Finished: 15mm Sexton GPO

Hi folks,

Another oddity for my collection, this time a 15mm scale resin printed model from Battlefield3d. I've had this on the painting pile for a little while, and finally got round to finishing it for the AHPC challenge this year. 

This vehicle is a 'Gun Position Officer' command vehicle - which is basically the travelling command post for a battery of 25-pdr Sexton self propelled gun. The vehicle itself is a Sexton with the gun removed and internal space dedicated to maps and radios. 

This is a nice print. As per 3d prints the track details are a bit lacking, but not a big issue with some weathering. I decalled these up using some of my new Polish 1st Armoured markings, received from the US. My usual fishing wire aerial and basing style. A bit of hull weathering with my Tamiya powders. 

This models even got some table time, although mainly for eye candy purposes:

Finished: 15mm LAD diorama, Snipers and Radio Truck

Hi folks,

Another week, another catch up post on my own blog. After shifting some BFG models off the painting shelf, I moved on to some WW2 bits that had been hanging around there for far too long. Specifically, some 15mm Battlefront metal figures I was going to use to fill out my missing sniper teams, a radio track and some other 3d printed vehicles I'd picked up with some vague idea about doing another little diorama esq large base. 

With a little work, I got everything done and cleared. The LAD base was done, which also served as my last entry for the AHPC13 Studio Challenge. 

The LAD set uses a 3d printed 'Gantry Lorry' and an Austin Tilly van, as well as a spare CDSW truck that was languishing with some damage in my bits box. The 3d printed models came from Battlefield3d. 

I also used three Battlefront British infantry figures to represent men working around an axle and manning the Gantry Lorry. As the setup looked a little bare, I also added some scatter - in the form of supplies, tyres, barrels, crates and a make shift workbench with tools and a toolkit. I also added some stowage to the vehicle being repaired. 

The LAD vehicles are marked up with decals for 154 Brigade Workshop, 51st Highland Division. The Morris CDSW is marked up as belonging to 40th Royal Artillery Light AA Regiment (another 51st Highland Division unit). 

The REME decals came from Skytrex - although the resolution is such that I couldn't make out the number on them. I also used Skytrex decals for my Highland Division markings, as my Doms Decals sheet has finally given up the ghost. The AA unit decal was a Doms Decal offering, as were some of the bridging weights. Vehicle registration numbers are a mix of Doms and I-94. Allied stars are a mix of Battlefront and Doms Decals. 

All three vehicles have unit markings front and back, registration numbers and recognition stars. 

I'm afraid I did make a conscious artistic decision not to paint the 'mikey mouse' type black camo that these vehicles might have had - both for sanity and aesthetic reasons. My usual over highlighting is done using Mig Dio Paint - Medium Green. 

I used a similar paint and decal scheme for the radio truck, a Fordson WOT2D. This model has been marked up as a signals truck from 51st HD signals regiment, again using a mix of decals. No specific plans for this model, I just liked the idea of having some radio trucks!

And then a few sniper teams to give each of my infantry companies three bases - not that they are used in v4. 

When I last had the opportunity to parade my four infantry companies, I realised I was missing some sniper teams (an option from 3rd Ed of Flames of War). I was aware that the infantry battalions of 51st Highland Division had a sniper/scout platoon as part of the Support Company. These bases now give me enough to have three sniper teams per company, or a platoon of 13 bases plus an HQ. 

Finished: 15mm Valentine bridge-laying tank

Hi folks,

Another quick catch up post on a model I painted for this years AHPC. 

As a big fan of engineering vehicles in my 15mm collection, I jumped at the chance of picking up this 3D printed beauty. It came from Battlefield3d and is resin printed, so nice detail and no obvious print lines. 

Best of all, the bridge game with a hinge in place:

The hinge allows the bridge to be mounted on the vehicle, or deployed for tabletop use. 

I marked this model up as belonging to the brigade HQ of 33 Armoured Brigade. As such, it will support my 144RAC Shermans. Severely tempted to pick up another, just for the symmetry of having a pair, and the flexibility for big games. 

The bridge is mounted on a Valentine tank chassis, and represents the only model of this type in my collection. The bridge carried was rated up to 30 tons, and as such could be used by Shermans and Cromwells. 

I applied my usual basing style, but actually used a similar style of painting to that on my Cold War Dutch. It didn't take me long to get this single model sorted, even with the bridge. 

Finished: 15mm logistics vehicles from Battlefield3d

Hi folks,

With this years Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge now well and truly rolling, my first entry this year was not - as I had planned - half-tracks. 

Instead, I painted up three of the recently acquired 3d printed models that were sitting on the painting shelf. These models have been decaled up as supply vehicles from 'A' echelon, 144RAC. 

These are (from left to right) a CMP F60 Lorry, a CMP 60L Water Tanker, and a CMP 60L Petrol Tanker. Vallejo bottle for some scale. 

