Blue Roofed BUAs

Real life has been interfering with the hobby of late, but I have been quietly ticking away at a few projects. one of these is making up BUAs (Built Up Areas) for Volley and Bayonet, and continuing with the refurbishment of painted Airfix figures in order to quickly make up stands of V&B troops.

A V&B BUA - complete with white picket fences.

The lift out section of the BUA next to the main portion. The building from my friend is the big one on the main section.

The rules call for BUAs to be 4 inches by 6 inches with a 3 inch by inch  space in the template to allow for the placement of occupying troops. The idea of having a lift out building which is then replaced by the occupying stands is one that I have stolen from Robin (from Wargamingnz) and Adrian (whose V&B colonial BUAs are amazing)

As I am currently trawling through my wargaming terrain, I discovered a building that had been given to me by a friend before he left to live in the UK sometime in the mid to late 1990s. While it is scaled to 15mm, I figured that it was perfect for use in V&B - all it needed was roofing, painting, and basing - tasks I had put off doing for some time!

It has a rather nice style of construction that I will attempt to copy. 

My friend built it out of heavy construction cardboard, which has proven to be very durable.

 Naturally I have to include a photo of the BUA occupied by a couple of stands of my refurbished Airfix troops. These figures are part of a large number that I acquired from Mr Airfix recently. Glenn and Geoff also kindly supplied me with some of their old painted AWI Airfix figures that I am currently refurbishing the American figures from (Hopefully I will get two stands worth!).

Occupied or liberated? US troops hold the BUA.

The construction of the BUA allows for alternate building configurations.

I have also manged to refurbish another stand of infantry form figures supplied by Glenn. These figures had the majority of their paintwork flaked off, but since the uniform was mainly white, I figured it was worth making an attempt to save them. After all, someone went to a great deal of effort putting toothbrush mustaches on all of them!

Another stand of refurbished Airfix figures. These fellows are probably French - but let me know if you know better!

Refurbished AWI Britsh. The figures were kindly given to me from Geoff and Glenn's collection of old painted figures.

The refurbishment project has been generating a number of AWI stands, but I am slowly painting up some figures from scratch. The priority at the moment is to finish off a number of terrain projects so I can safely store all my terrain, and also dispose of some of the "useful bits for terrain making" that I have been holding on to for too long.

Another V&B BUA awaits the final finishing touches.

My current plan is to finish up the BUAs for V&B, then move on to during some final bits and pieces for Harad, and then do some WW2 terrain. Like all plans this one may be subject to change!

Airfix Pseudo Spanish and Almost Continentals.

Not the best of  paint jobs,  but a fine basis for refurbishment!

The school I work at recently got a laser cutter, so offered to have it cut some V&B mdf bases as way of testing it was working properly! Naturally since I now had a pile of bases I had to get some troops on them. I wasn't wanting to do any major effort, just wanting to get figures on bases in order to swell the V&B ranks quickly. Fortunately I was able to acquire from Glenn a number of preloved and prepainted Airfix figures from the Washington's Army set (click here for the PSR review) that I was able to refurbish, wash, and base.

More painted figures - more stands of troops!

 Now I have already gone through this process with my AWI French (click here for that post), and my AWI Americans (click here for details), but with those figures had been very nicely painted by the original owner. I wanted to see if I could get useable stands using figures that weren't as well painted.

Spacing out the figures - these look like they might be painted as Hessians of some type? Or are they Americans?

A well painted example found amongst the less well painted.

 Now using prepainted figures does mean that I am guessing as to the intent of the original owner as to what they were meaning to represent. Given that for the longest time this set was the only source of 18th century line infantry, the possibilities are rather large - more so if I add in the strong likelihood that they may have been painted to represent an imaginary or generic regiment, or merely painted using information that was incorrect.

Pseudo Spanish! I can't find a Spanish unit that has that exact colour scheme. 

