From RossM:10 & 15mm AFV Vehicles (86 Points)

Another AHPC draws to a close; a small dent in the piles of shame made and a final post for this year. 

First up are a small selection of armour cars for the D.A.K in World War 2. These are from Pendraken Miniatures and are 10mm in scale. 

The front row shows two Sd.Kfz. 221 (MG) armoured cars with the rear row showing three Sd.KFz. 222 armoured cars. When painting these models the undercoat has been Panzer grey to darken down the final colour and also to reflect the process of how the vehicles were originally over painted in desert colours. 

Washes and subtle dry brushing have been used to bring the overpainted colours together. 

Next up are two set of vehicles from the ongoing Bundeswehr project for Team Yankee. The first set of pics shows a zug of M109 Self propelled artillery pieces with a M113 OP in tow.  These have been painted using the same process as previous 

Next up is a zug of Marder I, sadly without their supporting Panzer Grenadiers who are currently sitting in the butterfly offerings of started but not finished models for this year's Challenge.  

The NATO Camo Vehicle wash from AK has been a great find and has really set the tone for this project.

Apologies on the lighting for the Bundeswehr vehicles, struggled to get a decent set up this evening for this.  

So, another challenge finishes and the action of painting across the darker months of the year has given motivation to continue with several projects as well as some bits just for the fun of it. It is a hobby after all. 

In terms of points, the following can be added to the tally

10mm vehicles x 5 equaling 30 points

15mm vehicles x 7 equalling 56 points

I have made donations to Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK Charities as my contribution for taking part. 

 

Thanks for looking and a huge thank you to you all for AHPC XVI

Cheers for now

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Great looking vehicles, Ross. The WWII German recce are excellent but I especially like the NATO camo. Well done! 

I look forward to seeing you with us next year!

- Curt 

From TeemuL: Wild West and Eastern Front (71 points)

Two different projects gaining additions this week, and both of these are projects I have already played games with and hope to play more in the future! Let's start with Old Wild West or how you want to call it. This fellowship of nine are Great Escape Games multipart plastic gunfighters from Gunfighters and Gunfighters II boxes - the first one contains the gentlemen and the second one the ladies. I shared these boxes with a friend and painted one lady on last challenge, hence the odd number. What a Cowboy is the ruleset I have and have played with, so I went with varied weapons to have all kinds of different options available. I have painted some several Old West minis in the past, now I should have quite a large selection - barring the mounted options.

I used mainly quite dull, earthly colours and drybrushed everything in the end to get a dusted appearance, but tried to add some bright colours here and there - the scarf, undershirt or something. So you see lots of different browns here, lots of Reikland Flesh Shade everywhere, but still not exactly Sergio Leone dust levels. :)

Playing around with some other environment than the dungeon (see below), I decided to use Last Chance Saloon for my Gunfighters, and it is quite ok. I just need something colourful for the background.

I painted some SU-76s for the Soviet Army for Bagration and since I'm in the process of painting the both sides, it felt only fair to give something for Germans as well. I guess the Russians have quantity and Germans have the quality, here are two Hornisses, also known as Nashorns, and officially as Sd.Kfz. 164. These are part metal part resin figures, a bit painful to assemble thus, but they look quite nice when ready. They are tank hunters, rather cheap and manouvarable solution to break Allied tanks. Open topped with a highly effective Pak 43 gun, similar gun was used later in Tiger IIs and Jagdpanthers. And of course as anti tank gun as itself. Hornisse first saw action at the battle of Kursk and remained in the service until end of the war.

I have used Averland Sunset as the yellow colour, then some green DIY store green added with blister foam to create the camouflage and finally some XV-88 (nice connection to the gun "8.8cm Pak 43" this vehicle carries) to finalize to overall look. AA gun was painted black, same as the wheels. Tracks are some greyish colour I had. Reikland Flesh Shade is used here, too, some touch ups and identification info. Glued on MDF base with some green sawdust and tufts to tie them nicely to Eastern Front in summer 1944. My philosophy with late war Germans is, that anything goes. I mean, there are of course rules to follow, but as long as playing Flames of War type of games, which are not strictly historical battles, rather generic encounters of what-ifs, German forces are happy to field what ever they have available. Retreating units from the front line, reinforcements from the reserve, you take what you have to fight for the Motherland. So these two Hornisses should have no trouble finding a home in my army.

The crew was painted separately, because that was easier and I could then claim full points of them. Khaki jacket and caps with dark brown and bright green camouflage pattern, grey pants and black boots. And that famous Reikland Flesh Shade pretty much everywhere.

Nine 28mm gunfighters for 45 points and a "28mm Old West Squirrel!"

