Show us yer stuff!

[pmskaar]

Those are some interesting vehicles you have there, Ben! The Armatas almost have a Sci-Fi look to them and they do look pretty big compared with the other one.

Pete

[Guroburov]

Cool tanks there, Ben. Armata: huge and pricey. They almost cost as much as an M1. I still love Israeli tanks for the sci-fi look.

[BenfromBrooklyn]

Wow - that thing looks like a beast! Your bases are great, Ben. How big are they and what material do you use?

The base is thin basswood from the local craft store, painted, lightly flocked, and I took a brown magic marker to the sides (good magic marker from art section of store) to make the wood less obvious. That's all. I just size them approximately to the vehicle.

I started basing for a couple of reasons. First, it really helps protect the vehicle in games, because there's more to grab on to, and, in the case, it creates a little buffer. Second, it protects the terrain because I use flock coated 3d boards. Sometimes metal bases can scrape.

Third, some of the little vehicles would get lost. Once a jeep hid under a tree, got overlooked, and showed up in a different game. It was being used as a forward observer when we all realized... hey, he didn't start with any jeeps!

Some games ask for a specific size but I never bothered. I also stumbled into something: by giving them different sizes, the way my terrain boards work, some vehicles will be able to go where others cannot. That little 2S9 will have a few more options in rough, forest, and urban terrain for position than the Armata will, and that's fair.

Thanks for the nods, everyone!

[BurtWolf]

I don’t base my tanks, but your reasoning makes sense. I finally found a can of dullcote for sale - haven’t done much to finish my minis as I was waiting on getting this final spray on

[7.62]

Ben, those Armata are a beast.

I have up armoured some of my K-2 for urban use but they are still light and tiny in compassion.





This was my guide but I added a RWS too. Don't want to be sticking your head out on the high street.

[Guroburov]

Cool armor 7.62. Love seeing Koreans in the streets.

[regia-marina]

Here is one to make anyone else who has an Italian WW2 force jealous.


My GHQ Fiat Torpedo 508 CM.

It's just a quick one-off I did, a bit of a kit-bash, while working on another more complete unit (yet to be shown).

I was inspired by a recent TMP feature on "Painting the Fiat Torpedo 508 CM ( http://theminiaturespage.com/workbench/352450/ )

So now, with this pic (from the TMP article) to guide me:



It was time to make my own Fiat Torpedo CM.

For those who don't know, the Italian Fiat Torpedo CM was essentially the Italian equivalent of the VW Kubelwagon. It was a probably the most common field car for Italian forces in WW2. It was based on the Fiat 508, a civilian vehicle of the inter-war period. The CM indicates a military version of a civilian vehicle. The reference to "Torpedo" comes from the civilian line of cars, where it was the name of the body style with 4 doors and a convertible top. This same car was also made for African duty with wider tires and a few other minor modifications, in which case it was called the Fiat Coloniale.

Anyways, I have an Italian force which I very much enjoy enhancing with all kinds of interesting kit. Yet I have never found this vehicle offered anywhere in 6mm. But now I have one. I like it.


But .. but ... where'd ya get that thing from? I hear you cry...

Well, see, I had the happy coincidence of rummaging through the extras bin while I had this car on my mind ... and I came across a Polish PZInz302 car. It is from GHQ, and can be found in the Polish line as the prime mover for the Bofors 37mm AT gun:



I happened to have this because I bought this set from GHQ for my Romanians, who also used the Bofors 37mm AT gun during the initial phases of WW2. But they didn't use Polish cars to pull them, so eh, into the extras bin it went.

Looking at it in my hand, I began to wonder what I could use this PZInz302 for in my forces. Did anyone else use it? Or anything like it? Should I try to convert it to a civilian vehicle? Who made the thing anyway? Well a quick search and whadyano, the PZInz302 was a military adaptation of the Polish-built Fiat 508!

