ArkieGamer

I haven’t completed anything new in a few weeks, but I do have a number of projects in progress, so I thought I’d show a few photographs. Feel free to offer pointers, tips, helpful links, and anything else you might think would be of value on painting small scale armor.

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PZ IIL “Luchs” by MMS. I haven’t completed the weathering. Needs antenna, but I won’t be mounting the crazy three-way antenna, as I have no idea how to fabricate such a thing (and it wouldn’t survive the wargaming table, if I did)

This PZIIL “Luchs” (Lynx) is a great white metal model 1/76 scale kit from MMS in the UK. The Luchs is such a small tank that it looks in scale with the 15mm M3 Lee I’ve been painting. Or it does until you take a look at the comparative sizes of the shovels and other accessories. There were approximately 100 of these diminutive tanks in service in the west, where they served in a reconnaissance role. I’ll be using this tank for our Chain of Command games.

I’ll probably strip this tank back down to metal and repaint it, as the model deserves a better paint job than I’m capable of giving it at my current skill level. Unfortunately, I sprayed the primer from a rattle can, and didn’t do a particularly good job-some of the fine detail of the model is obscured. I think the camo is weak, although it curiously appears quite a bit stronger in person than in these photos. My only disappointment with the model itself is that the primary gun barrel is too fat at the end. I’m not talking about the muzzle brake, rather the barrel as a whole tapers the wrong way. I should have looked around for a turned brass barrel, or something. Oh, and I lost half of the muffler, but I can’t blame that on MMS.

Another failing of this build is that I had difficulty consistently applying the Archer dry transfers I was using for decals. I need to work on my technique, particularly on tight spaces and surfaces with relief.

Interestingly the Luchs usually had a four digit turret number. There’s no way I could fit four digits of the decals I have onto the Luchs turret, and I was too chicken to try to freehand it, so this particular tank is going incognito.

PZ IIL “Luchs” by MMS.

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This is a 1/72 SD KFZ 251 halftrack by Plastic Soldier Company. They come three to the box for around $24,which is a really good deal. No decals, though.

SDKFZ 251 by Plastic Soldier Company-Only the basic paint job and the ‘chipping’ type weathering are complete.

The nature of the halftrack interior and positioning of the drivers requires that the interior be painted separately from the rest of the model. This kit fit together REALLY well during test fittings, but something was a bit out of whack when I went to fit the two hull halves together, and now the horizontal joint between the halves is uneven. It’s even worse on the side not shown. If I hadn’t already primed and laid down dunkelgelb on the whole model, I would have filled the gaps, or maybe cut the thing apart and tried again. It’s a wargaming model though, right? Does it really matter? Yes. The answer, as I stare at these photos, is, unfortunately, yes.

SDKFZ 251 by Plastic Soldier Company. It will only hold five Panzergrenadiers, including the drivers. Hmmm….
The interior here is fully weathered.

I love the looks of these halftracks. There will be lots of accouterments added to this vehicle before all is said and done.

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M3 Grant done up as an M3 Lee with the wrong markings. 15mm. Battlefront. Here the Archer transfers turned out beautifully. Household paint brush bristle is serving as the antenna.

This 15mm M3 Grant is the very first historical miniature I ever bought. I had somehow came across a Flames of War ad or website, and ended up acquiring a rule book and a 3 pack of these tanks, with some sort of vague plan about doing something in North Africa. Never happened, because I had better sense back then!

I’ve painted this Grant up as a Lee (to be honest, I’m not sure what the difference is), although the markings are entirely wrong. Pretty sure it should have a yellow star with yellow stripe around the turret. Still, this tank served as a way to ease my way back into painting armor, and I could maybe even use it with my 15mm paratroopers for a Sicily scenario. Some sort of link-up operation, maybe.

Weathering could be better (and stronger). I didn’t take photos of its sister tank, which I ruined trying to use pigments to do desert weathering. Blech. At this point, I’m a little gun shy of weathering, in general! It will take me some time and effort to come to grips with pigments, in particular.

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Puh..puh..puh..puh..peeiiigs (1/72)

Pigs are absolutely necessary for doing a proper AAR. Additionally, they can serve as amusing objectives for small skirmish scenarios centered around providing something for the pot. These oinkers need some more work, but come from the excellent Pegasus farm animals kit in 1/72. Next up, Cows!

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A Few Blue Moon Confederates

Last, but not least, I’ve been painting on a final two regiments of 15mm Confederates, because the Scarlet J is forcing me to field ‘proper’ brigades, which would, apparently, field at least four regiments apiece.

I’ve been wanting to give Blue Moon a thorough tryout. I love the gaunt look of the figures, but, gauntness aside, there is a slight problem in that they are VERY crowded at 3 figures to a 1″x3/4″ Regimental Fire and Fury base. For instance, the base is so crowded that I can’t put these marching figures side by side. Maybe not the worst thing in the world, as the resulting ragged lines of march will look appropriate for the ACW.

I had intended to use Blue Moon for my entire Union force (which I plan to start later this year), but I don’t know if I can handle futzing around with hundreds of figures that barely fit on the bases.

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That’s all for now. I’m off for a week’s travel in Colorado and the Rocky Mountains!