Finished?!: 15mm M5 Halftracks - again

Hi folks,

Another outcome from my recent reshuffle of transport vehicles for the 17-pdrs was a re-working of the previous halftracks into a new unit. 

I have two planned units which would use M5 halftracks as transport vehicles. After a bit of a think I decided to re-do the 5 halftracks as part of The Lake Superior Regiment (of 4th Canadian Armoured Division). 

These 5 vehicles include four plastic PSC models and one resin and metal BF kit. In the images, you can tell which is which by the crew members - the Battlefront kit has pairs of soldiers. 

Previously, they looked like this:

The Battlefront model, in it's initial scheme of a Pioneer vehicle

The PSC models, in their initial A/T regiment markings

So these have now been re-based and given some weathering to decals and hull. I've added some tactical markings in green, and the appropriate divisional and AoS markings. A full company of these would have 12 halftracks and some command vehicles (possible M3 scout cars). 

It shouldn't take much to finish off the unit... but a project for another day. 

Finished: 15mm PSC Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Ausf. D (Stummel) platoon

Hi folks,

Catching up on my completed AHPC entries for last week - more progress on my Panzergrenadier project. This time with six Sd.Kfz. 251/9 Ausf. D vehicles from the 12th 'Heavy' kompanie of III/26. SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 12SS Panzer Division.

The 'mittlerer Schützenpanzerwagen (7,5 cm)' (Sd. Kfz. 251/9) was created as a supporting vehicle for the mechanised infantry units of the German army and SS in mid 1942. Armed with an 7.5 cm K. 37 L/24 gun (the same 'short' 75mm gun that had been mounted on the early StuG and Panzer IVs, but later designated as 7.5 cm K. 51 (Sf.)), this vehicle lends some heavy direct firepower. In FoW terms, these vehicles are still dangerous to most allied tanks in the Normandy theatre. 

Still, they have negligible armour themselves - and being open topped are particular vulnerable to artillery and mortar fire.  

I've painted the six vehicles which (according to a full order of battle) would be assigned to the heavy support company of the battalion. For this, the hull numbers 443-448 have been used. 

Painting wise, I went with the same recipe as my other half-tracks. I used the Skytrex decals for the side and rear hull numbers, as the smaller ones I had used for this previously from Doms Decals didn't cover the number range I required. License plates and division symbol were also added. 

Foliage was added using seafoam 'branches' and leaf flock. I focussed this on the front of the vehicles, where foliage might have been added to camouflage the vehicle in a hedge or treeline. Basing has been done to the same style as the rest of my 15mm Normandy collection. 

For camo on these, I kept similar colours to those used before, but in a different camo pattern. I'm afraid I don't have the skills currently to airbrush, so the camo pattern is a little heavier and harder edged that I would have liked. However, at tabletop distances it will work. 

These models are 15mm Plastic Soldier Company kits (PSC) with the PSC upgrade sprue used to convert them into the 251/9 versions. Crew will be painted and added at a later date. 

This units completion leaves 12 more vehicles to finish on my planned Order of Battle (with 34 half-tracks or associated vehicles painted since November). 

Now on the painting table are the mortar half-tracks and towed (limbered) Pak40 guns. I am starting to flag with regards to half-track/German vehicle painting... Thankfully not much more to do. 

Finished: 15mm PSC Sd.kfz. 251/16D Armoured Flame-Thrower platoon

Hi folks,

Another catch up blog post - this time back to my German half-track project. These are Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) 15mm Sd.kfz. 251D half tracks, with the PSC upgrade kit applied to turn them into the 251/16D models. This involves an upgrade to the internals to include fuel tanks and fuel pump, as well as crew figures dressed in flame proof clothing and armed with flame-throwers. 

I've applied the usual decals, with hull numbers in the range 621-626 (making these part of the III/26 SS Panzergrenadiers 6th company - the pioneer company). I used Skytrex decals for the hull sides, Doms Decals for the crosses. Given the placement of other items on the hull, I didn't have room for my other usual markings.

I've again gone for a different camo scheme, using the same colours. Scorch/soot marks were added to the hull sides where the weapons would likely have been firing (flaming?). 

