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Show us yer stuff!
Moderators: dnichols, GHQ, Mk 1
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Mk 1
- E5
- Posts: 2383
- Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:21 am
- Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Chriss:
You continue to impress me with the sheer scale of your forces. Yikes it's like you got it all!
Maybe we should make a new thread called "Armies on Parade" or some such, where we can just lay out an entire nation's force from our collection in some sort of panoramic view. I bet you'd walk away with the trophy for several modern armies!
Good stuff!
-Mark
You continue to impress me with the sheer scale of your forces. Yikes it's like you got it all!
Maybe we should make a new thread called "Armies on Parade" or some such, where we can just lay out an entire nation's force from our collection in some sort of panoramic view. I bet you'd walk away with the trophy for several modern armies!
Good stuff!
-Mark
-Mark 1
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
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PolishGI
- E5
- Posts: 833
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 2:57 am
- Location: SW USA
Charlie don't surf!-
Mk 1
- E5
- Posts: 2383
- Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:21 am
- Location: Silicon Valley, CA
I have just finished a small refurb project. Nothing of grand scale, just some stuff in the "ready forces" box which was done years ago and didn't fit my current painting styles and skills.
There's quite a lot of stuff like that. I have upgraded several of my mainstream WW2 Red Army formations over the past ~20 years of so. But not my T-34-85s. I mean, what could be more mainstream that that? So here is my recent refurb of a company of T-34s.
Let's start with the "before" pics:
Here are a couple of the GHQ current model T-34-85s before my refurb. I bought these in the mid- to late-1990s. They were spray primed, then spray painted olive drab, and then a bit of detailing was done.
When I happened to open the box and look at them, the things I didn't like were:
- The color: Olive drab just isn't right for the Red Army. I needed something greener.
- Silver spare tracks: Every time I've seen Russian tanks with spare track links, the links were painted black. The actual tracks on the tank were bare metal, but the spares were painted black.
- The tracks on the tank: Well, the tracks and the running gear. On some of the tanks the tracks were painted bare metal and then over-coated with rust. OK, that's a start. But on some the tracks weren't even painted. And in no cases was the rust / dirtiness all over the running gear. Road wheels just shouldn't be so clean.
- Missing details: Not much else was done in the detailing. Like the rolled tarp on the turret rear -- nothing? Oh come on, Mark!
But then, to complicate things a bit, not all of the tanks in this particular company were new (ie: 1990s) GHQ castings.
One of the tanks in this company was an old GHQ casting, which I acquired in the mid-1970s. The older GHQ castings were typically very clean, without all of the tankers tools, fuel barrels, tarps, etc. that give their current models such a realistic feel. And in the particular cast of the T-34-85, the turret was quite frankly not quite right -- too wide and squad looking.
And there were another 3 T-34s in the company that weren't even GHQ models. Those were also reasonably clean castings, without much adornment. The turrets and hull shapes and sizes were very compatible with the new GHQ models, but they really stood out as "naked" compared with the newer GHQ models.
I decided not to strip them. Not that they couldn't have used it, but I was just a bit too lazy. The old GHQ model in particular could have used being stripped down to the bare metal, as it has already had perhaps one or two too many coats of paint. But not is' three or four too many, and it'll just have to do.
As I had 3 GHQ turrets with rolled tarps, I decided they would be the platoon commander tanks. It's not an obvious indicator, but it is very easy for me to spot them on the table. But what about the company commander's tank? I figured one command figure out of the hatch wouldn't be too much. And maybe add a rolled tarp to the back of that turret too, just for consistency's sake. But which tank to choose?
I chose the old 1970s casting. My reasoning was in part practical, and in part sentimental. Sentimental because, well, my ol' T-34s from the 1970s have seen more battle tables than probably any other tanks in my collection. I already refurbed all of my T-34-76s about 10-12 years ago. This old hold-out deserved some TLC. And with a commander in the hatch it was going to stand-out no matter which tank I chose, so why not choose one that stood out for it's not-quite-right turret, and kind of distract the eye from shortcomings by adding enhancements...
I applied Vallejo Olive Green. I did a dark wash. Then I try-brushed with Vallejo Green Grey. I did all the tracks, towing cables, large tools and hull MGs in Vallejo Gun Metal Grey (actually a dark silver). I also added some wood crates to the fenders of the under-detailed tanks, and a few fuel tanks to the backs of 2 of them.
And here they are...
Here is the whole company.
It seems I left the ends of the barrels in the original Olive Green on several of the tanks. This was not clear to my eye but is somewhat more obvious in the pictures.
I think the tarps came out pretty nicely. I won't have any trouble finding my platoon commanders on the table.
