Airfix Henschel HS129 build part 1

Airfix Henschel HS129

In September we have a Nostalgia build for kits or figures designed pre 2000 and no longer in production. I have elected to build a Airfix Henschel HS129 kit. I actually already have two kits built for this aircraft, one 20mm cannon and one 75mm canon. This model will become a photo reconnaissance aircraft that was shot down east of Laval in August 1944.


Looking forward to the build if you want to join us here

Cheers
Matt

Edward Woodville the last Knight Errant, Breton Guerre Folle - Mad War

 The Last Knight Errant Edward Woodville 

Possibly the last great knight errant, Edward Woodville fought all over Europe and England, he was a leader in the War of the Roses, the invasion of Scotland, and France, fought as a mercenary captain in Castille War of Succession and crusaded against the Moors of Spain. 

I have written a summary of his last days leading up to the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier where he died with his whole contingent except a young squire who returned to the Isle of Wight. Again Perry Miniatures based for Impetus.

Edward Woodville Lord scales

English Billmen lead by Edward Woodville

Rear English Billmen

Edward Woodville, known as Lord Scales by both the French and Spanish but he never held the title, tenth child of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers. The Family initially supported the Lancastrians the changed allegiances to the house of York when his sister Elizabeth Woodville married King Edward IV. 

Breton compagnie d'ordonnance billmen

Breton compagnie d'ordonnance billmen

Another Breton unit off the table for my Breton army for the Mad War. The Breton Ordonnance companies were required to have one Archer (crossbow, longbowman, or spearman) per every 10 hearths. In 1488 less than 20 per cent mustered, mostly because the French Army invaded during the harvest season and captured large numbers in Vannes and Chateaubriant. Some of the northern and south western parishes compagnie d'ordonnance and Arrie ban did muster from the city of Rennes and the border marches( Vitré, Dol and St Malo was already occupied by French) and the Comte de Laval (owing allegiance to both sides) sided with the French, and many of the Marcher lords of Normandy, Anjou, Maine and Brittany owed fealty to both sides and did not even take part on either side.

Breton Compagnie d'ordonnance

Breton Billmen 1488

Breton Billmen

Breton Billmen

cheers

Matt

Breton Harquebus Guerre Folle- Mad War

Breton Harquebusiers 

Another unit off the table for my Breton army for the Guerre Folle-Mad War. Breton harquebus were in small numbers, around 200 present according to accounts and archeology of the field does prove they were in use. It is thought the german mercenaries also brought some with them.  

Breton Harquebus

cheers

Matt

KV2 build Part 1

  

 KV2 build

I know I should not be building eastern front stuff at the moment but Piers has inspired me with his Stalingrad photos on the Wargamer Forum  , so I completed this KV2 kit I commenced for the #30daykitbuildchallenge during the week in between the renovations, it really just need the tracks to be completed and the hull assembled. 

I plan to get some paint on it this weekend I hope.  He will join my ever growing fleet for the Barbarossa in preparation of the new Rapid Fire books coming out for the campaign!

Cheers

Matt

Major General Johann Baptist Georg Fidelius Lingg, Baden

Johann Baptist Georg Fidelius Lingk or Lingg , (24. April 1765 in Meersburg on Lake Constance - 21st January 1842 in Mannheim) was lieutenant general of the Grand Duke of Baden Jager battalion "Lingg". He became known as the defender of the city of Hersfeld against the French as " The Man of Hersfeld ". Born in Meersburg, a son of a innkeeper and owner of the Hotel Löwen in Meersburg. Lingg attended grammar school in Meersburg, and started his military career in 1780 becoming a officer cadet in the grenadier company of the Bishopric of Konstanz.  In 1783 he was promoted to second lieutenant and in 1790 to premier lieutenant. In the war of the First Coalition  (1792–1797) Lingg fought against the French in the Swabian district regiment "Wolfegg". This regiment was disbanded after the defeat in 1796. Lingg became captain that same year promoted and commanded the grenadier company of the Bishopric of Konstanz. After the Lunéville Peace Treaty was signed in 1801, the Konstanz Bishopric was secularized and added to the Margraviate of Baden.