Another set of boxes completed on my project planning sheet! 

Since completing these, I moved on to painting the half-track tow vehicles for the 4th (heavy support) company's 75mm A/T guns, as well as the SP artillery from the 5th company. These are approaching completion, and I've begun working on the 251/9 (stummel) half-tracks. 

So only 18 out of 46 planned vehicles still to go, and six of those 18 are started...!

In other news, a new project has turned up - Team Yankee Dutch:

Finished: 15mm AVRE Fascine (PSC and S&S Models)

Hi folks,

Completing my years roundup earlier this month made me realise I had finished at least one model I hadn't posted - so for completeness sake, I'm doing that now. 

This was another PSC plastic Churchill kit with a Fascine conversion kit purchased from S&S Models. I'd previously completed one such vehicle back in November 2016 (see here). However with the large D-day game we had planned in August 2021 I decided I should have another, so that I could land two breaching groups.

Of course, the painting technique used doesn't match the older painted version. 

2016 version on the left, 2021 version on the right

Looking at the pictures of them side by side, I prefer the look of the 2016 model! But on a 17' by 6' table, the newer technique stands out a lot more and looks fine. That's the problem with looking at our hobby via a camera lens! To eye, the 2016 just looks dull and bland - a green blob!

At the same time I painted the new fascine layer, I also painted up two more standard AVREs - one shown here alongside its cousin. 

I did go a lot lighter on the stowage of the fascine carrier. Having dug these models out, I also realised that I had details to finish. The radio aerial was missing from the fascine tank, a tank commander is missing from the gun tank, etc. I'll spend a little time this week getting these minor things sorted before they get packed away again. 

Currently the collection included two armoured D7 dozers, a Churchill SBG layer, two fascine layers and 4 plain AVREs. Plus five Sherman Crabs. I may add some other bits in the future, as there are more options available via 3d printing. Perhaps a Churchill Ark or something!

Finished: PSC 15mm Stuart VIs

Hi folks,

After a few weeks of building models and slowly building up my painting again, I managed to complete not just a unit, but a project tab on my spreadsheet. Huzzah. 

These tanks represent three Stuart VI light tanks from the HQ Squadron of 24th Polish Lancers, 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, 1st Polish Armoured Division. 

Along with the recently completed Sherman ARV, this project is 100% complete. 

The Shermans from this project (who form 'A' Squadron) had been reclaimed, rebuilt and repainted way back in December 2016. Most of the Shermans were old 'Open Fire' plastic models I'd picked up already (poorly) assembled. These models are still the worst plastic kits I've even built. 

Earlier this year they were rebased and I changed the colour of the aerial recognition panels to something more historically accurate. I also hit them again with ultra matt varnish. Looking at the tanks tonight, I may also revisit the Fireflies and rearm them with the thinner and better looking barrels from the modern BF kit. 

However, I had been lacking recce Stuarts and an ARV for this unit to complete the old FoW v3 squadron list. Tonight's completed tanks rectifies that failing. 

Apologies for the over-exposure on these pictures, still struggling with lighting for photos. 

I added an orange Aerial Recognition panel to the commanders Stuart, in keeping with the Shermans of the unit. These panels were added to the unit to stand out from my other British and Canadian Sherman squadrons, and because in August 1944 the Poles were bombed several times by both US and British heavy bombers as part of the Totalize and Tractable operations, so I felt the Poles might be a bit twitchy about allied aircraft. 

These Stuarts are plastic PSC models, assembled to represent mid to late production Stuart VIs. Again, this choice was just to make them a little different from the other unit of Polish Stuart VIs in the collection. It does mean they have more tools than they should have, but consider those extra stowage to help the crew dig in faster at night.  

Two crew figures were added to the command vehicles turret (in keeping with my theme of having recce vehicles 'unbuttoned'), along with two aerials. The other tanks have a single command figure and a single aerial. These tanks are based as per my current basing scheme, on an MDF base sized as a FoW 'medium' base, which has been magnetised. 

Stowage has been added from a variety of sources, including Battlefront, Debris of War and PSC. Decals are from Doms Decals (purchased many years ago). 

