Bunker Talk

Puma

2012-02-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

This is my Puma battalion. I have collected them for 30 years.

It takes a lot of dedication to collect this many of the same Roco.

Some I got new, some I got used. Still, all needed work.

I am planning on a review and upgrade of the whole battalion soon.

I do that once in a while, make sure all the wheels turn, the spare tires are in place, and touch up the paint jobs.

Destroyed Church

2012-02-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

Just after Christmas I hit the Big Lots store and got this little church.

Brought it home, took it out of the box and dropped it, smashing it into 50 pieces.

Using super glue, white glue, Goo and 5 minute epoxy I glued it back together.

The whole front end was a lot of little bits, so it was a challange to get it into decent shape.

You can see from the underside it was a bit of a chore. I also painted up some of the model to cover the glue and to cover up the "snow."

Got an E-mail Today

2012-01-31T09:11:00.000-08:00

"Hi
Bunkermeister,

I am a huge fan of your site. I also like to collect
Roco/Herpa Minitanks and I am not sure if you noticed their recent pricing
policy.

Under the link:
http://www.mo87.de/downloads/herpa-2012-05-06.pdf, you can see that they
increased prices above 10% without further notice.

Now another collector
friend and I have opened up a petition against their pricing policy as we do
observe that many collectors do abandon the range as their prices have become
unbearably. I would like to invite you to post about us, if you are also
concerned as we are and maybe you would like to join our facebook group and sign
our petition.

Both you can find under the following
links:

Facebook
group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/169813909793979/

The online
petition:
http://chn.ge/w9zUSp

Then, if we have enough reach would
like to make this coming up also in the media. Tomorrow, the 1st of february
2012, the Nuremberg toy fair opens and thus the media coverage with the concerns
of us collectors could really make a difference.

Thank you very much for
your support. Feel free to forward this e-mail if you think it's noteworthy to
other interested collectors, distributors or sellers.

Gordon-David
Filbry"

I visited the Roco catalog and the Facebook site. Seems like a good Joe. You might want to pay him a visit.

Wargame Rule

2012-01-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

Sentry
Alertness

At
night one sentry is on duty in every piece of important territory in military
zones. In addition, every headquarters, company level and above, will have a CQ
duty staff, with one additional sentry, per command level. A company will have one sentry, a battalion
will have two, and a brigade will have three sentries. Sensitive areas, nuclear or chemical, may
have additional sentries.

In
garrison, units have sentries out from 2000 hrs, until 0600 hrs. Between the hours of 0700 and 1900 hrs, there
are sentries only at headquarters and sensitive areas. In war zones, sentries are out only from 2200
hrs, to 0400 hrs. After that, or when on
alert, normal conditions apply. One
sentry may be stationed per square foot from 2000 hrs to 0600 hrs, to watch for
intruders. Sentry alertness roll one six
sided die, 5% per number then add or subtract +- DM as per morale. Infiltrators skills roll one six sided die 5%
per number then add or subtract +-DM as per morale.

SENTRY
& INFILTRATOR

Sentry

Alertness each point +5%

Alarmed +35%

With a dog +35%

Within 1250m +35%

Infiltrator

Skill each point -5%

Stationary -35%

Out of line of
sight -35%

Noise muffled by
waves -35%

Martian Buildings

2012-01-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

I have been primering my Martian city.

It takes a lot of parts to make a whole city.

We have had rain and high winds recently so it has limited my ability to paint.

Some of the golden parts ready for assembly.

It takes about four coats of primer and then two of gold to cover these items.

Soccor Players

2012-01-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

I found a company that makes soccer players in 1/72nd scale.

sales@lpm-online.co.uk is the place to get them.

They come with big pins on the base that are easily clipped off.

There are at least three versions in these bags, but they honestly seem all about the same to me.

They played soccer in WWII in Nazi Germany, basketball too. I plan on using these guys with my Berlin scenarios.

Plastic People

2012-01-27T09:11:00.000-08:00

The group of modern plastic people I got from eBay.

Posing here with one of my Automatons and a Revell US Army figure, all in 1/72nd scale.

The women are shorter, but that's to be expected the men are about the same size as the 1/72nd scale figures.

People

2012-01-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

While on eBay I found a few people.

Modern civilians that were listed as 1/75th scale.

They were in a pack of 100 with ten poses.

Five male and five female poses, the seated male looks like a fighter pilot.

Not a bad group, most of the women look about 1970 or more recent since four out of five are wearing pants.

Berlin

2012-01-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

I continue to work on my Battle of Berlin project. One of the things I am doing is setting up the embassies and legations for the friendly and neutral powers. Many maintained embassies there to assist their nationals during and after the battle. Here is some of what I am working on for embassy staff.

I use
Dapol, Preiser, and other civilians for the various staff and swap heads as
much as reasonable for a different look for the figures. I also use traditional clothing for the various
ethnic peoples, like Japanese and Chinese. Each embassy will have several staff people.

