Terrain Tuesday - Civilian car

  Terrain Tuesday returns

Since I now have some evenings to return to painting minis I thought it was a good idea to kick off my terrain Tuesdays again (as my 3d filament printer has been going most of summer and autumn! )

 I like to add civilian pieces to my tables and often will have a look in the charity shops for suitable pieces, this is late 20s early 1930s car for my ww2 or SCW table. I am thinking of adding luggage etc as though it is a refugee vehicle, but may just leave it to park next to terrain. This piece has been on my painting table for some time so I thought I would just complete it today. Quite happy with the results. 

Cheers

Matt

French 75mm Artillery

 

 French 75mm Artillery

Work on the renovations of the house is coming along nicely but hogging all of my time at the moment as we rush towards Christmas. We are up to the final plumbing and painting stage so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on the top floor although finishing touches will possibly not be complete until mid January. I can then move all of my figures and books back into my storage room in preparation for my winter painting offensive! 

This week I finally managed to sit down and get some time on the painting table to complete some pieces and catch up on some painting projects. First off was to take off the drop sheets protecting everything then dust everything off before commencement (as the bathroom renovation is directly above my current painting room). then I decided to complete part of a ancients commission order before taking a break from 28mm and painting of my 20mm ww2 figs. 

Nice detail in the HAT caisson

Really nice piece for composition, now I need to revisit my other guns

This 75mm artillery miniature is from the 1/72 HAT soft plastic range, two come in the set both with caissons and can be open or closed. The crew are from Battlefield /Blitz range (currently unavailable). They will join one of my French infantry regiments at this stage, I also need to complete the horse limber and other plastic artillery miniature as a towed set. 

I plan to complete another 1940 Infantry regiment this year also, as I have picked up some of Simons Soldiers to complete the HQ and add some support weapons. I also picked up some Foundry bits while I was in the UK.

more coming this week, but for my Dutch. 

cheers

Matt

FOW Club game at Le Squigs à lunettes (Laval Wargames club)

 FOW Club Game

On Friday night my French mate Philippe invited me to join him down at the local wargames club Le Squigs à lunettes,  in Laval (our regional capital 25klm away). I have not been to the club since before the pandemic. It was enlightening to see four female gamers and a lot of youth playing at the club, which bides well for wargaming in our area and region in general. 

British objective marker

 Philippe had just completed his new desert Italian 15mm Flames of War army and we played against his “roast beef” English 8th army troops. We had four players in total plus Philippe acting as umpire, two English and two Italians, (or one Australian and three Frenchmen!). It has been at least 16 years since I have played FOW, so we spent a lot of time flicking through the rules, but all in all a great night out, with a few beers lots of laughs and some badly pronounced French and English across the table. The Italians were on the attack most of the night and it looked like a minor points win until the last turn the Brit’s successfully charged one of the victory points, I rolled three 1s (I needed 4s) with the defending units in the final turn to lose the game for the Italians ……… oh well lots of nice pictures at least of Philippe’s excellent kit! 

Philippe explaining the rules

The table layout

Italian setup

British set up

looking good first turn two crusaders burning on the right flank

and two stuarts on the left flank

First move

Lat turn charge by the Bren carriers three 6s not good

but my reply of three 1s not good either......

One of the skirmish games, Rangers if the Deep I think, ideal for club nights, I think they got through three games for the evening.

Not seen this game before, fast and furious with a turn timer.... looked good though and four female gamers, great stuff! 

Another of Philippe's objective markers.... bloody lovely 

Looking forward to get back to the club again this year, maybe next Friday 

Cheers

Matt

Dutch 75mm Krupp Siderius field gun

 

 75mm Krupp Siderius 02/04 field gun

Off the desk today is two 75mm field guns, a limber with cassion and a observer element. The Dutch named the 75mm Krupp Siderius as the 7 veld gun, the guns served in both the Netherlands and in the Dutch East Indies. The 7 veld served the infantry divisions with 12 guns per battalion, and three battalions per division normally, two 7 veld and one 120mm or 150mm battalion per Infantry Division. 

Sixteen 7 velds were modified for the light division with rubber tyres and were towed by heavy cars, the remainder had wooden wheels. Only 2000 rounds in total were available for the 7 veld on the eve of the war so many division only carried one resupply for the guns. The 7 veld battalions where in the majority horse drawn for the war, along with horse drawn supply and associated services. 

The gun and miniatures are from Early War Miniatures, the cassion is from moonlight model works and Hat driver and horses. 

