20mm Early 1980's Characters

So, the "Winter of 79" forces are starting to take shape.

First up, Government/Loyalist/Royalist/Tory characters.

A pair of Commissaries to administer the West Cheshire and Deeside administrative districts.  These are dictator figures from RH Models.  The Deeside Commissary is obviously an RAF type from RAF Sealand, just across the River Dee from Deeside in England.  The West Cheshire Commissary will have set up base at the Castle in Chester.

Next up, a pair of dirty tricks Special Branch operatives - if you want someone to disappear, these are the guys to call in.  These are from Elhiem.

The happier face of Special Branch, a likely pair of lads from Platoon 20 who closely resemble Bodie and Doyle - if you are old enough to remember the Professionals.

Bobbies in body armour with SLRs on patrol (from Elhiem).  These guys would accompany army patrols to provide liaison between military and civil powers.  I am always uncomfortable when I see British police openly carrying firearms - trips through U.K. airports always freak me out!

A pair of militia leaders from Platoon 20, the black guy in the sharp suit has raised a loyalist militia in an urban environment - well he doesn't want to crease the suit.  The guy with the "mutton chops" bears a passing resemblance to a country pub landlord or local squire, who's raised a rural militia force from the local rustics.

For the Insurgents/Terrorists/Revolutionaries/Separatists/Socialists, depending on your point of view.

"Professional" terrorists armed with Uzis from the IRA or Bader Meinhoff gang assisting the cause in Britain - these are plain clothes Garda from Elhiem.

A couple of local militia cell leaders with handguns, from Platoon 20.

Another pair from Platoon 20, a skinhead armed with an Uzi and lady in trouser suit with handgun from her hand bag.

A pair of Platoon 20 emancipated females in paramilitary gear with M60s (I think).

Another pair, the one on the right is huge, so would have to be known as "Big Bertha" by her Government opposition.

Then the revolution's financiers, a pair of Platoon 20 gangsters in stocking masks, armed with a sawn off shotgun and handgun.

Another pair armed with handgun and some kind of small stubby SMG that I can't make out.

So, these guys and girls will add some characters/leader types to the upcoming "Winter of 79" campaign.  Next up will be a local militia force for Wo79, and the Argentine heavy weapons teams for the Falklands, both of which are finished but need photographing.  On the paining table are a platoon of Elhiem Cold War British infantry in patrol poses, some odds and ends and then I'll either do some more militia forces or some modern Russians - depends on how the fancy takes me or what we arrange for games at the Defenders club.  I've also got some of the Works bargains that need painting up.

As ever, thanks for looking.

More 20mm Cold War Royal Marines

I'm still building up my Cold War British infantry force, this time using Platoon 20 figures.  I've tried out a different method for these, first painting them with a 50:50 mix of desert yellow and dark sand (a pale mustard colour), then adding splodges of NATO green and then brown and finally thin streaks of NATO black.  Weapons and boots are NATO black dry brushed basalt grey or NATO green.  'Tashes and hair are flat brown and skin flat flesh, gaiters are English uniform.  The whole lot was washed with Army Painter strong tone diluted 4:1 with flow enhancer and polyurethane varnished matt.

First up P-B7 marine heavy weapons, prone GPMG team, kneeling Carl Gustav and standing Blowpipe launcher.

P-B4 infantry heavy weapons, prone GPMG team, kneeling Carl Gustav firer and standing GPMG gunner.

P-B14 Two marine Milan ATGM teams.

P-B6 Royal Marines firing, 2 kneeling and two standing with FNs.

P-B3 fixed mount GPMG in sustained fire role.

P-B10 Special Boat Service team.

P-B6a Royal Marines advancing, two with FNs, one GPMG and a Sterling SMG.

A pair of P-B15 Wombats and crew.  I saw one of these at the Crisis Point wargame last year, owned by Richard Crawley, and thought they would make a great addition to my Cold War force.

These will add to my Royal Marine force for the Falklands and deployment to Norway in Cold War Gone Hot scenarios as well as U.K. urban meltdown scenarios.  Nice figures to paint and I'm quite pleased with the overall finish.

Thanks for looking.

20mm Vietnam-era ANZAC platoon

I finally got round to ordering a pack of ANZACS from East Riding \Miniatures Platoon 20 range to finish off my ANZAC infantry for Force on Force.  There are four 10 man sections, each with an M60 or GPMG team, scout, and LAW AT weapon plus each man is armed with either an FN, M16 or Owen SMG.  The first three sections will form a platoon, along with the three man command team in front, while the fourth section will represent either a section from another platoon if needed.  There are also some extra RTO figures who can form spotter teams for artillery or air assets.

The entire force.

The command section.

The LAW AT and scout figures plus a prone figure that can represent a sniper or just a prone rifleman.

FN and M16 armed figures.

M60 and GPMG teams.

Slightly lower perspective - the view from the tabletop of the command team.

Similar perspective of the M60 team.

View of the unit from the rear.

Waiting on the painting table for me to spray are three Britannia Centurions, which I bought off Paul at the club, and assembled this week.

Then there are two 15mm Battlefront ANZAC Centurions, from Steve at the club.

And finally an M577 command vehicle.

Now all I need to complete my ANZACs are three M113s with Cadillac Gauge turrets and an M113 fire support vehicle.

As ever, thanks for looking.