Embassy
Staff

Ambassador

Wife of Ambassador

Deputy Chief of Mission

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps

Diplomats

Attaché –

Military

Cultural

Economic / Business

Scientific

Envoy
Heads the Legation of Minor Nations

I am also planning on a building or at least a couple rooms for each of the nations. I am also giving most of them some sort of pet or mascot that is similar to their national animal. The Vichy French for example will have a French poodle dog. I will have pictures soon as I make more progress on this project.

Martian Buildings

2012-01-24T09:11:00.000-08:00

This the my first completed Martian building.

You can see the small Twilight Creations figures on the balcony, they are 1/72nd scale.

I modelled them off several futuristic building from the Mars Attacks! trading cards and the Jetsons cartoon.

The buildings will be in copper, gold and nickel color, this is the gold building.

This building cost me $11 plus paint, for about $14 total.

Stuff

2012-01-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

When buying stuff on eBay sometimes you get strange things.

This item is from a Marx 1/32nd size playset but the vehicle is about HO scale. The suspension is clearly a Sherman tank. After WWII the US used Shermans for many non-tank purposes, like watching atomic tests and space launches from close up. I think that's what this one will become.

I got this preacher from one of the Christmas buildings, seen here with a 1/72nd scale figure. He will be repainted as a statue and will stand outside one of my larger churches.

This little plastic Jeep is interesting. About the same size as a Roco Jeep. It will probably be repainted as a civilian Jeep.

Two of my slush cast artillery with a 1/72nd scale figure for scale compairison. I will probably use these as 8 inch artillery.

Slush Cast

2012-01-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

Recently I have been buying slush cast models.

They were popular from about 1920 to 1980 when most of the companies went out of business.

They make a variety of guns and vehicles, intended as toys.

I find them rather pulp type and will use them for my 1930's US Army.

They will probably be crewed by WWI HaT US Army figures.

Martian Buildings

2012-01-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

A couple old bar stools and a sheet of plastic corrigated board makes my spray painting area.

I purchased a group of bowls at the dollar store to make Martian buildings.

Using plastic spraypaint to cover the original red and white color bowls.

Even like this they look like a row of barracks.

But they are only one component that I will use to make Martian buildings.

Brewer Show

2012-01-20T09:11:00.000-08:00

They have an Awesome Show planned for January 21st & 22nd 2012, and I am
tickled to invite you all to join us once again. That's right, you read it
correctly this will be a 2 DAY SHOW! I have attached the Flyers and Contest
Categories for your review. This Show will mark the Brewer
Brother's 5th year and "14th Model Kit & Hobby Expo entitled " History, Heros, and
Hobbies", and should
be the Biggest Show in the Industry in the last 10 years. They are hoping to have
an attendance of over 1,000 during the course of the weekend.

All Vendors
desiring Tables or Booth Spaces please contact Chris Brewer at: 562-569-2509

Here are some of the
Hi-Lights:

1) 140 Eight ft Vendor Tables Collectibles Show going on both
days featuring:
Model Airplanes, Ships, Cars, Tanks, Armored Vehicles, Jets, Helicopters,
Sci-Fi, Robots, Toy Soldiers, Referrence Books, Military Dvds, Diecast Cars and
Aircraft, 1/6 scale Figures, Tanks, and Vehicles, 21st Century Toys 1:18 scale
Aircraft and 1/32 scale Aircraft and Armor, Wargamming Miniatures, Militaria,
Uniforms, Pins, Patches, WWII Memorabilia, Sports Figures, Aviation Artist
Prints, almost all coming out of peoples personal collections with Vendors
coming far and wide from 3 different states CA., NV, and AZ.. Great Food Vendors
and Refreshment Vendors will be onsite as well for both days.

HaT Germans

2012-01-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

One of the four bike riders has a SMG.

The four poses together. HaT WWII 1/72nd scale German bike riders.

Very good set! They stand up well too.

Tour de France 1940, the German team did really well.

Old and new HaT bikes, with HaT MP in the background.

German Bikes

2012-01-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

Remember these guys?

A side by side comparison of the old Armourfast/HaT bikes and the new HaT bikes.

The new ones are much better.

The old ones appeared really clunky.

Despite the little single wheel they are very durable, the old Airfix men on bikes used the same system and I never had a problem with them breaking.

German Bikes

2012-01-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

Hat is on the verge of releasing their new WWII German bike troops.

This bike set is totally different from their old bike set.

It is still 1/72nd scale but much easier to put together.

This is a pre-production set and the final contents may vary.

You can see it is flash free and it all fits together well.

HaT Japanese Bike Troops

2012-01-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

HaT is about to release their new Japanese Army WWII bicycle troops in 1/72nd scale.

These sprues are pre-production versions that may differ from the production versions.

The detail is very good and they are flash free.

The set will have several of these sprues.

The bikes are similar to those in the Airfix RAF set and WWI French set with open spokes. The Japanese come with a mixture of headgear, helmet, hat and pith helmet. The bikes carry a large load of junk, the Japanese were always short of transport.

Blog

2012-01-15T09:11:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

I have changed the format of the blog around a bit to try and improve the blog experience for you all. Take a look at the new version. I have added more information about other blogs that I write and that I read. I have also deleted several dead links and added a spot for you to donate money to help keep me in hobby money.