Cheers

Matt

Dutch TL-1 Oerlikon 20mm AA gun

 

 Dutch TL-1 Oerlikon 20mm

TL 1 was the Dutch name for the Oerlikon 20mm light anti-aircraft canon. The single barrel Oerlikon was a fine anti-aircraft gun and was excellent in providing cover from low flying aircraft up to 1800m. The Dutch army place an order for these weapons in 1939 and 170 were delivered before the war started, these were issued to light anti-aircraft companies located in infantry divisions and reserve formations.

The gun and miniatures are from Early War Miniatures.


Cheers
Matt

Belgian Alvis Hefty Chasseur Ardennes

 Belgian Alvis-Straussler Hefty truck

While I was researching my Belgians, I came across a reference to the Alvis designed hefty artillery tow truck, finding info on this beast is quite difficult as it seems a number of models were produced and all called "hefty".

The most common image is the trial version, but I believe the Chassuer Ardennes actually purchased the fifty vehicles of the C model. I could find little or no record of how many were built of each type, it seems several different were in production at the same time, all seemed to have the pivot in the chassis though. 

I know I started this beast almost 5 years ago but it is now complete and awaiting paint! 

WIP 1 from 5 Years ago

WIP 2

Finally Completed this year quite happy with it. Now to the paint shop! 

This year I want to complete a lot of my parked projects and get back to completing my 20mm early ww2 kit and armies.

The Belgians ordered fifty of these primarily for towing artillery and AT guns for the Chasseur Ardennais as far as I can research only thirty five were delivered before the war commenced. 

Alvis-Straussler Hefty gun tractor in Belgium

The C model Alvis Hefty, was conceived by Nicolas Straussler and presented to London Commercial Motor Show in 1935. It was powered by the Ford 3.6L V8 65 hp engine, weighing 2.2 T empty and was articulated and pivoted in the middle to make it possible to cross uneven ground.

cheers

Matt

Ww2 Dutch staff car

Dutch Opel Staff Car 

I was looking for a suitable staff car for my Dutch when I chanced across a photo of them using a Opel car, so I went looking and found this resin 1/76th Wespe Models version, it was a fiddly kit, with a bit of work to get things to fit, and a little bit of flash, being resin you need to be gentle with the build and it may last some wargaming through gentle handling. 

The cobblestone base is scratch built and the driver is HAT plastic German, overall quite happy with the completed piece. It will join my Dutch command set. Next up some AA and tow. 

Cheers

Matt

Vickers Carden Lloyd tankette

 Dutch armour

The Vickers Carden Llyod MG Carrier

A bit of a spanner in the works this weekend tested positive to Covid on Friday after feeling a little off. So last two days in bed, I thought today I may get a chance to do a bit on the desk, but concentration down to much to paint figures, but good enough for vehicles I thought. This vehicle has been part finished for some time all it needed was highlighting and marking up to complete. So on and off over a few hours I managed to get it done. Quite happy. The miniature is from Early War Miniatures range of Dutch.  

The Dutch had five of these for the invasion in 1940 and they were the only tracked vehicles in service. All of the Cardenas Llyod carriers were all named after big cats. I selected Cougar / Poema and painted it on by hand along with the Dutch triangle. As there were only 5 that is the total required for Rapid Fire Rules. 

Next up will be some more horse drawn equipment and some AA. 

Cheers

Matt

Dutch Chevrolet supply truck

Dutch supply truck

Finally had some time this week as we are in the middle of a major restoration of the third floor of the house, 200sqm of dust to fight with over the next two weeks at least! I have decided to complete some pieces from my Dutch project this year so they are front line at the moment. 

First to be completed is the Minairons miniatures resin truck. Not the prettiest model, and it needs a lot of filling to fix but with a bit of work and some extra bits placed on it such as fuel tank, jack box and tow hook it gets closer to the Dutch model. A lot of filling of the resin and even after a few dunks in hot water I could not correct the bent truck bed. After enough fussing I decided to add some scratch built and 3d printed bits for a removable load and some SHQ metal pieces also, including the driver. The truck will join my HQ unit for the artillery. 

More Dutch coming this weekend as I need to complete my artillery build for the Wargamers forum. 

Cheers

Matt 

Book review -Tilly-sur-Seulles 1944

Tilly-sur-Seulles

Finally back from our holidays in the lower Loire and some packages were awaiting me when I returned home.  First up was a bunch of books from the Heimdal book sale.

A book I have been meaning to pick up was Stéphane Jacquet’s, Tilly-sur-Seulles 1944, as it relates to my 50th infantry division project. Lots of Fabulous then and now photos and lots of personal accounts and maps. I will be plowing through this to make up some scenarios for my Tyne Tees and using what I can for building references and perhaps a tour. 

