Post 100! What a Long, Strange Trip it Has Been!

Well folks, it's a day late, but I am ready to announce our prize winner for our first painting contest!

 Apache 6 has won with a majority of the votes for his entry:

He'll be receiving our grand prize entry, and we ask that he gets in touch with us so we can get him his prizes!

Thanks to all the contributors and we'll be running another contest in the Spring!

Now, it's post 100, and I just want to say to our 60,000+ page views, and 52 followers one word:
Wow. When I began this blog a year ago, I never thought it would have this level of support and fans that would have people clambering for more. I promise to have more of my own work up..and there is another arena I plan to be delving into soon..3D printing. My parents thoughtfully, and I mean thoughtfully got me a Photon brand 3D Printer and I am devouring the owner's manual as we speak. Perhaps a 20mm LAV-75 is finally in the offing? But I have a lot to learn about making an STL file, let alone printing something out, so I will keep you all posted as to what's going on with this as time goes on.

I've discovered Thingverse, Wargames Vault, and Yeggi, but does anyone have anything else to recommend? Bigger terrain pieces might be a challenge, unless they are multi-part, but what I am really of a mystery about is can files be re-scaled. What I am looking for is can I take a 28mm file, and rescaling it for 20mm? (One of my primary scales). Can it be done, and how easy is it to do?

Also, what's a good tutorial for STL creation for a beginner like me?

So what comes now?

1. I intend to finish my long dormant project "Blood Upon the Risers" which is a scenario pack for Ambush Alley set during the fight for Bandar-i-Khomeini in 1997. When it's ready, it will be released here. I don't think it will be playested, but it will be free!

2. We'll be seeing more from our contributors, as they've already got some articles for us!

3. More painting, more models, and more ideas!

4. 3D printing, and the joys thereof! Let's see where this goes?

Man, Have I Been Prolific This Month! And, Some News of Interest.

I seem to keep writing a lot for the blog these days, and the painting contest is currently being judged. I encourage all of my readers to sign in and make their vote known. I'd like to see more responses as we had five entries, and all of them look like the contestants did their very best.

Also, I found out a couple of months late, but Wargames Illustrated did an article about using Twilight: 2000 as a miniature wargames background! Yep, that's right. In WI 373. there's a lavishly illustrated article that includes rules reviews, figure reviews (including a few I was kinda "meh" on, but YMMV), and a good summary of the Vistula Trilogy.

Cover of WI 373, image taken from WI website.

In short, if you don't have a copy, go out and get one. It's a good read for those just getting into this as a milleu.

Come the new year, I plan on getting some forward momentum on my own Twilight: 2000 miniatures and to figure out how I am going to work things out vis a vis doing Iran during the Twilight War in 20mm. I have a fan project I have been working on for years called "Blood Upon the Risers" that I really need to just finish up, and get out to the masses. That said? I do have some other paid gigs I need to give their due attention.

The next post will be blog entry 100, and we've come a LONG way from the humble beginnings of this blog. We're now at 51 followers, and 60,000+ page views, and I know the only way is up, really. I am so excited about where this blog can go?

So with that, I'd like to take a survey, what articles would YOU like to see more of here? Let me know in the comments section!

• Scenarios?
• Product Reviews?
• Tutorials?
• More discussion articles like in the beginning?

I want to make a real splash with entry 100, so it will be the beginning of the future of this blog, and the way forward. As for a question I asked last month, I think for now, I am going to put that on the back burner. As much as I would like to perhaps move to a WordPress format, there's far too many questions about how it work for me to feel comfortable making the switch. 

That's all for now, can't wait for the BIG 100! 

Submissions are Closed, and the Voting is Upon US!

Well, everyone! Our call for submissions has ended, and we have five submissions for people to judge and vote on. Please come on down to the Facebook page, and vote. You have until midnight on December 30th to cast your vote.

Just to give you all an idea of what we got for submissions this year, I have decided to post one picture from each entry.

So come on down and vote, our submitting artists would appreciate it after the hard work they have put in.

Painting Contest Developments!

