10mm Waterloo Buildings

Hello there! I recently completed painting one of the building from the Hundred days range from Total battle Miniatures. Their website is here.

It is their representation of La Belle Alliance. It is cast on a single base and is crammed full of detail. The end building had a rough brick finish which allowed me to use weathering powders for the mortar work.

I copied the illustration from the suppliers website and this had enough views to help me finish this painting work.

I included the usual variable shade of roof tiles and the walls were finished with a number of dry brushed to get a suitable grainy staccato texture.

Desert Vehicle Conversions Courtesy Of S & S Models.

Hello There! Well Ill health has forced me to stay at home and little more than getting up leaves me breathless so I can do some blogging and show you some older models that I have completed.

Both have General Service Bodies from S & S Models, whose website is here.

The first is the Matchbox Leyland Retriever from the General Montgomerys caravan set, which comes with a Daimler Dingo as well.

I took the Italian caravan office body off and fixed that to a Lancia 3RO which was the source of the original vehicle. I then added the GS body which was a straight forward fit.

The source model for this is the Austin K6, (OK, slightly post war), which was the fire tender and added the same body. This gave me a use for the many fire tenders I had left over after I had assembled the K2 ambulance. 

 bRITISH

Both these models were very satisfying to complete and go well with the desert forces I have been building.

Explosion Markers Again!

 Hello There! With a little spare time I have completed some more explosion markers.    

In all there pictures the figure used to show size is a 20mm FAA British infantryman based on a one pence piece, These are the same as the markers you have seen previously. These are based on a one pence piece and are £2.50 each.

These are the same as above but are slightly larger, being based on a two pence piece.  They are £3.00 each.

These are multi limb explosions and based on a MDF 50mm diameter base. These are £9.00 each.

These are the same as the two pence piece based explosions but are wrapped in an airbrushed cloud with sparks flying out of the explosion. These are £6.00 each.

These are the multi limbed explosions with an airbrushed cloud around the base. They are £11.00 each.

I have plans to use these in my next refight of Bir Hacheim.

Operation Market Garden

Hello There. I have just got off the phone to the Police! I woke up and someone has stolen September! I have no idea where it has gone!

Anyway, I briefly attended a Friday evening recently which was the start of the above game. Unfortunately due to ill health I was unable to attend the main Saturday part but I did get some photos from the evening.

Again, like the clubs D-Day game and Falaise this is all from the collection of one person. The artillery support was included and provided an opening bombardment.

The numerous armoured and infantry regiments lined up on the start line to begin the advance.

A couple of Achilles were present and were part of the Guards Armoured Division.

A reliable old model of the Airfix 5.5" Gun.

The start line began as a large traffic jam and at the off set the Allies were under some enemy fire.

In the rear of the battle a casualty station had been set up. 

Here are some of the German forward positions.

This cantilever bridge was from the large collection complete with barges.

Here are some pictures of another bridge, which you may recognise from the header of my facebook page. 

Also the Dalpol railway girder bridge, which was from my collection.

At the Arnhem end of the game was a small church in the outlying town.

The road to Arnhem was bordered by some polders along each side.

Here is another view of the barges alongside the first cantilever bridge.

A Germen anti take gun awaiting XXX Corps

Some more of the supporting artillery.

One of the Guards Armoured Division tanks.

Her the American paratroops run towards their objective.

Further pictures of the complete game are here. This will take you to the New Buckenham Historical Wargamers Facebook page.  

Visit to RAF Coltishall Heritage Centre

Hello There! This is another local place to visit, but more importantly was one of the stations I spent many years at when I was in the RAF.

This is the picture I remember from the 90's. One of the four hangars that have now been converted for civilian use.

This hangar is now used by an electric bus company

The Air Traffic Control Tower, which looks in a very sorry state!

The 'New. aircraft spray painting booth which was delivered and built in the late 90's and found to be too short to fit a Jaguar aircraft in!

The former General Engineering Flight, Ground Support Equipment Section. Place of work for many years.

The front entrance to the section and the brown brick corner is where the 'control' once stood. A drafty green metal cabin.

Another 'New' building on the left which was only used for a handful of years before the station was closed.

GSES old POL store in front of the armoury.

Down the airfield, an old WW II remote dispersal area was found under a mass of brambles and trees. This was built during WW II and consisted of two areas, back to back with an adjacent building. Built from sandbags filled with cement and ballast this was a surprise to see as I had driven past this hundreds of times and did not know it was there.

Further along the airfield are a number of revetments. Built during the cold war there were meant to protect  aircraft and have their exact co ordinates written on them.

The old Bomb Dump also looks forgotten and derelict

Overall a very stirring day and sad end to a place with so many great memories for so many people.