Thanks for reading and please comment if there is anything you would like to see. I hope you like the 60mm stories, and I have more book reviews and more product reviews in the works.

We have about 133 followers, I would like to get that over 200, so tell all your friends!

Mike "Bunkermeister" Creek

TV News

2012-01-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

We use TV news in modern games as a way for the moderator to update the
other players. The players in a recent game were the "Government" and the
"Rebels" in a Third World nation. The scenario was that Western nations might
intervene but were unsure which side to take in the conflict. So the moderator
did a TV news broadcast each turn as an update.

Turn One

"Sources close to the President say there is no truth to the rumor an
aircraft carrier battle group is heading towards the coast to protect American
interests."

Turn Two

"Pentagon sources say the deployment of an aircraft carrier to protect
American interests will not result in combat missions but is only designed to
standby in the event that American citizens need to be evacuated.

Turn Three

"Here in the capital we can tell you American naval aircraft have been
overflying the capital for the last several hours on recon missions."

Turn Four

"From the deck of the USS America we are watching as strike missions are
being prepared to hit targets just outside the capital if the President declares
American interests are at stake."

Turn Five

"Here in the presidential palace we have heard rumors that American
helicopters are landing troops in the sports arena."

It provides players with information, that may be incomplete, even false, and yet, can't be ignored.

Terrain

2012-01-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

A few 1/72nd scale troops on some fish tank terrain.

New fish tank terrain, looks like a small hill with a cave in it.

I got it at PetsMart.

Another new bit of fish tank terrain.

Perfect for desert scenarios.

Rocket Testing

2012-01-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

Rockets, television, radio, all are important technologies to win the Cold War!

Long range field radios are important and are being supplemented by television.

Missiles are prepared for launch.

US Army Astro Rangers prepare for launch.

US Army Astro Rangers and their Rocket Corps flag in the background.

Rocket Testing

2012-01-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

Testing rockets is a complex task.

Hundreds of dedicated men working together in the field.

Medical staff, with this many men working around machines, someone is bound to get hurt.

DR Handrickson and the CPT check the weather reports.

The testing is captured on camera for posterity.

Rocket Testing

2012-01-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

Only American technology will be good enough to win the Cold War.

The ability of free men to mass produce weapons for freedom.

High grade medical technology to aid any wounded, rocket testing is dangerous business.

Hundreds of men working together to accomplish the goal of keeping the free world free.

This process is not either cheap or easy, but it is worth it.

Rocket Testing

2012-01-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

The men prepare the rockets.

The idea is that the rockets must be ready in short order, as in a tactical situation.

The Navy has observers here too.

A General runs the program and is here in person to supervise.

Careful documentation is essential.

Rocket Testing

2012-01-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

The white missile is the standard version, the others will be tested against it.

The US Army Astro Rangers will be assisting, knowledge of rocketry is important for Americas Space Combat Force.

This round missile is a less expensive version, made for mass production.

The blue version is a navalized missile, that can withstand exposure to water.

The red missile contains a new guidance system.

Rocket Testing

2012-01-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

Upon leaving the Jungle, DR Handrickson returned to assist the US Army with rocket testing.

The testing will determine which version of the rocket is the most accurate.

Helicopters stand by to retreive the expended rocket bodies and data packs.

The small rockets are for weather testing.

The Missile Corp flag flys from the armored personnel carrier.

Jungle

2012-01-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

The ants just kept coming.

The cries of the two men became fainter.

The swarm overwhelmed them.

One ant is not too dangerous, a tide of ants is unstoppable.

These two friends learned that too late.

Jungle

2012-01-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

The co-driver tries to help the driver.

I will save you.

The man charges in to help his friend.

I gotcha buddy.

He pulls the driver to his feet and kicks away the ants.

Jungle

2012-01-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

The giant ants swarm out of the hole and over the truck driver.

The giant jungle ants corner the assistant driver against the bridge.

The driver is down. Help meeee....

Hundreds of the killers flood the area around their nest.

The ants boil up out of the hole like a geyser.

Jungle

2012-01-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

We gotta check the bridge.

That bridge is gonna be the death of me yet.

Oh, my God!

Ahhh!

Help me!

Jungle

2012-01-02T09:11:00.001-08:00

Due to the influence of Communist subversive elements within the host
government, the expedition to the jungle was withdrawn.

The last truck to withdraw approches the bridge between the Jungle and the world of man.

I don't trust this bridge, you never can be sure that the Reds did not set
up a mine underneath to blow it up just as we are in the middle.

All right, then let's check it out to make sure it's safe.

You can't be to careful, they would try anything to create an incident to make
the government look bad.

Christmas Goodies

2012-01-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

My haul this Christmas was good. I got a large gift certificate to Brookhurst Hobbies from my daughter and my wife tossed in some more cash. The BH had a sale as well! These are both going to end up in my WWII German Army, the British limber and wagons are very useful for WWII. The troops will go to Santa Ana at the Alamo.

Most of what I got will serve Stalin, like these new ATGs.

I did get a few of these great AA guns for my Germans.

I added two more of these to the two I already have.

My Soviet engineer troops just about got doubled with this small addition.

Buildings

2011-12-31T09:11:00.000-08:00

I like big cities.

