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.   

AHPC - 2nd entry, British 5.5" Medium Guns Finished!

Hi Folks,

Apologies to those of you who have already seen this unit over on the AHPC blog, but I feel like I should post here as well. Just to keep everything together! I've also taken some better pictures.

This weeks entry was 6 x BL 5.5" Medium Guns. These heavy hitters were introduced into service in 1941, replacing some of the 6" 26 cwt Howitzers which had been used in British Medium Artillery Regiments prior to that date (also in use was the 4.5" Medium Gun - a very similar looking artillery gun). They first saw action in North Africa in 1942, and continued in service with British Territorial Army units until the 1980's. The last known firing of one of these guns 'in anger' was in 1999 during the fighting in Kashmir.

These 6 guns bring my unit up to a strength of 8, with me having finished the other two last year.

In my army, they will be representing a battery of the 79th (The Scottish Horse) Medium Regiment , Royal Artillery. This battery represents the guns of 4 AGRA (Army Group, Royal Artillery) in my Operation Totalise project - supporting the Canadian II Corps. I've had a bit of a wobble about this, as one reference mentions the unit having 5.5" guns, while another mentions 4.5" guns. I've since found another source which gives the unit 5.5" guns, so I'm 'sticking to my guns' and going with 79th Medium Regiment

Now to worry about the various command teams and vehicles for this unit! I know V4 will do away with a lot of those, but I have the figures so may as well do them!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Folks!

I'm starting off the new year with my painting space starting to take shape:

I've still a bit to do and a visit to Ikea is planned for tomorrow to hopefully get another desk and make more of an L shape arrangement. But pictures are on the walls, bookcases is up and I have some handy little drawers under the desk for holding paints and stuff.

I've been cracking on with my Gunuary prep, having not got most of the first batch close to getting some primer on them. Just the stowage to go on the Sextons and I can start hand priming.

Feels like 'hunners' to do (as usual) and I have to have my first entry for the Analogue Painting Challenge submitted by the 20th - with the first bonus themed entry 'Armour' due on the 8th - so I will try to have the Sextons done for then!

Time to get cracking!

Gunuary Roundup + Christmas loot

Hi folks,

With us now being into the 2nd week of February I think I'm about ready to call it for my Gunuary themed month. I feel like it's been productive and I've got a lot done - although I'm feeling a little burnt out currently. Especially as I finished off all the various units last night and my Christmas models from Battlefront (ordered in November) arrived today. Including more guns...

Anyway, here's what I had as my initial working list:

- Getting the bases of all artillery and mortar units up to date (flowers, tufts, etc)
- Building, painting and basing all 8 outstanding 25 pdrs
- Finishing all outstanding 25 pdr crew figures
- Sorting out the replacement figures for my 4.2" mortar platoon
- Building, painting and basing my 2 Battlefront 40mm Bofors (and finishing the whole unit off)
- Building, painting and basing my 5.5" guns (on the assumption the whole unit arrives in January - a tearful Amy informed me last night that despite the order being placed with Battlefront in November during the sale, none of the models ordered for my Christmas have arrived)
- Paint my Auster AOP model

So, from that list I completed everything  other than the 5.5" battery - the last two guns of which only arrived today. I posted pictures previously of my finished guns (although none yet of the updated 1st battery).

This week I finished the updated crew for the 4.2" Mortars and a highlight and base update for my 3" Mortar platoon. The 3" Mortars were some of the first units I painted so they really benefited from the update.

The work on the large Mortars consisted of swapping out some of the crew figures for the older sculpt - mainly the ones holding their hands over their ears. I then fixed the damage done to the basing.

Returning home tonight I found a parcel waiting for me. At last, my Christmas presents!

These units add quite substantially to my force - and basically mean that the lead mountain is back to the level it was before Gunuary! I'll need to think about getting the 5.5" guns and command units done soon, in order to finish off the artillery. But for now I am going to switch to trying to finish off my M10Cs and a couple of Shermans. I'll also have to think about the transport options and getting them all painted as well. I still need one more 15 CWT truck and one more jeep as well as 4 Quads and 6 of the AA tow vehicles in order to finish off all the transports for the artillery units - which is a lot of £££ value for not many points on the table.

Anyway, that's all for now. Thanks to the guys on Tabletop Commanders for helping to keep me motivated and for all the enthusiasm!

Gunuary - Week 4 - Guns DONE!

Hi folks,

Week 4 and the last week of my themed month. This past week has been focused on getting the guns finished. I'm glad to say that the guns are all done and I spent some time today getting the Auster ready to finish and sorting out what bases I need to sort for spotters and command, etc.

This work today has revealed some gaps in my line up - with me being short a jeep and three trucks to fill out the staff HQ transport of my 3rd 25 pdr battery and my command and staff HQ of my 5.5" gun battery.

I ended up unpacking all my guns and sorting them into units. This resulted in a long list of things I need to do as follow up for the themed month. Including highlights on my original battery, updating basing, adding aerials, etc.

Anyway, back to this weeks work. First up the last 2 guns of my Bofors 40mm Light Anti Aircraft Platoon. These guys are part of 40th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. This battery is now done other than transport being required for the guns.

Some odd bits of static grass sitting on them, but otherwise happy with them.

Next up I finished off the supply vehicle for my Battlegroup Overlord rules. Also useful as scenery in Flames of War. This is a truck of C Squadron Admin Troop, 144RAC. There is one slightly converted tank crewman on the base along with an officer from an unknown source. He came in a bag of gun crew I purchased on ebay.

Then we have 8 x 25 Pounders of 128th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. These four are on standard bases and will form one battery. I have the transport for this unit still to finish along with some of the command and OP figures being based and updated.

Then the other 4 guns, which are on Battlefront Resin bases.

I hadn't been too keen on the resin bases, but seeing them painted up and based to the same standard as the rest of my figures they are quire smart. Again, a little bit of static grass still sitting on the models, but that should just blow or be brushed off. You can see from the more zoomed out pics that the painting style looks better at a little bit of a distance.

Then we have the two 5.5" guns from a currently unknown Medium Regiment. This will be from one of the AGRAs that supported the Totalize offensive.

I'll worry more about what unit these two are from when (if) my November order from Battlefront ever arrives as it contains the transport and command vehicles for these guys. Decals will be an issue, as no one makes 15mm AGRA decals...

Then the jeep transport for my AA Battery commander. 

Nothing special with this one, but I decided to put the roof on, just for a change.

I'll hopefully get the Auster done tonight and then on to looking at basing the various infantry teams I need for command and OP teams. After that, I'll move on to updating the painting and basing on the original battery. I managed to get one gun and crew updated and they look a lot better, so the others will get the same treatment.

So that's Gunuary done, but with some more stuff added to the shopping list and more work to be done on models I had finished (years ago now!). Thankfully the bulk of my outstanding guns are done. I'm quite pleased with my progress, although I still have a lot to do.