I expect most of you already know, but for those who don't, the GHQ T-34-85 pack comes with two versions of the hull, and two versions of the turret, so you can build a bit of character into your formations. They are all clearly T-34s, but they didn't all come from the same batch at the same factory.
Russian tanks were and are designed with the TC's hatch to serve as a sort of shield behind which the TC rides high-in-the-turret when unbuttoned.
I have explored the case myself so on this one point I'm pretty confident.
Now I kind of wonder if I should dig up all my other old T-34 boxes to see if there are any more un-upgraded. Be a shame to mix-and-match on a table, and ... well ... companies of T-34s don't often find their way onto the table in units of one in my way of gaming!
-Mark
There's quite a lot of stuff like that. I have upgraded several of my mainstream WW2 Red Army formations over the past ~20 years of so. But not my T-34-85s. I mean, what could be more mainstream that that? So here is my recent refurb of a company of T-34s.
Let's start with the "before" pics:
Here are a couple of the GHQ current model T-34-85s before my refurb. I bought these in the mid- to late-1990s. They were spray primed, then spray painted olive drab, and then a bit of detailing was done.
When I happened to open the box and look at them, the things I didn't like were:
- The color: Olive drab just isn't right for the Red Army. I needed something greener.
- Silver spare tracks: Every time I've seen Russian tanks with spare track links, the links were painted black. The actual tracks on the tank were bare metal, but the spares were painted black.
- The tracks on the tank: Well, the tracks and the running gear. On some of the tanks the tracks were painted bare metal and then over-coated with rust. OK, that's a start. But on some the tracks weren't even painted. And in no cases was the rust / dirtiness all over the running gear. Road wheels just shouldn't be so clean.
- Missing details: Not much else was done in the detailing. Like the rolled tarp on the turret rear -- nothing? Oh come on, Mark!
But then, to complicate things a bit, not all of the tanks in this particular company were new (ie: 1990s) GHQ castings.
One of the tanks in this company was an old GHQ casting, which I acquired in the mid-1970s. The older GHQ castings were typically very clean, without all of the tankers tools, fuel barrels, tarps, etc. that give their current models such a realistic feel. And in the particular cast of the T-34-85, the turret was quite frankly not quite right -- too wide and squad looking.
And there were another 3 T-34s in the company that weren't even GHQ models. Those were also reasonably clean castings, without much adornment. The turrets and hull shapes and sizes were very compatible with the new GHQ models, but they really stood out as "naked" compared with the newer GHQ models.
I decided not to strip them. Not that they couldn't have used it, but I was just a bit too lazy. The old GHQ model in particular could have used being stripped down to the bare metal, as it has already had perhaps one or two too many coats of paint. But not is' three or four too many, and it'll just have to do.
As I had 3 GHQ turrets with rolled tarps, I decided they would be the platoon commander tanks. It's not an obvious indicator, but it is very easy for me to spot them on the table. But what about the company commander's tank? I figured one command figure out of the hatch wouldn't be too much. And maybe add a rolled tarp to the back of that turret too, just for consistency's sake. But which tank to choose?
I chose the old 1970s casting. My reasoning was in part practical, and in part sentimental. Sentimental because, well, my ol' T-34s from the 1970s have seen more battle tables than probably any other tanks in my collection. I already refurbed all of my T-34-76s about 10-12 years ago. This old hold-out deserved some TLC. And with a commander in the hatch it was going to stand-out no matter which tank I chose, so why not choose one that stood out for it's not-quite-right turret, and kind of distract the eye from shortcomings by adding enhancements...
I applied Vallejo Olive Green. I did a dark wash. Then I try-brushed with Vallejo Green Grey. I did all the tracks, towing cables, large tools and hull MGs in Vallejo Gun Metal Grey (actually a dark silver). I also added some wood crates to the fenders of the under-detailed tanks, and a few fuel tanks to the backs of 2 of them.
And here they are...
Here is the whole company.
It seems I left the ends of the barrels in the original Olive Green on several of the tanks. This was not clear to my eye but is somewhat more obvious in the pictures.
I think the tarps came out pretty nicely. I won't have any trouble finding my platoon commanders on the table.
I expect most of you already know, but for those who don't, the GHQ T-34-85 pack comes with two versions of the hull, and two versions of the turret, so you can build a bit of character into your formations. They are all clearly T-34s, but they didn't all come from the same batch at the same factory.
Russian tanks were and are designed with the TC's hatch to serve as a sort of shield behind which the TC rides high-in-the-turret when unbuttoned.
I have explored the case myself so on this one point I'm pretty confident.