Hey all, I got prizes in from Ehliem Figures and Michael Moore (Thank You very much, guys!), as well as a couple packs of the old Grenadier Twilight: 2000 line up for grabs for this thing. And, they're the Post Apoc "Gaslands" inspired line for Ehliem, which I reviewed in an earlier blogpost, Well, having seen some of the stuff in person? I am impressed. I am still trying to lock down the Game Craft Miniatures gift certificate, but if any other manufacturers see this and want to contribute to the prize pool, it's not too late!

Remember These Beauties?

So, get your entries in, you only have until this coming Sunday, and then, voting begins on the Facebook page, so don't forget to like the page, so you can vote for your faves! (I will be also posting pics here, and Grimace of the Good Luck, You're on Your Own newsletter will also be posting your entries.)

So I forgot to mention what needs to be included with your entries:

1. Good pictures. Sadly, we cannot judge your stuff in person, so good pics are going to make the difference. This is a pretty good article on how-to, but one of the best is by Henry Hyde in his book The Wargaming Compendium (We reviewed it a few blog posts ago.) And take multiple angles, it helps!

2. Name, description of the piece and a "short how did you do what you did", we won't give out your real name if you ask us not to, but we'll need it for the prize information!

That's pretty much it. Please send all entries in either .png, .bmp, .gif, or .jpeg format. It's a lot easier to work with when we post these things to the internet.

So, you're running short on time entrants!

GET PAINTING! THE WORLD WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH!!

Truck Utility Medium, Fitted For Radio - 28mm

Vehicles specifically for Twilight 2000 in 28mm are quite rare, so occasionally you have to improvise.

Crooked Dice have a miniatures game (7TV) and a matching range of figures, most revolving around the film and television output of a fictional British production company from the 'sixties to the 'eighties.

To provide transport for some of the characters, in 2016 they introduced a vehicle which has a remarkable resemblance to a Series III Land Rover.

A slightly out of focus William Killian (another Crooked Dice figure, sadly not currently in production) for scale.

This makes a nice shortish wheelbase hard top Land Rover.

Recently Crooked Dice have run a Kickstarter for a Post Apocalyptic version of their 7TV game. They added a number of conversion items including a Medium Stowage Set. This includes one piece that fits neatly on to the front of their Land Rover, and another that makes a great roof rack load.

In the Tankograd book on Key Flight '89, on page 28 there is a photograph of a Land Rover series III with stowage in that exact same location.

As it mentions in the title, this is Fitted For Radio, so I added an aerial mount using a piece of 4mm square section tube (with 4mm strip ends) and an aerial base made from brass rod to the front right side of the bonnet. The photograph in the Tankograd book has two aerial mounts, but the Land Rover 110 on page 15 has only one (and is a hard top).

Though the pieces fit fairly well, there was a slight gap between the front of the roof stowage and the roof itself, and the piece sitting on the bumper did not balance well.

The former was fixed by adding a tarpaulin made from Greenstuff, the latter had some square section rod added underneath.

This was one of the vehicles I mentioned when I was writing about the Soviet infantry.

It is base painted (PSC British Tank green), but needs decals and weathering.

A British infantryman armed with an L1A1 (FN SLR) for scale. He was converted from a Crooked Dice X-Commando using an Empress British Infantry helmet with extra camouflage.

So now my British have some transport, now I need some British troops.

Dressing For The Apocalypse - 28mm

As mentioned in an earlier post on 28mm figures, Under Fire Miniatures do a range of 28mm Cold War figures.

As supplied, the Soviet infantry (in this case Soviet Pack RMR2) are accurately dressed, with the uncomfortable high boots.

These would be fine for forces at the outbreak of war, but after four or five years of conflict, their kit would change. The obvious thing would be replacing the boots (and trousers) with more comfortable items - either manufactured for the troops, or those that the troops have picked up.

The first change was to add some small squares of Greenstuff to the front of the boots, sculpted with a scalpel blade to represent the laces. This was allowed to set before more Greenstuff was used to extend the trouser cuffs.

Soviet Motorised infantry were trained to be no more than 200 metres from their transport, so they do not tend to have large quantities of equipment, so only a couple of small bags or pouches were added.

The other thing is that they are quite likely to have non standard gear, or in the case of the NCO, he has discarded his helmet for a warmer and more comfortable wooly hat.

This is a head from the Empress Universal Soldier range. He is also wearing a scarf, more Greenstuff.

