A pair of M3s and More

Along with the two M10s, I was also short two M3s for the Stolberg Corridor campaign game.  I took my time, but they are now ready for the next session (coming soon).

While tempting to go for uniformity,

I went for variety.

Late War

Mid War

But wait, there's more...

The Zvedza scout car was damaged in the previous game, 

or rather it proved too delicate 

for the rough and tumble of the table top: 

its wheels fell off.  

So, it was best to base it.

These next lot of models are Peter Pig and were part of a collection acquired from Dave.  I've just done a little work on the basing and an odd bit of painting here and there.

Just painted the canvas tilts.

And the little straps.

Brrrm!

Interesting to contrast this M3 with the Battlefront one.

Personally, I have a soft spot for the Airfix halftrack.

I did repaint this Sherman and applied decals/transfers.

As with the two M3s,

applying the transfers

is the hardest part.

This guy certainly feels the part, being solid metal.

Again, brings back memories of the Airfix Sherman.

More varnish woes

Hmmm, well I was blaming atmospherics for my varnish problems: too hot and now maybe too wet.  But this is the third time, luckily all on WW2 models were it just adds to character.  It is a new canister of Vallejo Matt Spray Varnish I have been using.  The previous one had no troubles at all except once which was attributed to weather (I have some US infantry with a thin white tinge to their helmets.

The batch of artillery had the varnish turn to dust as it was too warm (my theory), luckily it doesn't detract too much and even adds a bit of a weathered feel to the models.  Featured in this post.

Beaut little Zvedza kit, those rocket crates are in three parts and were a challenge to construct

A layer of snow/slush perhaps?

The magnification rendered by the photos exaggerate the "damage" done by the varnish.  To the naked eye, especially with the distance on the table top, it will look fine.

Two Panzer Four

The kits were purchased for last Xmas and have been waiting patiently to be completed.

Zvedza

Battlefront

Comparison.

Zvedza looks crisp, the Battlefront chunky.  The Zvedza is about a third of the price and a tenth of the weight (I did give it a bit of ballast to stop it being blown away).  I did like the fully moulded open hatch with the Battlefront.  It is a pity that Battlefront seem to be reducing their supply.  I was late to 15mm WW2 and miss being able to browse in Tactics and pick up the odd kit.

Repainted Zvezda SdKfz 251/1

For the next Rommel game I needed an early war armoured infantry vehicle for my Germans.  I had plenty of desert camo and late war models, but nothing in grey.

I took one of the desert models, painted it black, slapped on some Tamiya grey, did a few details on the shovels and tracks, applied some transfers and gave it a dry brush and then a matt varnish and it's good to go.

The mud effects were from the previous basing when I had purchased this as a job lot for Tunisia.

On this model the front fitting was not perfect.  

I tried applying pressure to click it into place, but it was too risky.

I had thought of putting on some stowage to cover up the imperfection, 

but I was almost finished by the time I remembered

and truth be told it is not that noticeable.

No flash

That gap looks so enormous!

Hmmm, it will have to do.

For now...

Two Panzer 38(t)s and an Opel Blitz

Zvedza Opel Blitz, nice model if a bit fragile.

One of these is by Battlefront.

I don't normally do turret numbers, but the box art made it look appealing.

A Trio of BTs

August and September have been dry months for painting and modelling.  I did do some work, but nothing to completion.  The weather was bad (and my studio, while grand, is down the back of the garden) and I had other things happening in my life.  In reviewing posts from these months I see I have two relevant posts that I haven't finished, but they can wait because now I have my mojo back and completed this delightful trio of Soviet BT tanks.

The BT5 on the right is Zvedza, while the BT5 and BT2 are from Battelfield3d.

An addition to my assortment of T26s

The 3D printed T26 from Battleground3D has painted up a treat.

The business end.

The rear end.

Comparison shot with Battlefront and Zvedza T26 offerings.

In keeping with my other posts on some of my Soviets, the 3D model weighs 11g, the Zvedza a tiny 4g and the Battlefront one a massive 30g.  The 3D model was six pounds plus p&p, the Zvedza model cost me seven or eight Australian dollars. the Battlefront model was part of my big purchase but looking at their online store it goes for USD 13.

Doh!  I now see I should have rusted up the exhaust. 

An Assortment of T26s

Given a model represents a reinforced company in Rommel I have felt no need to invest in conformity with my collection (and to tell the truth I am still in rebellion for all the years I was locked into the Tin Soldier Hellenistic range for my ancients - and still am in some, not all bad, ways).  So here we have four models, from three different manufacturers.  It helps that the T26 (to quote from Wikipedia):

"was produced in greater numbers than any other tank of the period, with more than 11,000 units manufactured. During the 1930s, the USSR developed 53 variants of the T-26, including flame-throwing tanks, combat engineer vehicles, remotely controlled tanks, self-propelled guns, artillery tractors, and armoured carriers. Twenty-three of these were series-produced, others were experimental models.

Two Zvedza kits - a treat as always.

A T26N artillery observation vehicle from Quality Castings. 

Assembling the radio antennae was a bugger.

Battlefront model which I wanted so I could have the crew figure on display.

Comparing the Battlefront and Zvedza models, 

with flash and without.

Zvezda Katyusha

Another beautiful little model from Zvezda, if a bit on the fragile side (as in care is needed in pressing the pieces into place).  I did a way too simple paint job, but it will be perfect on the table top.

Just for the record, it comes in at 5 grams.

Zvezda T26

Another beaut little model from Zvezda.  I was going to post this along with some other T26s I have just commissioned, but this model deserves its own post.

Zvedza T35

Another beaut model from Zvedza.  When together easy as and painted up a treat.  Gave me a great sense of achievement in these miserable bush fire and lock down days (and I know I am having it real easy compared to many people/places on our planet).

A BT5

This kit by Zvedza is a little beauty!  Just seven parts that snap together.  Only issues are I haven't been able to get the turret to rotate and there was no real body cavity that I could stuff with lead - this really is a light tank!  Fast too!  Only took me three days to complete it.

Amazing bit of mechanics,

used for steering front wheels when running without tracks.

This photo taken without flash.

Just realised I missed a bit at the back of the turret underneath.

However it serves to show how it was painted.  Black undercoat, green top coat, dry brush of buff.