 First off are the white coated fellows that I am choosing to believe are some type of Spanish troops. The red breeches and black boots are similar to a Spanish soldier depicted here, and another here. A table giving the uniform colours used by Spanish units in the Seven Years War can be found here, but it doesn't give the colour of breeches, leggings or boots worn. So given that they don't fit a known colour scheme I will use them as Spanish until I learn that they aren't.

But still they look nice and can be used as generic Pseudo Spanish

 And incidentally, should you know what these fellows could be, please feel free to let me know in the comments below.

The colour scheme is rather nice though.

I am quite pleased with how well these three stands turned out given the state of the source material.

 The other two stands that I have finished also lack a colour scheme that I can definitively say is one thing or another. They could be meant to represent american forces, either state or even Continental troops, but equally they may be meant to represent German troops of some type - assuming that they are meant to represent troops from the AWI!

Two stands of blue coated rebels - again the colour scheme doesn't seem to match anything I can find.

 Still the end result is quite pleasing, and I know that I will be able to find use for them, either as Americans or Germans!

Again I am rather pleased with them, although I am tempted to put a small amount of Fall leaves on the bases.

The wash brings out the detail in the figure extremely well. Airfix did a good job designing these figures!

So far I have finished five stands, with six more ready to go. I am finding the process of recycling these figures quite fun, and a good way to ease me into painting up the legions of bare plastic AWI figures that I have waiting for me.

5 BIM finished...almost....

5 BIM sans attached artillery.

So after getting new batteries in my camera, and finally making the time to make a proper post, here is my take on 5 BIM for use at Mt Tumbledown. the only thing left to do is paint up a couple of jeeps for them to use - a project that I am planning on tackling after finishing off the army and air force troops for use at Goose Green, and scratchbuilding the AAA needed. I am going to paint up the rest of the British forces I need after I have finished the Argentine forces.

 The following ToE is based on several sources and is from a discussion on Paul's blog Plastic Warriors (click here for the discussion in the comments section) Naturally any errors are mine alone.

5 BIM command stand. figure is converted from an Italian officer in the Esci NATO set.

5th Marine Battalion, Experienced ML 7
Battalion Headquarters company,with::
  1 Command Stand
  1 Jeep

3 Rifle Companies, each with:
  1 Command Stand
  1 Weapons Stand
  2 Infantry Stands

The first Rifle Company - figures are a mix of Revell, Esci, Matchbox, HK knockoff and Airfix.

The second Rifle Company - again a mix of figures, but the bulk are converted Airfix British Paraa.

The third Rifle Company. as in the other companies the weapons stand is denoted by having a M20 Bazooka on it. 

1 Support Company, with:
  1 Command Stand

  1 HMG stand
  1 107mm Mortar
  1 107mm RCL
  2 Gun Crew stands (ds)
  1 Patrol stand
  1 Recon Jeep

The support company. Figures are a mix of Esci, matchbox, Revell, Imex, Fujimi and Airfix. The mortar is from an Esci kit, while the RCL is by Mars.

attached:
Battalion de Artilleria de Campana de Marina 1
Batteria B, with:
  1 Command Stand

  1 FO Stand
  1 105mm Howitzer
  1 gun crew stand (ds)

Guncrew  is from the Esci White Scout car, the command stand is a figure from a Hasegawa set, and the FO is from the Imex Korean war set. 

The gun is a Corgi diecast that I have discussed previously (click here for more details)

Harriers and other loot...

Three box scale Corgi GR3 Harriers and a Matchbox Skyhawk. In the rear  is an unassembled 1/144 scale Academy FRS 1 Harrier kit.

Recently I have started a new job, and have been having fun sorting out the joys a new role can bring. On the plus side I have more money for toys, on the negative side I will have less time to spend playing with them! Still, that just means I have to use the hobby time wisely...

And a ruler for scale - it works at at around 1:120ish.