Monument to Lingg von Linggenfeld in Bad Hersfeld

Lingg joined the Baden Army in 1803 and was promoted to major a few months later . He became a staff officer and commander of a company in the Jäger Company in Bruchsal . Between 1805 and 1806 Lingg fought with his company in the Third Coalition War in the Austria. The jager battalion was restructured and increased by two companies and now had four companies with a strength of 553 men. Lingg was promoted to lieutenant colonel and thus became the commander of the "Lingg" Jager battalion.

Major General Johann Lingg 28mm Murawski miniatures

Baden as a Confederation of the Rhine Member was also involved in the war of the fourth coalition between France and Prussia . Lingg moved out with his battalion and was in Kassel by December 1806 . At this time there were riots in Kurhessen . So Lingg was with his Jager battalion to Eschwege and Hersfeld ordered to keep the situation in the back under control. After a riot broke out in Hersfeld on Christmas 1806 when Napoleonic troops were billeted, Napoleon gave the order to set fire to all four corners of the town and to plunder it. Lingg literally carried out the first part of the order and had four separate buildings set on fire on the outskirts, which burned down without harm to the rest of the city. He prevented the looting by addressing his soldiers, therefore disobeying Napoleon's orders. After the events in Hersfeld, Lingg marched with his battalion to Vacha . From there it moved on to Pomerania in mid-May 1806 , where Lingg's troops took part in the fighting there. 

In December 1807 Lingg moved to Heidelberg , into the new garrison of his battalion. Lingg was promoted to colonel on December 21 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Karl Friedrich Order of Merit. When Lingg approached Grand Duke Karl Friedrich at the beginning of 1808 to thank Grand Duke Karl Friedrich , he is said to have received him with the words: "The man from Hersfeld". 


In the fifth coalition war , Lingg was deployed in Austria and was slightly injured in the battle of Wagram . In 1810 the battalion was reclassified to the "Lingg" light infantry battalion and relocated to Freiburg . After his appointment as major general , Lingg became city commander of Freiburg. 

Gravestone of Lingg von Linggenfeld in the Mannheim main cemetery

In the sixth coalition war , the Baden corps and the infantry battalion "Lingg" moved against Russia as far as Smolensk . Lingg was wounded on the retreat across the Berezina . The entire Baden corps in the Prussian retreat consisted of only 41 men. They were transferred from Lingg to Glogau , where replacement troops from Baden were lying. He then submitted his departure and left the army on March 16, 1813 as lieutenant general .

In 1819, because of his courageous behavior in Hersfeld, he received the house order of the Golden Lion from the Hessian elector Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II. On November 1, 1827, he was raised to hereditary nobility with the title “von Linggenfeld” .

cheers

Matt

T26 assault

 

 T26 tanks forward!

The last of the recent purchases of from Clive diecast models, five diecast T26, these are absolutely lovely pieces and I suspect a little more robust for wargaming then the current plastic kits I have. Another pre purchase for nexts years project (I tell myself that!) 

I will only give these guys a wash and grime job, plus basing and they will join my Russian horde. 

Russian T26 tanks

cheers

Matt

T34s атаковать - Advance

 

 T34 Assault !

During Clives Diecast sale I also I picked up some diecast T34s from Clive for my early Russian army, which I plan to add to next year as the new Rapid Fire eastern Front books are coming (YAY). 

Further additions to the stash for now....... a repaint and weathering I suspect is on the cards too to match my current fleet of plastics.

cheers

Matt 

JU86 D1 project part 1

 

Junkers JU86 D1 build

Well a cold wet day kept me from doing external chores so I elected to pull out some kits from the stock and decided upon the Italeri Junkers JU86D1 and four others to assemble over the coming week of predicted wet weather.

 Originally I purchased this for SCW aerial dogfights, but as it is a little large I have decided to add it to my Luftwaffe for the invasion of Poland where I believe the JU86D1 flew its only combat missions of ww2 with Kampfgeschwader 1 /III, (I do quite like the 5th Staffel KG254 1937 colours below).

I will paint in the early war pattern I think, and as a wargaming flying model, as very little information exists for the JU86D1 service. 

JU 86 colour ideas

JU86 colour ideas

cockpit Interior 

looking at the forward bombardier/gunners position

The  dorsal gunners position; and within a retractable ventral position

Interior commenced RLM 02 brush painted

cheers

Matt

Leopard 1 Bundeswehr Cold War

 

Leo 1 Diecasts

So Clive (at Clives Diecast and kits) had some Leo 1s on sale recently and I could not resist picking up a few more to add to my Bundeswehr Kampfgruppe. My second battalion of Leopard 1 tanks is now completed for my cold war Bundeswehr army. A few more pieces to add like mobile artillery and another Gepard AA and the Kampfgruppe will be completed for Able Archer (Rapid Fire modern rules). 

