More figures

All intended for future projects. 

x3 per battalion

The official issue rate of the Thompson sub machine gun 1939-1940

This is one of the company command stands for my planned forth battalion of my BEF collection

As with most previous additions to this collection, figures by Zvezda.

Work in Progress

Eventually this formation will be an infantry brigade....

Mostly Strelets, Esci and Revell figures 

I chose Lewis guns for the LMG platoons

This will be the machinegun battalion

Engineer stands, in more of assault style poses

Another engineer company 

Still quite a bit of work to do but the aim is to produce a 1939-43 New Zealand Infantry Brigade.

Stuff from Dave

A few snaps of some goodies from my friend David Russell...

Beach obstacles 

Assorted bunkers

And a few palm trees.

Cheers Dave

BMP1

Almost finished the command platoon

Minor paintwork to finish

Command figure is by PSC

Very nice models from this company - highly recommended.

Arrived

Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to me.....

Nice figures from both companies :)

1940-41 German Infantry (Zvezda)

Another infantry battalion to add to my German collection for this era

Command section is Airfix, the two machinegun platoons are Revell, and the mortar platoon is a Zvezda/Pegasus combination

All of the rifle and support weapon platoons are Zvezda.

First Company

Second

Third

Battalion.

I added token white piping to the collars and shoulder boards where possible. 

This could be the best set of German infantry figures (for this era) in 1/72 ever produced.

My only gripe would be the odd grenade shoved down the boot.... ouch!

Huts and things

Generic wooden house

Orchard templates and bocage from Dave

Ruins.

Making Trees

The ever resourceful David Russell shows us how to make decent trees...

Double wire insert

Measuring the trunk

Cut twine is added to the wire

And spun tight using a drill

The tree is placed in a jar filled with glue and scenery flock

The end result

Practical and inventive as always.

NB ...no child labour was used in the construction of these items..... this time at least :)

Game. France, 1944

A small game played out by me and Dave. He play the US, me the Germans

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US armoured infantry wasted no time in securing their right flank by occupying the only built-up-area on the map

This is the German right flank. Owing to heavily wooded areas their advance was much slower than the Americans, which cost them important field position

PzIVs supported by assault guns and a company of infantry attempt to control a crossroads that was roughly half way between the two sides

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With some success. The lead company of Sherman tanks took some hits, however their morale was unaffected. Vehicles here are Italeri

More US forces enter the fight via the main road. The Germans had this area fairly well covered, but not for long...

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The PzIV company is all but destroyed by anti tank gun fire and the battered by still capable Shermans 

A risky assault by the StugIIIg company proved disastrous, with two platoons damaged or destroyed by side armour hits 

German infantry take out the anti tank gun position....about three turns too late! Figures here are mostly Revell

With vehicle and infantry losses getting heavy, the Germans tried to anchor the center of their line

About turn 6. The US forces counter attack the German center, with a number of the enemy failing morale checks and fleeing their positions

A final big effort by German infantry attempted to force the Americans out of the village area, which would have allowed some flanking attacks by what was left of their armour

Too little, too late. Despite some decent results the Germans just didn't have enough of anything in the right field position to force the Americans out of theirs. 

David played a really good game. His armoured forces were not as powerful as the Germans and he used the terrain and his infantry to snuff out most of the German attacks.
In terms of position and losses the game was a clear victory to the Americans.

First game we've had in ages, and there'll be plenty more to come. All of the kit in this scenario is from Dave's collection.