I was doing some jeeps with crew figures anyways, as I am putting together some Mech Cavalry/Armored Recon for my US forces. So adding this on the workbench was not a big deal. I cut off and filed down the spare tires along the sides, filled in the open doors, added a folded-down roof along the back edge, added an officer in the back seat, and added a spare tire on the back to complete the kit-bash.

It will probably be a frequent cameo in my Italian gaming. Might dig around for the other one (they come 2 to a pack with the guns) and do that one too some time. But for now at least one of my Italian gentlemen can ride in style. As for the rest of 'em, it's just "get in the back of the truck, Signore".

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Mark,
Just want to compliment you on your Fiat. Nice work. I'm hoping that GHQ comes out with one. I ended up picking up my Fiats from Shapeways. However, I'll happily replace them when GHQ comes out with a quality version of their own.

[regia-marina]

Mk1 I meant to post a big thank you for the painting advice on the Italians - it was very helpful. Let you check out my stuff when I take the plunge... wish me luck.

Burt -

Continuing our discussion on Italian uniforms ... I was working on a couple projects, one of which involved some Italian artillery crewmen, and I thought I'd do a bit of a color experiment.

The question in my mind -- is the Vallejo Gray-Green a useful alternative for Italian continental uniforms? I currently use Polly-S Italian Camo Gray-Green, but the Polly-S line is no longer available, and when this bottle is done, what's a hobbyist to do? The Vallejo Gray-Green that I have is the color that I have seen sources recommend from the Vallejo palette.


-Mark

Have any of you tried Lifecolors grey-green? I'm getting ready to paint my Italians in their European uniforms but I find the Vallejo grey-green way too gray. Who knew that grey-green could be so complicated!

[chrisswim]

Swedish Leopard 2A6 and CV9040 company



Air Defense system



MANN 7-ton trucks with Anti-Ship missiles



CV9040 company


XA-180 for Sweden



XA-180, XA-180 SAM system, and twin 20mm AAA





CV9040 from Finland



CV90 CEV minefield



LARS and Artillery FO



To support a River assault, we have amphibious vehicles to push the landing craft and assault boats back into the water if they get stuck.



Archer 155, high mobility, used by Sweden, Balzac Republic, and Norway.





CV9040 AA, CV90 FO and MANN truck with anti-ship missiles.








Norway CV9030, Leopard 2A6 and one CV9030 AA



XA-203 6x6



XA-360 8 x 8

[Guroburov]

Chris the green-green camo is awesome but I think I like the green black brown more. Very cool forces.

[redleg]

Nice work Chris! The quality of my work seems to decrease as the number of models I paint at once increases. How do you crank out so many vehicles that look that good?

Mick, I love that K-2! Very impressive!

[chrisswim]

Guroburov The green on green was a spray of SAC Green, which is not produced any longer. Then Dark Green, then black on most of them. Makes it 'pop'. Thank you for the favorable feedback.
.
I have not produced much lately. Sometimes so tired I stare at them or just sit in front of them watching the military/AHC or similar. I paint frequently while watching. Redleg, how did the Archer artillery systems come out. the black is a bit different. But it works IMHO.
I do one color at a time on 15 +/- 8 vehicles. So after spray paint then apply the military brown, the dark green in these above examples. I may have some of each on my folding table, then paint the black on. Sometimes that is two steps or occasionally 3 steps with wheels, vision ports, weapons, and the camo. Then I ink the tracks if its a tracked vehicle.
. Redleg, I like your M60s you have, really cool.

[Cav Dog]

Reinforced Armor Task Force ready for action.

Armored cav out front


BN HQ


Alpha Company "Animals" and Bravo Company "Bandits"



Cross attached Charlie "Cannibals" Mech Company


Combat Support Company
Scouts, Mortars and Wreckers


Engineers and AVLB


III/V Section

[panzergator]

CAV DOG! That's very GOOD MERDC and a nice herd of armor you have there! You have been working hard!

[regia-marina]

Cav Dog- They look great. I am a lousy tire painter. Any thing you can share with us on how you paint the tires? Thanks!