The final project sheet:

The army list for this unit came from the old v3 Polish booklet, which can still be found here and contains lots of useful info on the division. I believe that other than the Sherman ARV, this unit could be built using v4 rules from D-Day British, although you would need to drop the HQ troop Firefly to make it work by the book (and field four 75mm Shermans). The Poles used this structure due to manpower shortages. 

Excuse the Canadian Stuarts (bottom left) and a Naafi truck sharing the tray. Sextons are stored elsewhere.  

You could also apply the 'Black Devils' command card, increasing the points by +2 per unit, but giving all units 'Fearless 3+' motivation. You could also apply the 'Sexton' command card to a unit of Priests from this book (in formation support) and add an OP Sherman. Point wise in v4 this list would be 105 points.

However, my intention was to build A Squadron, 24th Polish Lancers, with some attachments from HQ Squadron and 1st Polish Motorized Artillery Regiment, rather than worry about points of on table effectiveness! 

I've no more Polish armoured units planned, but still have Polish mechanised and motorised infantry companies planned. I may revisit the need for the motorised unit given I have a full battalion of British infantry in FoW at this point. 

Possibly some German halftracks next. Possibly.     

 

Hobby admin - part 2

Hi folks,

Not much to report painting wise, unsurprisingly. I've repaired some chipped paint and replaced a couple of radio aerials which had gotten badly bent through becoming trapped in various turret rings, etc, while working through my boxes of miniatures rebasing. I've discovered a few turrets which are missing magnets, but that it is a job for later. Drilling resin needs to be done outside, and while the weather has been nice, I've had other stuff on. 

Two boxes have now been completed, which freed up enough space to allow my Cromwell Squadron to fit into a tray. I also made the decision to put my Crocodiles on a base with their trailers, rather than them being separate. In v3 of Flames of War, the Crocodiles could lose the trailer after firing the flamethrower and become a gun tank, whereas in the current edition the fuel isn't as limited (which seems more realistic). Nothing looks as cool as a tank with a trailer...

This does mean that the Croc's take up a bit more space, but the individual trailers were a nuisance to store due to their shape, so having the model all together is actually better. 

15mm Battlefront Churchill Crocodile (resin and metal)

I also updated my engineering vehicles and tanks, which were moved onto the smaller bases. I have changed the selection of tufts, which I'm not hugely keen on, but they look better in the pictures. There were a unit of M10s on the same tray, which have been moved elsewhere as space has become available:

Skytrex 15mm armoured D7 and PCS Churchill with a S&S models AVRE fascine & cradle conversion

I may try and move the SBG bridge AVRE onto a smaller base, but the weight of the resin bridge needs a large base to stop the model tipping. 

It wasn't just the allies who got some TLC. This tray went from being full of German vehicles with no room for anything else, to allowing me to fit my burgeoning Sherman DD squadron in. I'm sure they start arguing every time I close the lid. 

The process or rebasing is pretty straight forward as I'm only tacking vehicles on large bases - but it is slightly time consuming. It takes time to actually prepare the bases prior to shifting the vehicles on to them. I've also been disassembling the old bases, saving what tufts and such I can, while also re-using the ferrous sheeting on them for the new bases. 

Two 9ltr boxes with vehicles are left to tackle. One, with German big cats and a few bits of Allied bits and bobs shouldn't take much work. The other contains my 144RAC squadron, which I am going to be spending more time on. In addition to updating the basing for the Shermans I plan to get all the decals up to scratch and possibly do some more cosmetic work to bring together the whole unit visually. This was my first completed unit, and was collected and painted over a long time, so has more variance than my current units (as I now try to tackle whole units at once to avoid this issue).  

Until next update!

Finished: 15mm PSC Polish Cromwells (Command elements)

Hi folks,

As part of the AHPC this year, my goal is to make progress with my planned 15mm Cromwell tanks squadron as part of my Polish Armoured Division for Operation Totalize. Over the Christmas period I made some progress with the first five vehicles of this squadron, making up the HQ element, close support 95mm armed Cromwell section and an ARV Cromwell. 

