Just a quick update to show the current dust-covered mess that passes for my workbench, with a shot of the vehicles that I have been working on recently.
All are in "staggered" stages of production, as I find that I can maintain my interest in the project that way, and it means that while one hull, turret or vehicle chassis is drying out, I can work on something else in the meantime.
The first row is part of what will be my motorcycle battalion.
All are in "staggered" stages of production, as I find that I can maintain my interest in the project that way, and it means that while one hull, turret or vehicle chassis is drying out, I can work on something else in the meantime.
The first row is part of what will be my motorcycle battalion.
On the left is a Skytrex BA-64 armoured car, which I have heavily modified with the batallion commander gazing out while perched on top. This particular casting was quite a mess, and took a lot of work with file and a razorsaw to make it look anywhere near acceptable for the tabletop. Turning out pretty well so far, though.
Alongside the BA-64 is a company (two vehicles) of T-34/76's to provide some "muscle" should the recce battalion get into trouble. These are a mish-mash of kits I've had hanging around. The white blur in the middle is a Matchbox 1942 T-34 with a (now defunct) Leva Models resin rounded ChTZ turret, while next to that is a Fujimi T-34 model 1942 with a scavenged ESCI turret.
The turrets are actually 1/72 scale, while the vehicles themselves are 1/76. The Leva turret in particular is on the small size, so goes well with the Matcbox kit. Even the ESCI turret does not look too far out of scale, and after all these are wargaming models not display replicas.
Behind them can be seen the nucleus of my Tank Brigade. HQ company in front, with a command T-34/85, radio truck and a halftrack (need one more of these). Behind the HQ units are eight more T-34/85's. Each has some variation, with differing patterns of road wheels, damaged or missing mudguards, and various stowage.
I may need to build myself up to ten more, which would still give me a good half dozen kits left over!
The turrets are actually 1/72 scale, while the vehicles themselves are 1/76. The Leva turret in particular is on the small size, so goes well with the Matcbox kit. Even the ESCI turret does not look too far out of scale, and after all these are wargaming models not display replicas.
Behind them can be seen the nucleus of my Tank Brigade. HQ company in front, with a command T-34/85, radio truck and a halftrack (need one more of these). Behind the HQ units are eight more T-34/85's. Each has some variation, with differing patterns of road wheels, damaged or missing mudguards, and various stowage.
I may need to build myself up to ten more, which would still give me a good half dozen kits left over!
This pictures shows a close-up of the T-34/76 with the ESCI turret, and next to that are some Britannia Miniatures tank riders.
After some experimentation, I found that the best way to base the Tankovye Desantniki is to glue them on, of all things, poker chips. These fit nicely on the engine deck of a T-34. I'll glue a piece of felt under the chip base to prevent it sliding around, but it is an unobtrusive and very cheap way to mount the riders, and they look the part.
The models in black have been undercoated using a very reasonably priced- yet very matte- high quality black aerosol undercoat by Creative Colour (which will be my primer of choice from now on).
I am still trying to gather the courage to start airbrushing the models. I have an airbrush I bought some time ago, but the last time I airbrushed a tank was an old 1/35 KV-1 model by Tamiya back in 1977!
I do have a practice model to work on first. An old SU-85 model.
I do have a practice model to work on first. An old SU-85 model.
I used it to test out the primer coat, and will use it to practice some airbrush techniques first before starting on the other models. It, too, has served.
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