I rate all of Heimdals ww2 books and Stéphane as a author does a great job with his series. The text is in English and French and is worth the €59 price tag (on sale €50) and is a big tome with lots of great information. Rate 10 out of 10!

Cheers

Matt

Polish Army 1939 Project part 1

 

Polish Army project part 1

This year I also want to revisit my 1939 Polish Army and complete all of the unpainted vehicles (30 odd), and paint two more battalions figures I already have sitting in storage, some dating back in 2012. I want to purchase some to fill out the ranks by adding another battalion with the new 20mm XAN infantry figures (match his original range sculpted by him for Fantassin Miniatures which make up my current battalions). I also want to get the resin Scibor vehicle crews and command figures as they look fabulous.

For the AA, artillery and AT guns I will add a mix of pieces. First to Fight plastic gun crews mostly to crew some plastic, resin and metal gun pieces and Early War Models metal crews for the specialists. Lots of horse drawn equipment is required so more HAT and EWM horse drawn wagons. For trucks FTF Fiat and Praga trucks and IBG kits for fiat staff and radio cars.

For the next article I will cover my organisation of my cavalry. I need to purchase FTF mounted Uhlan cavalry for command figs and horseholder. I already have the HAT plastic French for the mounted component. I would also like to add First to Fight dismounted cavalry portion and some SHQ also. I need to purchase the specific FAA miniatures for the 10th Motorised Cavalry Brigade motorcyclists. Finally scratch build and purchase some more vehicles mostly soft skins mostly motorcycles but I may print some also. I have set a target of completion for next year for the cavalry.

My fighter and fighter bomber air component is complete except for a bomber, which I will wait for one to come up on ebay or such.

Rapid Fire does not have a official list for Poles yet, but there are some unofficial lists around on which I have loosely based mine on. Rapid Fire does have the charts for guns, vehicles and aircraft though which is helpful when playing.

The first task is to build a Infantry division of a single regiment, than add the support elements for extra goodies for game play, as I like to see supply and medical especially on the tabletop. The Polish Infantry Regiments were very large and basically followed the same structure, 3 battalions plus support elements. I am not planning on painting any reserve regiments or the static units, although I am tempted in the future to build Polish field defence bunkers.

9th Polish Legion Infantry Division

9th Dywizja Piechoty Legionów

Polish Army 1939 Rapid Fire Organisation

Division HQ
CO x 5, Fiat 518 staff car, Fiat radio truck, MP motorcycle

Supply company
10 figs Praga RV supply truck, 4 supply wagons

Medical Coy
10 figs Fiat 621 Ambulance, 2 x horse drawn ambulance

Fiat 621 Ambulance

Recon battalion
BHQ Co + 2 mounted on horses
1st coy 6 figs and horses
2nd coy 12 figs cyclists
MG coy
4 figs 1 x MMG wz30 with wz 36 Tatchanka horse drawn cart

MMG wz30 with wz 36 Tatchanka cart

9th Sapper Battalion
OC + 5 car, Praga RV truck with foot bridge trailer, mine detector, 1 motorcycle
1st Coy 12 figs Horse drawn wagon
2nd Coy 12 figs Horse drawn wagon

AA Battery

Battery HQ 

OC + 5, staff car , 508 radio car, supply truck

AA light coy
4 figs 1 x 40mm bofors AA gun and motor tow
3 figs 1 x MMG truck mounted

AA heavy coy
4 figs 1 x SP wz.97/25 75mm AA gun

Artillery

9th Light artillery Regiment
RHQ
CO + 11 figs staff car, horse towed radio/telephone trailer, 508 radio truck, horse drawn supply wagon, AA platoon MG Fiat 621 truck

1st sqn
8 figs 2 x 75mm wz 1897 Schneider horse drawn

2nd sqn
8 figs 2 x 100mm wz 1914/1919 Skoda horse drawn


9th Heavy Artillery Regiment
RHQ
CO + 11 figs staff car, horse towed radio/telephone trailer, 508 radio truck, horse drawn supply wagon, AA platoon MG Fiat 621 truck

1st sqn
8 figs 2 x 105mm wz.1913 C7P

2nd sqn
8 figs 1 x 155mm wz.1917 C7P

22nd Infantry Regiment

RHQ 

Co + 7 figs staff Car, Fiat 308 radio car, cyclist, motorcycle.

Supply Coy
4 figs horse drawn cooks wagon, horse drawn supply wagon.

