Stug IV

another popular paint, i guess because it looks menacing and has a very low profile. Spent a bit of time on this to make it different to the previous ones. Added additional track sections ( JTFM stowage) together with attachment points ( most people forget that historically they weren't glued on!), loads of stowage on the rear deck, mainly JTFM IIRC. Schurzen is fiddly but now Jeff does seperate track and plate section, not for everybody but looks great when "distressed", note the salvaged plate hurriedly chucked on the rear deck so its not lost in the hedgerows. The TC is the Warlord "Wittman" figure in the infamous leather U-boat jacket. I've gone for a more subdued overall camo on this, i think this relects more realistic field conditions without looking like its been in a french scrapeyard for years. Bit more tricky to pull off but i'm happy with it, maybe not enough contrast for the gaming community though :o).

Aerials are my current choice of stretched sprues......

As always more detailed pics in my flickr galleries, link to the right .

Cutest AFV this Year!

Been waiting on this one for a while ( and an RSO, anybody, anybody). JTFM goodness in the form of a 1/56th Luchs, should be popular this one ideal for skirmish level gaming. The TC, star aerial and bucket come with it along with some assorted stowage.

As always more detailed pictures in my flickr galleries: Troop of Shewe Gallery

Post publish note: the star aerial comes as a one piece resin cast, it is fragile and to be fair needs a little cleaning. In this case i removed the main shaft and replaced with wire, i then drilled the aerial mounting so the aerial can come out for posting. The turret aerial is flame stretched sprue, for gaming i recommend decorating brush hairs as they are very flexible but retain their shape.

"Ruckmarsch" Sdkfz 251/D

I always enjoy a change from the norm, and this beauty from Bolt Action /Warlord Games pleased me no end. It is the BAM 251/D but with some well thought out and nicely sculpted battle damage (nice one Olaf). It depicts a vehicle hit several times, i assume low calibre, and then rifled by advancing troops. It comes as a two piece sculpt (Upper Chassis and Wheels and tracks base) and as you see it (but unpainted of course!) As usual with the BAM display models, nothing added by me bar the paper flotsam.

I've painted this generically, with no div marking or three digit ID, but just as common only the number plates and weight stencil (Archer). For the keen eyes amongst you, you will notice the SS number plate and therefore I've painted the draped canvas as belted up SS zeltbahn, distinctly different from the Wehrmacht cousins.

Click on the images for "full fat" or for more candy check the galleries link:

Troop of Shewe Galleries

SAS Jeeps North West Europe

A side project for me, two conversions on the Bolt Action Airborne Jeep models into their SAS counterparts, as used in North West Europe. Perfect for those rearguard harassing actions and small scale skirmishes.

Modifications included the additional fuel tank(s) in the back, front and rear armoured plates, multiple K-guns mounts and bespoke stowage, even an "acquired" Luger in the back of one. The K guns are a mixture of spares box Company B on one model, and extra ones supplied by Paul at Warlord. I think the bren was a metal BAM one, but you can now get the plastic weapons sprues separately so I'd start there next time. The red/fluorescent patch on the command jeep is to assist recognition for air dropped supplies.

Click on the pictures for detailed views, else more extensive pictures in my Flickr galleries  http://www.flickr.com/photos/troop-of-shewe/sets

I've had my fun with them so they need new homes now, poa,

neil"at"troop-of-shewe.co.uk

1/56th Beasts!

Whilst not the biggest vehicles painted to date (that accolade goes to the BEF Minis Char 2D) these two resin kits from JTFM are beauties. Minor mods on the track plates, but essentailly as they come. Hopefully Jeff will have some zimmeritted versions out soon for their earlier deployments.

Bolt Action Sdkfz 222

A re-release from Warlord Games, this time without the base. I much prefer this no base approach and look forward to some more old favorites becoming so unencumbered! The 222 is a lovely little kit, here made with no mods at all, grenade screens modelled shut as requested. I do note however the Herr Grabner figure fits just nicely in the turret if you open them up, maybe a little project for the future.

Am i still working.....

Answer is yes, I'm just not publicising my work as much. I am coming to the end of a lengthy house extension which has severely eaten into my painting time (i also have a real job). This has prolonged some scheduled commissions, and as i don't paint serially, oddly not affected others. Over the next couple of months i will be focussing on finishing these.

Additionally, moving forward I am reviewing my strategy on commission work, with a focus towards:

• Existing Customers
• Ensuring the Highest Quality available
• Providing interest for myself
• Appeasing my family
• 15mm WW2 gaming
• Print articles

I expect this will result in a lower commission outturn, but with a focus on high quality and bespoke work, including conversions, and a start into 54mm and 90mm figure painting. I will however be painting 28mm, 15mm and 20mm AFVs as takes my interest, with a view on coherent projects ( i,e 15mm Villers Bocage vignette set) which will ultimately be for sale.

If you are interested in finding out when these are available, as they are available, then drop me a line and i'll notify you as and when. This is probably the easiest and quickest method of owning some of my work.

I am also clearing out my projects ( painted and unpainted) that just will never see the light of day, mainly on ebay, so keep a look out.

As always my flickr account (gallery link) contains all recent work, including increasingly work in progress (WIP) pictures. The photstream to the right contains the latest pictures.

