Finnish-ed Conversions

Today's models are some more T-26 and BA-10 armoured cars.

These used to be in my Finnish force and are Zvezda and Command Decision models respectively.

This month I've built new Battlefront models for the Finn's, rendering these ones surplus. Rather than selling them, I've recycled them into my Soviet force.

This brings me to 10 T-26s for the Soviets.

More should follow soon as I've been doing more construction in the background.

T-26s

 I wanted to post these earlier, but a varnish accident (Colour Forge is a lot less tolerant of temperature difference than Vallejo) and a holiday prevented this.

These are 5 Zvezda T-26s. I hope to repaint my finnish T-26s to Russian to match, when I get the new Finnish T-26s complete (These are being built at the moment).

Finnish T-26s in progress, new battlefront models.

Token Contribution

Today we have a some tokens.

Last weekend I attended Corrivalry, a UK flames of war competition. I didn't do badly, I came 5th and joint 2nd in the painting competition. My army is below.

At the competition we were given a set of 3D printed attack, maneuver, defend stance tokens. I have painted mine up in the colours of Battlefield Hobbies, the store where the competition was held.

Hail of Shells

So I have managed to get my medium and heavy Soviet mortars painted, which is useful as if gives me both options for my Soviet force.

Also another 17 models painted!

Astute class

So the secret project is revealed, I've been working on this 3D printed Astute class submarine a friend did for me.

Interesting project as there are limited photos of these especially below the waterline, as such I've gone for a limited paint scheme, black with a few details in Grey or Dark Green.

The base is white based MDF which I edged with iron on strip.

2024: A Year In Review

So, another year, another annual summary blog post.

What can we say about 2024? Well, looking at the graph below, it's not been my most productive year.

However, it was at least better than 2022s progress, especially when you consider that I've moved house twice this year (and the pre/post work that involves), and lost my permanently set up painting space.

So what have I achieved this year?

Firstly, my Late War Germans got a big boost, with the following completed.

• 3 Panzer II
• 3 Sd Kfz 221/222
• 2 Jagdtigers
• 4 Stug IV
• 21 Sd Kfz 251 halftrack in various configurations
  
• 4 Jagdpanzer IV
• 4 Puma Armoured Cars

My Soviets gained a lend lease Tankovy of 21 Grants and 10 Stuarts.

For 1:72/OO railways I completed the following:

• 4 Gun Crew
• Universal Carrier
• 6 Pounder Anti-tank gun
  
• Cromwell
• Churchill
• 10 Beer Kegs

That's the stuff published anyway. In addition, over Christmas I managed to assemble 8 Soviet Heavy Mortars and 9 medium Mortars. I was hoping to get paint on these, but poor weather delayed priming and then illness delayed painting.

 

I also have another model in the works, which I will hopefully show soon.

In addition, in the Cloughbridge post, I also mention I was working on a small railway, while my OO layout was disassembled. I have made some progress on this over the course of the year, This has become my layout "Cherry Blossom", a Japanese Z Gauge layout. This is still in progress, but can be seen in it's current state below, including my repainted KiHa 40 motor carriage.

The other thing I need to do more is arrange more games, I haven't done a lot this year for various reasons. I'm booked in for Corrivalry at Battlefield Hobbies, so I shall try to build from there.

 

So, onwards to better progress in 2025!

The great Soviet Lend Lease Tankovy

So what happened to all those american tanks?

Well after an admittedly hectic period when I've moved house again, I've managed to paint 31 tanks to form a Soviet Lend Lease Tankovy.

I've finished 21 Lee's and 10 Stuarts.

In addition to these I've also painted 12 beer kegs for the model railway I still need to rebuild.

Still up to 85 models this year between two house moves which isn't bad. I'd like to hit 100, but fear that won't happen.