Medical platoon
2 figs horse drawn medical wagon

AA platoon
3 figs MMG wz30 AA with wz 36 Tatchanka horse drawn cart,

Scout Company
4 figs horses, 4 cyclists 1 AT rifle UR/WZ 35

Artillery coy

3 men 1 x 75mm wz.02 / 26 cannon horse drawn

Anti Tank platoon
3 men 1 x Wz 37mm Bofors AT gun, horse drawn

1st Battalion
OC + 12, 2 horses , 1 horse drawn supply wagon, 1 radio car, 47mm mortar coy + cart, 1 AT rifle UR/WZ 35

1st Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
2nd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
3rd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
4th Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
Heavy weapons coy
6 men 2 x MMG WZ 30 browning horse drawn cart

2nd Battalion
OC + 11, 2 horses , 1 horse drawn supply wagon, 1 radio car, 1 47mm mortar coy + cart, 1 AT rifle UR/WZ 35

1st Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
2nd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
3rd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
4th Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
Heavy weapons coy
6 men 2 x MMG WZ 30 browning, horse drawn cart

3rd Battalion
OC + 11, 2 horses , 1 horse drawn supply wagon, 1 radio car,
47mm mortar coy + cart, 1 AT rifle UR/WZ 35

1st Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
2nd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
3rd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
4th Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
Heavy weapons coy
2 x MMG WZ 30 browning 6 OR horse drawn cart

Regiment Support
OC + 1, observers x 2 ORs

MMG coy
6 men 2 x MMG WZ 30 browning 6 OR horse cart

Mortar coy
12 men 3 x 81mm mortar horse cart

Next Article will cover my cavalry and armour, followed by painting guides and then aircraft.

cheers
Matt

References

Polish army structure 1939, by far the best reference I have found is here
Andrew Mollo, The Armed Forces of ww2
Steve Zaloga The Polish Army 1939-45
David Higgins German Soldier vs Polish Soldier 1939.

Belgian Army 1940 Part 1

 

Belgian Army 1940

 This year I want to complete some more of my 1940 armies. I have decided to add some more units to my Belgian army, cyclist infantry, artillery elements, armour, aircraft and complete my Ardennes Chasseurs regiment. My main focus will be infantry and cyclists. I also need to paint my armour T13 and T 15, plus some artillery pieces, tractors and trucks. All units will be built for Rapid Fire.

Division de Chasseurs Ardennais

I have completed my first battalion, I do however require to paint my 2 x T15, 1 x vickers carden llyod 47mm complete my tow for the towed 47mm, and some support elements, trucks, tractors, medical and engineer coy.

Regiment Karabiniers-Wielrijders

I have purchased the HAT cyclists to paint as my cyclist karabiniers. The cars are from a diecast company,  truck are plastic and resin kits and telephone trailer is SHQ, resin medical truck from Minarion

BHQ

Co + 7 Alder 2 staff car,  Ford supply truck, large car and telephone trailer, Ford medical truck

RHQ 

Co + 5 staff car, truck and telephone trailer

1st battalion HQ. OC + 3 cycles

1st company 8 figures on cycles (plus 8 dismounted figures and pile of bikes)

2nd company 8 figures on cycles (plus 8 dismounted figures and pile of bikes)

2nd battalion HQ + 3 cycles 

3rd Company 8 figures cycles (plus 8 dismounted figures and pile of bikes)

4th Company 8 figures cycles (plus 8 dismounted figures and pile of bikes)

3rd battalion HQ + 3 cycles 

5th Company 8 figures cycles (plus 8 dismounted figures and pile of bikes)

6th company 8 figures cycles (plus 8 dismounted figures and pile of bikes)

MG coy 3 figs MMG  FN tricar

AT coy 1 x47mm  towed + tractor

Armoured coy

2 x T15

1 x Vickers Carden-Llyod Mark VI 47mm

Artillery

1 x schneider 155mm M17 howitzer motorised tow

1 x schneider 105mm M13 gun motorised tow

2nd Motorised Cavalry Division 

The cars are from a diecast company,  truck are plastic and resin kits and telephone trailer is SHQ, resin medical truck from Minarion

Division HQ

Co + 7 Alder 2 staff car,  supply truck, heavy car and telephone trailer, medical truck

RHQ

Co + 5 staff car, truck and telephone trailer, motorcycle AA

1 battalion motorised Infantry

HQ  Co + 3 car and motorbike

3 coys 8 figures truck

2nd battalion motorcyclist Infantry

BHQ CO + 3 car and motorbike

3 coys motorbike (plus dismounted figures)

Support coy

MG coy 3 figs MMG  FN tricar

Mortar Coy 3 figs plus car

1 armoured car company

3 x T13 tanks

Artillery 

1 x schneider 155mm M17 howitzer and tow

1 x schneider 105mm M13 gun and tow

Belgian Armour

ACG1

I want to build the ACG1 although in RF this is only two models. Most of my force is built around the southern component of the front. A short history for you to whet the appetite...