These tanks are all decaled up to be part of C Squadron, 10 Pulk Strzelcow Konnych (10th Polish Mounted Rifle Regiment), 1st Polish Armoured Division. I'm representing this unit as of it's initial entry into combat in Normandy on 8 August 1944.

Thankfully from a modelling perspective, at the time of Operation Totalize this unit had only been in France for a short time. As such, period photos from 8 August 1944 show these tanks as being devoid of much stowage or any other paraphernalia. Photos from later in the campaign show a huge accumulation of additional track armour, stowage, etc. But to keep the painting simple, I only had to contend with a seemingly standard bundle of camo netting on the right rear deck. 

In keeping with my standard style, the command tanks have been given two aerials to help mark them out on the table. The Squadron commander will also be in the open hatch, once a suitable model is painted. These and the 95mm armed version are PSC models. 

The 95mm armed close support tanks have not been given a crew figure, but one of the two has been given twin aerials incase that becomes relevant during a game. In the v4 rules the CS tanks form part of the troop with the HQ tanks, rather than an individual unit. This may change in our home games. 

The ARV model was an old Battlefront resin and metal kit I had picked up years ago (the PSC tanks were assembled in 2016). No use for these rules wise now, but I will find a use for it on the table!

I've 12 more Cromwells to paint, along with 3 Stuarts to round out this force. I have picked up some Crusader AA tanks as well, which I am waiting on, and may add a Cromwell OP tank as I have a spare PSC kit. Not sure how much progress will be made before March - that will depend on the baby I suspect!

Painting plan wise, progress looks like this:

Polish Cromwell project - plans

Hi folks,

I'd moved away from doing work in progress posts, as I'm not sure they have a huge amount of value. However, this does mean that it can be a while between posts, especially when I get tied up in working multiple things and not finishing anything. No big deal really, but I like to keep myself active on blogger to a certain extent. I certainly check it several times a day to see what everyone else is posting, and want to make sure I am contributing. Anyway, this is just a bit of info on what I plan to be working on next.  

I had mentioned in my previous post having been working on some other bits and bobs as well as the Universal Carriers. This included sorting out a lot of PSC plastic Cromwells that I had assembled four years ago (!!!). All the vehicles required for the force were assembled where required, detailed with stowage (where appropriate), cleaned up and base coated with a Battlefront 'Firefly Green' spray. 

I was really really pleased to see from the reference pictures I have that going into Operation Totalize the Polish Cromwells were very bare of stowage. The only thing obvious was a bundle of camo netting on the right rear, which I've replicated. Later in the campaign, these vehicles were covered in 'stuff', but at this stage they were nice and clean - making assembly and painting that little bit faster. 

Disappointingly when I assembled my Cromwells using Poly Cement, I had the turret hatches opening to the turret sides, when most of the images I've seen have them opening front to back. Still, not much I can do about that now. 

Below are some images of Polish Cromwells in the correct period (August 1944). 

IWM Image

IWM Image

This project will be focusing on the Poles from C Squadron, 10 Pulk Strzelcow Konnych (10th Dragoons Regiment), 10 Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej (10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade), 1st Polish Armoured Division. In support will be a troop of M10Cs from the Polish Armoured Divisions 1 Pułk Artylerii Przeciwpancernej (1st Anti-Tank Regiment). This will fill a current gap in my collection of 17-pdr armed M10s. 

This is what the above looks like (with a Ram OP tank):

All sprayed at the same time - One Stuart has had the next hand painted primer coat, but the rest are all identical - just to show how much light changes the appearance in the picture. 

I've added my 'final' Highland Division infantry platoon to this plan (not in the picture above), just to keep track of them painting wise. 

I've marked the AA Platoon as optional - I like to have all the options for the FoW company charts, but I've already got 4 of these vehicles painted with another 2 planned for other units. I would need to buy more to fill out all the required models and they just don't seem hugely important at this point. I might pick up some of the new plastic ones in the future just to fill out this squadron. At the same time, this unit has been in the planning stages for so long that I already had the Battlefront resin Cromwell ARV. 