These figures were in the set, they are about 1/48th scale.

Here are the lights, not enough to light a street, but perhaps enough to light a campus.

The trees have white bases and white tips, I will probably repaint them.

All in all a reasonable villiage with just these few buildings.

Buildings

2011-12-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

The little Big Lots buildings were lighted and looked cute, but I took off the lights.

There were several styles of street lights poles.

The buildings have little bits of snow that I will paint over.

The big building has a round hole for an electrical connection. I plan to plate it over was a big round window.

These buildings are a bit larger than the Dollar Tree buildings I got earlier, but they will make a nice village.

Buildings

2011-12-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

Big Lots after Christmas sale.

Sets of two buildings for $6 each.

Or a big building for the same price.

Quite nice and already painted.

Instant village, take them out of the box, put them on the wargame table.

Monorail

2011-12-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

On a recent trip to Disneyland I got another couple of monorail trains.

They are just like the ones that run every day at Disneyland.

They will work for any urban environment since about 1950.

The fit pretty good for 1/72nd scale.

They also make a much larger one that would work for 28mm, but it is much more expensive.

WOTW

2011-12-27T09:11:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my War of the World research, this book, The Martian War by Gabriel Mesta tells the story of HG Wells during the War of the Worlds as if it really happened in 1898.

The book includes sort of cameo appearances of other HG Wells characters, including The Invisible Man and the First Men in the Moon characters. It is a good read and contains some good wargame scenarios, but not much on the traditional invastion front.

WOTW

2011-12-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

I have been preparing for some alien invasion wargaming and the best way to do that is to read War of the Worlds by HG Wells. It is the granddaddy of all alien invasion books. This book is a sort of updated and revised version.

War of the Worlds, New Millennium by Douglas Niles takes place in 2005. The Martians invade Earth with updated technology and it flows from there. In some ways this book does for the HG Wells story what the George Pal WOTW movie did in the 1950s. It is less of a techno novel than I would have liked but there are some good wargame scenarios in the book.

http://www.amazon.com/War-Worlds-Millennium-Douglas-Niles/dp/B000VYTYSE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324874477&sr=1-1

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to you all.

I hope Santa Claus brought you all the army men you asked for and that you will have a great day at church and with the family.

God bless you all.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

Jungle

2011-12-24T09:11:00.000-08:00

Certain elements in the nation are are opposed to American troops in our Jungle.

I know Communist agents have been working to keep us out of the Jungle, Mr. Secretary.

I am afraid we must ask the American troops to leave in the next week.

Jungle

2011-12-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

The men worked hard to complete the camp. In the competition that is the Cold War, knowledge is power.

The local soldiers knew they were contributing to keeping the Red Menace at bay.

The American Amabassador meets with the foreign secretary of the host nation.

I am afraid there is opposition to having American troops in the jungle.

Jungle

2011-12-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

The Air Force or Navy might fly the space ships, but it was the Army men of the Astro Ranger Force that would do the ground fighting on other planets.

Here in the South American jungles they trained for that day, wearing their distictive golden uniforms.

You never know what kind of weapon you will need to survive and so they practice with spears and wearing space helmets in the jungles of Earth.

The only men allowed outside the compound, facing unknown dangers, just at they will on Mars, the Moon or Venus.

Even so they don't stray far and are under observation of the outposts.

Jungle

2011-12-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

The sniper sat on a case of grenades while he checked his scope for targets.

The men patrolled the entire camp, ever mindful that attacks could come from anywhere in this unknown place.

The roof of this truck acted as the only high ground available.

The scientists had made another find and were discussing the best way to retrive the specimen.

Looks like a lot more digging ahead.

Jungle

2011-12-20T09:11:00.000-08:00

The engineers worked hard to put up the fence.

It was difficult work in the heat and humidity of the jungle.

Several of the local soldiers were impressed with how well they worked in the tropical sun.

Some of the civilians dressed in bright colors, to reflect their jobs and authority. This one in red was a foreman.

DR Handricksen was also dressed in bright colors so his directions would be better noticed.

Jungle

2011-12-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

The most vunerable side of the camp is near the tents. A heavy water cooled machine gun has been set up there.

Other lighter machine guns are also in play in that area.

There is also a radioman to keep the other stations informed.

Even as far back at the science station a BAR gunner and a machine gunner stand watch.

The most important new development is the addition of a perimeter fence.

Jungle

2011-12-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

Ammo is carried up to the machine gun, they want to be ready this time.

The science station is staffed around the clock with both military and civilian scientists.

They are gathering information about the air, the soil, the magnetic fields, all will be processed later.

Tents for the men so they don't have to sleep in the open.

More supplies are brought up, it takes a lot to keep an expedition in the field.

Jungle

2011-12-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

Not all the creatures of the jungle are dangerous, here a soldier has made a friend.

And the radioman has brought a friend with him.

Others are on guard for less friendly animals.

DR Handricksen and the CPT consult on the preparations in the camp and the science they will perform.

Their conversation is caught on film for the home audience.

Jungle

2011-12-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

The other end of the camp now has a light machine gun mounted to cover that end.

A guard and a radio man are stationed at each end of the camp.

