A New Year a new Army.

[7.62]

Well here we are, 2010 a new year.
Over the holidays I had a good look at the forum and I found myself inspired by all of the wonderful works of art that are on this site.
I am still sure some of these are 1/32 models painted to look like GHQ!
Just really great work guys.

Over the years I've had a few Armies (US, Russian, Isrealie etc) starting around 1980 ish, all are now long gone.
None where ever painted to a high standard. I always took the Rolf Harris approch "Can you tell what it is yet"? Most often with a spray can OD and a light wash.
Seeing what other people have done has made me compelled to build and paint a small Army (before the eyesight gives up).

Timing is everything.
I could not take advantage of the GHQ 15% off deal (Thanks GHQ, bring it on in the Summer and I will be there), I face an inpending tax bill that would make an Icelandic Banker blush! I can not justify any real spending on micro armour in the next 3 Months.
In effect my defence spending will be $10-20 on paint! (unless I break, which may happen).
So I started digging thru the box's to see what I have and what I would do!

[7.62]

So I found what I had left, then I found some more, then this and that!

Most the (GHQ, CinC) stuff had gone. What I did have was a load of South African stuff made by a company in Scotland.
I never really ment to have a S.A force, I always kind of wanted a 1 to 1 Australian force (most now covered by GHQ).
The S.A armour I had picked up at 20 cents on the Dollar, years back. So this is what I have, this is what it will be.
Some is good, some not so good. For the most part, there is nothing to put it next to.
So a new Army to be painted up and added to when the money is there.
The aim is to add as and when I can to this basic core using the best models I can get.
I lack MBT, just a company of Olifant 2 and a few Cents.
I did keep all the GHQ Landrovers and all the Helos are GHQ ex the Super Frelons.

[av8rmongo]

So this is what I have, this is what it will be.

Going to war with the army you have instead of the army you want makes sense when you're talking about real life investments in tens of billions of dollars... but it doesn't have to be the case in micro armor. Have you considered trades? Many on this forum have excess capacity shall we say. I for one have excess NATO MBTs, APCs/IFVs but I don't have any SA kit. I don't want it bad enough to order any but at the same time I don't need all the M-1s, Leopards and Challengers that I already have. If you're interested in maybe trading for what you want send me a PM and we can talk about it.

Paul

[chrisswim]

Excess capacity and excess inventory (or should it be excessive inventory?).

Paul(AV8) presents wonderful concept. I am trading out some Israelis (Zelda's, Ishermans, Centurions) for modern French and modern German, etc.

Note trade wish here, or bartertown http://www.bartertown.com/trading/ or the miniatures page: http://theminiaturespage.com/index.mv I have utilzed both for trades.

[7.62]

Thanks Paul, Chris,
Interesting links, never seen them before.
I spent a few hours today opening up boxes, stripping paint, starting to work out just what I have got.
It would seem I have more then enough to keep me painting for the next three or four Months until my self inpossed spending ban is up.
I've now taken to the idea of the S.A. type of force and the list of GHQ add-ons is slowly growing for when the time comes. Just waiting for the SA Gov to buy some used Leo 2s lol.

Lots of long forgotten items found today, langing craft, half built LPD, 50x M60 turrets, Boeing 747,777 & DC10 and small cigar tins full of odd and ends.
One small tin had 54 Eland 90/60s and 16 Volvo Bv 202s in it!
Some GHQ stuff I have is being S.A.'d.
AS90 turrets (GHQ) on a G6 Rino look great to me, not 100% true but looks way better than what I had.
Not too much to trade as of right now but I think I do need some nice IS4 updated Centurions or any kind of Centurions come to that, I'm a bit thin on the MBT front.
I'll have to see what is left over, I'll keep you posted.

[chrisswim]

I have used GHQ AM90 & GHQ AML60 turrets on the Ratel hull. Then use the 20mm turret on the AML hull. But the GHQ turrets on the Ratel hull makes it a very nice vehicle.

Leopard 2 is a good option for S. Africa to consider. But what war game would you want to do then? The SADF have considered a new APC 8X8.