One does not simply build an Open Fire Sherman

Greetings readers,

It has been a couple of weeks since I've updated, been busy with real life and multiple different project running simultaneously. As a follow up to the last post, I've been cataloguing and constructing a veritable bucket load of fortifications in preparation for some serious painting action in the future, and I've also got a platoon of Heer Grenadiers on the painting table (they're almost done, probably to the point where WiP shots are basically pointless). 

Today, however, I'm showing off something different. In addition to the up-coming Firestorm Cean campaign, there is a possibility my local club may be running a Market Garden campaign. Now, Market Garden has always been one of my favourite campaigns of WW2; the hopeless optimism, the insane heroism and the sheer variety of forces involved (and thats just the Germans) makes for an exciting setting with a lot of scope for cool scenarios and awesome armies. Having previously inventoried by backlog of FoW stuff I discovered I have rather a lot of British stuff, and my original intention had been to keep things fairly generic on the infantry side of things and use my large array of Shermans to represent a number of different units. After thinking it over, I realised this was a stupid idea as it was robbing me of the opportunity to field a single, truly massive, force for excessive mega gaming. 

Enter the Irish Guards Battlegroup. As it stands just now, I have a full armoured squadron with two rifle platoons in support and a full infantry company with two armoured troops in support. This gives me a total of six Sherman troops and five rifle platoons as well as full command sections for both and the obligatory JOE Vandaleur. I also have some MGs and mortars with carriers, Stuarts and M10s on the way. I've been working away on the first Sherman troop, trying to blend the Open Fire Shermans with the older (and far better) resin tanks, going mad with stowage and camo netting as well as a few tank riders.



These are ready for painting, once they've had a quick wash, and will likely be next on the desk once I finish the grenadiers. I've also converted up a couple of specialist tanks to fill out the squadron, a dozer Sherman and an ARV.









Thanks for looking folks, see you next time! 

Green Light Means Jump!

Good afternoon folks,

It is once again time for a cheeky wee update from the desk of Dave, probably long overdue seeing as got these finished last week and just haven't had the time to upload photos!

Parachute 75mm Artillery Battery

First gun section

Second gun section

Command, staff and observer teams

Completing this final platoon now gives me something I've never had in over a decade of wargaming. . . A fully painted army! Quite pleased about that, to be honest.

The full 1750 points force

The astute amongst you (if he is here today) will note that I've rearranged the bazookas, moving them back to the company HQ. This is probably a more sensible idea as it means I can boost each rifle platoon with a second bazooka and double their tank killing powers. 

Well, thats it from me for now. Off to open the feldgrau now. Toodles! 

The Black Bull Rides

Afternoon folks, time for another update.

Finally got my tank troop painted up, and they are looking mighty fine. My original intention had been to paint the Shermans in this list as a troop from the 2nd Irish Guards, but after doing a little more research into Britain's armoured divisions I realised that it would be inappropriate to do so. Throughout the entire war, the Guards Armoured division were pretty strict about using their vehicles as they were supplied. They didn't up arm their half tracks with MGs, nor did they jalopy their light tanks or armoured cars; with this in mind, they certainly wouldn't have used cast/welded hybrid Firefly tanks. I needn't have worried, however, as the 11th Armoured division were certainly more than willing to add, remove and change things on their vehicles at the drop of a hat. So allow me to present to you No. 3 Troop, A Squadron, 3rd Royal Tank Regiment.

3 Troop, A Sqn, 3 RTR

Command Tank

A Tank

B Tank

C Tank

With the completion of the Sherman troop I've only got the parachute artillery battery to paint and then I can call this army done! And finally, before I sign off, I found this little gem on the intertubes the other day, and while its a couple of days late its fairly appropriate since Thursday was the 69th anniversary of the D Day landings. . .

Peace out folks!