How about a tank detail kit?

[dnichols]

And excellent idea, I agree.

Yes please, put me down for two packs....make that three.

[DeanMartin54]

SIDE SKIRTS SIDE SKIRTS SIDE SKIRTS!!!!!!! I would love the accessories, especially some side skrist for my Panzer IIL L M and N's, also my Stug III's. Simple Turret and Side Skirts would be a huge advantage and add so much more realism!!! But yes i too would buy numerous packs to customize my vehicles.

[ferret701]

I'd buy many. I've been trying to run sets like this off in resin for a while. (there are details on my webpage -- www.microarmormayhem.com). I've been, at best, marginally successful. It would be great if GHQ came out with something like this.

[rdenman62]

I'm new to this forum, but have been wargaming in modern micro armor since 1980. I have always made my own accessories for tanks and apc's. I have made alot of stuff out of tissue and resin and clay. Most recently decided to start photo etch so I can model M1A1 tanks with their extended bustle rack like they used in Iraq. Also, jerry can racks that were locally produced for the M1 and M2A2. First efforts were downright awful. The thing about doing this is that it isn't cheap. Of course nothing is cheap these days. Anyways, the thought crossed my mind that if a bunch of people got together to share the costs, maybe we could all get what we wanted and the cost would be more reasonable. Sheet brass and all the etching solution is what costs especially when you screw up so many the first few times around..........just my 0.02 worth

[Mk 1]

I'd buy many. I've been trying to run sets like this off in resin for a while. (there are details on my webpage -- www.microarmormayhem.com). I've been, at best, marginally successful. It would be great if GHQ came out with something like this.

As a public service to those who are unfamiliar with the wonders of Micro Armor Mayhem, I might offer this link, which is to the specific sub-page on Ferret's castings:
http://www.microarmormayhem.com/C_CustomCastParts.html

But if you have any interest in micro armor in general, you can hardly go wrong wandering about the site. So much to see, and so often updated with new and interesting stuff.

Ferret: Great job there!

BTW - for your castings, I have found a trick that seems to work rather well. Actually, it was Thunder who mentioned it. The notion is to make a case structure in which you make your molds. He has suggested two mechanisms: for smaller molds he uses a cut-down paper cup; for larger molds a rectangle made out of lego blocks.

The idea is in essense to build a mold in which you make your molds. In this way, you wind up with a mold of regular shape, and more importantly of some structural strength.

In my casting I have generally used brush-on latex to form my molds. It is quite flexible when dry, making it easier to release the original model from the mold, and then also making it easier to release the cast resin duplicates from the mold. BUT the problem is that you then have a mold that flops all over the place while the resin is still liquid, ruining many castings. Also, the latex molds tend to be contoured on the top to roughly match the models and the flat surface they were placed on when the mold was made. This is then turned upside-down for casting. But now you have flat edges that need to be suspended or supported somehow while the resin is poured. Never worked out too well in my case.

With a lego box or cut-down cup, the mold can be made MUCH thicker, to the point that it has its own structural integrity. So it can be inverted and placed on any convenient flat surface, and will hold its shape while the resin is poured in and cured. A nice thick mold really makes the whole casting process much easier, and a lego box or cut down cup is the easiest way to put shape to the mold.

Just a suggestion...

And while we're at it, another BTW - Did you ever pick-up the pics of the old T-55 and T-54 models that I put into one of the threads for you? This was a few months back when you were putting together more of the "vintage GHQ" stuff. Just wondering...

[ferret701]

Thanks for the compliments, Mk 1. I've made an effort to update the site at least once a month for the last 6 months, but it is sometimes a struggle lately -- I'm an editor for a news company, and I mostly cover the US presidential race, which has been absorbing a great deal of time as of late. Next update should (assuming I can get decent pictures) my first WWII models -- Italians in North Africa. I started off with a bunch of packs of GHQ Italian Inf and Hvy Wpns a few months ago, and damn near fell in love with the models. The variety of poses puts the modern packs somewhat to shame. I've expanded with a bunch of other GHQ models, plus the CinC AB-41and the Armstrong Italian "funnies". I have some H&R/Navwar models too, but haven't bothered to paint them up yet.

After that -- hopefully I'll be finished my Canadians -- including the whole 4th Brigade Group and much or all of the 5th Brigade. Then onto WWII Poles -- I've got the GHQ inf & hvy weapons, plus TKS and 7-TPs.

Back on topic, I've been using alumilite silicone, (which I think is actually a re-badged Dow product). I typically build a "box" for the silicone out of clay around the master, brush on the first layer of silicone, and then pour in the rest, as you suggest. This method is a bit time consuming, but works well as it produces a mold with no air bubbles.