The 10 Belgian ACG1 (AMC 35, 9 with the altered belgian turret) were formed into two platoons for the invasion and was attached to the Corps de Cavalerie T13 2nd Division. The unit initially were based in Brussels but in the first week were moved to defend the bridges between Willebroek and Vilvoorde.  The Squadron was commanded by Kapitein R.Hullebroeck , and divided into two platoons of 4 tanks with two in reserve. 

HQ and Company

2 x ACG1 tanks

The Belgian Air Component

The Belgian Air Component was small but had a good training system so a number of pilots were well qualified but most the the air component was mostly destroyed on the ground in the opening day of the war.

On the early morning of May 10, the alarm was sounded, and the pilots at Schaffen Air Base went to their planes, thinking it was an exercise. A few minutes later, 50 unidentified aircraft flew over the airfield. Despite his orders, Captaine Max Guisgand, the commander of 1/1/2 Gladiators flew his planes into the air at 0420 hrs while the Hurricanes started their engines. 12 minutes later, three Heinkel 111s were spotted, not troubled by AA fire. The planes in the air were not there when the 111s came, and the 111s strafed the airfield several times. The planes tried to take off through the explosions and fires. A bullet punctured the main wheel of Lt. Wilmonts Gladiator and he rammed a Hurricane. Minutes later 110s and Dornier Do 17 strafed and bombed the airfield. Four Hurricanes were set on fire, and 6 others were damaged. The roof of the hangar fell in and the planes in it were destroyed. Sgt. Libert was burned badly when the fuel tank of his Hurricane exploded. Captaine Van den Hove d'Ertsenrijick and Caparol Jacobs managed to escape from Schaffen. They encountered some bombers but didn't manage to shoot down any, even though helped by Gladiator pilot Sgt. Van den Broecke. The third section of Gladiators from 1/1/2 almost collided with the three 111s and had to break away.

The second section (Cpt. Gerard (G-27), Sgt. Henri Winand (G-32) and Sgt. Henri Clinquart (G-34) spotted a formation of enemy bombers and broke it up. During the bombing, other gladiators left Schaffen for Beauvechain. Hurricane pilots Siroux, Lelarge and a lt.) flew three of them. Other reported engagements were when at 0900 10 109s ran in to two Gladiators over Tirlemont. Both were shot down and one pilot bailed out. At 1000 hrs, three Gladiators were shot down by 1/JG27 while trying to intercept escorted Ju87s.

A few missions were completed by the Belgians bombing three bridges on the Albert Canal on the of 11th May. The bombing was done by Fairey Battles of the 5/III/3Aé, the fighter escort was provided by 1/I/2Aé Gloster Gladiators.  On the 11th May out of fifteen Battles that attacked pontoons bridge across the Maastricht, Veldwezelt, Vroenhoven and Briegden, only five aircraft survived.

The 9th and 11th squadron flying R31s still had aircraft in the sky when the surrender was announced on the 28th.

Aircraft in Service 1940

As I love building aircraft I have gone overboard for my Belgians.....

Renard R-31 21 in service reconnaissance (purchased)

Fiat CR.42 Falco 23 in service 3éme (destroyed on the ground) and 4th éme squadrons (completed)

Gloster Gladiator 15 in service 1/1/2Aé (Model built, needs paint)

Fairy fox VI biplane 98 in service (Part built, need to complete)

Hawker Hurricane mk1 11 in service (only two survived the bombing of the airfield on the 10th of May, they were lost on the 11th) (completed)

Fairy Battle light Bomber 14 in Service 5éme squadron (purchased not built) 

next up another 1940 project

Cheers

Matt

30 day kit build challenge part 4

 

 30 day kit build challenge part 4 

Last kits all sherman M4a1, will mix in my sherman allied units. 

Happy with my progress, I would of liked to have done a few more but lost enthusiasm last week. Next job get the kits assigned and do some painting!

total kits part 4 = 6

total kit count for April 30 kits

Cheers

Matt

30 day kit build challenge part 3

 

 #30daykitbuildchallenge

The final week of the challenge I finally had some time to sit down and complete a lot of kits, all PSC which are simple, some I will revisit to add finer details and stowage when I return home to France. Again focusing on allied kit, but three german Styers also slipped in. For the first time I have not built a aircraft in the build although did pick up a box then put it back...... 

M1a1 Shermans for my yanks

British artillery, cabins left open until crew and vehicle painted

British trucks, like these a lot

Steyr heavy cars for my germans 

Build week 3 : 15 kits 

Total 24 kits

Total 

cheers

Matt