He also has picked up a rucksack (from the Rubicon Miniatures Allied Stowage Set 1). This was blended in with Greenstuff.

There is also a square section plastic rod and Greenstuff ammo pouch.

Once finished and based (Woodland Scenics ash ballast over Milliput), they were undercoated with Citadel Chaos Black spray. As I was painting some British vehicles at the same time, I used Plastic Soldier Company British Tank spray as the base colour.

The wooly hat was painted with Citadel Caliban Green. The rucksack is Citadel Castellan Green. The scarf is Citadel Zandri Dust. 

The NCO's jacket camouflage is Citadel Steel Legion Drab followed by smaller splurges of Citadel Zandri Dust.

The NCO, having experienced more than enough Instant Sunshine(tm), has changed his trousers for a pair with a camouflage pattern of Zandri Dust and Vallejo German Camouflage Black Brown,

The rest of the squad's camouflage spots are Citadel Zandri Dust, the helmets are Vallejo German Extra Dark Green.

The figures were dry brushed with Citadel Dry Brush Nurgling Green. The "woodwork" of the guns was Citadel Mournfang Brown. 

Once dry the green areas were washed with Citadel Athonian Camoshade, brown areas with Citadel Agrax Earhshade.

The bases were then covered with a mixture of Woodland Scenics Burnt Grass Fine Turf (finely minced sponge) and some anonymous static grass bought from a model railway show.

Here is the NCO and one of Empress Miniatures Chechnya figures.

Same source of wooly hats.

Introducing our New Contributor: Ultravanillasmurf

Jason has kindly invited me to contribute to this blog.

I am of an age where the Nuclear Apocalypse was part of my fictional background. From Andre Norton to Philip K Dick.  I read stories of living in the post nuclear age, but without the existential angst of those who had lived through the very public spat that was the Cuban Missile Crisis. We had been under threat of nuclear annihilation for longer than I had been alive and had made it through so far. Little did I know of the near misses in my lifetime such as Able Archer ’83.

Even television provided images of the post-apocalyptic world. Survivors showed me a world where authority collapses and survivors behave no better than the children in Lord of the Flies (a book we studied at school – more nuclear apocalypse).

It was at University that I encountered Twilight 2000 (via Games Designer Workshop’s Traveller). We ran RPG and miniature games set in the world, and later in the more conventional Team Yankee timeline. This was ably assisted by GDW producing a number of associated board games and supplements. It was not just GDW products, there were a number off suitable Osprey books, plus others.

I used the forces from the Team Yankee board game for weekend miniature campaigns using the Challenger rules from Table Top Games.

I had armies in 6mm from Heroics and Ros, GHQ and Scotia (great for the FAV and LAV-75) and 20mm in metal from Skytrex and MMS, plus the ubiquitous plastic kits in scales from 1/87 to 1/72.

After a number of years away from the “period”, I have started building up vehicles and figures, this time in 28mm. It usefully matches new "Ultramodern" and other post apocalyptic settings such as The Walking Dead.

Bundeswehr infantry defend a supermarket

Soviet forces secure a communications post

I hope you will find the 28mm figures, vehicles and buildings of interest.

Like Colonial period adventures and Inter War murder mysteries, Twilight 2000 has its own prejudices and attitudes that to a modern reader maybe problematical. That does not mean that I do not enjoy returning to them as escapist fiction.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Game

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Storm_Rising

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Thousand 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Yankee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_World_War:_The_Untold_Story

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_the_Flies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivors_(1975_TV_series)

Been prolific lately, and have a question for my readers?

 Well, got a question for my readers? I am thinking of moving the blog to Wordpress. I like the features and it's got a lot more tools for me, but the $48 a year is a bit steep for me right now. So, were I to move, I'd probably do a paypal donation cup here to raise the funds. Yes, I know, it may not sit well with some folks, but if 12 folks gave $4 each, I could get the blog running for a year. And if we don't raise the money, we don't move and I will return the money, simple as that. 

  But before I do it, I'd like to hear from you, the reader, before I do it. I've given the idea some thought, and probably throw in extra content for those who do donate. Maybe dare I say it, a podcast, though that would be a rough road to hoe, as the only microphone I have are the iffy Samsung headphones that came with my phone! But I would give it a try! 

