QRF / TSS - 15mm T-72BA with ERA (T-72BV) and Zvezda 1/100 T-72BV

Like most wargamers that want to get 1/100 15mm Cold war or modern figures I was drawn to Geoffs QRF Models. I've acquired several packs of infantry models and some vehicles. QRFs range of kits is quite amazing so it's the place to get your cold war / modern models. One thing that many wargamers find themselves questioning is figures comparability between ranges. With infantry you can end up having Xyston Republican Romans on one side and Corvus Belli Carthaginians on the other, the Romans being more than a head taller! With modern vehicles it is industry standard to make kits not in 15mm scale but in 1/100 scale. So in ideal world every T-34 should be the same, but there are some casting issues that lead to differences. With the advent of computer designed plastics that have exactly 1/100 scale those new kits become benchmark for scale purposes.  Not always rightly so as show measurements of Zvezda 1/100 - Hot War - BTR-80 compared with wikipedia (it could be wrong, I suppose that Russians know the right measurements of their APC).  

Back to the QRF and Zvezda 1/100 T-72 kits. With QRF T-72BV being in many figure collections it must be interesting how it compares with Zvezda T-72BV.  I will not post straight photos side by side as the tanks are only in name the same type. Whats funny is that the T-72 variant shown on Zvezda art box is not in the box, but can be bought from QRF.  If you get both tank you will quickly find out that they are different measurements wise. But the close inspection will tell you that both tanks have tracks of the same length, guns of the same length, turrets of the same diameter and main tank chassis of very close length. The differences stem from the way tracks are mounted in QRF tank compared to Zvezda making it sit lower, Rear fenders that are much shorter on QRF tank, and turret being shorter than Zvezda. What you can see on pictures is Zvezda and QRF chassis with Zvezda turrets. The QRF chassis has been slightly modified to match Zvezda tank. I believe that both tanks are compatible and with the little work they will blend well together an any army. Personally I prefer QRF Models T-72 detail and Zvezda T-72 fenders length, and turret height. The QRF turret / Zvezda chassis kit will be shown here later. 

QRF / TSS - 15mm - MGI02 - Modern German Infantry

This is something that I've picked several months ago and managed to complete from bare metal to flocked bases. It's not all green, as I have several more packs in various stages of work in progress. I still haven't decided what will be their APC. 

At 15mm these miniatures armed with HK G36 can work as several different nations each with its own APC. The second difference is the usage of different support weapons other than the very characteristically German PzF3. I believe that these figures can work for: German Army, Latvian Army, Lithuanian Army, Spanish Army, Mexican Army (although the Mexican army uses FX-05 it's superficial look is similar to G36) and many special operator units from around the globe

The figures are nice, well cast and easy to paint. I think that at 15mm they well represent the subject.  The pack on the pictures is MGI02 Modern Germans with G36 firing. I've had some problem with green colour for camouflage and it shows. I've added some autumn foliage to the bases and different green flocks. The effect is slightly exaggerated but I like it. If anyone is thinking what figures to get for his modern warfare enemies for Russians, one should really think about those miniatures as they are very versatile and well made.

Zvezda - Hot War - 1/100 - Ural 4320

At last! A new blog post and a new modern release in 1/100 15mm scale from Zvezda. The Ural 4320 truck. I hope we will soon see all the other kits that are in pipeline: Shilka, 2S1 Gvozdika and M109. 

About the new plastic 1/100 15mm Ural 4320 - it's a nice kit. Very, very well detailed it's definitely in different league than Zvezdas M1A1 Abrams. On the downside it's not that easy to assembly and some parts are quite fiddly. 

Here you can see some pictures of it with some other Zvezda 1/100 15mm modern Russian vehicles, QRF BTRD and 15mm soldiers by: Oddzial Osmy - "Green Man",  QRF - Modern German and Rebel Miniatures - Modern American.  As soldiers are based on 10mm coins, and have their own moulded bases I've put the new Ural 4320 on a base for some pictures.

All models other than the modern german soldier are on various stages of work in progress.

T72 Zvezda 15mm - 1/100 Syrian Army wip

Here are some wip pictures of my new Zvezda 1/100 T72. These will be painted as modern Syrian tanks. The painted one is almost finished. It only needs its base completed. The green one waits for the grey stuff to cure. 

Unboxing - Corvus Belli Celtiberians and Lusitanians

Ancient Spanish Celtiberians and Lusitanians DBA V2 - II/39b or II39c

1 3Cv  (Gen)

1 2Lch

 1 2Ps

3 2PS 

6 3Ax/3Wb 

1 4Bd

On the table 2012 - 07

At the moment I'm working on 15mm Celtibernian and Lusitanian Army. The miniatures are from DBA Army Pack by Corvus Belli with the addition of one blister to crate all options for both armies.

In the CB Army Pack there are  enough miniatures to make:

1 3Cv

1 2Lh

1 2Ps (Slingers)

3 2Ps (Jevelin/Spear armed men)

6 3Aux/Wb (Sword armed)

1 4Bd (Sword armed)

The Aux/Wb/Bd figures have two shield options: round and oval.  In the Lusitanian Army list some of those Aux/Wb/Bd should be based as PS, because in the army list there are 7 2PS.

I decided to buy one pack of the same Jevelin/Spear armed men that are given to make 3 2Ps in Army Pack. Thanks to that, just by buying 8 figures, I will gain the ability to field my figures as two differed Armies. I will have to check what, miniture wise, are the differences between Iberian and Celtiberian armies. I know that in game one has Aux and one Wb but if the figures are the same, it would mean that I will have 3 armies that quite different to play with. All of that just from one  Army Pack supplemented by 6 figures from one figure packl. In total I should have 16 elements to paint with 7 of them being 2Ps.

Later I will put the unboxing photos.

Converted Forged in Battle Fallschirmjager

Those additional Fallschirmjagers with MG42 that I made using Battlefornts German MG pack. The guy on the left is original figure by Forged in Battle that is carrying MG34.

Not dead. Yet !

My "current" project. I started it more than a month ago. Yesterday I made it's first feet. 

Soviet Engineer-Sapper

On the painting table now: Soviet Engineer-Sappers. Before I paint my Fallschirmjagers I wanted to try new paints and decide on the painting style I will use. For that purpose I took my Soviet Engineer-Sappers that I bought long time ago to use in a diorama with big mecha. Their combat armour gives them that cool pulp look.

On the rather artsy picture you can see the paints I used and some figures.

Forged in Battle - Fallschirmjager

Here are the promised Forged in Battle Fallschirmjager pictures.

What should be in box.

What was in box.

Comparison (The pose that is not shown on the box art is the lying ammunition carrier).