When I saw that these models were available in resin print form, I knew I had to get some in order to represent the 'A' Echelon' troops of 144th battalion, Royal Armoured Corps. Each tank battalion was divided into three echelons, F, A and B. 

'F' echelon represented the fighting element and vehicles of the unit, which would go into battle. 'A' echelon represented vehicles and men which were needed to look after the immediate needs of the battalion - providing rations, fuel, ammunition, cooking facilities, etc. 'B' echelon represented vehicles and men normally deployed further from the fighting and looking after long term stores, admin and repairs. 

Often overlooked, the 'A' echelon troops often had an extremely dangerous and hard job, keeping the tanks supplied and traversing perilous roads, often at night in black out conditions which carrying dangerous cargos. The tanks may have been leaguered for the night at the forefront of the advance, miles beyond the previous front lines with very little in the way road security or protection offered to those brining forward supplies - possibly under fire. 

I added 'mickey mouse' style camo to the ammo lorry, just for some visual interest. It's a real bugger to paint, but I'm happy with how it came out. The models have the usual selection of decals, and are based in my standard fashion. I did place them a little back on the bases, however, in an effort to protect the front bumpers - these 3d prints are very brittle. 

These models will see service on the games table as set dressing, objectives or some other specific mission. They have the markings of 33 Armoured Brigade and 144RAC. For the challenge, this entry netted me 24 points (towards my 250 point target...). 

Battlefield3d - 15mm Valentine Bridgelayer

Hi folks,

A few weeks ago I spotted a blog post showing off a 15mm 3d printed Valentine bridge layer and stating that one of the better known 3d model designers (Marco Bergman) had made it available. I contacted Phil at Battlefield3d, who has a license for Marco Bergman's stuff. Phil confirmed he had the model, and added it to his site for me. 

He also sorted the model so that the bridge has a hinge, and can be shown folded or deployed. 

As usual with Battlefield3d's stuff, the print quality and detail is excellent. I had only to remove one or two delicate print supports, but the model was more or less primer ready when I opened the box. No assembly required by me other than to mount the bridge on the tank. 

I'm really pleased to be able to add one of these vehicles to my collections. My plan is to eventually paint this one up as a part of 33 Armoured Brigades HQ unit, possibly along with some Sherman I's. I may even pick up another two at some point, as I believe that three of these tanks formed the bridging section of the Armoured Brigade HQ. 

Whether they will ever see the table is secondary to how cool I think they are!

I also had Battlefield3d print a M4 Sherman from one of the other designers they have a license for, and I'll show off some pictures of that model alongside a Battlefront resin and metal M4 at a later date. 

15mm 3d Printed models - Battlefield3D

Hi folks,

Slow progress - relatively - on the hobby front. I've finished another troop of Cromwells and started on the last three vehicles. More on them in a bit.  

In the last few weeks I've picked up a couple of unusual models, initially from an Ebay seller but more recently from his shop Battlefield3D. A few other hobby blogs and sites have shown off some of the prints, but I'd asked for a few specifics from his catalogue which I don't think will have been seen elsewhere. I had a chance today to get out with the spray can, so the models have had a base coat applied. 

First up, I've had a bit of a plan to do some of the softskin vehicles which might have supported my 144RAC tank squadron. Namely, a small replenishment convoy in the form of a truck for munitions, a petrol tanker and a water tanker. 

CMP 60L Petrol Tanker

CMP 60L Water Tanker

CMP F60 GS Lorry

All three of the 'A' Echelon vehicles. 

Next up, some vehicles I had wanted for a little REME diorama to go with my earlier Light Breakdown Truck. 

Austin K6 Gantry Lorry (tow position)

 To go along with this, I picked up a little Austin Tilly utility van, and a staff car. 

As I also have plans to do some sort of infantry battalion HQ diorama (probably along with the staff car above, maybe with a jeep), I also picked up a couple of radio trucks. I've cut off the radio aerial base in order to drill out the hole for my usual fishing line aerial. 

Fordson WOT2D Radio Truck

Bedford MWR Radio Truck

I also picked up a cool little model to go with one of my Sexton batteries:

Hopefully you can see from the pictures that the details on these models are superb. The resin is nice and clean with the print lines barely visible. Details such as grab rails are lovely and sharp. The resin is very brittle, however, so care should be taken if you are trimming or cutting. In fact, I would avoid cutting where you can, my attempts at putting the winch on the gantry lorry were frustrating and upsetting as the section I was trying to cut shattered several times. 

Scale wise, the models fit in well with the rest of my Battlefront resin vehicles:

These models did cost a little more than you would expect for 3D prints, but the quality really is amazing and the customer service has been great. There is also a good range of options to pick from, as can be seen in the catalogue. My models all came from the Marco Bergman collection, which Battlefield3d have a commercial license for. 

These vehicles have all been added to the paint queue - hopefully it won't be too long before I can get them done.