M3 Infantry troops painted

It been a while but I finally got them painted.  Used the guide on the M3 box for painting the troops.  The only color I didn't use was for the jackets.  That color came of the of the Life Colour set for US Infantry uniform (UA419). 
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 Once painted the next step was to washed the troops with Vallejo Wash Sepia.  This I found for me is the best wash for miniatures.

I bought mine at Michigan Toy Soldier.  You can also buy it from the Warstore.  The troops are still on the sprue.  Found this is to be the easy way to paint them. 

All that is needed now to finish up the M3 and M3A1 half tracks.  Should be posting pictures soon. let me know what you think...

Custom laser cut bases

As I was wandering through the Blogs of War site I found this.

http://ajs-wargaming.blogspot.com/2013/04/ive-been-working-from-my-friend-gordon.html

Looks like Allan Wright has a laser cutter business.  Currently he has a few products and does custom work also.  The bases below use standard fender washers.  This is great as the movement tray from England are 25mm while the standard 1 inch washer is 25.7.. Now I have a source in the U.S.

Here is the link to his business:
http://www.wrightbrothersrc.com/wargaming/index.htm

PCS 15mm M3 and M3A1 Halftracks

These little darlings showed up on Wednesday from  "The Warstore".  I had pre-ordered them but never got the notice the Halftracks where in.   Did some quick scans of the model and instructions.  The PSC are so nice to assembly.  Unlike the devil Sdfk222 and BA-10 from Zevzda.  No gap after assembly :)..   The hardest part of the assembly is putting on the fuel cans and the 30 cal. machine.   I suggest you put the 30 cal. on after the halftrack is painted and decaled.   Otherwise you mash it from handling.

PSC is going to bring out the M5 in a month or so.  There should be very small differences between the two vehicles.   In the assembly instructions they show the M3 with out the side racks on. But in all the picture's I have these are installed.  A tip for the driver's don't install the Cupola before the driver are in.  This is for the M3A1 version.  In Europe these halftracks where load down with all kinds of gear.  Glad I saved all the Jerry can's from the Sherman tanks.   Later I post pictures of the completed models. 

 How here are some scan's

 Okay now I need to buy more for my IDF forces for the 1967 and 1973 war.  Can anyone tell who makes IDF and Arabs forces in 15mm. 

Flame of War : The Yom Kippur War

This has been kicking around in the my head since Battle front release their new Vietnam series of tanks.  M48's, Centurions, and T55 with supporting soviet equipment.  The only thing stopping me is the price of the armor.  But Khurasan Miniatures are in the process of casting T-55s and shortly Centurions. They announced this on TMP last month.  May there will be some new toys in the mail soon.

On TMP Natholeon posted and AAR of his FOW Yom Kippur War.  Looks interesting to say the least.  He has post on his website the rule and stats for the opposing forces during the Yom Kippur. Check out the link below:

http://ndcblog.wordpress.com/1973-flames-of-war-the-yom-kippur-war/

Chain of Command new rules by Toofatlardies

Today on one of the Blogs I visit was posted a short post by a new rules set.  Too Fat Lardies new rule set to be published in the future are reviewed.  The rules are Platoon size battle.  There was a link to a You-tube video about the rules.  After watch the 2 videos it looks like the rules will be on my buy list in the future.

Check out the link and video.  Tell me what you think?  Are the rules worth buying?

Chain of Command by Too Fat Lardies

Zevzda sfkz 222 Armor Car

Zevzda keeps making outstanding WW2 armor vehicles.  The Sfkz 222 is a sweet little model.  But a nightmare to put together.  After about 8 of them I realized if cut the back two attachment points off.  I could assembly the sides and top together.  That got rid of the gap problem.   Now for the Pictures.

Kicking the heat with my Flame Panzer III

Another great 1/100 model from Zevzda.   The construction part was about 5 minutes.  Built these when the BA-10's started to drive nuts.  As for the build part check out Anton's site;http://antonswargame.blogspot.com/2013/02/spending-afternoon-with-some-russian_10.html  He did a excellent review.

My Flame panzer's are pattern off a pattern found on the web.  The panzer is vallejo panzer tan set.  The Red Brown is from Tamiya's Hull Red.  Both paints spray well.  This make my life easy when spraying the red brown.  Decal's are  mix from Dom's Decals and I-94. Both companies make excellent products.  Now for picture:

They still need to be weather a little.  The track on the front of the hull came from some spare track off the PSC Panzer III kits.   Waiting for PCS late Panzer III to be released.
Thanks for taking a look.