 But I really want some input from you all first. I've enjoyed this blog immensely, and the contest and the outpouring of interest has been a tonic to me, especially during the winter months as I do tend to a bit of lethargy and feeling down, so writing a post or three of interest to the readership puts a smile on this ol' gamer's face.

  So, here's your chance, let me know here, or at 500milest2k@gmail.com, or care of the facebook page. I will be setting up a place to comment there too. I'd really like to know if I am on the right track in general, or what more you, the reader would like to see.

   Thanks all, and here's to a full still, plenty of ammo, and a inactive Geiger Counter.

   Your humble writer,

  

   Jason Weiser

Season's Greetings From 500 Miles! And, a CONTEST!!!

From our friends at Podcast at Ground Zero!

Well, a chill is in the air, and Cyber Monday is upon us.  Why, even the rad count is down to "acceptable levels", and the chem sniffer has taken a break from sounding an alarm. And all our happy members are wishing for gaming goodies, full stills, and of course, more ammo. But hey, on a more page related note, I challenge my readers to post here or at the FB page some of their milleu related winter stuff..in fact, let's make this a contest!

1st Annual "500 Miles Holiday Painting Contest"

Rules: Paint a miniature or group of miniatures (this includes terrain) from 6mm to 28mm scale in a winter setting suitable for Twilight: 2000. Entries can be sent to 500milest2k@gmail.com and will be judged by the members of the 500 Miles Facebook Page. They can be infantry, vehicles, or even a diorama!

It must be an original work, and not have submitted for anywhere else, online or offline.

Prize: I will put forward two packs from my stash of Grenadier Twilight: 2000 miniatures to the first prize winner. I also think I can put forward some other prizes for the other winners!

UPDATE: Due to the generosity of Michael Moore and Ehliem, we have some more prizes coming. I will let them be a surprise till they arrive, but lets just say, things are getting interesting! Also, GameCraft Miniatures is also providing a gift certificate!  

Due Date: Submissions to be ready by 16 December, judging will take place until December 30th.

Winner to be announced Jan 2nd! The top three entries will be posted here on the blog!

All other questions, to be directed at: 500milest2k@gmail.com

Also, please spread the word about this contest and let folks know far and wide. Feel free to copy the text, as I would love to see a variety of entries.

SO GET PAINTING FOLKS!!

Battlegroup Twilight: 2000, Comments and Ideas

Hi Guys,
 Another short post this time around. I wanted to ask everyone out there a small favor. I have the Unofficial BG Cold War American list for Twilight: 2000., and I wanted comments on it. It's not ready for play just yet IMO, heck, I don't even have some Soviets to pit against it! But, it's 90-95% done IMO, and I need some supplemental rules to go with it.

 That said, I'd also like comments on that, as I do believe one will need chits for Twilight: 2000, to get the special milleu down. Heck, I think "Endkampf" from Fall of the Reich would work very well here.

Just so we're all on the same page!

  So, I wanted to ask the following questions?

1. Does this fit the milleu?
2. Is this doable in Battleground?
3. What other changes to Battleground do you think need to be made?

I look forward to hearing from you all. Here is the link to the draft list. Please make all comments care of the website email at: 500milest2k@gmail.com.

Just want to set one thing straight fellas, the the BattleGroup Cold War effort isn't NORTHAG. NORTHAG is something different Iron Fist and PSC are working on. I am working to put something out as a fan project for a fan project. That's all. 

Thanks in advance.

Another Short News Piece

Well, I wanted to put this short news piece out there to get the word out that the blog has a Facebook page! Yep, that's right. We're going to social media. I wanted the page to get the word out and have a one stop shopping place on FB to release future news about when there's a blog release, like...now.

I have not done much Twilight: 2000 miniatures related, but I am gearing up to finish a boatload of Soviet armor, including some items from Butler's Printed Models that I really have been meaning to finish painting. They're almost done, so I am pretty confident, gimme a day or two to paint em, and I will be displaying them here for all to see, along with a review.

As for other matters, I gave some Lifecolor MERDC colors a try painting some Battletech 'Mechs, and I liked the results, very much. I can definitely recommend Lifecolor, but it doesn't wear as well as oh, say, Vallejo or AK/MiG, but I was very happy with the end results, and they responded to the Magic Mudd Wash very well indeed. (I cannot say enough good things about that sadly, now OOP product).

