More figures

Regular NVA and Primaris NVA (Gringos 40 on the left, Empress on the right).

Gringos 40 NVA and Empress USMC.

 Gringos 40 and Empress US Marines.

Gringos 40 US Marine and NVA.

Warfare 2019 - Modern figures

At Warfare I picked up a selection of figures including a number of Gringo's 40 NVA, three packs of Militia Miniatures and some additional figures from Crooked Dice.

Here is a the Minimi armed member of the Governor General's Army by Crooked Dice, with a member of the Militia Miniatures African Militia.

 The Gringo's 40 range of Vietnam figures are notably larger than the Empress Miniatures ones, it is noticeable on the US Marines (the Gringo's ones are the Primaris ones). The NVA are about the same size as the US Marines, so would dwarf the Empress ones. However, they do look nice, and I decided they would do for organised forces for my Roanapur campaign (when I get round to it).

The Grinogo's 40 NVA does have an integral base, but even so is as tall as the Crooked Dice African soldier.

This is one of the Crooked Dice Pirates.

Group shot.

Goliath Tracked Mine

At Salute I bought the Rubicon SDKFZ-2 Kettenkrad which came with a Goliath mine on a trailer. At Colours, I bought the deployed Goliath Tracked Mine.

The Goliath Tracked Mine was a wire controlled remote mine.

Here are the sprue and the instruction sheet.

This is an example at the IWM Duxford.

Considering its diminutive size, it tool me a long time to paint.

The hull is Citadel Zandri Dust, the tracks are a wet mix of Vallejo Black and Black Grey together with Army Painter Chaotic Red.

I thought it looked a bit plain, so I added some Balkenkreus on the side and rear.

Warfare 2019 - Rubicon Models

Rubicon had a stand at Warfare in Reading this weekend, and on the stand they had a number of new releases - which I have dutifully added to my stack.

 The big news was the presence of the Loyd Carrier. I have not opened the box yet, but I expect good things of it.

 I also got the tank commander sprue and the M4 Bulldozer,

They had the forthcoming Tiger II in "exploded" and painted form.

That looks very good.

Empress USMC at Hue

I slowly make progress through my Empress Miniatures USMC at Hue collection.

This is the Captain Christmas figure from NAM-12.

He is actually painted up as a generic officer rather than a representation of the historical figure.

 I painted the uniform a slightly darker shade of green (over the traditional Citadel Snotwomble Green spray).

Leading from the front

Empress Cadillac Gage V100 Commando

The Cadillac Gage Commando V100/XM706 was a armoured car/wheeled armoured personnel carrier that was used  in Vietnam by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), the US Military Police and the US Airforce. Armed with a twin machine gun turret, it provided security and convoy escort throughout South Vietnam.

Empress released their 1/50 scale model as part of their Vietnam range.

 I modelled an example with an 0.50 heavy machine gun and a 0.30" medium machine gun.

I used two sets of Rubicon DCUA007 Willys MB decals (for the Military Police labels) and theoretically one Rubicon DCUS002 M4 Tank decal sheet (I ended up needing two as I messed up one of the US Army decals and its associated serial number).

 The US recognition stars in front of the side doors use the Rubicon 8mm decals, the ones on the rear half of the upper hull are the 5mm ones - all from the DCUS002 sheet. I added a jerry can from the Empress stowage set. A shovel from the same set together with a piece of plastic rod make up the pioneer tools on the rear of the vehicle.

A US Marine advances supported by an XM706 belonging to the US Army Military Police.

The  Marine takes cover while the XM706 engages targets.

Empress USMC at Hue - detail 2

Looking like a Minmay doll tucked in the strap at the back of the helmet.

I do need to redo the helmet band.

Empress USMC at Hue - detail

Someone on Lead Adventures asked what was on the back of the Marines' helmet, it turns out it is a knitted doll.

I will be revisiting this (after I have dusted it off).

Another building for Vietnam

As previously posted, I have been building the Sarissa Precision North Africa/Colonial buildings for Vietnam.

This is another N109 Small House, this time with an additional air-conditioner (from Crooked Dice).

Both N109 buildings.