Not BRDMs

Over the years I have found that Matchbox cars can be an excellent source of vehicles for wargaming. Sometimes all that is needed is a quick repaint, and sometimes a little more work is required to make them table ready.

More work required - the turret especially.

I got these vehicles from Frank, who was planning on adapting them for use as AFVs for his  Brotherhood of Nod army. The vehicles were from one of the new Matchbox Battle Kings packs which can provide useful vehicles, but they are generally repaints from the 1-75 car range, rather than bigger diecasts like the original Battle Kings range.

Not BRDM and a S-Model BRDM-2.

 The S-Model BRDM-2 kit comes with a number of spare parts. In fact the only difference between the 9P148 ATGM launcher version and the standard version, is the removal of one rather vital piece of sprue - the top deck for the standard version.

BRDM turret (left) and Puma turret (Right)

I had experimented with other possible turrets before deciding on the BRDM-2 turret. One of the other possible options was to use turrets from the Matchbox Puma kit. While it looks ok with the Puma turret, the BRDM-2 turret looks better.

And with the ATGM launcher.

 In converting one of the S-Models 9P148 vehicles into a standard BRDM-2, I had a spare top hull section that I figured could also work on one of the not BRDMs.

Pre and post modified vehicles.

 Of course, now that I have made these vehicles, I have to decide how I going to use them. I think they have a nice chunky tough feel to them, so I am thinking use in Dark Future style games, but potentially they could be used by a faction in Harad games - although it would be in ones set in the late 1990s (or even later).

Two notBRDMS and a Fallout style Hummer.

However, I am sure that now that I have started making them, I will be able to figure out a use for them.

Nod Walker?

Light grey goes quite blue if you use a nice blue wash.

Something that I have finished a couple of weeks ago, but hadn't posted. I actually started this model several years ago, but never really could figure out how I wanted the finished model to look!

Dark Dream studio calls it an "Armadill" - a walking machine used by the  Federalists.

I purchased a set of Dark Dream Studio "Space Battles" because I liked the infantry figures (click here for the PSR review), and felt that I could use them as a number of Sci-Fi troop types. Unfortunately I still haven't quite figured out what I want to use as - nor how I what them to look! Still, no harm in keeping them in the plastic mountain for another few years.

Note the Plasma gun mounted on the side - but I still think it needs more guns.

The biggest problem with the model was that the hatch wouldn't sit tight in the down position. I decided to model in a raised position and not bother with trying to find any 'glass' for the cockpit either. Instead I am going to run with that it is a field modification that occurred as a result of having to deal with chronic overheating used caused by the manufacturer using non mil-spec parts (to save costs) that resulted in several walker pilots suffering from extreme heatstroke during operations.

It's an idea I've liked since encountering something very similar in David Wong's article "The Ultimate War Simulation Game" (click here for link and go to the second half of point nine)

The model itself also seemed to have a far too complicated leg arrangement - so I removed some of the parts used to create a leg arrangement that was somewhat simpler. I also felt it lacked firepower so I added a GW 40K Plasma pistol to the right hand side.

Overall I am reasonably happy with how itv turned out, and will probably do up the rest of the figures in the same blue grey shade so that I can use them as high tech NBC Nod troopers or generic Sci-Fi troops. I may even do up some Airfix Astronauts in the same colour scheme, although I have seen some 1950's pulp style 1/72 scale Spacemen that would be perfect for doing up. Alas, I haven't seen any for sale - but at least I know they exist!

WIP Mk 1 Nod Flame Tank

I have been slowly working away on this vehicle for quite some time. after the earthquakes in Christchurch, it required a bit of repair work. the base of the vehicle is the tracks unit from a toy plastic excavator (purchased in a set of four from The Warehouse several years before). The fuel tanks are empty NOS bulbs, that had been discarded used on the street during the NOS craze in Christchurch several years ago,which I picked up because of their modelling possibilities.

Flame tank next to light truck.

The flamer nozzles on each side are  fashioned out of GW vehicle flamer bits that I was given as part of a trade. Giving this vehicle stats for use in CD3 has been an interesting exercise. Without giving too much away, it works as per a normal vehicle flamethrower (but with extra shots), and is barely an armoured vehicle.

Side view. Paint job needs tidying up.

Front view.

This flame tank is more of a terror weapon, than a battlefield weapon, so it seems appropriate that I make one up for my Nod forces, as this goes well with the background I am using for them.

Rear view

The main use of this vehicle will be as table decoration, or as part of a special objective for a scenario. I had fun making it, and I really enjoyed using flame tanks in Command and Conquer.