FS: 6x 1/285th CH46 Sea Knights

[Rutgervanm]

I bought these a few years back for a 1:1 MEU project. I have twelve, of which 3 are painted, but I decided I'm never going to finish the 800 plus infantry for 1:1 anyway, so why not scale it back a bit. So, I'm selling 6 of the Bullfrogs.

They are the "other guys" model. Unpainted, new in clear little plastic box.



As a bonus, I have six sets of matching brass etch rotors from GHQ. The original rotors are too fragile for wargames use, so you need GHQ ones.

That makes them worth $9 dollars each if you were to buy them new. However, they can go for $50 including postage to Europe (slightly more to the US).

Please PM me for details.

Here are my painted ones as an example (not for sale):





Please PM me for details.

[stevecolletti]

Gorgeous work, as usual. I wish the painted ones were for sale!

[voltigeur]

Great paint jobs reminds me of my time in the Corps. Standing on the mountain tops around San Onafre (spelling?) watching the Sea Knights fly below us! Including a time we were flying out to Ikibaru in the Rykui chain and the roters started going out of sink. Have had a slight aversion to helicopters over water ever since.

I already have 6 because I still haven't given up on doing an MEU now myself. The 800+ infantry are intimidating me as well. Think I may break it down to one company at a time.

Anyone who thinks the Cold War is just about Fulda / Hoff / BAOR to adnauseum hasn't looked at the Corps during that period.

[Rutgervanm]

Thanks!

It looks like I'm going to be forced to do 1:1 after all, because I just can't seem to get rid of these. It's not that I don't want to finish these anymore, but I could do with the extra cash for 20mm Cold War.

My vision for my MEU was to do participation games where players would be given a task, varying from capturing an airport to securing a convoy of humanitarian aid. They could then choose their mission team from amongst the MEU's many, many assets and execute the mission with realistic limitations on what they can bring ashore. Will they land with LCAC's or helo's? Will they use their Super Stallions to haul HMMVV's or deploy and extra company of infantry? Will the Cobra's and Harriers be used to support the beach landing or escort the transport helos?

That sort of stuff. It WILL happen someday!

Oh and GHQ need to do an LCU 1600. I badly need two!

[stevecolletti]

If you'd like to 'finish' them like the ones you've already done, I'd be more than happy to buy them, providing the added cash for your20mm Cold War.

Let me know if you're interested.
Steve

[Rutgervanm]

Hehe, that would defeat the entire purpose of the sale.

If I'd have the time and energy to paint them, I'd gladly keep them myself. Which is what I'm leaning towards more and more.

But thanks for the offer!

Btw, this makes me wonder. My MEU project was aimed at the late '90s and early 2000's. So full of standard HMMWV's, AAVP7s, LAV's and M1A1's. If I were to update the MEU to late 2000's, what would I need to add or replace? I suspect they will use a fair amount of MRAP's, uparmoured HMMWV's and Guardians?

How many Ospreys are in the HMM units that are replacing the Sea Knights? It was 12 Sea Knights, so that means 6-8 Ospreys or something?

Thanks in advance for any info.

[stevecolletti]

That seemed likely... just hoping.

[voltigeur]

Btw, this makes me wonder. My MEU project was aimed at the late '90s and early 2000's. So full of standard HMMWV's, AAVP7s, LAV's and M1A1's. If I were to update the MEU to late 2000's, what would I need to add or replace? I suspect they will use a fair amount of MRAP's, uparmoured HMMWV's and Guardians?

Keep in mind that the Marine Corps is highly task organized. Just build a basic battalion and add assets from there. When I was in the Marines we never went on an op with the same force structure twice in a row. Our Battalion structure didn't change but the supporting assets always did.

I can't speak to up armored HMMWV's I really don't think for the Marines it settled into a consistent organization during the time period you are looking at. It was a work in progress. (Someone with more recent experience may be able to add here.)

And just as a side note: Your paint scheme is a late 80’s pattern that had mostly disappeared by the gulf war. Since then they would be a sea grey over time, grime and dirt would give an appearance of black washing. However the scheme you used is my favorite and those models look amazing.

If you do 85 to 90 you can justify 3 different schemes. The one you used, olive green, and today’s grey. All patterns appeared in significant numbers during this period. I remember ops where our Sea Knights were painted in 2 different schemes based on how far along the squadron had gotten in repainting.

[whenimaginationfails]

Nice paint job.

If I were done with painting my group of CH-46s, I might think about more. Good luck with them. They are nice miniatures.

[Quartette]

Edit:

Those are some nice sea knights.

That format of game sounds like a cracking idea.

We have been toying with doing something similar for UK forces but on a smaller scale, centering on 16 Air assault brigade or 3 Commando.

What rules system were you planning on using?

Also, what thoughts did you have on the ideal size of opfor for this type of game?

Our general idea was for the scenario to be explained to the player with intelligence on expected enemy formations etc. Ever conscious of budgetary constraints, the player would then pick his force using the minimum number of units deemed necessary to complete the objective with minimal casualties.

Victory points would be awarded for successful completion of the mission and speed with which this was done. Victory points would be removed for civilian casualties, friendly casualties, and the number/type of units committed to the battle.

[Rutgervanm]

Yup, I was thinking along the same lines. Also remove victory points the more units you use.

For rules I was thinking Rapid Fire! But just use 1:1 organisations. For such a small figure size that should be possible.

Ideally you should have the player gather the intelligence himself with his own assets. Is he going to send in Force Recon teams? Where will he direct the single spy plane overflight he is being granted? Does he dare to risk his Harriers to fly over that base? What path will he have his UAV's follow (iow, which parts of the board does he want to explore?)

But I fear that will be far too time consuming for a simple convention game.

Hadn't really thought about the size of OPFOR. It totally depends on what kind of mission you want the MEU to execute.

[robdab]

Have a look at the Gators section at http://www.cke1st.com/m_games1.htm

[Quartette]

OT

Had a word with Colin of rapid fire and am adapting that as suggested. (cheers)

I am trying to keep the playtest scenario pretty limited so currently the back of the envelope plan is to use elements of a GHQ AQ combat command and potentially some additional bmp2 for a generic and flexible opfor. Vs. A 100 man marine company with access to 10 HMMWV, 2 osprey, 2 supercobra, 5 AAV and enough zodiacs to get everyone ashore quietly if needed.

I dug out an old copy of Tom Clancey's Marine and have pillaged that for some scenario ideas. It's got quite a bit of interesting stuff, even if it gets a little too pop-cultureish in places.

PS sorry for the thread hijack.

Edit: Consider your desire for an LCU seconded. Would also like zodiac boats but I fear I may be in a minority on this one...