This machine gunner now as a #2 man to assist with the ammunition.

A gas team was set up to use tear gas against some types of attack in case small arms fire was not effective.

Several of the new men were armed with automatic weapons too. It was hoped the increased firepower would help to defend the camp better than the previous defenses had done.

Jungle

2011-12-15T09:11:00.000-08:00

The radio message for the CPT was good news, reinforcements were arriving!

Four large trucks filled with gear and more men.

The new men included a television crew to film some of the operation.

One of the most important aspects is the scientists who arrived to take measurements of the atmosphere and other science factors.

A heavy machine gun to help protect the camp was installed at one end.

Snow Tractor

2011-12-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Snow Tractors can be used anywhere there is soft terrain.

They work well with sand or swamps as well as snow.

They can be used to transport troops, cargo or comm shelters.

Cheap, efficient and durable, they are popular with the troops.

Some even have armored boxes on the rear for protection of troops while they work.

Snow Tractor

2011-12-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

Another version of the snow trac.

This one is the cargo carrier. I used two different versions of the Roco 6x6 truck cab.

This one is different. It's a Corbitt truck cab with an M-16 halftrack rear.

The circle part of the rear was cut out and covered up with the inner cab of an M-8 armored car.

Just goes to show you that with a little work almost any old Roco bits can make a useable vehicle.

Snow Tractor

2011-12-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

Don't throw anything away! I may sell, give away, or trade parts, but never toss them out!

This is an old Roco truck cab with shop trailer, mounted on the Roco Z-101 Sherman tank hull.

It makes a nice radio van for use in deep snow. When I was a kid we used to see shows, newsreels and even movies about the DEW Line and other Arctic exploration.

Just cut the fenders off the cab and it's ready. Another easy convesion, I still need to add the new fenders.

It makes it seem like a whole family of vehicles was build on the same chassis.

Snow Tractor

2011-12-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

The spares box had a number of old Roco Z-101 Sherman tanks. Way too small to use with the Z-202 or Paul Heiser Models kits.

I took off the tracks and used them to create four snow tracks using the old Roco M-4 high speed tractor.

A bit of Plastruct for a fender and it was done.

My long term plan is to paint them white for Arctic use.

The tractors did not have tracks, the Roco M-4 high speed tractor suffered from a molding flaw for years, the tracks had a big hole in them.

60mm

2011-12-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

At first glance these two troops look the same, just like the guys we saw yesterday. But a closer look reveals that the man in dark green is wearing a jumpsuit.

There are at least two poses of jumpsuit men, perfect for armor crews, repair teams, and maintenance workers.

Here is a third option for dress. It is a uniform or suit, but no tie. Still a dressier look and it has big buttons. Good for office workers or special occasions.

The fourth dress option, the long coat. In the field it is to keep you warm as a ski trooper or infantryman. Or perhaps a lab coat or a spy with a trench coat. I like the lab coat for the doctor and scientist look.

These are only a few of the many ring hand poses you will see come and go here in various adventures. Keep reading the blog and keep watching the skys!

60mm

2011-12-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Ring hand figures come in many different poses and outfits.

This pair has boots, trousers and shirt tucked in with a belt.

They present a neat appearance, not unlike US Army troops of the 1950's.

Just all other uniform items like guns, helmets and such and you have a typical Cold War Army unit.

60mm

2011-12-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

This guy is called a ring hand figure. More correctly, he is a slot hand figure a subset of ring hand figures that have a slot rather than a full ring.

These guys are more typical of ring hand figures, the white guy has a true ring hand. The others have a mixture of hand types but all three figures are ring hands.

Ring hands hold a variety of implements, like this knife.

I will see your knife, and raise you a rifle. An unarmed man can become an armed man.

I will see your rifle and raise you a submachine gun. The variety of weapons and tools these guys can use means that one figure can stand in for many poses of conventional figures.

60mm

2011-12-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons I always liked the ring hand figures is that they came in different colors. I could use dark green for Army and light green for Marines. Or Special Forces.

This patriotic group is very nice. The red were sold as firemen. I suppose because firetrucks were red. The white was sold as medical or ski troops, and I use them for that. The blue was typically Navy or Air Force but also as police.

The yellow was sold as farmers. Because corn is yellow? I would have thought brown, like the soil.

The purple guy for Easter? Royalty? Who knows?

Together they are quite the rainbow of colors, without painting and for different uses.

Church

2011-12-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

Apparently Advent is the season to buy a church.

I got this one at Michaels today. Regularly $39.99 it was on sale for 50% off, so $20.

I had a 40% off coupon too, so the building cost me about $12.

Not too bad for a building that requires almost no work to bring to the wargame table.

It fits perfectly with my 1/72nd scale troops. I may need to repaint the Christmas tree...

Church

2011-12-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

Visited Big Lots! and picked up a nice church.

It's supposed to be for those 45 mm size Christmas winter scene people but I use it for 1/72nd scale.

It has a big hole on the back for the electrical light, I will patch that over with a printed sheet of paper and plastic glass to look like a stained glass window.

$12 out the door and very little work gives a very nice building.