A repaint coming up in the workshop over the next two months, some stowage, cam nets and some crew added is on the cards too!

cheers

Matt

50th Infantry Division Tyne Tees Part 2

 

 50th Infantry Division

This years big ww2 project is the 50th Infantry Division for D-Day to Holland. I have chosen my favourite 20mm figs for my Brits from my stash of Britannia miniatures. Painting has commenced and is more than halfway complete of the infantry figures after three days.

I will break this into the 69th division first, plus support elements, then perhaps another infantry Division later on. Rapid Fire rules so Battalions are around 40 figures.

69th Infantry Brigade

 69th Infantry Brigade 

• 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

still in progress

• 6th Battalion, Green Howards 
• red flash behind cap badge

completed

• 7th Battalion, Green Howards

completed 

1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers (D-Day)
6th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers

81 SQN 

Churchill AVRE fascine Built not painted
Churchill Avre Bobbin Built not painted

Churchill bridgelayer Built not painted

Royal Armoured Corps (D-Day)

Westminster Dragoons

HQ 

dingo built

M14 AA (not Purchased)

2 x trucks complete

M32 Sherman Armoured Recovery Vehicle (not built)

A sqn 2 x sherman crab flail tanks (not built)

C sqn 2 x sherman crab flail tanks  (not built)

141st Royal Tank Regiment (all of the regiments churchills names began with S)
I will model 

C Squadron commanded by lt Shearman 13 troop small turret number 13

Three crocodiles from 13 Troop landed at La Riviere where one floundered in a deep underwater crater and the other two crocodiles were able to get ashore.

1 x churchill crocodiles ("Sandgate" T173174H commanded by lt John Shearman MC) Built not painted

1 x Churchill crocodile ("Sandling "T173174  commanded by Sgt Reg Webb) (not purchased)

The two crocodiles supported the 7th Green Howards (69th Brigade, 50th Infantry Division) assault on the La Marefontaine gun battery (WN32) which contained four Czech 100mm guns located in fields outside the hamlet of La Marefontaine south of Ver-Sur-Mer.

Royal Marines (D-Day)
1st Royal Marine Armoured Support Regiment

A troop

1 x centaur

No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando

HQ coy (partial complete)

4 companies (partial complete)

Royal Artillery

74th (Northumbrian) Field Regiment

296th (4th) Durham

298th (1st) Durham

102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment

99th battery

2 6pdrs Guns and bren carrier

1 M10

288th battery

2 x 6pdrs and bren carriers

1 M10

198th battery (attached from 73rd AT regiment)

2 x M10

234th battery (attached from 73rd AT regiment)

2 x M10

25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Polston AA 20mm gun and tow

1 x crusader AA

82nd LAA battery

Bofors AA battery

Next years project will be the DLI

151st Infantry Brigade 
6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (left 30 November 1944, joined 131st Brigade, 7th Armoured Division)

Corps Elements 

61st Reconnaissance Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps

plus assorted trucks, medical and bits

cheers

Matt

Gendarmes d'élite de la Garde Impériale

I have had this unit for two years sitting in the to paint pile, this year I have decided to do some more pieces for my French Napoleonic Armies so last month I started and completed these chaps and then ordered the flag from GMB, I finally mounted the flag yesterday and manage to take some photos this morning. 

The figures are from Gringo 40s, who also do a very fine range of other guard units, the figures are on the larger side for 28mm but fit my Elite 1805-09 army nicely. Really happy with my paint job and I hope to get the big boots on the table soon. 

28mm Gendarmes d'élite de la Garde Impériale

Gendarmes d'élite de la Garde Impériale Trumpeter

Gendarmes d'élite de la Garde Impériale kettledrummer

cheers

Matt

Russian Motorised troops

 

 Russian Motorised Troops 

I have started to refocus to complete a number of my projects for 2021 and my Russian motorised troops are next on the list for completion. I am using Elhiem miniatures Russians to fill out my recon and motorised battalions in camouflage suits. I will probably pick up a second battalion in the coming months to bring them up to a regimental combat group. I am following my previous recipe for the for camouflage. Vallejo Green with dark sand splotches, washed then highlighted in same with a hint of bleached bone. 

cheers

Matt 

Tree Renovations Part 10 Tree Tutorial

 Terrain Tuesday Trees Part 10

Making a wargames tree......

