Painting and Stuff

Here are the Modern Amazons laid out for priming.

I am using Rust-Oleum 2X flat white.

Now Amazons in white.  They will likely stay like this for a while.  The weather is good for painting outdoors so I am doing a lot of spray painting right now.

I don't do Napoleonic's and yet here I am buying them.

Soldiers wearing this busby served in the US Army as The First City Troop of Cleveland, Ohio,
1877-1881.  I don't know if they ever employed horse artillery but they do in my army.
 

The End of the Line

This infantryman holds an SG44 assault rifle.  Perhaps the most advanced rifle of World War Two.  It made no difference in the outcome of the war.

This American infantryman carries the M1 rifle, the greatest battle implement ever made, over a million of them were produced after World War Two and the US Army still issued them to some units as late as the 1970's.

The BAR was a World War One design that was carried by US troops through the 1950's.

Shown here with the bipod, it was often removed to reduce weight and because some troops used it simply as a big rifle.

The M24 Chaffee tank was developed into an armored personnel carrier, and several self-propelled artillery pieces.

The Battle Begins

The tanks move forward on the right flank.

Supported by infantry.

Tanks on the left flank provide fire support.

German prepares to throw a grenade.

As the American troops come into focus.

And their tanks!

Defense in Depth

The German defense line is only two buildings but it is a defense in depth.  Troops in the front, middle and back.

Troops upstairs and...

...troops downstairs.

The Americans have to advance without cover.

In the open.

In daylight.

Advance to Contact

An isolated building on the road to Berlin.

A few die hard Nazis hold out.

Waiting to open up when the Americans get close enough.

Making every last round count.

But tank fire will stop that pretty quick.

At least that's the theory.

Figure Conversions

More bits from the spares box.  These two ACW figures have been modified into Naval Officers by the addition of new heads!

This previously wounded Esci Africa Corps figure is now a radio operator.

New arms and new head for this guy.

Three Germans and a fourth former Brit.

Prone guy from an Indiana Jones truck model being dragged behind the truck, now has a panzerfaust.  The guy on the other end has a British paratrooper lower.

I got a number of the Indiana Jones trucks and so a number of the figures.  Pistol guy has a new head with helmet.

Troops Restored to Health

This pirate figure is now an honored wounded German veteran.  Man with hammer originally had a pickax.

Afrika Korps man has a new head!

Another panzerfaust soldier.

Group photo.

All of these troops were from the spares box and have now become useful members of the collection.

Hungarian

Cowboy with a Thompson.  The Thompson was sold freely to civilians for years.

One guy gets new head, new base, and two new arms!

My WWII Hungarian troops needed some heavy weapons.  These Esci Africa Corps guys had donated boots and heads to German units.

I replaced some of their parts and added bases for the machine guns.

Had to add a stable boy!

Italeri 1/72nd Scale Soviet ATGs

Italeri 1/72nd scale Soviet 76.2 anti-tank guns.

This is an excellent kit.

It fits together well and has zero flash.

The crew and accessories are good too.

Today they got primer painted.

Italeri Winter Germans

Even in bitter cold the troops have to defend against the enemy.

Having proper clothing is as important as having bullets, fuel and food.

New weapons can help to make up for manpower shortages.

Still, it does take men to operate those weapons.

It's a long war.