 'Specials' at Market Garden for Rapid Fire! rules in 20mm

These German relatively rare vehicles and with different markings makes a funny addition to a late German force and were also a pleasure to collect. They came from a number of origins namely (better writing them due to my Portoenglish even if the video is an highly professional job with lots of hand movement): - Char B1 Flamethrower - Matchbox conversions - R35 w/ 47mm gun - ShellHole Scenics - Fire Truck - Hasegawa conversion - Dodge w/ trailer - Esci and Airfix - Jeep - Airfix - Panhard 178 - MiniGeneral - Humber MkIV - Matchbox - Renault AHN - S&S - Umbaus - Converted 1/64 die-casts - French 75/36 AA guns and IG37 - scratchbuilts - Pz III F and M - Armorfast and PSC - StuH 42 and Stug III C - Esci - Colorful trucks - Alle-Hop (But you can have them from Aliexpress and such) - Soviet 152mm guns - Irregular Miniatures - Sdkfz 251/21 - Hasegawa conversions - PzV Panthers - Esci and Matchbox - PzVI KingTigers - Esci and Altaya - Command car - 1/64 die-cast

Great War Spearhead II - Gallipoli 1915 in 20mm (part 1): The Turkish army

 

More than 20 years ago, still not knowing that Hat industries was on the way,  I made up a Turkish WW1 small army from the Esci British colonials, Atlantic and Airfix Japanese infantry and copies of the WW2 hard plastic Soviets from Esci. Later on, Hat released its two boxes of WW1 Turkish figures (infantry and artillery+MGs) and I found my old conversions to be better hidden in some boxes. Recently I visited Gallipoli (Turkish Gelibolu) and the interest for Turkía in WW1 was reignited. 

With these old figures two full regiments and (right) the divisional rifle battalion were made for Shawn Taylor´s GWSH II. The pair of Hat Turkish boxes are on the way from Italy and it will allow me to make the 3rd and last infantry regiment for the division and add a few more artillery and HMGs. 

The Esci British colonial officers were also converted to divisional and regimental standard bearers. All british colonial helmets got a few small cuts at the front so they can look more to the Turkish M1909 Kabalak, in fact a piece of cloth wrapped in a specific way around a wooden structure. The other officers are the Russian Esci copies, some with the Kabalak, others with the Kalpak. The Kalpak was made using heads of the Esci Hussars. All flags are hand painted. 

Also some flags were added to a few battalion stands with Airfix Japanese used for cornets and flag bearers. The Japanese field cap is easily cut to look like the red Fez, still in use in WW1 even if in dwindling numbers. To the right an Atlantic Japanese officer was also converted.  

The Esci colonial infantry became WW1 Turks. Some got a Fez from converted heads with Napoleonic shakoes, others saw the Kalabak made from the already mentioned cuts at the front (small) peak of the Esci colonial helmet. The big difference from the true Turkish uniform are the puttees but somehow they get slightly disguised with the en masse looks... at least I like to think that way. 

The Hotchkiss HMGs came from the Atlantic Japanese set and the crew from the Esci British colonials. The HMG firer is the figure pulling an ammo box converted here as to be firing the gun (sort of). The guns look a bit like cannons and will be replaced by the Hat ones (German 08s, which were much more common). 

The German 77mm guns are IT Figures with Irregular Miniatures crew. 

The 15cm Krupp 1880 and crew are all Irregular  Miniatures with Arab crews. 

Next: Depends on the mail but eventually the first video on the Iraqis 1990. 

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.

The French Infantry Corps 1915-18, Great War Spearhead rules in 20mm

This corps, as well most of my WWI miniatures, was built and painted decades ago. This forced the new ones to be painted in the same way as the previous ones, PVA primed and block painted, for the sake of consistency. This also allowed for a much quicker painting method and to bring reinforcements that turned divisions into Corps. Again most of the infantry and cavalry is plastic with plenty of conversions and tanks, artillery and airplanes are resin and metal.

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.

The Soviet Tank Corps, Kursk 1943, for Rapid Fire rules and 20mm size

These large two units, two Russian 1943 Tank Corps, have been on the making for ... hmmm, decades by now. It includes plastic kits made almost 40 years ago and 3d resin prints with a few weeks. The vehicles are Frontline Wargaming, Britannia, Esci, Matchbox, Fujimi, Dragon, MiniGeneral 3d prints, resin 3d prints, Kooperativa, Armoufast, Atlantic (these last two includes some crazy conversions) and Altaya die-cast. The artillery is mostly Irregular Miniatures, Altaya and conversions. The infantry is a mix of all available plastic brands with a few Irregular Miniatures and Skytrex.

Rapid Fire! France 1940 in 20mm - The Pioneers of the DLM

 Exiting the village of Didier Deschamps, reconnaissance and pioneers of a DLM advance under the protection of a battery of 155mm guns. 

The DLM was the only French big unit type that had three Pioneer companies, with all other types of units having only one or two. Each company was very big with around 200 men each with small differences in number depending on the type of unit. These figures are Simon Soldiers and portray the pioneers carrying mines, shovels and wire. A few figures have the FM 24/29 LMG instead of the more common and older Chauchat distributed among the pioneers. I tried to convert some Revell Chauchat firers but was out of metal heads and these had to do (Revell heads are too small in the WW1 French set comparing with these metal ones). 