I am still slowly converting and painting up my Falklands forces, and I am still even more slowly working on other projects. I am very fortunate that when Katherine returned from her trip over to her parents in PA, she brought me back a small pile of loot (in addition to the Corgi harriers)....

Books and yet more 1/144 scale kits... 

20mm Soviet Cossacks - a little extra for the modern hordes!

Plus she lugged back a large fleet of 1/1800 scale War AT Sea miniatures (but more on those in a future post). I am very lucky to have a wife who is actively supportive of my hobby!

Argentine WIP update.

This is just a quick update to show what I have been doing so far with the converting figures for use as Argentinians.

Another Pucura - this time a solid resin version that has enough transfers for three aircraft...

Surprisingly I have been consistently busy with this project, rather that my normal "buy lots of stuff and have it sit in box for ages" approach that has dogged more than a few of my projects......  However this is not to say that I haven't been purchasing things.... like another Pucara - but more detail on that in another post.

Converted figures for use as command stands for 5 BIM.

The conversion process has been in three steps, first figuring out what i need, second sorting out the figures, and finally actually making the conversions!

More figures for use as single figure stands.

My main source of figures for conversion has been the Airfix British Paratrooper set, as the figures are quite bulky and close examination of the weapon on one figure shows it to be a carbine with a pistol grip. I have added a longer barrel and added on some green stuff to bodge it into a more FN FAL like shape. A new head has been donated by Italeri (Esci reissue) American Vietnam war infantry figures.

Airfix British Paratroopers with their new heads.

I have also used some of Paul from Plastic Warriors ideas (click here for link) for suitable figures from US WW2 ranges, as well as some Imex Korean War figures. My gun crew stands so far also include figures from various model kits.

Gun crew stands. I still have to make at least two more to man some AA guns for the Goose Green game.

Support elements for 5 BIM.  I have reworked the Mars recoilless rifle to resemble the Argentine ones.

 I still have quite a few more conversions to do, mainly of the Matchbox/Revell Paratroopers I got the other day. (click here for that post here)

So far the only Matchbox British Para to be converted.

A better view of the RCL.

Another view of the RCL.

With the RCL near done, I have to start thinking about scratch building two AA guns for use at Goose Green. I have some ideas already, but I want to finish off making 5 BIM first.

Two gun crews get a start on their paint job.

5 BIM rifle company command stands get the same basic start.

5 BIM's Battalion command stand gets the treatment as well.

I have started to convert this old Corgi Dingo armoured car into something (Its around 1/60 scale). Perchance  a dodgy Panhard?

Esci Modern Russian Paratroopers gain Matchbox US Infantry heads and hopefully  will pass muster as  Argentine Army troops.

So that's a brief rundown on what i have been doing modelling wise. I still have to scan in and email some stuff for Paul, but haven't managed to sit in front of a scanner yet, but hopefully I will soon..

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!

Painting by Frank.

Airfix Leopard 1 painted up in Nod colours.

Frank's armies have generated quite a lot of positive feedback whenever they have appeared on this blog. So when i got the opportunity to put a link up to an online gallery of his work I did so! EDIT: I have removed the link as Gallery is no longer online.

Noddist Infantry based for CD3

Frank has also decided to start a painting service. I have put an extract of an email he sent me below, in with he outlines his rates:

"The albums with the Nod figures or the Napoleonics is the standard that I would expect to paint 20mm figures to commission. The High Elves are about the standard i would expect to do 28mm to. The characters (Eldar Warlocks, Warhammer heroes, standardbearers etc) are charcters and generally require a bit more effort. Those would be by negotiation. Normal troops I would do $2 per 20mm or 15mm fig, or $4 per 28mm fig as discussed. Cavalry count as 2 figs, horse and rider."

20mm British Napoleonic Cavalry based for Volley and Bayonet.

20mm British Napoleonic troops based for Volley and Bayonet.

High Elves.

Eldar Warlocks.

So should anyone be interested in using Frank's services - drop a line in the comments and I will put you in touch with Frank.