Argentinian Orbats and figure conversions.

I am continuing to slowly build up my forces for running some Falklands war scenarios. I am using as a starting point the GDW Harpoon/Combined Arms supplement "South Atlantic War" as a basis for my Argentinean units. I am also using information and research that has been gathered by others (such as Paul over at Plastic Warrior -see the discussion in the comments), and that I have found myself.

Esci SA-7 figure from the Spetsnaz set, with head replacement from the  Esci WW2 US Infantry set.

The SA-7 team painted and based, ready for Goose Green.

Another view of the SA-7 stand.  lots more conversions to go!

For the battle of Goose Green, I am rather spoiled for choice as GDW not only included information on the battle in SAW, but also published in as a scenario in the old Command Posts (CP 5 I believe), which was then included in "The Command Post Compendium". Both the SAW and the CP scenarios give slightly different forces, so I am going to model enough elements to use both ToEs, so I can then tinker with the force used in order to either achieve greater play balance, or if I find new information - a more historical force.


Command Post Compendium Argentine Orbat Goose Green

Army Units

12th Infantry Regiment, Trained ML: 7
Headquarters, with:
  1 Command stand
  1 Infantry stand
Headquarters Company, with:
  1 Command stand
  2 Support stands
  1 Engineer stand
Combat Support Company, with:
  1 Command stand
  1 Recon Infantry stand
  1 HMG stand
  1 81mm Mortar stand (ds)
  1 105mm RCL
  1 Gun Crew stand (ds)
Company A, with:
  1 Command stand
  3 Infantry stands
Attached Units: 
  Battery A, 4th Airborne Artillery Regt., Regular, ML 8, with:
         1 Command stand
         1 Jeep
         1 M107 105mm howitzer
         1 Gun Crew stand (ds)
         1 Support stand
         2 tons ammo
         1 Medium truck  
  Battery B, 601st ADA Group, Regular, ML 8, with:
         1 Command stand
         1 SA-7 team
         1 Twin 35mm ADA gun
         1 Gun Crew stand
  Elements, Company C, 8th Infantry Regt., Regular, ML 8, with:
         1 Self Ordering Infantry stand

105mm RCL and 107mm Mortar. The Mortar will be used by 5 BIM.

Esci Spetsnaz figure cut down, and head replaced by one from Matchbox US Infantry figure.

If this test conversion goes well I will do more.

Reinforcements:

Company B, 12th Infantry Regt., Trained ML 7, with:
       1 Command stand
       3 Infantry stands
Company C, 12th Infantry Regt., Trained ML 7, with:
       1 Command stand
       3 Infantry stands
Company C, 25th Infantry Regt., Regular ML 8, with:
       1 Command stand
       3 Infantry stands  

Airfix British Paratrooper. Stock figure is on right. Left figure has had head replaced with Esci/Italeri  US Vietnam war figure., and barrel extended with plastic card.

Another Airfix British Paratrooper in the process of conversion.

Air Force Units

Headquarters, Regular, ML 8 with:
  1 Command stand
  Air Defense Units, Regular ML 8, with:
      1 Command stand
      2 Infantry stands
      1 20mm Rh 202 ADA gun
      1 Gun Crew stand
  3rd Attack Squadron Ground Crews, Green, ML 6, with:
      10 Ground Crew stands


Now this ToE has a few issues, the most obvious being that 3rd Attack squadron seems to have 300-500 ground crew! The SAW ToE reduces that down to one Command stand and three infantry stands, but also drops the morale to 4.  I am going to have to do a bit of research in order to produce a ToE that I am happy with!

HK knock off of Airfix US Marine. I plan to use this figure as part of 5 BIM, as they used M20 Bazookas.

A better view of the Airfix British Paratrooper figure. The head has been replace with  one from a HK knock off US Marine, and coated with liquid Green Stuff. This figure will also be used as part of 5 BIM.

So far I have also found suitable figure in the Imex Korean War US Infantry, and will no doubt find other suitable US figures to convert. Hopefully I will be able to build up enough figures in order to field a useful range of Army, Marine, and Airforce units.

Variag Technicals.

Variag Technicals.

Khand is home to many peoples, one of which are the Variag. The Variag are a semi nomadic people with a strong cavalry ethos, who were famous in ancient times for using a mixture of war chariots and light cavalry in their war hosts. This practice gave them the name of  Wainriders amongst the nations of the West.

The Variag also have a reputation for innovation, so it unsurprising to see that many Variag clans have produced a wide array of  fast moving and hard hitting technicals for use in the many battles that have occurred throughout conflict torn Khand. The Variag also have a strong tradition of hiring out as mercenaries , a practise that has enriched many individual clan lords.

Two of the base diecasts.

The base vehicles for the technicals are three very cheap and nasty diecasts that were sold at The Warehouse a couple of years back. They did come with a roll bar in the back that had been removed some time back. The first step was to create a tray out of plastic card in the back so that a) the wire axle could be hidden, and b) the weapon mount had a level place to sit.

So cheap that you can see the wire axle...

A bit of GW sprue to provide a level base for the plastic card.

A crude plastic card tray is added.

The next step was to raid the bits box and find a few weapons, and some odd bits of plastic and sprue to make the weapons mounts. The white cross grid. plastic is actually pieces of a plastic frame used to mount cross stitch and also makes great windows and fencing.

Bits and pieces ready to make the weapons mounts.

