State of the collection 2017 - 3mm Team Yankee

Hi folks,

I'm finally done with my collection posts for this year I think, rounding off with my 3mm Moderns which I am using for Team Yankee.

This post took a little longer to compile than the others mainly due to some technical difficulties. The storage on my Ipad is too low for the Imovie app to work, and as of the 20th of September the video editor in YouTube stopped. I've had to jump through various hoops to get my clips together.

This collection is made up of Oddzail Osmy 3mm vehicles and infantry, with some 1/600th Tumbling Dice aircraft and helicopters.

Again, I've some still pictures for those who don't have the time or inclination to interpret my accent...

4 Companies of T72's at the fore, with 'Carnations' and 'Hail' SP arty at the rear. 

My only painted Soviet infantry company, with 3 Companies of BMP (2 x BMP1, 1 x BMP2)

Hinds and Su25's, Recce BMP's on the left with a better view of the BMP companies. 

A zoomed in view of Soviet AA and SAM assets. Shilka's and Gophers

Soviet arty units - Carnations and Hail

Hinds and Su25's, with BMP1 and BMP2 Recce

US colllection - Tank and Infantry companies with arty, Air, AA and AAA support. 

The Soviet horde

Still to do - Brits! - Chieftans, FV432's, arty, AA, etc. Only missing Heli's. 

A difference is scale... on the left the newer style Osmy 3mm M113's (actually an M163 SP Vulcan), on the right the older (and smaller) style M113's (actually M901 SP TOW). 

My aim for this year is to actually start playing with these models, testing out the rules and generally getting them out the box more frequently. At roughly £3 for 15 models, it doesn't take much to invest in this as an army - certainly a scale I will be taking an interest in going forward!

State of the collection 2017 - The Terrain....

Hi Folks,

As well as getting all the soldiers out, I also took the time to set out some of my terrain. I have had a big push on this year to get myself terrain. Not just a few hills and stuff, but a proper ability to set up a table that matches the effort I put into my figures. 

I've picked up bits and bobs here and there, looked at what other people are doing and been impressed and inspired. So, my final video (unfortunately with poor lighting) is a test setup of my town scenery:

Again, as the pictures seem to have come out better, I'll stick some up here. I've still got a long way to go, but I think I'm on the right track. Comments and constructive criticism is very welcome!

Please excuse the garage mess in the background!

Lack of base boards down this side of the table. I still had a few buildings left to put out, but had ran out of space. 

"It's quiet... too quiet.."

The Battlefield in a Box town squares really helped. 

Really proud of how the damaged buildings look, although the rubble is a bit too pale in places. 

Some Shermans and a StuG added for scale!

The outbuildings seemed to work really well. More work needed on stuff to go in the yards!

Basing to be done on the trees, some more basing boards required. 

More gravestones needed - the area around the church is pretty bare looking. I've got some much larger bases (3.5" by 3.5" that I may use with gravestones). I may also base up the walls to put some greenery along the bottom. 

State of the collection 2017 - Part 5 - Germans

Hi folks,

Finishing off my run of videos with a quick overview of my Germans. I've not really added much to this army painting wise since last years video, but I do have a lot of unpainted stuff hanging around waiting for me to have motivation...

Again, for those of you not bothered about videos, here are some snaps:

The Stugs are from Sturmgeschutzabteilung 1344. - which I could not remember while filming! Tigers are from 101 Heavy Panzer, infantry are all III/Grenadier-Regiment 1055, 89. Infanterie Division. This picture shows the Mortars (10 of them!), 5 PaK40's , MG Bunkers, StuGs and Tigers. 

Pioneer infantry front left, Fusiliers in the centre, MG42 Platoon on the right. Infantry platoons (3 of them) behind the MG42's and Nebs. Also present are the two 88's, command elements for the infantry and snipers. 

The Nebs will be from Werfer Regiment 83 (a German Corps level formation),

State of the collection 2017 - Part 4 - 10mm ACW Confederates

Hey folks,

Since I was going through all my model boxes anyway... I thought I'd throw in my ACW stuff. Working on this actually made a dent in how much FoW stuff I have finished this year, but I suppose it's worth it. Almost.

As usual, for those not worried about the video, I took some pictures as well (although after I had put the models away, unfortunately).

These are all 10mm Pendraken miniatures.

mounted and dismounted cavalry. 

The guns!

The Brigadier with his South Carolina state flag, a brave colonel marker and my 'heavy casualties' marker, along with 'low ammo markers. 

The Brigadier with his South Carolina state flag, a brave colonel marker and my 'heavy casualties' marker. 

Infantry - 42 stands of infantry, 8 command stands. 

Ammo wagon and horse holders

State of the collection 2017 - Part 3 - British Infantry and Support

Hi folks,

Trudging forward, my next table full of mini's is my infantry. Now up to 2 rifle companies and 1 support company, I'm one rifle company short of having the whole battalion as at Operation Totalize start on 7/8/44!

For the record (and because I bothered to count!) I currently have 34 painted Universal Carriers and 10 Loyd carriers. There are still more to do, with 2 more Universal Carrier currently on my painting desk (to be part of my planned aid post). And there's good few more in the lead mountain!

A and B Companies, 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 51st Highland Division

Support units: starting back left: medical support from 176 Field Ambulance, RAF Typhoon, Provosts/MP's,  Armoured Cars from 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry, Royal Engineer Field Platoon, 4.2" Mortars, Wasps and Vickers MMG's from 1st/7th Middlesex Regiment. 

S Company, 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders: Carrier Platoon, 6 Pdr A/T Platoon, 3" Mortar Platoon, Pioneer Platoon.

A and B Companies, with A Company's De-frocked Priests at the rear. 

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