A generic church building can work for anytime in the last 200 to 300 years just about anyplace in the world. Here some HaT and Caesar Germans in Roco vehicles drive past.

Ship Mock Up

2011-12-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

The main deck is designed to be open with space for lots of troops.

The idea is to be able to to move the figures around inside and play 60mm games with them.

The bridge, including a phone station and ships wheel.

Signal flags on the flying bridge.

A wide open stern deck area for helicopters and troops.

Ship Mock Up

2011-12-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

I have been mocking up a ship model for the 60mm guys.

These are the Tim Mee 60mm guys.

I am considering making a ship like a doll house.

I figure about six compartments on the lowest deck.

Engine room, sick bay, magazines, galley, bunks for crew, engineering spaces and such.

Matchbox

2011-12-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

Another Matchbox vehicle.

A modern US Army cargo carrier.

It is only $5.00 at Target.

It fits nicely with this 1/72nd scale soldier and the Matchbox Buffalo.

Also shown here with an old Roco M113 for size comparison.

Buffalo

2011-12-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

A new Matchbox Buffalo with two 1/72nd scale figures.

The vehicle is sold at Target an costs less than $5.00.

Vehicle is fully painted and ready to go out of the box.

The vehicle is common in the modern US Army.

A good find, I am looking for a few more!

Wagons Ho!

2011-11-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

I have been going over my book collection and prowling the Internet to find photos of WWII German wagons. I wanted to see what conversion and detail possibilities there are for the new HaT WWII German Wagons. Here is what I discovered:

HF wagons with and without spare wheels on the back end

HF wagons being towed by 2 humpy camels

HF wagons in grey and in camouflage

HF wagons with camouflage canvas

HF wagons with improvised solid roofs, made of wood

HF wagons with 2 or 4 or 6 all with or light grey horse teams

HF wagons with improvised seats

HF wagons towing 37mm ATG

HF wagons towed by oxen, camels, mules, donkeys, horses, ponies

HF wagons and HF7 wagons with Red Cross on them

HF wagons displaying the German national cross on the sides

HF wagons commonly carry a bucket on the side of the wagon

HF wagons piled high with hay so teamster rides on pile of hay

Lots of opportunities to do conversions of the HaT wagons and I am looking forward to getting a bunch of them.

Not HaT

Lots of machine gun wagons. There was a two wagon combination that held two machine guns in a combination, they appear much more common than I expected.

Artillery wagons with up to 14 & 18 horse teams

Limber wagons with 2 of the limber wagons together, Revell type

Large numbers of HF-7 wagons

2 & 4 wheel wagons with essentially sticks on each side of a barrel with the barrel as the body of the wagon barrel is made of wood

British Napoleonic HaT Rocket Wagons in use by Germans with 1 horse

75mm stumpf being towed by horses

Hearse wagon in use as hearse

Plenty of work for the work horses to do!

Tomorrows War

2011-11-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow's War is a new set of near future wargame rules published by Osprey.

They sent me a free copy to review. It was an interesting set of rules. Loads of scenario information.

The book is filled with photos and drawings. They are a set of rules to work with any kind of modern or sci fi figures and equipment. They are selling rules not troops.

They have rules for aliens but most of the book is about humans in space. It seems a good set of rules, check it out of you are interesting in near future space warfare.

Jungle

2011-11-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

The aftermath of this second attack leaves several men dead and several others wounded.

The locals, the dogs and the flamethrower man saved the day.

The radioman has an important message for the CPT...

Jungle

2011-11-27T09:11:00.000-08:00

The brave sentry dog is overcome by the monster, and lies severely wounded.

Two soldiers knocked down and wounded too.

The flamethrower man steps forward with his 90 pounds of death dealing canisters.

Whoosh and the first monster is dead.

The scene is one of tropical danger as the men try to respond to the second attack in only a few hours.

Jungle

2011-11-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

The red dog fights the dangerous jungle beast.

The flamethrower man moves up to the location of the attack.

Several men are down, a few are obviously dead, in the background the dog and jungle beast continue their fight.

The medical team prepares for another busy day.

The CPT, his dog and the flamethrowerman move up to the attack!

Jungle

2011-11-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

Faster than anyone could imagine, a jungle beast attacks, men get off only a couple rounds before it strikes.

The sentry dogs are all barking, men are shooting and falling killed or wounded.

There are two beasts! One of the sentry dogs rushes to the attack.

This time the locals are in a good position and they stand their ground and pour fire into the body of the attacking monsters.

The prehistoric monster and the sentry dog struggle in a life or death match!

Jungle

2011-11-24T09:11:00.000-08:00

The nurses, doctors and medics care for the wounded soldier. He is evacuated to the helicopter landing strip.

DR Handricksen is saddened by the loss of the men, but science always exacts a price.

The rare fossils in this region have cost many lives, not just the two from this expedition, but the previous one as well.

The men on the perimeter know the jungle is filled with mysterious and even deadly creatures.

Suddenly the sentry does goes on alert!!!

Jungle

2011-11-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

The troops take a few minutes to remember their two fallen camrades.

The sound of taps plays over the jungle.

Even the usually loud insects and jungle birds quiet down for a few minutes.