 I deccided the weapons mix for these would be two 20mm Oerlikon guns (from the Airfix Buffalo kit) and a generic ATGM made out of a piece of aircraft undercarriage. The ATGM is quite large but I like it as it suggests a ATGM rather the accurately modelling a particular type.

The vehices before being sprayed black.

 I then sprayed them black with cheap matt spray paint, badly drybrushed the vehicle bodies white and the weapons olive drab, and the gave them a light brown wash.

Variag Technicals - potential friends or foes, given one's ability to pay.

Edit - this should have been the photo used above!

Occasionally amongst the Variag Clan leaders, one arises to prominence  above all others and becomes Khan of all the Clans. Rumour currently has it that one clan leader is currently well on his way to achieving this goal. Stories of this so called  "Diesela Khan" are currently viewed with interest throughout the region....

M48 Battle King Refurbishment.

In between purchasing toys and planning my Goose Green game, I have managed to clean up and paint another tank to add to my Haradi forces. I've also painted up some other stuff, but they can wait for another post.

A bright metallic green is perhaps not the best colour for a MBT.

Some of you might remember a previous post about some Battle Kings that my lovely wife bought me. The King Tiger has since found a good home with Archduke Piccolo (click here for his blog), the SPG is getting a few last minute touch ups, the Hawk launcher has been played with, while the M-48 has been repainted!

Less green, more sand.

The view from the other side.

Close up on the tank commander.

I also have added again to my collection of Battle Kings, with the purchase of a rather nice  K-103 Chieftain.  This one is one of the later releases of the toy, as it has a more sensible paint job (the first releases were also in metallic green, and the running gear is all in olive green.  The tank commander is also luckily in one piece, as normally in play worn examples the head is often missing.

Chieftain and Sherman. Both with their factory paint jobs which were greatly improved from the first release of Battle Kings. 

Another view of same. I do like the paint job!

The chieftain came with a encrustation of something resin-like on the front.

The Sherman tank commander figure has been cut level with the  hatch rim.

 The Sherman I acquired back in October last year as part of a large purchase of diecasts (click here for details), but had been since then on the disposals list. Now since it has a paint job similar to the chieftain, I have decided that I can use it for a second, or even third line, Haradi unit. Of course, I may just change my mind again entirely. Still no rush, and better yet, no wrong answer!

Another Parcel from the UK!

Early Saturday morning a package arrived for me, containing my order from Model Hobbies. inside the box was my order of two packets of  "British Infantry of the 1970s" by A Call to Arms (PSR link here), and two packets of the Revell reissue of the Matchbox "Nato Paratroopers" (PSR link here), which now go by the more accurate title of "British Paratroopers (Falklands War)".

A freshly opened parcel full of new toys!

The box art.  The Revell one seems to show a FRS 1 Harrier conducting ground support, with the Paras  engaged in a fire fight -  quite a change from the old box art!

 The Revell figures have been reissued in the same dark green that they have used for a number of their modern sets. I may have to purchase another set of the Revell  "German Armoured Infantry" (PSR link here), so that I can loot it for Milans. All of the CD ToEs that I have give at least one Milan stand in the support company.

I have waited for some time for these to be reissued.

Lots of SLRs!

As has been pointed out over at Small Scale World, the new A Call To Arms figures are actually quite old, having previously  - in a larger form - been produced as Britains soldiers. (See links here, and here for more information)

My collection of the aforementioned figures - no rare ones though!

I was lucky enough to have the first of these purchased for me as a child by Sister Declan, and the rest I have acquired in my normal packrat style over the last ten years. I never acquired any of the marines that were listed in the Britains catalogue at the time as I have never had any cross my path!

Still I figured it was worth while digging them out for a comparison shot with their newer (and smaller) incarnations!

Nice figures regardless of the scale!

Now that these figures have arrived, I can begin the process of making up  the Argentinean army and air force units needed for the Goose Green scenario. Of course, once I have done that i can start making up the forces needed to do some of the other battles...

Of Catapults and God Kings

 Today's post is going to be largely pictures as I am feeling particularly lazy.

A box full of cool toys!

In my last post I mentioned that I had won the Horrible histories competition held over at Small Scale World.  The product review and competition has heaps more information and links about this range, and I would strongly encourage you to check it out.

This afternoon I received a package which contained a great deal of stuff. Awesome stuff. Stuff that lets you hurl rubber pigs about the place.

The Egyptian Starter Set.

The Roman Starter Set.

The back of the Egyptian box.

The back of the Roman box.

The four blind boosters - each one contains a historical hero to add to your  army.

Inside the box was two starter sets - one Roman, and one Egyptian, - and four blind booster packets.

Unwrapping a fiery Iceni Queen.

I got two Boudica figures from the boosters.

An unnamed Highwayman in the third.

And Blackbeard the pirate in the fourth.

The group shot.

Each of the starter sets contains a leader, a catapult, 3 rubber pigs, two soldier figures, two peasant figures,  three action cards and a copy of the rules. Also included was a spare rubber band for the catapult.

Inside the Roman set.

The cards - used in the advanced game.

The Roman cards.

Caesar and his starter force.

The pig hurler catapult. Loads of fun!

The back card of the Egyptian set.

Inside the Egyptian starter set.

The Egyptian cards..

The Egyptian catapult.

Pharaoh and his starter set.

Both sides get this nice  head spike rack and scoring system.

All the figures together!

Once again - Thank you to Hugh from Small Scale World for the competition - I have been having loads of fun firing rubber pigs around the place!

I do intend to play at least one game of the advanced rules, but the sheer joy of shooting stuff with rubber pigs cannot be underrated!