Gazza's Stuff

[Mortis57]

Last photo for today - the M48 battalion has been given it;s final drybrush (Vallejo 819 - Iraqi Sand). Tomorrow they get tracks, mgs, etc picked out.

[Mortis57]

Tracks and MGs done in Humbrol 201 (metallic black).

[Mortis57]

Last coat of paint before the final coat of matt varnish. Tiny dots of black each side of the muzzle brake and on the end of the barrel to represent holes.

[Mortis57]

Finished (finally).


Centurions next and then the M47s. Both of these tanks I have two different models of. The centurions are a combination of Scotia and H&R whilst the the M47s are from the old Skytrex range (now owned by H&R) and a newer model from H&R (which is also rather nicer).

[redleg]

Great looking tanks Gazza!

[Mortis57]

Great looking tanks Gazza!

Thank you.

A few weeks back I posted a few photos of some WW2 Russians in winter gear, stating that they still needed a coat of matt varnish. It was only after speaking to the friend who's Summer Russians I'm painting that I remembered that I still hadn't given my winter Russians that matt coat. This has now been rectified.
Adler - 1st Company and a Section from the BHQ


Adler - 2nd Company and a Section from the BHQ


Adler - 3rd Company


Heroics & Ros

[panzergator]

Ok, Gaza, I see your Jordanian M48s have M60 cupola rather than the M48 cupola. How did that happen?

[Mortis57]

Ok, Gaza, I see your Jordanian M48s have M60 cupola rather than the M48 cupola. How did that happen?

No idea PG! I'm fairly sure I ordered M48A1s (it was quite some time ago). If there was the wrong cupola on one or wo then I'd assume that they someho got mixed together parts of different models. The moulds/models do predate the current owner's ownership of the company so maybe he mixed tow moulds up. Or that, although it's wrong, is how they're supposed to look.

There's a rumour (i.e. I read it somewhere on the internet) that some M48A5s received M19 cupolas as part of an upgrade. But even that wouldn't explain the cupola on the A1.

Next time, I order something (should be soon as they've got new Panthers and Tiger Is due out) I'll ask him about it.

[panzergator]

I wouldn't make any change on my account, but Jordan had M48s - hatch with open 50cal mount, rather than the covered cupola. GHQ now makes that M48. It looks to me like you got M48A3s with the M60 cupola. Given how much this stuff costs, I'd say "run what ya brung.". Nobody will notice. I'll find out about the fitting of the M60's cupola to 48A5. I know the initial M48A5 batches had the M1 cupola because the Urban -style cdr's hatch was not yet available. The Urban hatch was remarkably similar to the original M48 hatch. I believe I've seen a pic or two with the M60's cupola, but that may have been the proposed "M48A4" that was never adopted.

[Mortis57]

I wouldn't make any change on my account, but Jordan had M48s - hatch with open 50cal mount, rather than the covered cupola. GHQ now makes that M48. It looks to me like you got M48A3s with the M60 cupola. Given how much this stuff costs, I'd say "run what ya brung.". Nobody will notice. I'll find out about the fitting of the M60's cupola to 48A5. I know the initial M48A5 batches had the M1 cupola because the Urban -style cdr's hatch was not yet available. The Urban hatch was remarkably similar to the original M48 hatch. I believe I've seen a pic or two with the M60's cupola, but that may have been the proposed "M48A4" that was never adopted.

Thanks again for the info. 'Modern' (which is a daft thing to say given that it's the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War this coming October) is not really my period.

At the time I ordered them Heroics & Ros only did the A1 and A5 variants so it will be one of them (with the M60 cupola). Assuming that they accurately ID'd the correct vehicle.

As this is for a 'Club Army' paid for by a few club members (and a chap who's since left) I'm going to follow your suggestion of making do.

The army is based on a few Micromark army lists by a chap in the UK. The relevant ones for the M48 are a '65-'69 Armoured Brigade (the 40th and 60th armoured brigades had M48s and M48A1s) and for a '69-75 Armoured Division (Here he mentions 2 Divisions - the 5th which had M48A2s and the 3rd which had Centurions - only the 3rd saw action in '73 though).

[Mortis57]

Getting back to the Centurions. I've decided that they are a bit too dark.
A reminder of how they were (BHQ & 2 Companies of Scotia Centurions; 1 company of H&R Centurions (new master)). As you can see there is a third Scotia company that's missing 5 turrets. Which I will replace in my next Scotia order, although eventually I intend to replace all the Scotia models with the new H&R Centurions.


So I've given one (so far) of the companies a second drybrushed coat of Humbrol 93 (Desert Yellow). Here's a comparison shot of the the results (top company - original state; bottom company second drybrush).


I've also given the first M47 company (old Skytrex casting - now owned by H&R) a base coat of Humbrol 93.


I've still got the BHQ and second company (plus a few spares) to clean and base coat. Plus a third company (New H&R model and rather nicer) to give the same treatment. Like the Centurions at some point I'll eventually replace the old Skytrex models with the newer H&R model.

[redleg]

Nice work, Gazza! Have you guys played any Arab - Israeli games at your club? I would love to see those tanks in action!

[Mortis57]

Nice work, Gazza!

Thanks!

Have you guys played any Arab - Israeli games at your club?

Not yet, to the increasing frustration of the guy who bought and painted his Israelis over 10 years ago.

I would love to see those tanks in action!

So would he!

Maybe I can get enough of the Jordanians done in time for the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War (this October).

[Mortis57]

BIt of a mixed bag update.

Since the photo of the M47 company with the base coat applied, I've given it a wash of Agrax Earthshade and a drydrush of the base colour (Humbrol:93). I've also started to apply the green disruptive camo.


The combined PzKpfw IV Ausf Hs of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Panzer Regiment have been given a base coat (Humbrol:83)
CHQ of 2 plus 3 platoons of 5 (and a 4th platoon of 4 PzKpfw IV Ausf Ds - already done).


Now for something you don't see very often in in late war German wargames army - a 6 gun battery of horse-towed 10.5cm leFH18s. They've been taken off some old bases - I think it's going to be easier to paint them before basing.

[pmskaar]

Gazza, I have thought about the possibility of using GHQ's WWII British for Jordanians and maybe in a pinch I might. I still hope GHQ will consider doing some properly armed and equipped Jordanian infantry at some point.

Of course I have tons of other things I am currently working on or considering working on prior to doing Jordanians. My Egyptians need to get into a game with my Israelis and I will be concentrating on those two armies first. Not sure how I will handle Syrians. Again, in a pinch, I might just have my Egyptians do double duty. The equipment is pretty much the same and the uniforms are very similar if not identical.