Ruined Corner

Bit of a diversion, putting together the diorama that came with the Matchbox/Revell Morris Truck and 17 pounder gun. 

Thought it might come in handy for a bit of variety in photographs. 

A few test shots (Caesar british infantry and a Hasegawa Humber).

DUKW and Cover

I've resisted most of the 'Military Vehicles Collection' magazines published recently (although it wasn't easy), but couldn't help pick up the last couple, which had a Flak38 on Sd.Kfz.7 half track and a DUKW.  These are both the kind of models that I'd probably never get around to buying and making a proper model of, but could happily use on the table, so I thought, 'what the hell'.

Not bad little models, if a little basic in places (the Flak 38 is a pretty simple version).  The Flak's in early war grey though, so do I give it a repaint (and try and find some crew from somewhere)?

Airfix US Infantry

Here we are, those Airfix US Marines/Infantry completed.  There's an interesting split in this set.  Some of them are scaled down versions of the Airfix 1/32 US infantry, and are noticeably larger than the rest.  The poses in this set, and particularly the smaller ones, are excellent, really convincing.  The two grenadiers are particularly good.

These first three are scaled down from the 1/32 sculpts 

No cartwheeling or limp wristed grenade throwers here (yes, I'm looking at you Esci and Italeri!). 

A random Revell Paratrooper that needed a base

More Great War

Finished the other Airfix Great War Germans last night, based them this evening.  I found it surprisingly difficult finding references for the uniform.  So in the end I've gone for what looks and feels 'about right'.

A rummage in the attic

Had a bit of a rummage around in the loft earlier, looking for my airbrush (nope, still no idea where it is!) and found all sorts of old figures.

With the anniversary of 1914 being in the news at the moment, I was drawn to the handful of Airfix WWI Germans I found.  Not as the start of a new project, but more of an interesting side road.

This was also a nostalgia trip, as this was one of the very first sets of toy soldiers I had as a kid, bought by my Grandad, who also painted some of them for us.  The other set we had was the Airfix 8th Army, so battles as a kid were pretty eclectic, with first world war German infantry, accompanied by a King Tiger, fighting over a pontoon bridge defended by the 8th Army with Jeeps and a Centurion tank!

Considering their age, the sculpting and moulding on these is incredibly sharp.  There was some flash (which I'm still struggling to clean neatly, even using the hot needle technique), but not too much.  The bases are a little iffy though, with figure's feet vanishing into the base where it's thicker than it should be.

Aaaaanyway.  Enough talk, here's the first model complete, an officer in greatcoat with Pickelhaub.  Several infantry are on the way too.

I've not forgotten about the Airfix US infantry thought, just waiting for the bases to dry.

1/76 Scale Arm of the Law

Airfix 'Marines' have now had their highlight and are awaiting proper basing.

In the meantime I thought I'd quickly post this chap, who's now complete apart from painting the base.

This is the greatcoated officer from the venerable Matchbox US Infantry set.  I thought I'd have a go at an MP for a change.  Can't guarantee it's authentic, I've probably got all kinds of uniform details wrong, and my freehand is nowhere near as steady as I'd like (or my clearing up of that mould line!), but I'm ridiculously pleased with the result anyway ;-)

Airfix US Marines WIP

Base colours and a GW Devlan Mud wash added.

Although Airfix describe them as Marines, these are really just generic US Infantry in light order (no packs, minimal equipment). There's nothing specifically 'Marine' about them (helmet covers, trousers worn over the boots etc) so I've painted the first batch up as such to add a bit more variety to my existing US forces.  A later batch might get painted up as marines to give me an excuse to hunt out those Airfix Japanese I'm sure are stashed somewhere in the attic!

Nice models overall.  Not too much flash (a few still on the sprue will need a bit of a clean up though). Sculpting is nice; decent detail and some great poses.  The two grenade throwers in particular are some of the best I've seen, really looking like they're in the thick of it.

As the first pic shows as well, there's quite a difference in scale between some of the sculpts (the larger ones being based on the Airfix 1/32 US Infantry), but once they're mixed with the other Caesar and Matchbox stuff it shouldn't be too noticeable.

I've also rediscovered, and made a start on, another of my old matchbox minis.

I have an idea for this one...