Two 15mm vehicles for a total of 16 points and then 4 and 2 halfs of crewmembers for 10 points, 26 in total and a "15mm WW2 German Squirrel." It's amazing how they plan these "Squirrel in a box" products!

Total for this post is 71 points and 2 squirrels, no skulls or stompy robots, but something for Lady Sarah, if that is still a thing. :) And three cardboard boxes are now empty and ready to be recycled.

Fellowship of Nine on the balcony

P.S.While I was taking photos of these, my 10 year old son was bored, because screen time was all used up and he then spent some time chatting with his mother and I overheard this kind of question:

- What is that "Desert song" that is always played in the movies, when they are in the desert?

I'm quite sure he means Youtube videos and such like, since he doesn't watch movies, they are too long and boring. My wife was a bit puzzled about this "Desert song", but our son insisted that it is a real thing and told her to search for it. She thought a while and then played this song from Youtube and that actually was the "Desert song!" So now you know, too! :)

P.P.S. I did write the text about "Sergio Leone dust levels" before this conversation!

There's nothing better to get the vreative juices going then playing the game that needs painted miniatures and while those Eastern front tanks are awesome, for me it's the Wild West figures taht are the star of this post, more so because of the very recognisable story about your son and his questions... it's no different at this end of the line mate. 

 

Great work and see you next week, Cheers Sander 

From JamesM: 15mm Bobbins, Fireflies and Battery CP's (48pts)

Hi folks,

More green painted tanks from me, to end my challenge on. 

First up, some D-day oddities. 15mm resin printed 'Bobbin' AVRE Churchills. These tanks were 'carpet layers' designed to unroll a reinforced matting over soft sand/clay areas. This would provide a very temporary surface which other vehicles could use to prevent getting stuck on the beach. It could have the additional effect of flattening barbed wire to allow infantry easy crossing. As far as I'm aware, these attachments only really saw action on D-Day, although the concept was pursued in other forms post war. 

I've added some paint bottles for size references to some pictures, as it has been mentioned it's hard to define the scale sometimes - unfortunately I don't keep a banana near my desk. 

These models came from 'Butlers Printed Models' who have an excellent range of 3d printed 'funnies'. This was an expensive buy as I went for the 'all resin' option, but as soon as I saw these I knew my 'breaching teams' needed some. 

These tanks will see the table soon - this year me, MartinC and DaveD planning to do five large 15mm games - one for each of the D-Day beaches. 

Of course, it wouldn't be a challenge without me painting more 15mm Shermans*. 

Since I'd finished my Sherman DD's earlier in the challenge, I also painted the three firefly tanks that would join the squadron once the beach was a little more secure. 

These models are old metal and resin Battlefront kits I've had for a while. However, they have been 'upgraded' with more modern plastic Battlefront 17-pdr gun barrels, as the plastic offering is far thinner and more realistic looking than the old metal offerings. 

Decals and such are for the Fort Garry Horse. I've kept them very light on stowage, as they were a rush job and I can always add that later once I've seen what reference pics might be out there. After much interanl debate I also decided to base these the same way as the DD tanks. 

Lastly, a Battlefield3d resin printed Sexton Command Post model. 

This model has no real purpose other than it was unusual and I wanted to add one to my collection. As my Canadian Sextons has a Ram OP tank, I thought I'd add this oddity to my Polish artillery pool. Really just set dressing for games, it does look cool and took little effort, what with the canvas cover. 

Six 15mm scale tanks, at 8 points each, for a total of 48 points. 

* Like DaveD with his camels, although I've made sure the type of Sherman used is correct. 

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It wouldn't be a proper Challenge without James doing some 15mm WWII armour, would it? Love the assorted 'funnies' and the oddball Sexton Command vehicle. It's these outliers that really make for an interesting tabletop. Well done James and best of luck with your upcoming D-Day monster games! 

Until next year!

-Curt

From TomC: Minimags [DIY] (42 points)

Hello again everyone, a bit of time off has given me an opportunity to claw my lamentable progress up a bit and even add some labels to my posts (sorry Greg!).

Today's entry is a pair of Sd.Kfz 250 halftracks from Battlefront's Flames of War range which I've been working on to serve as part of a pilot for the colour schemes I'd be looking to employ on the German half of the Hit the Beach starter I've had for... some time now.

I haven't painted any vehicles since I was a teenager, when I gleefully slathered a variety of Space Marine tanks in Humbrol enamels, so these were painted with the Colours of War guide from Battlefront at my elbow and an experimental mindset. With that said, any feedback is gratefully appreciated!