Annoyingly, I actually should have had two Cromwell ARVs - one of those few times I had bought duplicate stuff without realising. The 2nd option would have been a S&S Models conversion kit for a plastic PSC Cromwell. However, somewhat frustratingly, I've been unable to lay my hands on this conversion kit. The spare Cromwell hull may be turned into a Cromwell OP tank, which seems like a good use for it. 

Speaking of OP tanks, I also did some work on converting a resin Battlefront Ram Kangaroo hull into the hull of a Ram OP tank. This, along with a 3d Printed Ram turret I had commissioned and printed years ago, will be an OP tank for my Canadians. This tank, being an oddity, is also in the current painting queue. 

Hopefully, I can make some progress for this project over the winter months!

Finished: 15mm PSC Mortar Carriers

Hi folks,

Another element of my planned 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry squadron done, with the completion of six PSC 15mm plastic universal carriers. 

These were constructed to resemble my Battlefront models, which involved using some of the ammunition carrying parts from the 2" mortar version, with the rear equipment from the 3" mortar carrier. It appears that this layout is historically accurate, given some brief google searching. 

The models are nice enough and seem to scale well. As with most PSC models, these were a little fiddly to put together. The options are nice to have, but I dislike spending so much time putting small transport vehicles together. I've only gone with two crew members for these, but I'm not too bothered about this as I doubt these models will see much table time. Of course, I don't help myself by taking the time to slightly individualise each vehicle with stowage. 

I based these models on some small flames of war bases, but with little extra room for tufts. 

I'll do a comparison with my older Battlefront mortar carriers at some point. 

Decals are those used by 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry - white 41 on a green over blue square. The divisional sign is the Highland Division marking. Other than that, allied star on the sides and the WD markings for a tracked vehicle. While not visible in the photos, there is also a bridge weight marking of '4' on each vehicle as well. I didn't have a good enough flat upper surface for any air recognition stars. 

As I've not posted an update for a while, here's the updated painting chart for the whole squadron. Getting to the point that it's mainly infantry to paint aside from yet more universal carriers. I've also added a foot mounted Forward Air Controller (FAC) team and a larger (medium based) Forward Observers Bombardment (FOBs) - just for fun and scenario use. I may do a jeep for the FAC and a UC for the FOB, just to have some dedicated transport. 

Infantry are sorted out and base coated, awaiting their time in the queue. 

Progress continues!

Finished: 15mm StuGs and mini-project completed!

Hi folks,

Keeping myself active this week, having finished the Kubelwagons last week, I pushed on with the StuGs. Thankfully... getting them done means my last units of my project are done!

The three StuG models are the newer Battlefront plastics, as opposed to my older models which are the old 'open fire' basic models. As per my earlier post on these vehicles, these vehicles are from Sturmgeshutz Abteilung 1344.

I've had to make some guesses about the tactical markings, as the limited information I have on the wrecks in Tilly-la-Campagne is that they had the hull numbers 211 and 212. However, I have seen neither the source for this information of the pictures. The next three I've gone with  231, 232 and 233. Generally, these will just be useful for some of the bigger games, as I think the StuGs a pretty common assault gun for the Germans and is pretty iconic.

I did have to figure out a way of getting these three new StuGs to match in with the three I painted back in 2016. Thankfully, I think I managed to keep them pretty similar:

So, with these StuGs done, that fills in the final green on my planning spreadsheet. Only 4 months behind schedule... I'd planned to have this stuff done by July, but got distracted by building and painting a landing craft and finishing up my 10mm ACW collection.

Green means done!

This means I get to do group shots!

Unfortunately, while this clears the decks of most of my planned German armour, I picked up another box of PSC Panzer IV's and some 2nd hand BF resin models. Those will allow me to field a full company, without using the Panthers. I'd love to do a Panther company as well, but I'm spread too thin as it is just now. I'll revisit the idea in the future when I've actually made a dent in the stuff I already have planned.

I've also got three more Wespes to do, as well as 3 Hummel SP's... which will flesh out the 12th SS armoured stuff. Then half tracks.

Really pleased to have gotten this out of the way, if a little annoyed it took so much longer than planned. I think I'm going to do a couple of buildings next, then decide what to work on from there!