Partizan Loot : Chinook Gunship ACH-47

I really enjoyed my outing to Partisan (Newark) on Sunday. As well as helping man the Wargames Development (WD) stall running a game of "633 Squadron", I found myself mostly "looking" so no crazy massive purchases to announce. However I did add to some "ongoing projects" (see below, one of them is the [20mm-1/72] Vietnam period of interest): 

In addition I stocked up on Vietnam "casualties of war" for dead and wounded markers from Grubby Tanks. Also, I did see Early War Miniatures as somewhere that understood my early WWII interests. I have a rolling France 1940 project (yes French & BEF but even the fringe Danish, Norwegian [Narvik] and Dutch elements) plus Italian East Africa projects (future purchases) to consider. 

https://earlywarminiatures.com/

But .. the best thing about Partisan was meeting up with old wargaming friends. Decades may have passed but meeting up, talking shop and even rolling dice (perhaps flying a RAF Mosquito down a fjord for instance [see 633 Squadron Game]) means that the conversation just starts where you left off! Fantastic and it is so good for the soul.

War through the Eyes of Children: Last Witnesses (by Svetlana Alexievich

This is a haunting book. One hundred and two post war interviews with survivors who had lived through WWII and the German invasion of Russia in WW2. They remembered events through the eyes of a child their experiences, so personal and centred on their mothers and fathers, mama and papa (see below, no to be rushed, the audible experience created greater immersion for me - I found it hard): 

A book I think both West and Eastern leaders and politicians should be made to read. 

Strelets Soviet WW2 Winter Partisans .. and that strange figure in my set?

Over the festive and New Year break I had the opportunity (like many of us) to do some "hobby sorting" which included some 20mm figure plastic figure basing (see below, some lovely 1/72 scale WWII Strelets Soviet WWII Partisans in "Winter Dress"):  

They are an unusual but lovely set and so full of character (see below, the rugged partisan leader who accepts no excuses): 

Rugged and determined, armed with a SMG and ready to meat out retribution to the invaders (see below, you have got to like those boots): 

The agricultural worker turned partisan, perhaps not a great shot with the rifle but he will be persistent  (see below, gotta love those ear flaps): 

Then this mystery figure, at first I am thinking this is really the partisan's great, grandfather riding one last time against the fascist hoards in defense of the motherland, after all he does look Russian, of a Cossack style of sorts but definitely the wrong century! (see below, what is going on? It turns out this is a Strelets "Easter Egg" or "Cuckoo in the nest"): 

The answer comes from the ever useful Plastic Soldier Review Page: 

http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/ShowFeature.aspx?id=15

Partisans

The painting brushes have stayed firmly rooted in the jam jar so far in February. A few figures have been meekly looked at but the room (man cave) is just so full  of clutter at the moment some serious sorting (nay a good Spring clean) is needed.

Nevertheless I have increased my stock of figures. I gave in to some long standing "figure lusting" and ordered via Hannants (UK) some plastic figures that had continually caught my attention. My only defence is that one packet in particular was of a limited edition and soon sure to disappear. They are:

And:

They came and I was amazed at their quality. Already pre-cut from the sprue in a resealable plastic bag which is nice, minimal flash (if any) and the most complete range of partisan figures I will ever need. Excellent detail. Already I am looking forward to painting them :) 

I'll have to schedule them in straight after the Platoon 20 WWII British Infantry figures. I am eyeing Caesar Miniatures for additional purchases for their more standard infantry ranges. They certainly give the more expensive metals a good run for their money!