Chief experiments were the soft-edged camouflage, which I did with a brush and by glazing in the colours (Citadel Straken Green and Vallejo Chocolate Brown mixed in with the base Vallejo Dark Yellow). The photos I've found usually show a much busier camouflage pattern but this striped pattern is much closer to what I'd be looking to replicate on my other German armour, so on it went!

The other was the splinter pattern camouflage, mostly one of the passenger's smocks, but also on inappropriate items of stowage I'd added from the Plastic Soldier Company set, which also donated the constipated-looking passenger on the right. I'm less convinced by how this turned out, work to be done here... 

Other peculiarities were the shoulder-boards: the 250 was generally the preserve of reconnaissance units, but they changed which colour they used throughout the war, but with different divisions required to adopt the 'new' colours (or so it seems). I went with yellow, which seemed broad enough in usage.

 A fair question is why we're in DIY and kitbashing is the answer. Firstly, our man above is a combination of one of the Battlefront tank commanders and the legs of a Grenadier: I wanted a studious scout crewing my halftrack (rather than a shouty officer-type which comes with the crew set). The other is the halftrack crew, the Battlefront kit has neither driver nor assistant and I wasn't keen on the self-driving haunted halftrack, so I appropriated some Plastic Soldier Company passengers. They required a lot of modification to fit!

For scoring, two 15mm vehicles should be 16 points and then there are seven crew members, but two are sitting and four are very vestigial so I would suggest 6 points for the lot perhaps, equivalent to three standing 15mm infantry? With the DIY bonus, the tentative total is then 42 points, which puts me just over halfway to my Challenge target... lots to do then!

***

Others may have feedback and suggestions Tom, but I would say these look marvellous. Great work. It can be intimidating to tackle new subjects (or, "relatively new" - I mean, I'm sure your teenage years were not to long ago, were they? :). And German WW2 stuff is always extra tricky, as even basic research into their use of camouflage can easily cause brain spasms.

I think your approach here has done the trick! They look great, the crew look excellent too. Advice? I dunno, maybe a pin wash of a dark brown in some of the recesses of the vehicles in order to draw the contrast on the panels? But that's just fiddle-sticking - they would look damn fine on any table in my opinion!

 

The scoring all tracks for me - 42 points for you, well done!

 

GregB

From DaveD - It’s a bitsa week - (67 points)

Bit off an odd weeks production with bitsa this and bitsa that . 

One of the guys at my local group was off loading a few unpainted Sherman’s and an M26 Pershing at our last meet up so I nabbed them to do for the winter collection .A rattle can of Tamiya TS28 olive drab ( rattle  can of choice for my US armies)  , some track colour, oil wash and decals and they were ready for “winterising”

First up 4 heavily winterised M4s , for hunting/hiding from that King Tiger I showed earlier .

Some of these models are Battlefront and some I think are old Skytrex as they are hefty chunks of lead .

Unfortunately one of the tanks turns out to be a British Sherman version , however I am not that much of a rivet counter . If looks like a Sherman, quacks like Sherman, has stats like a Sherman, (burns like a Sherman - ed) it's  a US Sherman in my army .

The “whitewash” on the tanks was done with an old tin of enamel white just thick and dry enough to drag across with a large brush.

feeling chilly yet?

 

In addition I have completed the Pershing , though left it with a more frosty ground tuft basing as they didn’t get to front line units until Feb 45.

 

The Snow and Mud effect on the M4s is the acrylic snow effect from AK and the muddy ground one too . For a first stab I am pleased . 

So 5 x 15mm tanks = 40 pts 

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And now for something different . I have picked up some “pup” tents (from Pendraken) to make some camp areas for the ACW stuff , for no real practical reason other than they will  add some nice set dressing. I have completed the first one for my Reb cavalry 

Points = 8 horses , 3 foot , = 22 , tents I would suggest 1pt a piece =5.  Total 27 

I have another 3 of these large bases to do with some infantry , wagons etc to complete in due course.

This keeps the scoreboard moving this week and every week of the challenge . Huzzah.

***

We are always pleased to see another submission from you DaveD, however "bitsa" it might be. The tanks look fabulous, and the whitewashed ones emit a suitable sense of bone-shattering winter chill, familiar to anyone who grew up in or lives near the Canadian prairies. Sadly the government always prevented me from mounting 75mm guns on our trucks - because of "the law" or whatever - but seeing those snow clad tanks immediately takes me to January in Winnipeg.

As for keeping track of which sort of Sherman is which...whatever...I don't actually believe anyone can, regardless. They all seem the same to me...

So, the impressive armour, along with the random little 10mm camp piece (very nice) nets out to 67 points. Lovely stuff.

GregB