Neil

20mm Porsche Tiger B

1/72 (20mm) Dragon King Tiger with Porsche turret, invaluable for all those popular Normandy scenarios. Minor Mods, Dragon crew.  As usual extensive and larger pictures in my flickr galleries.

French in Indochina

I always like a change, 12SS for Normandy does get repetitive :o). So when this commission came in i jumped at it. American kit in Indochina as used by the French. Tim wanted to represent the armoured element of GM 100 in the central Vietnam Highlands, circa 1954.

Kits and figures are Milicast, very minor mods by me, lovely little ensemble, if i say so myself. As usual extensive pictures in my flickr galleries ( link at the top of the page)

20mm Kitties

20mm Dragon, commission work. Posted these around the forums so pretty well publicized. Some of best work to date, will have some others of a similar quality within this batch for sale, contact for details.

Kitchen Table Update - WIP #2

Time for another update, combining most of my 28mm builds at the moment. I tinker in the evenings on the kitchen table. Currently the shots show,

• BAM Pzr IV , Schwimwagen and Sdkfz 9,
• JTFM Pzr IV, Puma and 234 8-Rads, 251/D's
• Army Group North , Stug III's
• Company B - Adler

All have mods some more than others. Following some comments, i will add that these additions and alterations are not always necesary and not a true reflection on the basic kit. I position my work at showcase standard and continually try and improve, hence all the mods and extras.

• Panzer IVs, not much more done to these, fiddled around with some more stowage and completed the schurzen on the JTFM one. Am toying with some camo nets but cant get it just right.
• Schwimwagen, i love this kit! although theres not to much you can do with a four seater. Added generic stowage, zeltbahn cover ( use of lead foil from posh wine, thanks Julia! ( who still looks at me funny when i ask for it!) and rope drop rope for the motor.
• SDkfz 9, this will be a SCW version so had to disguise some of the late war stowage, hopefully effectively with a "green stuff" discarded jacket.
• 8- RADs - I love these as well. These are just me playing, will be very late war schemes i thing. Metal foil fule can straps added and helmets and their straps
• 251/D - quite a bit of work here and very much WIP. The JTFM is the best 251 available and has lovely interior details. Downside is the assembling, i should really do a two part paint for these but that would double the time and increase the price accordingly. You will see green modellers putty on the body joints, still working on these. Have added internal rod bars for kit stowage and started to add green stuff kit etc. Nice advantage with these is that the rear doors can be cut open with a little bit of work.
• The Stugs are almost there. Interesting point with these, and my work in general, is where do you stop. I could do more, noticably the tools dont have any securing points which is bugging me but will stop on these now.
• Adler, not much added at the moment, added a BAM schwim/kubel driver. This will probably move right with a Horch which has just arrived.
  

Finishing: you'll notice several different finishes, from grey primer, to balck undercoat, to white metal and resin. With modern resins it is important to clean and prime correctly. I use an enamel plastic primer ( hence the grey) and then a black primer undercoat. Some have this already as they were "around" when spraying. These will all receive another primer grey and black undercoat. This will then be touched up with enamel ( Humbrol).

I havent posted pics of all the mods talked about here, however there is now a WIP folder up on my flickr gallery, which has more.

Panzer IV - WIP

Following on the heels of the Stugs are these two Pzr IVs. One JTFM (in black), one Warlord (in grey). The JTFM pzrIV is realtively straight forward build for me, i've done loads of these and bar distressing the schurzen and stowage nothing much else is needed. The Warlord is a more robust kit but has a couple of aspects i'm not too fond of. So i've altered the following:

1) replace schurzen totally, add rail and JTFM plates
2) Lower turret profile bay shaving off under the turret about a mm.
3) added mud paste to the wheel sections to add some detail.

the rest is the usual bitza stowage on both, with predominately JTFM extra track stowage. Still some work to do, you'll notice the new style of "heads" - what does everyone think?, will post up more pics as i go.

STUG III Ensemble WIP

Having a bit of fun with three Army Group North Stug II G's. One assembling as it comes, the second as a 75mm with Saukopf and the third as one of the 105mm Sturmhaubitze seen in the colour footage on the Seelowe heights. The saukopf mantlets are from the JTFM STUG III set (cheers Jeff), the Sturmhaubitze Schurzen is scratch built the other is JTFM again. Doing something new with crew figs, wanted to show the "in combat" mode with heads just peeking out. Using a mixture of BAM and westwind heads. I am currently modifying the Sturnhaubutze hatches as they are wrong at the moment.

neil

15mm Panzer Grenadier Company(ies)

Battlefront models, Kerr and King bases.

Bolt Action Tetrarch

Latest from BAM/Warlord, lovely little crisp cast.

A little experiment for me, 20mm M10s ETO, these are now for Sale, so poa.

Rhine Crossing

Nice little flotilla, one Grand Manner LCM and two JTFM LCVP "Higgins" boats, all 1/56. These have been painted and decalled for the Rhine crossing, hence the stars and OD upper decks. The kits are what you would expect, GM heavy and robust, JTFM fine and detailed. All have been drilled to facilitate the ramps moving up and down, some pinned as well as the resin doesn't really help this. As usual more pics in my flikcr galleries ( link at the top of the page) or click on the images for the "warts 'n all" pics.

Neil