Airfix 1314 - AEC Matador and 5.5 Inch Gun

Good day!!

After a long night's session yeasterday, I managed to finish Airfix's AEC Matador and 5.5 Inch Gun model.

The model was really easy to build, I built it in about 45 minutes. The cast is very delicate, but not with the best amount of details, considering the fact that it's a rather old model. For the driver fig, I used an old Esci fig (cut in the torso and above). Unfortunately the model doesn't come with plastic transparent windows as the QLT & QLD trucks do (new models by Airfix), but, I reckon that I can live with that. The painting scheme I followed was the same as the rest of the British Trucks have, in order to achieve some consistency (mouse painting scheme). If you want to deploy Tommy numbers on the battlefield, you should go for this kit. It combines trasportation and firepower in a very appealing price. :-)

On with the photos then:

Below you will finnd a GIF file I created (a big boy playing I call it), showing the truck and the gun on the move through Normandy's hedgerows. It's pretty generic, but I made it in a few minutes time, so please be tolerant. Next time I'll do a better job! :-)

I hope you like it!

T.

Artillery & Reconnaissance: An army's foundations.

Good day!

Now that the weather has come back to normal (in terms of temperature) for the season being and since we are in the last ten days of this month, and I still have money left from my salary (that's new....), I visited my local hobby store ''Fasma Models'', and I bought two kits for my British Army. Basically an idea was running through my head, that was a creation of WW2 armies that they were going to have the basic elements an army of WW2 had in reality (in much smaller scale though). That means: Artillery, Reconnaissance forces, Trucks, A/A & A/T guns, AFV, Infantry etc...

With so many blogs in the internet related to our hobby, I had the chance to visit a blog runned by Jack - (Jacksarge's Wargames Rumblings), who lives in Australia (if I am correct). Jack among his other works, is creating a British Armed force for WW2, more especially 43rd Wessex Division, which was one of the most famous army units in the British Army during WW2. Being astonished by his work (if you haven't visited his blog, please do - link), I decided to follow his track and try to make a little 43rd Wessex Division for me.  I hope you don't mind Jack! :-)

Fingers crossed I started yesterday, with the acquisition of two kits, one from Airfix (#1314 AEC Matador & 5.5' Gun) and one from Revell (Ex-Matchbox #3223 Humber Mk II). 

Eager to start playing with my new toys (late at night - when all the good things happen usually) I managed to build Airfix's kit and prime it with its basic colours. Next post will be for the finished models, so stay tuned.

One quick question (I am asking all my friends): can you suggest any figs for the guns (crew), that may be ''budget-friendly'' (if they're in plastic, that would be even better)? I know that AB figures make some excellent figs for the 5.5'' guns, but gosh..they're a bit out of my budget. With a rough calculation, I have to give almost 80 quid, to provide a 4piece artillery battery with crews. I'd better give them for beers... :-)

Have a great day!

Cheers,

T.

US 105mm Howitzers

Hello everyone.....

It's been a long long time since my last post (more than a month dare I say). 

The temperature here in Athens was escalating in heating terms, this past thirty days and my appetite for painting was somehow wrenched....

I wasn't sitting on my buttocks though. Even though I didn't feel like painting, I managed to read four books, visit Norway (for my work), and I tried to begin writing a book (in Greek, so no worries boys and girld, you won't feel appalled by a possible lewdness to your nice language). For this project (they are piling up once more), I bought (after a long argument I had with my bank account) a new laptop!!!! I'm now, in what you call 'stalemate'...but the muse will visit me again (soon I hope)! I can use it for my hobby though (now...I have to learn to use Photoshop....hmmm).

Anyway, enough with my excuses. I tried to visit as many blogs I could (even though I didn't comment much) and I noticed that you've been busy painting and modelling. Bravo!! :-)

Below you will find some photos, showing US 105mm howitzers. I bought these models (metal ones) from RAFM Miniatures (link) for quite a bargain price for each. For the crews, I used Waterloo's #038 American 75mm Mountain Gun figs, which (in my opinion) are very well sculpted. If you are looking for US gun crews in plastic, don't look any further, this is the kit you were looking for!

So....on with the photos!

I hope you like 'em!

C&C are always welcome!

T.