I also wanted to let folks now that Ehliem Miniatures has released more for their Post-Apocalyptic line in 20mm,. Now, while most of it is meant for Gaslands/Mad Max-style gaming, it would not be real difficult to adapt it for Twilight: 2000 at all, as most of them have that "marauder band" chic look written all over them. He's also releasing some Cold War Bundeswehr, which look great and are definitely usable.

Taken from Ehliem Minaitures Facebook Page

Taken from Ehliem Minaitures Facebook Page

So all in all, a bit to report, and more to talk about later. TTFN

Vehicle Schemes of the Third World War, Part 2 (The Soviet Union, Poland, and Czechoslovakia)

The Soviet Union and Poland

The Soviets had a multitude of camo patterns and paints during the war, but the most common base pattern was a color that compared very closely to FS (Federal Standard) 34077, a dark green known as Zashchitnuy Zelno that the Soviets had been painting their equipment in since 1956. Thousands of Soviet vehicles saw action wearing this color, and it was still the most common paint scheme in Soviet service, especially in Category III and Mobilization Only divisions, but this scheme was not limited to those units by any means.

Soviet T-72B from an unidentified division from the 38th Army in Zashchitnuy Zelno scheme, Manchuria, 1996

Soviet T-64 from postwar modeling magazine, taken from a photo from an actual example in Poland, ca. 1999 (Taken from Cybermodeler)

Zashchitnuy Zelno Scheme

The Soviets had had field regulations regarding disruptive camouflage since the 1960s, but the colors were those used often for other purposes, such as primer coats for equipment or interior colors, and the application and patterns were left on a haphazard basis to the Field Engineer Brigades and was often not applied except in time of war if it was applied at all.

Osprey plate of BMP-1K attached to unknown MR Division in the Ukraine, 1998. Note the Brown No2 and a non-regulation lighter brown (from civilian stocks?) overspray over the base scheme

From the same Osprey of a BMP-1 somewhere in Poland, September 1997, unit unknown, this time there has been a mix of faded Yellow No1 and Brown No2 over sprayed over the base green

Soviet T-80 from 79th Guards Tank Division, in a prewar photo ca. 1994, with an overspray of Silver Grey No1 and Black No2 over the standard paint scheme

Soviet Field Camouflage Schemes

This practice changed in the 1980s, as the Soviets developed a three color (sometimes, only one color was applied) scheme, called “MERDCski” in the West by observers due to its similarities to the US MERDC scheme.

Soviet T-80 platoon from 25th TD moving up to the front, July 1997, Poland. This photo is a good example of the simplified “MERDCski” scheme.

Soviet T-80 Color Plate taken from postwar modeling magazine, ca. 2019, Example is from a T-80 from 12th Guards Tank Division, Poland, ca. March 1997 with a more complicated version of the “MERDCski” scheme. (taken from Cybermodeler).

MERDCski Paint Chart

Poland used similar schemes to the Soviets, apart from the “MERDCski” scheme, which the Poles never adopted. The main way one differentiated between Soviet and Polish vehicles was the unique “diamond” national insignia.

Polish T-55 with prominent insignia on either side of the gun mantlet.

Czechoslovakia

The Czechs had been an early adopter of disruptive pattern schemes for tanks, having done so before WW-II. The current schemes were based off a water-based tempura paint that did not stand up to particularly hard wear, but was easy to reapply, even during the worst of the Twilight years. Standards and even paint shades were left up to the individual unit commanders, and often, as things broke down, the paint schemes got even more complex, and in some cases, gaudier. The Czech tricolor insignia was always present as well, and many vehicles, no matter how shoddy their paint scheme, would have the tricolor loving applied and touched up whenever possible. The colors that were supposed to be used were similar to the Soviet pre-“MERDCski” paints, and the base scheme was the same Zashchitnuy Zelno the Soviets happened to use.

Color Plate of Czech T-55 taken from Czech State News TV broadcast of January 5th, 1998. Vehicle is heavily oversprayed with Yellow No1 and Brown No2

Czech T-55 from Museum of the US Army, Ft. Belvoir, 2022. Vehicle was captured in this scheme of Yellow No1 and Sand No2 over the base scheme by elements of 1st Armored Division, November 1999