The figures are beautifully detailed and the pioneer equipment is all there with anti-personnel and light AT mines, wire laying devices, shovels, etc. 

And here some close-ups to see the great level of detail of these figures. The second figure from the right carries the AT mine modéle 36. 

These Schneider 155mm C guns are MiniGeneral 3d prints with Simon Soldiers and Irregular Miniatures crews. This battery was still missing  as I built some time ago the same guns (Ace models) but with spoked wheels and thus proper for the DI. 

These three motards are SHQ with the discarded side-car. They will be used for liaison and command. 

Finally two offers small but beautiful Simca Cinq from Mário Laranja resin printer. 

Next: more Brandywine 1777. 

26. Volksgrenadier Division in 20mm, Ardennes 1944, for Rapid Fire! rules

The 26.VGD became famous when it encircled the 101st US Airborne during one week at Bastogne in one of the most famous sieges of WW2, the one with  a "nuts" in the middle. 

21st Panzer Division in 20mm for Rapid Fire! rules, Normandy 1944

This is a big unit made along many years. It was built around many brands and around the opinions of different authors and fellow collectors and wargamers. I hope it can be useful to someone making the 21st PD or any of its sub units or Kampfgruppe.

If you want you can go to this Blog´s tag '21st Panzer Division' a see more posts on the issue with plenty of pictures and explanations.

Rapid Fire! Market Garden in 20mm - Oddities and such (part 8) - Missing bits for the new RF book

 

This week was the turn of a few bits I had around to be built and painted for the new RF! book. All but one (the Churchill AVRE)  are made to fullfil the wishes of Masters Colin and Richard in their new OMG awesome book. 

The 152mm Russian guns of Korps Feldt shown on diagram on p.36 are apparently the M1937 (ML-20) model. Also according to the diagram the crew is FJ. Mine are converted Esci and Revell figures with the help of GreenStuff arms. The Esci are particularly suitable as they are mostly in static positions and the new arms holding some shells makes them quite realistic. 

The guns are Irregular Miniatures but somehow the models didn't carry the shield and the vertical springs which were easily made in EverGreen styrene. 

Here they are ready to unleash ze Trommelfeuer over the 82nd Airborne

.

The StugIII with short 75mm gun mentioned in p.22 as reinforcement for the 59th ID was the hardest of this group to build. Its based on the StugIII G from Esci, and it was transformed into an E version. The short 75mm gun came from the Airfix PzIV and a bunch of small parts had to be scratchbuilt like the headlights, the antenna racks, the side boxes and the tall round command turret had to be turned into a square and older one. 

With this model I started to use a new mixture of static grass and the results are quite pleasing. 

Nigel Maddaford sent me this nice picture of the probable inspiration of Masters Colin and Richard for adding this one to the fight against the 101st Airborne and fortunately looks like an E version due to the longer side boxes. 

While talking to Nigel he also pointed this picture of a short 75mm StugIII C/D on Firefly No 8,  about the German army in Holland. I also have it and after reading the text, yes,  it also could be this older version.  

The figure is the original Esci with a Feldmütze from PSC. 

This repainted Altaya M-10 was also added to the British forces. I already have several Achilles in the shelves of the Churchill brigade but this is my first British M-10.

Finally this Matchbox Churchill AVRE is not for Market Garden as the 79th AD wasn´t in Holland by then. I just finished it because I couldn't convert it to none of the Dieppe models. This is my fourth Matchbox Churchill AVRE, the other three are carrying the Girder bridge for D-Day. 

The Hessian tape is made of thin stripes of paper and the camouflage nets and foliage are made of blobs of PVA glue mixed with Noch birch leaves. 

Next; depends on the mailman but more OMG models most probably. 

Age of Eagles (AoE) - 1810 Battle of Bussaco in 20mm (part 12) - Spencer's Division

Nervously awaiting the French assault here stands Spencer Division, solidly anchored on the western part of the battlefield, close to Sula village. This division has some of the most famous British units of the Napoleonic wars and also provides interesting uniforms. 

Wellesley itself came to pay a visit to General Spencer and check for the last time the defensive line. All figures are Italeri with a coated officer from Irregular Miniatures.

Scattered on the slope there are several companies of the famous 60th Rifles. Figures from Revell. 

On reserve stands Lowe brigade with the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 7th KGL regiments. Figures are mostly Hat with a few boy-drummers from Esci with new Stovepipe shakoes. 

I organized the bases of the Anglo-Portuguese with only two ranks, reflecting the British practice (the French have three as you can see in the previous posts). 

Blantyre's Brigade can be seen here with the 61st, 24th and 42nd 'Black Watch' regiments. As the units were small I didn`t use any flags on them. Again mostly Hat miniatures with the Scottish being Esci, Airfix, Italeri with a converted officer.

Packenham's Brigade presents here the 23rd Line, a fusilier Regiment. Even if they they didn't use their bearskin hats in the Peninsula I portrayed them like that (who doesn't like the cover of Chandler's bible on the Bussaco battle?). The bodies are Revell and Esci with French Esci bearskin hats. This conversion has to be careful as you need the peak of the shako for the correct shape of this headdress. 

Another Packenham unit is the 79th Line, another Scottish regiment from the same sources as the 42nd.

Finally the 2nd and 3rd Guards from Stopford's Brigade. Mostly conversions from Revell with a few Belgians from Hat in the middle.

Next: wether more British for Bussaco 1810 or more Polish 1939.