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Thursday, 22 June 2023

Cooler weather means I make some progress!

The cooler weather in London on Saturday meant that I could actually work in my toy/wargames room. As a result, I was able to do some of the work on my Eastern Front/Great Patriotic War project that I had not expected to be able to do, and I will be sharing the results in a number of forthcoming blog posts.

The first units I sorted out were Soviet artillery units, and the first of these comprised a heavy anti-tank gun unit ...

... and two 122mm howitzer units.

The towing vehicles were all scratch-built by me using Plasticard and bits from my large spares box. The lorry was based on the chassis of a model railway parcel van and the tracked vehicles were mainly constructed from the running gear of old Airfix US halftracks and the cabs of Airfix Matador lorries. The 122mm howitzers were bought many years ago from Skytrex, and most of the gun crews are from Irregular Miniatures.

22 comments:

  1. Good work Bob - I like the tracked towing vehicles very much.

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    Replies
    1. Maudlin Jack Tar,

      Cheers! I wanted to produce something that looked like the STZ-5 tractor, and I don’t think I did a bad job.

      All the best,

      Bob

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  2. Replies
    1. Mr. Pavone,

      Cheers! I was very pleased with the way they turned out.

      All the best,

      Bob

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  3. Those towing vehicles are amazing Bob! Great job! Are they in a 20mm or 15mm scale?

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    Replies
    1. Brad DeSantis,

      Cheers! They are 20mm-scale. My collection is made up of a mixture of 1:87th, 1:76th, 1:72nd, and 20mm-scale vehicles. (I have never, ever been too worried about mixing scales, although I do know that this is anathema to some wargamers.)

      All the best,

      Bob

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  4. Replies
    1. Ross Mac,

      Cheers! They date from when I did a lot of scratch-building.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. Bob,
    Nice work on the Vehicles- it is good fun making things. Don't be surprised if I delve into WW2 Western Front- very tempting in 20mm. Best Wishes. KEV.

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    Replies
    1. Kev Robertson (Jev),

      I’d love to see your take on WW2 wargaming … but not if it impacts on your current project.

      If you do go for the Western Front, will you be casting your own 20mm figures?

      All the best,

      Bob

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    2. Bob,
      My MYSTIC HORIZONS Project is nearly completed- just awaiting on the Altarian 'Temple Guard' figures. No- I won't attempt to do my own WW2 figures - instead I've found a 20mm WW2 range of Infantry and Armor by 'SHQ' in the UK- most impressed at this stage. (Please see my Latest Post). Cheers. KEV.

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    3. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      I’m pleased to read that you’re going to continue work on your MYSTIC HORIZONS project.

      SHQ do produce some nice figures and vehicles, and I believe that I have some in my collection. Are they easy to get hold of in Australia or do they have to be imported?

      Good luck with your World War II project.

      All the best,

      Bob

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    4. Bob,
      I will have to order the SHQ Infantry and Armour direct from SHQ in the UK. I doubt if these items are available here in Australia. Yes, I will continue with my Imagi-nations MYSTIC HORIZONS Project - I've been working on it since October 2022 and just about completed the entire Project. Best Wishes. KEV.

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    5. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      I wasn’t sure in SHQ had an Australian agent or outlet.

      I’ve loved following your MYSTIC HORIZONS project, and I hope that it will continue to give you many, many hours of wargaming fun.

      All the best,

      Bob

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    6. Bob,
      Today -Friday- I've ordered British and German 20mm WW2 figures from 'AB Miniatures' - as marketed by EUREKA in Australia. Also I've bought two CORGI (1/76th scale) Tanks- A King Tiger and a Sherman- so I'm well on the way. Cheers. KEV.

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    7. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      The AB miniatures are very nice figures … and if they are available in Australia, you should get them quite quickly.

      I have several of the Corgi T-34s as well as Pzkpfw IVs (both short and long-barrelled versions), Tigers, and Panthers. They make excellent wargame models can can be used straight from the box … although I have repainted several of mine.

      All the best,

      Bob

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    8. Bob,
      Yes the CORGI Diecast Tanks are terrific- I'll be buying two more Shermans today as well as two Panzers- I think they are IV 's. Cheers. KEV.

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    9. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      You’ve chosen what I think are two of their best models. The Churchill and Tiger seem to bit under scale.

      All the best,

      Bob

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  6. The Matador/Halftrack conversions are fabulous!

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    Replies
    1. Martin Rapier,

      Many thanks for your kind comment. The scratch-built tractors were made from odds and ends in my spares box.

      All the best,

      Bob

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  7. Like the others, I love those tractors.

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    Replies
    1. Nundanket,

      Cheers! Over the years I’ve made quite a few odd scratch-built vehicles from bits and bobs in my spares box.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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