Airfix British M119 105mm Light Field Guns

Recently I finished off some three of the JB Models/Airfix 105mm guns. Like all the JB Model kits they were quite straightforward to make and  were flash free.

20mm Wartime Miniature included for scale.

Originally I acquired a single gun for use in building up the forces I needed to run the Goose Green scenario from one of the old GDW Command Posts, (click here to see the rest of the British land forces for that scenario) , but I increased my holdings by two more as I like the model so much, and I was trying to be able to represent more of the five batteries of L118 light guns that were deployed there.

Gun in lower elevation. 

I have opted for a generic paint and basing scheme that allows me to use the guns to represent multiple users in different campaigns, although these will primarily be used to represent either British or NZ Army guns. If I had more I would consider doing one in transit mode.

Two guns top and tail.

Unfortunately I  have recently discovered that Airfix no longer produces the kits - which is frustrating as I need to base up six for use as teaching aids! I have contacted a number of online and brick and mortar stores and been very unsuccessful in tracking more down. I am kicking myself for not buying more at the time!

S&S Models NZLAV

In November of 2013 I purchased a number of resin models from S&S Models (click here to see their shop). I had thought that I had blogged about it at the time, but apparently I hadn't.

NZLAV with some figures from Wartime Miniatures I'm working on.

By and large the S&S model kit is pretty good. The main issue being that the gun barrel isn't fluted and the muzzle adapter is wrong on the white metal supplied component. I corrected the muzzle brake with green stuff, but decided not to twist the barrel.

Still not happy with the paint job on the uniforms.

The Wartime Miniatures I wrote about here, So far I have been rather slow in painting these guys up!

Overall the S&S is a very good model of the NZLAV.

 If I do any other NZLAVs I may start to put the appropriate squadron markings on them for QAMR.

Putting crew in would be a challenge as the bulk of the turret is solid resin!

So next up I should do some guns!

S-Mars Abrams - WIP

Recently I was given a number of S-Mars kits by a friend. I have slowly been assembling them, but they are all quite awful kits with a great deal of flash and instructions that are quite lacking in any meaningful detail.

Not as advertised.

All of these factors are trumped by the fact that the description on the box doesn't actually contain the kit you get. M-60 with reactive armour? - nope, just a plain ol' M-60. Abrams with Mine Plow? - Nope, just an Abrams.

Post scraping phase.

I've taken a few shots of the assembled kit before painting to show the amount of green stuff needed to fill the gaps in the kit.

And more Green Stuff.

 The amount of trouble I have had with making this and the other S-Mars kits means that I will be avoiding them like the plague .

And yet more.....

While I accept that some kits require more work than others, it galls me that the box doesn't contain the advertised kit. Still I hope to be able to turn them into useful items on the wargaming table.