20mm Modern Russia-Ukraine vehicles

 I've now started to paint my new resin prints.

Some of my Ukrainian vehicles...Mercedes SUVs, GAZ TIGR, Saxon, GAZ Truck, BMP-2 (With a digitally painted camouflage) 

Some of my Russian vehicles...GAZ TIGR's, Fuel Truck, and various Russian transport trucks.  The  2 flatbed trucks are pontoon bridge carriers. 

Some additional Russian Armor...MT-LB's, BMP-2's. 

My New Resin Printer

 I've acquired a new Elegoo Mars 2 printer and Elegoo Mercury Wash and Curing Station. So, I've been busy printing some new miniatures and vehicles. 

First off the printer has been some modern 20mm Russian and Ukrainian vehicles for a future series of games. 

So far, I've been happy with the resutls. 

20mm Modern Iraqi Army

I've been a little lazy not posting to my gaming blog in a while.  But since the Covid-19 seclusion and social distancing has begun, I have had a lot of time to catch up on painting and building projects.

My latest additions: 20mm Modern Iraqi Army. 

Here we have some armored and support vehicles.  There are a variety of MBT's, BMP-1, Rocket Launcher, M8 Greyhound (In Iraqi colors) and a Russian Truck. (Russian/Iraqi aircraft are next, as I will be doing an Allied attack on an Iraqi airbase.)

Here are the Infantry.  The bases have been finished since this picture was taken.

Iraqi infantry special forces, or AKA the Republican Guard.  I used a couple of different camo paint schemes to differentiate the units. (I used some 1/72 plastic Russian Spetznatz for these)

Iraqi Infantry grunts in standard green uniforms and tan covered helmets, armed with a variety of Russian weapons. These are metal miniatures from unknown manufacturer. 

These are just before I added rocks and flocking to the bases. 

20mm Paper Buildings: Falklands Campaign

 

Here are some of the Falkland's paper buildings that I have been working on.

 

All are made from foam core board and have the color exterior 'skins' glued to the outside. All of them have removable roofs and some have 2nd story floors added.

 

 

 

Governor's House Complex buildings.  

  Malo Top House

 

Stanley Church 

Main Street Tavern 

Shanty 

 House

 

Houses 

More Houses 

Shanties

(Can be useful in other modern games as well including those set in Iraq, Afghanistan, and others.)

More Shanties.

Battle at Government House, Stanley, Falkland Islands, April 2, 1982

The Battle at Government House, Stanley, Falkland Islands, April 2, 1982

 

The Argentinian Forces deployed on the Islands the night of April 1-2, 1982.  One of the main goals was to capture the Government complex in Stanley. (See the dashed red circle and flag, map above)

 

The first Argentinian assault was launched at 6:30am local time. Armored/amphibious infantry traveled through Stanley and up the main road towards to Government House Complex on the hill. (from the right on the map)

The second Argentinian assault, to support the 1st assault, was launched from the southwest, coming up and over a rocky and mostly barren hill to surprise any engaged UK forces from the rear.

(and it worked.)   

 

 

The Government House Complex in the game.  A contingent of over 30 UK Royal Marines were stationed here to protect the governor.  The marines were strategically placed around the complex to defend it against attack.
(Notice the British vehicles in the compound, including the Governors Black car.)

 

 

The Argentinian 'Elite' Infantry make their way through the streets of Stanley approaching the Governor's House road.

The approach up the hill towards the Government House Complex.

 

Royal Marines hidden in cover unleash an AT round at the approaching AMTRAK, loaded with a squad of elite Argie Infantry. So much for the first wave.

 

 

Elite Argie Infantry decide to move back down the hill and regroup after taking heavy fire from the Complex.

 

Regrouped, the Argie infantry advances up the hill again, but first shooting some smoke to cover their advance.   

 More smoke as additional mobile infantry is brought up the hill.  The UK Marines retreat back towards the Governor's House and take up new positions there. A later attack from behind the Governor's house will split the UK Marines and slowly reduce their fire power until they surrender.

 

The Royal Marines inflicted much heavier casualties during the game than the actual battle.

 

...next up will be the Battle of Goose Green and the Skirmish at Malo Top House.