On Sunday I decided to finish off some more trees for the 20mm terrain. You can never have enough trees and I like to have a lot of them in various sizes and colours. I have been making trees for 30 odd years, wire armatures, sticks and commercial boxed ones. I can remember making some when I was around 15 years old using tree sticks and moss from a Stan Catchpol modelling workshop, military modelling article.  Since then I have made several hundred, particularly when I run the Goulburn Valant Stormers Wargames Club, but when I departed Australia I parted with my real timber ones, so upon arrival in France I needed to replace all of them except the evergreens. I prefer to buy my evergreens mostly from model railway companies and make my deciduous trees.

My preference for trunks is hedge cuttings as they already have the branches. Last year I cut down a box hedge in the garden so now have a lifetime supply of branches, which were oven baked then put in boxes awaiting use, classified into 20mm (up to 20cm high) and 28mm (up to 50cm high)

How too

Step 1.

I simply select a number of suitable hedge branches from the stockpile.

Step 2 

Using a hole saw I cut from 3mm MDF 40-50-75mm bases depending upon tree size.

Step 3 

I attach with hot glue, sometimes I also add a tack on large trees, plus make a base and roots too from green stuff.

Step 4

With a 60/40 mix of PVA I paint the base then sprinkle with my builders sand mix, I grade my builders sand into rough and light, I use my rough mix as I get as a bonus rocks and bts on the base. 

Step 5

I paint the base dark earth brown, then dry brush with a tan colour to match our soil here in southern Normandy/Pays de Loire, paint the stones then ink and drybrush. 

Step 6

I tear up the rubberised horsehair into clumps spreading it out into the canopy shape, then attach the rubberised horsehair with hot glue. I buy my rubberised horsehair from upholstery suppliers in the UK.

Step 7  

Select Flock colour, some people make theirs but I have never bothered, I use woodland scenics or NOCH, Faller products.  I use light green, middle green, dark green or even orange-brown (for Autumn) sponge fine flock. I use a deep plastic box for the flock so I can shake off excess and catch it all.

Step 8

I then using latex or washing up gloves I cover the base, placing the tree trunk  between my fingers. Then I use a hobby spray adhesive (from a $2 shop) on the rubberised hair, coating it liberally. The Selected Flock colour is poured into a box, then sprinkle my selected colour, let set, then a second application.

Step 9

I then may add a sprinkle of mixed leaves or colour (white, red and yellow for plane trees, fruit trees in blossom). 

Step 10

I then Varnish the tree with gloss varnish.

Step 11

Clean up and neaten up with scissors, some can have a few character pieces you can leave or cut off. 

Step 12

Add flock, bushes and flowers to the base. 

Simples, ok several hours work over the least three days. I tend to do batches of twenty odd trees at a time.

I still have another 50 plus odd to go but I have run out of middle green woodland scenics as I completed some new 20mm bocage for the ww2 Normandy table as well, but waiting on more flock........For some variation of my 28mm trees I am about to commence my first sea moss trees so wish me luck!

cheers

Matt

Camulogéne Chief of the Aulerci Gallic confederation

 Aulerci Chieftain Camulogene 

Camulogenes or Camulogenos was the Gaul Chief of the Aulerci Federation during Caesar's conquest of Gaul. He is thought to have led the first raising of the confederation of the Aulerci (Diablintes, Cenomani and the Eburovices) to fight against the Roman invaders with the Unelli against Caesars Lieutenant Titurius Sabinus 56BC. The Aulerci also sent an army in 56BC to assist the Veneti in Caesars Loire campaign. Finally in 52BC the Aulerci joined Vercingetorix rebellion and Camulogenes led the confederation with the Parisii against Caesars lieutenant Labienus at the battle of Lutetia, where the Gaulois Federation was defeated and Camulogenes was killed in the fighting. 

Quite happy with my flesh tones although it lost a bit in the varnish process. The 28mm miniature is a converted Warlord Miniature Gallic Druid.

Aulerci chief Camulogene

Aulerci Chief Camulogenos

Gallic Chieftain Camulogenos

Gallic Chief

Gallic Cheiftan

cheers

Matt