28MM COMMANDO KAYAK

So after putting together the 28mm Commando land force...and putting some pictures on here - I had some comments (from the blog readers) and I some more thoughts about my original inspiration - the old Airfix 1.72 guys .... who had boats and ladders! Now I have some 28mm ladders (but no boats) but I also assume commandos don't carry ladders on every operation especially on their kayak! So heres what I managed...and how I did it.

The end game...

Here is what I did...

So I got out the 3d printer and started experimenting with kayaks. I printed out a test piece and it looked ok. But I would also need crew for it.

So out came the bits box and I manged to find some spare heads and arms (some were from the Warlord US Marines).  I then rolled out some green stuff and began the process of making some crew.

They were a bit rough to start out... 

                             

But this was the result -at this stage.

With some causality markers...a boat anchor/tie up point was added to the front using wire and a small drill.

A thread was added to the it and passed to the front position.

I still need some paddles- or we will be up that creek without one!

So the next stage was to blend the kayaks into the battle mats. So I got out a hot glue gun.

What I did was run a thin glue line along the bottom of the boat. Pulling the glue upwards with a cocktail stick as it drys...but not too much or it dulls the glossy effect.  I have tried gloss varnish, mod podge etc. but I have found this to work best for me.

Then it was onto dark blue, light blue and white paint..in the sea bits of it.

So that at a distance it hopefully appears to moving or swishing in the the sea.

So now for those paddles...from reference photos they seem to have used various shapes. 

So out came the green stuff and I sourced some wire at the correct gauge - then I began cutting up the wire.

 

This was going to be tricky and time consuming. Small batches and small amounts is the key. Its tricky to shape. and green stuff drys out quickly. But I am hoping its stronger that the usual putty mix. The wire has a plastic coating which took paint easily.

I placed the paddles under the boat on the causality markers.

So that's a big chunk now done! 

The boat race can begin lol.

I think the beach is that way!

mmm... I might print out some "sunk/overturned" boats... watch this space...

and here they are some destroyed kayaks as markers!

So thats the Commandos DONE!

28mm WW2 German guards

 I saw these (Wargames Atlantic German sentries) and thought a dog team might look good on the dock as a patrol but I only got one sprue .

All the figures were cut from the plastic puddle bases and re based on clear circles.

Halt!

The figures are a good size to 28mm but the plastic material is a little softer than warlords.

The Kettenkraftrad was a free stl 3d print....but not the greatest quality. But as free stl gaming piece - I suppose ok. I might chop the drivers/riders head and replace it with a more detailed warlord one. 

"Lassie" looks a bit different. 

The design of the heads on the figure/ sprue - kind of make it less manoeuvrable. 

It leaves only one fixing position. Eyes front!

The pic below is before the helmet decals were applied. i need to extend his dog lead!

Might light up this guys cigarette for him...

So these will be useful as guards...

28mm German Press Team

 So for the dock area I did some German propaganda troops filming the U-boat Captains at the dockside.

These guys have the camera and microphone. With maps and boxes creating the propaganda scene.

I  also did a sentry box/check point.

Beer poster on the wall!  The lifebelt is a spare piece of mdf from the barrels.

and another type of beer poster on the barrel...it might even be an empty barrel LOL

28MM COMMANDO WW2 part 2 OF 3

 So I did get another packet of the 28mm Warlord Games Commandos in plastic - only this time it was the new version.

So in total its now 55 guys (old pack 25 off and new one 30 off ).

Below: New ones at top - older version in berets at bottom

Below: So I have the original guys in berets...(older Warlord Games version).

And the newer version (30 off) built using the cap comforter...I actually prefer these heads. They remind me of Airfix 1.72 scale...remember the kayak and ladders LOL. Anyway I think it was October 1942 when they moved to the green berets.

                                                    Below: Vickers k  gun on the right

The cap comforters look great.

I used Vallejo English Uniform

The new figure pack has a few Vickers K weapons which is great but it doesn't have any Stirling SMG? ... strange I thought. Apparently with a rate of fire faster than the German MG34. 

I also purchased in metal some heavy weapons ... 5 mortars, 5 Vickers water cooled HMG, and some radios (from Assault Group). I then used some of the new figures as crew/operators. 

Most of the new figures have the weapons already attached to the arms. So again I had to raid the USA bits box to get some arms!

I mixed them up ...some with packs some not. I placed the Bergans next to some of the crew teams.  I also added green stuff to the ammo belts.

I gave the original "beret guys" some Vickers and mortar support. I think this is a cheap and quick way of supplying heavy weapons to a squad.

The radios I stuck onto clear bases - I can choose to use these or not (that way I don't unnecessary lose figures if the radios are not used). If needed I can just place a figure beside them.

Below: Commando on clear single figure base on top of clear based radio...the base blends in nicely.

So as I was using up guys for crew I ended up with only one guy here..but as per the radio...I can place someone next to him if needed.

I still prefer the old comfort cap on the new pack (you get both beret and cap head sets). The new set has still not addressed the "lack of a firing piat" person. The piat is being moved/carried. I think Warlord may have taken the decision  - to not provide prone figures in this pack.Which is how the piat was generally fired. Shame.

But I should have done a guy with a grappling hook and a guy on a ladder lol...those Airfix Commandos fought well LOL

WW2 German Figure 1/16 scale

 So at Christmas I was given this model...its a great resin  1.16 scale figure - with great movement. So I thought I would give painting something bigger a go...I think he turned out ok. I have not painted in this scale for years. I really just wanted to test myself and the German patterns are the hardest for me to paint...So out came the camo paint pack and dotting tools.

A pea dot trouser and summer oak leaf smock and helmet cover.

Getting the actual pattern to work across the figure at this scale was a challenge. 

Even the helmet cover is based on an actual picture.

Achieving the correct amount of base colour spacing and then pattern was hard. 

He's not my usual wargame scale (28mm) and he was a challenge to paint...as a painting project (his gear colours are based on an actual uniform pictured in the Waffen Uniform Book).  But I don't think I will venture into this scale again.

U Boat crew 28mm

 So with our next game in mind we needed a group of German guys...no prizes for guessing what our Commandos will be trying to destroy during the new game..

So this "crew" started life as US Marines and German infantry. I removed/sanded the ammo pouches and all webbing... sanded any jackboots and added green stuff for the trouser bottoms and life jackets.  Then gave them new heads.

I printed out some German eagles at a scale/size so that I could attach to the boxes. My intention is to have the crew loading their boat - with a Captain onboard directing traffic. The uniforms are based on actual pictures of crew.

The beard came out ok on the Captain...and of course deck crew wearing life jackets.

Some of the shore guys are the warlord metal figures...so again I cut the bases away...and mounted them on clear bases.

 The  blue top is colourful for us! LOL

We can re-use our Stalingrad vehicles (3d prints) for transport... the crates/boxes are removable from the vehicles and will become part of the "load the boat" game!

Hey ...put that Van Gogh back..! Schnell !

Clear bases for the HMGs and some dock items (boxes and barrel) and ammo boxes. 

These German Kriegsmarine figures were donated for the game by Gavin 

(p.s. if you wargame in Glasgow you know Gavin!). Cheers Gavin.

The lorry unloading crew...opening boxes to take into boat hatches.

So lots of German guys moving boxes...

These guys are re based.

So its getting there. We have lots more Germans (if needed) but I think more Commandos might be needed! But we will need to also think about location next...can anyone else hear the film/tv theme tune - Das Boot... here we go!