 

20mm Modern 'UN' forces.

I've mentioned my 20mm Modern UN forces in passing blog posts for some of my modern miniature games, but never really posted pics of the forces in their entirety.

These UN forces make great additions to my games as peacekeepers and such; delivering convoys of food and aid, manning a road checkpoint, or just trying to keep the peace in a troubled neighborhood.

The forces are composed of a variety of vehicles and trucks that one might expect to be found around the world.  I think the troops I painted were generic Russian infantry with AK-47's and light gear, painted with the typical light blue beret to distinguish them as peacekeepers.

 

The sum total of my United Nations (UN) forces.

 

Here's some of the peacekeepers themselves.  I had the extra 1/72nd scale Russian plastic infantry figures, so why not paint them up and put them to some good use.

Here's a modified Corgi Humvee and an M113.  Note the 'UN' flag on the M113. 

Here's some repainted Matchbox Landrover 4x4's.

More repainted Matchboxes, this time Ford Expedition SUV's.

 The 'UN' version (left) of the armed Humvee (right) to help with convoy security & protection.

Side by side view of the same Forces of Valour 1/72nd scale M113.  For the 'UN' conversion, the side 'baggage' and cages was removed and saved.  The armor and blast shield around the gunner position was removed.  The antennae was re-purposed for the UN flag.  Some of the removed baggage was added back to the top of the vehicle.

Here are my UN forces in action, escorting a convoy of food through an Iraqi neighborhood.

At this point in the game, a US squad and Humvee from a road checkpoint rushes to the rescue of the UN convoy being overrun by Jihadist's.

20mm Modern UK Utility Trucks

Since there's been some interest in my 20mm UK modern vehicles, I'll show you how I did it as a semi-tutorial. You may need to fill in some of the blanks in between steps. This technique can really be used to convert any of your favorite die-cast vehicles into a usable military vehicle.

 

The Third in line are my Modern UK Landrover Transport Vehicles. I got tired of trying to find them online and in stock, so I decided to make some myself. (Of course, having more time than money on hand helps as well.) Every convoy or force needs some generic vehicles for guests, dignitaries, news crews, journalists, and etc. 

 

Materials: Matchbox vehicle, appropriate paint, white glue, super glue or plastic's glue, paper towel (Bounty, etc..), plasticard or styrene sheet, plastic rod (about 1/16" diameter), balsa wood, Granny plastic mesh, x-acto knife, and a dremel with cutoff wheel.

 

 Vehicle 1: Landrover 4x4 off-road type vehicle.

Step 1:

The vehicle build begins with a Matchbox Landrover Sport. (There are several colors to choose from, but it doesn't really matter since it will be painted.)

 

Step 2:

Disassemble the vehicle cutting around the rivets on the bottom of the vehicle. This makes it soooo much easier and cleaner to work on and paint.

 

Step 3:

The vehicle is primed. The Body with a sand color and the base with black. The gear on top of the roof will be painted later as well as the front, rear, and roof lights.  The last detail will be any insignia or unit stencilling, if required.  

 

 

Step 4:

To give a couple of them a more 'protected' and 'military' look, I cut pieces of plastic granny mesh to fit the windows and front grill.  Now it looks like it can offer a slight amount of protection to the occupants when travelling down a crowded street. 

Step 5:

The last step is to glue the final assemblies together.

 

When I finish the last step, I will post some final pics.

Vehicle 2: Landrover urban transport type vehicle.

Step 1:

The vehicle build begins with a Matchbox Landrover SUV. (There are several colors to choose from, but it doesn't really matter since it will be painted.)

Step 2:

Disassemble the vehicle cutting around the rivets on the bottom of the vehicle. This makes it soooo much easier and cleaner to work on and paint.

 

 

Step 3:

The vehicle is primed. The Body with a sand color and the base with black.  The front and rear lights will be painted next. The last detail will be any insignia or unit stencilling, if required. 

Step 4:

The last step is to glue the final assemblies together.

 

When I finish the last step, I will post some final pics.

 

Note, for other forces, this same technique can be used to create equal results. 

Here's a white painted Landrover with 'UN' stencilling:

"UN" Landrover 4x4's 

"UN" Expedition SUV's