My biggest challenge has been preventing air bubbles in the resin during casting of parts. I've found the Alumilite resin is too this to allow air bubbles to escape easily during the casting process. I've been experimenting, and have found some ways to mitigate this: using a spray-on mold lubricant (also from alumilite), cooling the resin in the fridge before hand to increase the set up time (which is generally under 2 minutes), and by individually poking out the air bubbles with a nail or toothpick. All work to some extent, but it limits the number of items you can cast with each pour and makes each pour more time consuming.

Overall, I would be a happy man with a GHQ set of add-on baggage.

[hauptgrate]

WOW! Great response to this thread -- hopefully GHQ can fill the demand. Looking through just the stuff I currently have, I could easily use 200+ jerry cans, 100+ boxes, 200+ rolled tarps, and a large smattering of lumber, facines, etc. I could also use side skirts for at least 20 late model PzIII, and another 25 for late model StuGIII. I would like 30+ extra Sherman road wheels, 50+ PzIII/IV road wheels, 20+ PzV/VI road wheels. I like the 55 gallon barrel idea -- throw in 15+ to fit into my supply markers -- and come to think about I then need 50+ more boxes for those as well. Hey, what about stacks of shells? For my HQ units, I like the tent and table idea, although I only need about a dozen or so. Now, if I decide to do exposed commanders, I would probably need 100+. Mind you, GHQ, this is only to retrofit what I currently have, not for future expansion needs. I'll bet I am not alone in the sheer volume of stuff I could use. How about it? About the only thing I don't need, and the item which started me seriously thinking about the original post, is cullen cutters -- I have scratch built over 25 of them. On the other hand, I could always replace my plastic with more durable pewter so throw them in as well!

[BattlerBritain]

Great discussion here and I agree with most comments.

I think GHQ could certainly expand the items in their Halftrack Detail pack:
http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/us54.html

I've used the Halftracks detail pack to add some clutter and found that some items seemed too big whilst the Jerry cans and tarps seemed too small.

Certainly extra 55gal fuel drums would be good ala Modern Soviets or Brit Challengers in GW1.

A certain scenery manufacturer makes something like it but they are intended for terrain use and are a bit too big to be attached to miniatures.

On the subject of Jerry cans - conversation between Brit Squaddy and WGerman trooper:
"Do you guys use Jerry cans?"
"No, we use Tommy cans"

[pmskaar]

I would also like to see some tank detail kits. I think the Sherman would be a good candidate for one of these especailly since they usually had all sorts of things added to them. See my post in 2009 wish list but would includes additional tracks, roadwheels, armored plates, sandbags, Cullen hedgerow cutters and tarps and camo nets similar to the halftrack detail kit. I think that the main WWII tanks should have their own accessory pack so there could be one for the Pz III and IV and Panther, the T-34, and maybe one for the Brits as well but I'm not sure which one at this point. I believe it would be the best course to have each accessory pack for a specific tank rather than a generic pack that trys to cover all tanks and nationalities. Just my thoughts on this topic..

Pete - Binpicker, Out!

[hauptgrate]

Looking over the comments posted above, I have come to the conclusion there needs to be two different types of detail packs -- general, and vehicle specific.
1. In the "general" pack items such as bedrolls, tarps, boxes, crates, & jerry cans. I could imagine two trees of each item with about six items per tree. This pack should also include oil drums, stacks of ammo, tables, tents, on the order of two or three each.
2. An American/British pack would have Sherman accessories such as cullen cutters road wheels, sandbag armor, etc. Since many allied vehicles (M5, M10, Achilles, etc.) were similar in suspension components, this one pack would meet most requirements. If necessary, a separate pack for early-war British vehicles might be required for those desert gamers.
3. Since the Germans had the most variety of vehicle types, I propose a pack with just the several different types of road wheels, and another with several different types of side skirts. Not too sure about this -- maybe a PzIII/StuGIII pack, and another for PzIV, and another for Panther/Tiger? What a mess the Germans had with all their different vehicles -- now it even causes difficulties with tiny pewter minis!
4. I see no need for an extra Russian pack beyond the general stuff. I have rarely seen Russian armor decked out with extra equipment like their American or even German counterparts.
5. Commanders, and hatches. Not sure how to approach this. Have separate packs or just add into those above?
6. Infantry weapons? Another great idea requiring more thought.

[Ritter]

The only thing I can add is to recommend a Tankodesant Infantry kit for Russian tanks and perhaps the 'bedspring' spaced armor on late model T-34/85s.

I would love to see a vehicle add-on kit or three.

Please!

Troy