Empress LK-II Light Panzer

 The Leichter Kampfwagen II (LK-II) was a German light tank developed towards the end of World War 1. Two prototypes were built by June 1918, but no more were completed  before the war ended. The design lived on, illegally exported to Sweden as the M/21-29, one remained in Swedish service until 1938.

There were two weapon options, one armed with an MG08/15, the other with a 57mm Maxim-Nordenfelt gun.

The Empress kit comprises four resin mouldings and a bag of white metal pieces (two gun options and the rear step). I think it was originally sold by Mark Copplestone.

The kit is easy to put together, the main issue is ensuring the track units are aligned - super glue is not very forgiving. There're two gun barrels. The one seems extremely short (the surviving M/21-29 has a short barrel and appears to have a short cannon rather than an MG. What is confusing is that there are photographs that show the short barrel but appear to have a barrel sticking out of the centre - this may be a plug inserted to keep dirt out).

The model was undercoated with Citadel Chaos Black, followed by Citadel Mechanicum Standard Grey. Unfortunately, the Mechanicum have changed their standard as the spray and the paint are noticeably different colours, so it needed to be given a full coat of the paint.

The tracks were painted with a wet mix of Vallejo Hull Red, Army Painter Black and Vallejo Black Grey. The tracks were dry brushed with Army Painter Stone Golem.

The Iron Cross decals were from the I94 WW1 German aircraft set and the numbers from another I94 set (20mm WW2 German numbers).

The windows were painted Humbrol White, followed by Citadel Warpstone Glow.

It needs to be weathered.

Trench Offensive by Pandyman Entertainment

Pandyman Entertainment have recently released a World War One trench warfare game, including a boxed starter set.

This is a 28mm scale small scale skirmish set that allows the recreation of the disparate trench raids which attempted to break the stalemate of the Western Front.

 

The starter set has a full colour printed A5 version of the rulebook.

Two colour printed battle mats (that conveniently have the quick reference information on them) that combine.

Three 3D printed Germans (with four different heads).

And three British, again with four different heads.

There are also two six sided dice plus a six sided scatter die.

More on the rules once I have read them.

Wargames Atlantic Great War British

 So the next addition from Wargames Atlantic is the Great War British.

The box is double depth to accommodate the six sprues.

Each sprue builds five figures, two standing and one kneeling.

There are sufficient heads on each sprue to build all of them with helmets, helmets with gas masks, helmets with covers, pith helmets, and caps.

An interesting design decision is that, contrary to current practice, most of the rifles are separate. Each rifle is paired with a left arm but there does appear to be a shortage of right arms.

There is one Lewis gun and an assortment of ammunition.

Wargames Atlantic Great War Germans

 Wargames Atlantic have a slowly increasing range of Great War multi part/multi-pose figures.

With the imminent release of A War Transformed from Osprey Games, I picked up a box of the Germans.

Each sprue contains six bodies (five standing, one kneeling).

There is a good selection of heads on the sprue, enough to fit all figures with the same heads

There is a selection of weapons, rifles, machine pistols, pistols (including Mauser broom Handles) and a machine gun.