Now I kind of wonder if I should dig up all my other old T-34 boxes to see if there are any more un-upgraded. Be a shame to mix-and-match on a table, and ... well ... companies of T-34s don't often find their way onto the table in units of one in my way of gaming!
-Mark
-Mark 1
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
Difficile est, saturam non scribere.
"It is hard NOT to write satire." - Decimus Iunius Juvenalis, 1st Century AD
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BurtWolf
- E5
- Posts: 1083
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:48 pm
- Location: Rochester, NY
Great work polish - amazing camo!
MK1 very nice refurb job. Admittedly when I was new to the hobby I did not realize those were tarps on the back of the turrets and painted a bunch solid green - oh well. I like the add ons, especially the tank commander. Really makes it worthwhile to add and turn them into unique pieces.
I have a pack of tank riders but haven’t tried flying them on yet, scaling seems odd to me and I’d really like them to almost be removable...
MK1 very nice refurb job. Admittedly when I was new to the hobby I did not realize those were tarps on the back of the turrets and painted a bunch solid green - oh well. I like the add ons, especially the tank commander. Really makes it worthwhile to add and turn them into unique pieces.
I have a pack of tank riders but haven’t tried flying them on yet, scaling seems odd to me and I’d really like them to almost be removable...
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pmskaar
- E5
- Posts: 2206
- Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:45 am
Show Us Your Stuff
Very nice work on the Vietnam figures, Polish. I really like your Vietnam terrain layout as well.
Mk1 - Those are really great looking T-34/85s. I used to have a couple of the early GHQ T-34s but there is no comparison with the newer T-34 series which was produced in the mid 80s. You did a great job on them!
Pete
Mk1 - Those are really great looking T-34/85s. I used to have a couple of the early GHQ T-34s but there is no comparison with the newer T-34 series which was produced in the mid 80s. You did a great job on them!
Pete
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chrisswim
- E5
- Posts: 7316
- Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 11:22 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Picked these up about 5 years ago. Added the dark brown and black.
Had sold or repainted some.
German artillery
Tried some different tans and browns, which I have repainted. These will be touched up with dark green instead of dark brown to match up to the Swedes, Norwegian and Balzac Republic forces camouflage. If not successful strip them and either 3-tone NATO or Swed camo.
Polish or German Expeditionary force equipment. Ready for desert or woodland. Marginal??
Brits
Had sold or repainted some.
German artillery
Tried some different tans and browns, which I have repainted. These will be touched up with dark green instead of dark brown to match up to the Swedes, Norwegian and Balzac Republic forces camouflage. If not successful strip them and either 3-tone NATO or Swed camo.
Polish or German Expeditionary force equipment. Ready for desert or woodland. Marginal??
Brits
Chris
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chrisswim
- E5
- Posts: 7316
- Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 11:22 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
This is an M1 Abrams,
The 105mm barrel arrived from an ebay auction. What a guy to do?
Well, I need 120mm, but the turret isn’t identical.
Snipped off the very front of the turret, then create a hole with safety pin.
Then get some styrene, shave off some to insert in the newly created hole.
Snag TUSH bucket, snip off previous commander hatch, snip stem of bucket glue down.
Paint the Aussie camouflage.
Cut off some of the cheese cloth that’s already sprayed Dark Green, fiddle with it to get some pieces to cover barrel since it’s styrene.
Also, since M1 there isn’t a storage rack, but I need one right? So, cut a small pice of clear plastic from a package to be a shelf, thus extend the rear/stern of the turret. Roll some Dark Green Cheese Cloth, glue press, glue to plastic shelf.
Cut off some of the thread pieces sticking up.
Touch up.
. Antennas
Looks better from a foot away than this picture.
The 105mm barrel arrived from an ebay auction. What a guy to do?
Well, I need 120mm, but the turret isn’t identical.
Snipped off the very front of the turret, then create a hole with safety pin.
Then get some styrene, shave off some to insert in the newly created hole.
Snag TUSH bucket, snip off previous commander hatch, snip stem of bucket glue down.
Paint the Aussie camouflage.
Cut off some of the cheese cloth that’s already sprayed Dark Green, fiddle with it to get some pieces to cover barrel since it’s styrene.
Also, since M1 there isn’t a storage rack, but I need one right? So, cut a small pice of clear plastic from a package to be a shelf, thus extend the rear/stern of the turret. Roll some Dark Green Cheese Cloth, glue press, glue to plastic shelf.
Cut off some of the thread pieces sticking up.
Touch up.
. Antennas
Looks better from a foot away than this picture.
Chris
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Guroburov
- E5
- Posts: 562
- Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 7:27 pm
- Location: Coppel, TX
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Hoth_902
- E5
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- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 11:08 am
- Location: Pacific Northwest
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