Belated Updates No. 4- The Cold War Re-heated....

As far as the Cold War stuff goes, I've been working on both sides simultaneously; for the BAOR, I've been working on a Battlegroup Command base, for higher level games. The figures are from the ever dependable hand of Matt at Elhiem, with some subtle tweeking by yours truly (since my fictional Cold War is viewed by the rose-tinted goggles of the ARRSE forum...)

The Base consists of the CO, in obligatory Barbour jacket. No one tells the CO he's improperly dressed, though the RSM may gently hint at it... he's acompanied by the Ops Officer; no idea if this is the correct 1980s terminology, but he's represented here in all his Silvermans Trolley Dash glory- SAS Smock, Tropical Comabat Trousers and DILAC hat. Well ally. Also present is the Adjutant, wielding a map and compass (the most terrifying sight in NATO), an officer from the RAC element of the Battlegroup and the RSM, pointing out to the ruperts that Ivan is in fact that way, oh yes, and Pvt MacAuslan is on jankers again, for pissing in the stew.

The plan is to have them clustered around a table strewn with maps, Thermos flasks and fags...

Left to right- Ops Officer, RAC Officer, CO, Adjutant, RSM.

On the other side of the IGB, I finally managed to get the four remaining figures in the first Russian platoon finished. I never intended to do two platoons, but Elhiem released a flurry of new Soviet Riflemen poses, and I simply must posess all the pretty things...

Hope to get the BAOR base finished for the end of the month...

Cheers
Iain

Cold War Update…

…the last of the year? Well hopefully not.  However, of late I’ve been trying to batter through some of the last remnants of half done stuff on the workbench.

The Soviet BRDM-2 has progressed a bit, and the weathering doesn’t look too bad, now that the rest of the vehicle has caught up with it a bit. Hopefully should have this finished by the end of the month, and thus allow the Soviets to start 2015 with at least some mobility….

Back in the West, I’ve finished the remaining two US infantrymen

Here they are with the rest of the fireteam

And the whole lot together. I’m quite chuffed with how cohesive they look, despite the two dramatically different kit and uniforms between the infantry and the LRRPs

With that being the end of the available infantry for the time being, I guess it’s time to start on the vehicles…

Cheers,

Iain.

Latest Cold War Progress…

Since the last post I’ve made a start on the two remaining US infantrymen for the 70's project. They’re coming along nicely and hopefully should be finished by next week.

I’ve moved the BRDM-2 on a little bit, too. Unfortunately I may have gone a bit too heavy on the weathering; the paint job would be fine for some chanky old rustbucket from the Balkan conflict, but not quite as suitable for a well maintained machine in its prime, in the service of a Guards Motor Rifle Regiment…

I’ve also just procured something a bit special for the Soviets, but you’ll just need to wait to see what that is….

Cheers

Iain

Let It Snow...

Just a quick update for now; LRRPs all finished and fully based up.

Last pair of infantrymen started; in this case squad-level support in the shape of the M203 and M60…

Cheers

Iain

OK, Some More Communism…

There are still some assorted Soviet items on the workbench just being finished off. These will be reinforcements for my main, temperate Central Front, Soviet force opposing my BAOR.

First up, the Elhiem AT-4/5 ATGM team.

Note, this has subsequently had the bushes added to the base that I forgot to do before photographing it…

Elhiem DShK HMG team

First Soviet vehicle, a BRDM-2 from S-Models. This is the first kit of theirs I’ve built and I must say I’m impressed. Lovely, crisp detail, quick construction, clear instructions, no flash or sink holes/ visible ejector pin marks and even PE parts! Also included is a comprehensive decal sheet allowing for various Warsaw Pact member states to be represented. And what’s more, you get 2 in a box! Two vehicles, with decals and PE parts and of the quality rendered really can’t be beat for about 12 quid. My one minor criticism would be that rather than the inclusion of PE parts (the bulk of which I’ve left off as too delicate for gaming purposes), I’d rather see S-Model reconsider the positioning of some of the moulding gates on some of the finer pieces (MG barrels and the shafts of the pioneer tools in particular) as these are almost impossible to remove or clean up without mangling. However, as noted, this is a minor and not insurmountable gripe.

At present, it’s still at the green stage of painting, and looks a bit scrappy. But hopefully that should change with successive highlights…

With yet more Soviet infantry on the horizon from Elhiem, I’m going to have to come up with an idea for shoehorning some more in, to justify buying all the poses… At the moment Naval Infantry are top of the list; at first they were going to be based the same as these guys for Central Front fun (or even Home Front shenanigans; the recent Elhiem RUC releases would do just dandy for mainland UK police…), but thinking about it logically, they may be better based to match my nascent Norwegian force (all three of ‘em!) to support planned Soviet operations on NATO’s northern flank….but that’s for another day.

Cheers

Iain