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I wargame in 20mm, primarily using Command Decision 3, but have been tempted into other systems. I have a tendency to adapt CD to suit other periods with varied results! I take awful pictures and am at best an average modeller and painter, but hopefully quantity will have a quality all of its own.

Friday, 30 March 2012

New Additions to Harad - 155mm SPGs.

As part of my latest purchase from Glenn, I acquired some more Airfix Attack Force ready made vehicles. I increased the tank holdings by one M-48, and by one Centurion. The M-48 will join its brethern in the standard Haradi paint scheme, but I might paint up the Centurion in the other paint scheme of base green, with sponged on redbrown, and mud brown. I still haven't decided, as I am not that impressed with my alternate paint scheme.
The recent purchase includes a few 155SPGs.

Airfix M-48 shown with  1/72 Italeri US Vietnam War Infantryman,

Ah, the Centurion!  Frank's Noddist Horde has yet to face these in battle!

Airfix Attack Force 155m SPG. This one was acquired with a name inscribed. I may make that a feature of the finished vehicle.
The Attack Force SPGs seem to be very basic models of the late WW2 US M-40 155mm SPG. The major flaws are of course no spades, and the gun is a little on the small side. That being said, they are perfect for my purposes.
Quantity has a quality all of its own.

My plan is to convert a number into munitions carriers, and crew transports, for the F3 155mm SPGs, that I have already painted. This will be achieved by removing the gun and giving the vehicle a canvas top. I am planning on replacing the armament on a few more, and have already started experimenting.
The brown gun is from an artillery piece found in a packet of 54mm toy soldiers.

And the view from the rear.
While still looking quite basic, the new gun is somewhat more solid in appearance and to my mind somewhat more pleasing to the eye. Other suggestions I have been given include converting the vehicles into ambulances, command centers, troop transporters, and recovery vehicles. These vehicles present quite a nice opportunity foer making a number of basic conversions.
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11 comments:

  1. Don M30 March 2012 at 11:30

    I agree the guns carriages are excellent fodder for conversions, ammo and personal carriers of course but put a plow on the front and a crane of some type where the gun goes and you have a
    good engineer/recovery vehicle. After all you only need six guns for a standard battery...)

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    1. Uncle Brian30 March 2012 at 18:16

      Hmmm, I do like the idea of having a plough or bulldozer blade on the front of one.

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  2. Paul30 March 2012 at 13:16

    Very nice haul. I take it you would be pleased with this lot!

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    1. Uncle Brian30 March 2012 at 18:17

      Yes, I am very pleased, now I can start putting some artillery units together for use in Harad.

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  3. Daisy Gowan Ditchburn30 March 2012 at 16:20

    Nice I like the gun conversion. I think that the toy gun is better than the model guns. I like your ideas also very good..

    Where did you get them from, I know of Acorn Models in christchurch but nowhere else... or anywhere better in the contry.

    good luck with converting the guns

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    1. Uncle Brian30 March 2012 at 18:40

      I got them as through a private sale from Glenn, a noted Airfix collector, here in Christchurch. The Airfix Attack Force range of premade vehicles are no longer manufactured, but you can sometimes track them down via online auction sites. Another approach is joining a local modelling or wargaming club, often they will have an annual bring and buy sale that is open to the public. Christchurch has three major model stores, Acorn, Ironhorse Hobbies, and Play Concepts in Sydenham. The range at Toyworld stores can be ok, and of course there are numerous folk selling stuff out of their homes.

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    2. Daisy Gowan Ditchburn31 March 2012 at 11:25

      thanks for the info... talking about auctions do you use trademe? I have used it in past to get things. I have noted stuff coming cheap from chisturch mostly from when people are cleaning out their garages... I was wondering if you could recomend who to get the models from online, cheapest and best quality

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    3. Uncle Brian31 March 2012 at 15:37

      Ok, on Trade Me is a vendor called "young_stan". He is an excellent source for most 1/72 scale figures. He is a well known wargamer in Christchurch, who also trades at most major Christchurch wargaming events. I have found Trade Me quite good for diecasts (Matchbox,Corgi, and the like) I also use Amazon for purchasing rulebooks - particularly the old GDW stuff like Command Decision and Twilight 2000). Most of my purchases are face to face transactions, but Frank uses Trade Me, E-Bay, and Barter Town quite successfully and very regularly. A number of figure and model manufacturers are starting to embrace online selling - so there is plenty of choice. The auction sites work best when you are searching through them regularly, and if you have an idea of what the 'market' price for an item should be. Knowing that lets you know if something is a bargain or not. Although, the ultimate determination of whether or not you have gotten a bargain is how happy you are with the deal. Feel free to email me directly Gowan if you have other questions etc, at evilunclebrianATgmail.com. (replace AT with @)

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    4. Daisy Gowan Ditchburn10 April 2012 at 15:57

      thankyou for the info. I'll look into these sites and maybe go visit a local club when I find one

      Delete
  4. Rodger30 March 2012 at 23:30

    Nice collection there Brian!

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    Replies
    1. Uncle Brian31 March 2012 at 15:38

      With luck I should be beginning the conversions over the Easter Break.

      Delete

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