Polish Armour

Recently completed 7TP

This one is metal by SHQ

Plastic one by Mirage

Twin Turret version also by Mirage, nice models but expensive and hard to get out here

The full company. Using these in a game in the next couple of weeks where they will represent the core of the Polish forces. Still painting things flat out for this event but have been a bit distracted over the last couple of days with the arrival of the new Pegasus French sets.

Bristol

Mostly an Airfix Bristol Bulldog with bits cannibalised from other bone yard planes, notably a Fiat Paul had surplus to requirements.

This rates as the worst kit of this type I've ever built, several bits missing and what was there didn't line up.

Just the propeller and wind shield to add. This will mostly feature as a minor nations fighter or light bomber aircraft.

Work in progress

Some Polish figures I've been working on, about half finished.

Anti tank gunners, most have had kit added

Most of these gunners are HaT Romanian figures with some Polish figure head swaps, although their helmets and general kit are quite similar

Working on some Polish tanks too, show you those later

AT and field artillery stands.

Russian thing

I think this might have been German originally, but we needed a Russian one for a game we were playing, and so it became.

Suitably rough one might suggest?

Might get some more authentic decals for it at some stage down the track but for now it does just fine.

Minor Nations Cavalry

Adaptions rather than conversions these, I put them together with my small Polish collection in mind, but have since decided that they will also do for French and possibly Dutch and Belgian as well.

All of the figures are from the HaT WW1 French artillery set.

This is the recon stand, all of the figures had things like ammunition pouches and rifles added, and the horses got saddle furniture from the bits box.

Next couple are of the commanding officer riding his magnificent black charger.

All of the figures and horses have had minor touching up since the pictures were taken

Don't know where the lances originate from but they don't look too bad, more bits box spares

For CD3 this represents a squadron of about ninety men and whilst they can be dismounted to fight as infantry they are most effective in the saddle where they have a high close-assault rating - against everything except tanks!

Not exactly in line with plane month, it's just what I've been working on in between wrestling with the Bulldog that I'm building - which is a mare.

Fokker

My only Great War German fighter, the Fokker Eindecker.

ICM model from the Ukraine plus converted motorcycle rider for a pilot. A simple well engineered kit, all of about twenty parts.

Still plugging away on the Bristol, plan to paint that one in Polish colours as a stand in for a PZL P7 that I need for a gaming I'm planning.

DH2

Another of my favourites, the DH2.

This one is by Revell and was a very poorly engineered kit. It had a lot of flash and many of the parts were misshapen or bent in some way

Despite this being quite a manoeuvrable aircraft it was fairly quickly outclassed by the likes of the Albatross D.1, though remained it in service until late 1917

As usual the decals proved a bit of a challenge

This model has seen only a couple of games set in early 1916 but I have some other scenarios that it will probably feature in once I get my early war BEF collection finished.

Fairey Battle

An all time favourite of mine, despite its disappointing combat performance. This model has featured in several early war games and has plenty more left in it yet.

I have had this in my collection for at least ten years. Don't know how many make it, but this one is by Airfix

I painted this long before developing new techniques but I still like it

Its actual abilities are not detailed in the rules as it simply represents a light bomber unit but I like to have models that fit the scenarios whenever possible.

Completed Sonia

Finished. A bit lighter on the camo than the box art but I'm happy with it.

The base colour comes from a test-pot of house paint, I just shaded it a little to get a better match

The decals did not go on hassle-free as usual but we got there in the end

Added slightly larger bombs from the bits box as the ones that came with it were a bit on the small side

Rear gunner detail. Added a drum magazine to the machine gun as per Paul's suggestion

This was a great kit to make, and I enjoyed the mini competition side of putting it together too. I finish work early next week - 50 days of annual leave, joy! - so will begin construction on the only other unmade plane that I have then, a Bristol Bulldog.

Sonia Progress

A bit of free time before tonight's awards ceremony produced a bit more done to the Sonia that I got with Paul (last seen on the end of a paddling pool!)

It is a very tidy model despite its age, all the parts are well engineered.

First ever attempt at a mottle scheme using the sponge technique. I might try it on some armour at a later date.

Progress

First contribution to plane month is underway. Two US tank crew figures will have to stand in for the pilots though.

Recoilless Rifle

Scratch built 75mm recoilless rifle for my Korean War collection.

The basics are on there but I'm going to add an elevation wheel and a couple of other bits and pieces.

It will eventually be attached to an HQ unit, most likely regimental level.

I've put the primary colours on it too but plan to give those a better job when I get some more time down the track.