Colours 2017

So it is that time of year again, so it was off to Newbury Racecourse for Colours. The convenience of the station opposite was slightly spoiled by the train set owner closing the line after 1400 (they are converting from clockwork to electric or something).

What was noticeable was the absences this year. This slightly spoilt my buy list, but never mind.

Crooked Dice had a nice selection of items (unfortunately I did not get the secret base set, too heavy). There were some new MDF and resin scenery items including a set of bunk beds. Photographs when I start building and painting them.

On my buy list was the new Rubicon Models Jeep. Even though I was there early I could not find any at the usual suspects. Having given up, I found one (of two) on the Great Escape stand. More on Jeeps later.

I had a rather badly written list of figures I wanted from Empress. This included their new "universal" figures in generic uniform with Soviet/Russian weapons. They can be ordered with a range of heads. Perfect for ImagiNation armies. I had forgotten to add the Mutton Chop British infantry suitable for Operation Sealion.

On the subject of Sealion, I bought one of their Spanish Civil War Panzer IB with 20mm cannon.

I also bought one of their new Jeeps, not for WW2 but for later conflicts.

 Scale shops with William Killian (the wheels are just blutacked on)

 The jeep is scaled at 1/50 rather than 1/56, so it is bigger than the Warlord one.

The Rubicon one is also scaled at 1/56 (you might be able to see it inside its bag).

Simple Miniature Games had an offer on Halifax box sets, so I took advantage of the offer to buy some more Resurectionists and other figures. Admittedly the "Stitched Together" was bought for looks rather than utility.

Spectre Miniatures had their new Technical upgrades on sale so I bought a number of them and a Technical Bravo that they had sold out of at Salute.

Technical Bravo is a more modern version with a four door body and shortened cargo space.

 This is a comparison with the SUV, also from Spectre.

This is the Spectre Technical Bravo compared to the Empress Technical.

Macross models

The Japanese animation series Super Dimension Fortress Macross was popular in the early to mid 'eighties. Models from the series were produced by two companies, Arii and Imai. The quality of the two companies was noticeably different.

I bought a number of them (and assembled and to varying degrees painted) way back then. They have been sitting in their storage boxes for a large number of years (and the years have not been kind to them).

This is a Destroid Defender in 1/100 scale by Imai, armed with lots of weapons and is designed to be the main ground combatant.

 It is missing the six pack of direct fire missiles on one of the shoulders.

A PSC Panzer 38(t) for scale.

 There is not too much in the model that is scale specific, it could be used as a 28mm scale model, William Killian for comparison.

The Air Defence mechanism is the Destroid Defender with two twin 78mm auto cannons.

The quality of this Arii 1/100 scale mode is far less than the Tomahawk kit by Imai.

The main characters use Variable Fighters, capable of flight and ground combat.

Of course in space, you do not need to be streamlined so the fighters can have additional armour.

This is the standard fighter type (a VF-1A) with the additional armour and lots more missiles. The kit is by Arii.

The VF-1A's main armament is the Gau-11 Tri-barrel 55mm cannon. There is a single laser cannon mounted on the head. Additional missiles are mounted on the shoulders, on the forearms and on the legs.

The chest panel has separated from the body and the arm and leg joints are extremely loose.

The VF-1J is the officer fighter, identical to the VF-1A except it has two laser cannon mounted on the head (one of which has broken off the model).

This one also has very loose joints and the chest plate has separated. So much so that I had to lie them down.

They have been packed up again. One day I may finish them.

Vehicle comparisons

Some more comparisons.

Empress Technical with a Rubicon Studebaker lorry.

Rubicon T34/85 (work in progress)

Warlord M4A4 Sherman V and a Rubicon T34/85.

 Spectre Miniatures SUV and the Rubicon T34/85.

Empress Technical and Rubicon T34/85.

Empress T72M.