Finished (again): 15mm 5.5" Battery, 79 (Scottish Horse) Medium Regiment RA, 4 AGRA

Hi folks,

Doing a bit of procrastinating before starting painting German stuff. A while ago (January 2017), I painted up a Flames of War v3 British medium artillery battery. This unit was completed, with the exception of the correct markings for my chosen unit - 79 (Scottish Horse) Medium Regiment Royal Artillery. 

Unsurprisingly, this unit took part in Operation Totalize. In addition, it has a Scottish connection. 4AGRA was actually formed in Bothwell, not far from my hometown, while the 79th was formed from 'The Scottish Horse', which was a Dunkeld (Highland) based unit. 

I managed to find someone to do some custom decals for me. While the process was expensive, I managed to get a few different units done - including this one.

https://tank-markings.blogspot.com/p/europe-higher-formation-organisation.html

I retrieved the whole unit from it's tray, and spent an evening cutting out small bits of decal paper (and searching for dropped bits).  

A minor task completed, but one that has needed done for a long time.   

State of the collection 2017 - Part 2 - British/Polish Artillery

Hi folks,

Moving swiftly on from my previous post, I'm now showcasing my artillery collection.

Take a deep breath - mistakes were made!

Now, before you judge me, bear in mind that a) I'm not done yet, dammit! and b) the Royal Artillery was one of the largest combat arms in Normandy, with more men serving in RA units than in infantry units...

Regular readers will be aware of the episode now known as '25 Pdr gate'... this is the horrific results!

On a more serious note, I've had this line running through my head this morning. I first read it in George Blackburns 'The Guns of War'.

"Ubique means the warnin' grunt the perished linesman knows,

When o'er 'is strung an' sufferin' front the shrapnel sprays 'is foes,

An' as their firin' dies away the 'usky whisper runs

From lips that 'aven't drunk all day: 'The Guns! Thank Gawd, the Guns!'"

Half a regiment of 25 Pdrs - 128th (Highland) Field Regiment, 51st Highland Division

1st Polish Mechanised Artillery Regiment, 1st Polish Armoured Division (Sextons) and 61st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (17 Pdrs). With a signals unit from 51st Highland Division, and a spotter Auster!

17 Pdrs deployed and limbered

79th (The Scottish Horse) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery - 4AGRA. 

40th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 51st Highland Division

AHPC Entry - 15mm Matadors

Hi folks,

Last weeks Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge entry from me was a final (for now) batch of wheeled vehicles. Having picked up the V4 FoW rules upgrade yesterday, I'm pleased to see that for Late War the transports are still available for units.

This batch consists of 8 x AEC Matador trucks - tractor units for my 5.5" guns. With the completion of these models, I'm finally finished with Gunuary..

For these models, I decided to go with a slightly different paint scheme than those used on Battlefronts website and most other painters collections. I've had enough of the 'mickey mouse' camo scheme, so went with a paint scheme I had seen on some re-enactors sites.

Again, I haven't yet finished all the decals - although printer paper and ink arrived this week.

I didn't manage to paint all I wanted for Gunuary - I still have 8 Quad tractors and 6 Morris AA tractors to paint at some point - however I'm done with trucks for now!

I should have pictures shortly of the whole Gunuary/AHPC effort! My target for the challenge had been to get 500 points. With these models, I have reached 556. I'm not sure if I will get much more done before the final entry deadline on Thursday - although I do have my 'Kurt geld' (entry fee) model to finish. I'm really pleased to have attained my target, as I started several weeks after the start date due to the house move, and 500 points seemed pretty unachievable!

AHPC Entry - Moar Trucks!

Hi folks,

I'd like to be able to tell you I finished with the whole truck thing... sadly, this is not the case. However - barring one entry to the AHPC for next week, I am done with trucks for now.

Last week I managed to finish off the remaining artillery unit vehicles I had been working on, with another batch of mini dioramas.

For my Polish Sextons, I have two vehicles. A 'working party' has been detailed to change a tyre. One of them is proceeding with the job while his mates bunk off to try and find a local to trade some cigarettes for some 'vino' or 'oh effs'.

The full set up, everything painted since January for this unit:

Then we have the vehicles for my medium battery, the 79th (The Scottish Horse) Medium Regiment , Royal Artillery. I've not quite finished these totally, as no one makes the correct decals. Currently waiting on some printer ink and decal paper to arrive in order to try and make my own. Wish me luck!

The theme for these bases was 'moving day'. Whether the unit is arriving and unpacking, or unpacking before departure, I'll leave up to you - but I wanted to try and show that even through periods of the campaign were quite static, there was always some movement going on. The typical army 'hurry up and wait'.

For there I have the two trucks with some chaps carrying bits. We have a box and wire reel being carried on one base, while on the other the figure getting directions is carrying a backpack in his left hand. Maybe these are the signals guys getting ready to 'wire in' the command post.

Meanwhile, as a suitable replacement for a truck, I have used a large staff car (actually, a 4WD Heavy Utility vehicle) - after all, a Medium Regiments CO can't be getting shuttled around in a 15cwt truck, can he? An officer and sentry watch the goings on (the 'wait' part of the 'hurry up and wait').

And again, the full unit painted since January. 

The full unit with the guns I painted last Gunuary:

Speaking of Gunuary - I have not forgotten about it! It just seems to have stretched on a little bit. However, with the publishing of my challenge entry next week, I'll call it quits. It's been quite productive (as has the challenge in general, I have achieved my goal of 500 points) and I will repeat next year. I didn't get everything I wanted to do done - there are still 8 Quads and 6 Morris AA Tractors to paint. To be fair, the guns were all painted in the correct month, it was all the support gubbins that overshot!

But it's time to move onto something else, and the 10mm ACW project needs some progress made.

Anyone know how to paint Confederates?