CP Models German Snipers in 1/72 Scale

Two German snipers, one aiming from a kneeling position and the other taking a drink. Both from CP Models and also included part of a damaged wall and window. I added a second side of the wall to make an L shape corner which the aiming trooper is looking around. I used my own 40mm MDF base and added plenty of bricks and rubble and a box. Plus a symbolic allied helmet too. Funnily enough the drinking sniper is popping his head up above the window ledge making himself a target. I did an M44 pea dot camo scheme for their jackets and field grey pants. CP make most most excellent figures which I find just as easy to paint as AB Figures.

IBG Models Bren Carrier in 1/72 Scale

I finally finished up the second IBG bren carrier i had lying around in the never decreasing pile of kits. I was building up the courage to attempt the smallest link and length tracks in the universe, for the second time. I really like IBG kits, they are always really nice to build. Clear instructions, pieces fit easily together and lots of detail. They give you loads of decal options too which is great for building up a collection of spares. My only gripes are the super delicate bren guns supplied – I managed to destroy two of them by breathing on them. They were replaced with two metal ones I had which are much sturdier. The front bren I cut in half and added last after I had added the crew as it had to fit through the firing window. The individual tracks are always going to be tricky and not for anyone with especially big hands or bad eyes. I tried a technique of using tape to keep the little links together so i could glue them and then bend them into the right shape to fit around the sprocket wheels. This sort of worked. IBG do provide a template to build the tracks around but I could not make that work very well either. So there is no way round it, it is a fiddly exercise. My conclusion was to be patient and glue two little links together at a time.

I added some excellent AB figures crew who fitted very nicely, except for the driver who needed some help ie surgery on his lower extremities so he would fit nicely. Also two aerials were added from washing up brush bristles. I had some stowage from Value Gear and also a rusty bucket from somewhere. It was nice to get my tiny British insignia decals out for the crew if you look closely at their left shoulders. I would still recommend the Plastic Soldier Company carriers as an alternative, especially if you would like to avoid the immensely fiddly tracks………

Change of pace Zulu week in 28mm

Just for something different I painted some Zulu warriors for my buddy Luke or IRO over in Victoria (just down the road really). He is doing an awesome Rorke’s Drift project which I have been keenly watching and needed some extra hands to help with his hordes of Zulu warriors. Not sure which company made these (Warlord?) but it made a great change to work on something in a larger scale and also a totally different subject. Gave me a break from olive drab, dark yellow and German camouflage! The trickiest bit was painting dark human skin and took me a few attempts to get my strategy right. This is certainly making it harder to resist branching out into other periods and scales……….