The flag of their nation is displayed and lowered in respect for the patriot dead.

The colonel makes a few remarks about sacrifice, duty, courage and honor. All the men know their friends died for something larger than themselves.

Jungle

2011-11-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

The wounded soldier is carried away.

The dogs gave little warning of the ruby puma attack because there were not enough of them to guard the full perimeter.

The wounded soldier will be moved to a clearing and a helicopter will take him to a ship off shore where he will be treated in sick bay.

The dogs were redeployed to try and cover more of the perimeter.

The local troops were not really involved because like the dogs they were out of position on the line to led much aid. This does little to enhance their reputation.

Jungle

2011-11-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

The CPT and his dog rush to aid the solider kill the ruby puma.

The nurses provide first aid for one of the wounded soldiers.

The radioman is more stunned than hurt.

Two men are dead. The jungle has many dangers.

The wounded man is evacuated by strecher.

Jungle

2011-11-20T09:11:00.000-08:00

The large soldier with the bayonet moved in and killed one of the ruby pumas.

He saved the life of his wounded camrade.

The ruby puma is a rare but dangerous animal.

The nurse checks this soldier, but as his face down posture indicates, he is dead.

The second nurse knees beside another face down dead soldier.

Jungle

2011-11-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

The CPT and DR Handricksen hear an animal scream.

A deadly rare ruby puma attackes from out of the jungle!

The guards reactl quickly but their squadmate is already dead.

A second ruby puma leaps from the jungle and attacks another soldier!

The first ruby puma leaves his first victim and mauls the radioman!

Jungle

2011-11-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

Airforce and Army in the jungle together.

The good DR at the site of the dig with his staff and advisors.

Local troops. Their weapons and equipment are old but servicable. Their record is spotty.

Some troops are excellent at selecting a hidden position.

The camo works well for the sniper.

Adventure

2011-11-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

American troops surround and secure the camp.

The jungle is thick and anything could be only a few feet away.

The Captain worries about the men. His dog worries about the Captain.

The nurses discuss their plans in event of a medical emergency.

A few airmen are here, in case air support is needed they speak the language of the air.

Jungle

2011-11-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

The last expedition that came here was all killed.

Except for the one guy who made it back.

And died a few hours later.

Dr. Handrickson was taking no chances this time.

They had plenty of troops and lots of firepower.

Marching

2011-11-15T09:11:00.000-08:00

Tim Mee figures.

60mm tall.

Some probably 50 years old.

In front a few Marx figures, also 60mm and 50 years old.

Old soldiers and old friends are trusted best.

Marching

2011-11-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day Parade.

Some saw combat.

Some counted beans in a warehouse in New Jersey.

Some lost friends in the war.

Some only served for a few years on the weekend. But they all went where they were sent. Did what they were told. And kept us free.

Marching

2011-11-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

Marx 60mm marching men.

Tim Mee marching men, 60mm.

Troops on parade.

Troops marching row on row, as they have for centuries.

Troops acting as one, one man, one unit.

LIS

2011-11-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

Master Modeller Wayne Colton sells on eBay under the name colton60xx.

He built this customized Lost in Space Jupiter II.

The extra details are wonderful, like the foil on this bed.

He added better chairs and folding door / walls for the personal rooms.

All sorts of little bits were used to reproduce food, fuel, and other equipment that colonists would need as the travel to another planet.

Little pipes and fuses and a box wrapped up like a package, very cool stuff.

I like the little robot arm and the green globe looks like a radioactive something! Congratulations Wayne Colton for a great model!

LIS

2011-11-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite TV shows of all time was Lost in Space.

Wayne Colton, a master modeller from Landcaster, NY built this kit of the Jupiter II, now on sale on eBay.

The spacecraft and other gear from the show were some of the best parts of the series. Wayne has done a great job of capturing the wonderful colors of the spaceship.

Wayne has taken a lot of care with this model and added many extras that make his asking price quite reasonable. Given the cost of the model it's a good value.

The Johnny Lightning accessories are a nice extra for this model. I would like a fleet of them.

Matchbox

2011-11-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

While shopping for SWAT trucks I found this command vehicle.

And this all terrain scout vehicle.

They will be used with my near future units.

They need to be painted.

Intersting what you can find if you just look.

Martian Car

2011-11-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

While surfing eBay I found this little car, in two versions.

My intention is to clean them up, repaint them and probably issue them to my Martians!

They look Space Age enough to transport any intersteller being.

Here it is in the showroom.

A very unusual vehicle from the distant past and a world away.

SWAT Van

2011-11-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I post photos of my new SWAT van.

Today I go to Target and find a new SWAT van!

Same vehicle, different colors.

This one is shinny chrome stuff.

It also has red and blue lights painted onto the sides. Shown here with Caesar SAS figures for size comparison.

SWAT Van

2011-11-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

Matchbox makes a SWAT van.

Caesar SAS double as SWAT team members.

The vehicle is in faux NYPD colors and markings.

Not bad for a buck.

I plan on buying a few more. Maybe paint some up as military too.

HaT WWII Americans

2011-11-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

The new HaT WWII American tank riders, these two part figures come with a choice of Thompson or Grease gun.