BA-10 in German service

Decided to do a BA-10 captured by the Germans.  Found this camo scheme on the web.  Figured I need a little extra firepower for my Sfkz 222 section.   

For a review on the BA-10 check out this http://antonswargame.blogspot.com/2013/02/pending-afternoon-with-some-russian.html
My friend Anton did an excellent review on the Zevzda BA-10.

Now for the pictures...

Tiger I Ace

The PSC Tigers are great models.  Decided to make a Tiger Ace.  Here is my attempt at one enjoy.

The kill marking on the barrel are from I-94 enterprises.  I picked the three tone camo scheme as it seems to be common for both the eastern and western fronts. Let me know what you think.  More picture coming BA-10, skfz 222 and Panzer III flame tanks

What I'm working on.

My stug III's B, BA-10 and Flame PzIII's came in the post the other day.   First the PzIII flame panzer was disappointing.  It was just a re-do of Zevzda early PzIII.   But the Stug IIIB is a little jewel.  This a complete new model.  The total time to assembly all three stug's I purchased was 10 minutes.  BA-10 is another great model. The hardest part is trying to put on the headlights.  The headlights are so small I dropped one on the floor.  Now is lost forever. It is a must have if your into early Russian Front.

Overall rating for the Stug IIIB and BA-10 5 stars.   Flamepanzer 3 1/2 stars.  Just need to finish them up so I can post photos.

Waltzing Matilda, sneak review

Here is a little tease..  Zevzda  Matilda in the works.  My plan is to do the matilda's in the canter scheme.  This will be a challenge to tape them for the paint scheme. 
Zevzda hit another home run here..  Later

Rumble, rumble the T70's are here..

Here for inspection is my small horde of T70's by Plastic Soldier Company.  The little beasts are fun to build.  The part the take time in the build is cutting off the injection sprues on the tracks.  Believe this problem has been talked about on "The Miniatures Pages".  All in all from removing the parts off the sprues to a complete model about 10 minutes each. 

The T70's where paint using the Russian Armor part set by AK interactive paint set.  The set is called O4B Russian Green Modulation set.  The paint is a little thick to spray for 1/100 scale armor.  This was fixed with a couple of drop of water.  

The Number on the turret came from I-94 products.  These are excellent decals.

Now for the pictures enjoy:

Kursk Tiger in the works

Needed a few Tigers for Battlefield Kursk.   This one in still a work in progress.  Love my airbrush it makes painting the Tiger so much easier.  For a detail review check out Anton's Wargame Blog   Anton did a excellent review.  I had problems with the turret roof on all the models.  There is a gap,I just decided to live with it. Now only three more to finish up.


Hope you like my Kursk Tiger

Tiger, Tiger!! PSC new Tiger

Finished up the PSC new Tigers.  This is the first batch so far.  These are the early production Tiger used in Tunsia.  Decided to make the Tigers from 504th Company.  You will notice they are a Olive green.  The color is based from information posted on "Missing Lynx".  Great Armor modelling site.  According the people posted on "Missing Lynx" these Tiger where repainted Olive Green in Sicily before being shipped to Tunsia.  Plus information from British tanker who fought these tigers up close.  All the veterans state: They where so close I couldn't forget they where painted green.  Besides it is nice to have a different color on the table instead of the normal Afrika Korp Tan.

I used Model Master Olivegrun as a base coat.  After which I highlighted the with Olivegrun and a touch of radome tan to get a lighter tone.  Once the paint dried over night.  The next step was to put a washed on using Mig Products "Brown wash"  The Tiger was sealed with Testers Flat coat.  Hope you like them.

Game On miniature buildings

Thought I would posted a link to this company.  They make some great building in resin and MDF currently.   If your in 1/285 armor battles they make some great items.  Hoping to post pictures soon of my T-70 by PSC.  Nice little tanks for battles in Russia. 

Here is the line to Game On.

Game On

Airbrushes

As you know I use an airbrush to paint my models.  Have been using an airbrush since about 1970. Bought my first one from the original Squadron Shop in Hazel Park, Michigan. That was about a life time ago. The airbrush was a single action Paasche H model.  This airbrush was replaced by an H Model.  In between I just a badger double action that turned out to be a pain in the butt. 

Today I found this site called Don's Airbush tips.  In his blog he reviews a harbor freight airbrush it is the Harbor Freight Deluxe for a whole 22 dollars.  Based on the review I am going to purchase one today.  And some time in the future comment on how it worked out. Below is a link to Don's blog.  Take a look at all the different airbrushes he has tested.

Enjoy

Don's Airbrushe tips

2013 Releases from Zevzda

Wow looks at the T-35..  Looks like I will saving up my spare change for these.