No flash, perfect figures.

Two partial figures for mounting inside the turret. BAR man and bazooka man with loader. The loader has the extra projectiles. Everyone has a carbine, no M-1 rifles.

The figures will work from about 1944 to 1954 as US Army troops. I would like the same guy to sculpt a similar set of just a squad of infantry. I would buy a ton.

Mark VIII

2011-11-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

I am working on a long term project to make a Mark VIII tank.

This tank is from the Disney Indiana Jones collection.

It's based on a MK III and is about 28mm.

I am cutting it in half length wise and width wise and trimming it down to 1/72nd scale.

I am cutting off all the little bundles, wires, wood bits too, for a cleaner more US Army Interwar look.

WWI US Army

2011-11-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

HaT WWI Canadia and US Army figures.

Airfix, HaT, Emhar / Imex WWI US.

I intend to do a few headswaps to add some of the Airfix guys to the trenches.

The Airfix set is not terrible, particularly if you select only the best figures from the set.

Since the US used British gear, I use the HaT Canadian WWI set as American. It also gives the Americans an 81mm mortar and another machine gun.

WWI US Army

2011-11-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Airfix, HaT, Emhar/Imex, and HaT again.

The biggest advantage of the HaT sets is the variety of weapons. Here a standing BAR gunner.
Note the BAR ammo pouches.

Emhar, Airfix and HaT officers.

A variety of weapons from HaT, 37mm one pounder gun, Lewis gunner, Colt/Marlin machine gun, and Vickers gun all used by the US Army in WWI. The big item is the 6 inch Newton mortar.

The blue figure is a French Officer from the HaT WWI Eary War French. The French provided a lot of military assistance to the USA in WWI. They even sent troops to North America to train American troops. This figure remindes me of a character in a Combat! TV episode where a retired WWI French general assisted the squad in fighting the Germans. He serves with my WWI Americans as an advisor.

US Army WWI

2011-11-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

Airfix officer, HaT Canadian officer, Emhar / Imex officer WWI US Army.

Airfix American, HaT Canadian, I used them as US Army because both Canada the UK and USA used British uniforms, web gear and weapons.

HaT Canadian with Airfix American.

The Airfix figure detail seems crisper, but is often lacking, the rifle looks like a stick. The HaT detail is softer but the weapons are much better.

Airfix American officer, HaT Canadian officer. The Airfix set has also been released in the same tan as the Emhar / Imex sets.

WWI US Army

2011-11-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

Old Airfix vs new HaT WWI Canadian Infantry.

The Canadian infantry are essentially British infantry. The US Army also used British uniforms, kit and weapons, so I use the Canadians as US Army.

Airfix Americans with Imex / Emhar US Army in tan.

The US Army essentially never did wear the Montana Peak Hat in combat. The Airfix set is essentially US Army in training in France set. The Emhar / Imex set is better but the Airfix set holds up surprisingly well considering its almost 50 years old. The real let down with the Airfix set is the weapons, they are essentially just sticks. Note also how this mans foot sinks into the base.

The weakest figure in the Airfix set is the officer, the Emhar / Imex officer is much better.

HaT Germans

2011-10-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hat WW2 German Tank Riders on a German SWS halftrack by Roco.

These figures are a nice size and are in a soft plastic that should take paint well.

There are enough poses for a full squad.

The troops will look good riding on a truck, halftrack, tank or even seated in an office.

Size comparison with the new HaT set 8262 and a Caesar Miniatures WWII German. They fit together well.

HaT Germans

2011-10-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is the HaT Industrie WW2 German Tank Riders set.

44 figures in 11 poses riding on tanks.

The set is nearly flash free and all the figures are one piece.

The troops are early to mid war with their high boots and smart appearance.

Here is one soldier in a Stug III from Roco.

Building

2011-10-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is one of the Dollar Tree buildings I picked up.

It is a neat little tree house like kids would make.

I cut it out of the tree and sanded it down.

It makes a nice little guard house. Caesar Miniatures WWII German guard for scale.

With the wooden sidewalk it would work as a small dock or boathouse.

Band

2011-10-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

I got a couple of the LW Napoleonic Band sets.

I converted them to WWII German. I made the glockenspeil out of wire and plastic.

Some of the figures needed larger bases so they would stand up.

I made the saxophone and trombone. I added a helmet to each soldier and added the officer hat to the band leader.

It makes an okay band. Troops get a morale bonus when they can hear a cheery or inspirational tune.

60mm Troops

2011-10-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

Surrounded by dirty, yellow, Commie, pigs!

Separating the sheep from the goats.

Cats and dogs after a shower.

Herding ducks.
A few more of my 60mm finds on eBay this week. It was a good auction week.

60mm Troops

2011-10-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Did some eBay shopping this week and picked up a few 60mm troops and animals.

I was not sure if this was supposed to be a collie or a big shaggy German shepherd dog. I decided to go with shaggy German shepherd. Lassie did not serve much time in the service.

A couple donkeys, with an MPC ring hand soldier.

They are supposed to be 60mm but these look like the Night of the Lepus scenario!

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Lepus-Stuart-Whitman/dp/B000A0GOGE