MDF Buildings, Part 2, Painting

So I finished the building this weekend, and at first, I was freaking out. I thought I'd just about ruined it.

So what did I do? Well, Tactical Painter has a host of house paints to work with. All I have is white. I used that as a primer coat. It worked very well, but you must put on more than one coat for total coverage. News flash, you don't want or need it. Just enough to get some texture here. Next, I used some arts and craft paints, namely a milk color, and then a fawn color to kind of tone down the white and make it look a little more brownish grime and that sort of build-up. I then used Citadel Agrax Earthshade to work on the corners and the lines to bring them out. That worked well over the permanent ink pen I initially used.

What really made this thing pop was a mix of more craft paint, this time, another craft paint, this time, a True Red mixed with Vallejo Model Color Ivory. It nailed the "faded red look" on the doors and windows I was going for. And thus, I was very pleased with the end result. I might work on some other ideas, like curtains and the like, but who knows. It turned out pretty nice in the end. 

I am sold on MDF now, with a little work, and some forethought, you can really make a building sing. I have a lot more to paint, so I'll be doing them here. My future endeavors will turn out as nice!

20mm MDF, Part 1 Construction

 I felt this deserved a write-up as though there are not a lot of 20mm Cold War era buildings in MDF, there are some good reasons for this article.

1. There's plenty in 15mm and 28mm and the advice here is scale agnostic.

2. This is a newish development in the hobby.

What I built yesterday was Sarissa's Two Story Colonial House, it's a very simple kit. One sprue for the buildings, one for the windows/doors, and one page of instructions.

I hope mine comes out looking half as good! Pic taken from Sarissa's Website.

I've taken some improvement ideas from the Tactical Painter blog, which even though his ideas are geared toward WWII, makes a lot of good points for MDF. I'd certainly take his advice.

The first floor is not too shabby, also note the Chopper II in the background, it was a recent procurement, and well worth it. I see this thing getting a lot of use. 

The actual book construction was really easy and I liked how fast the actual construction was. It really was a snap, and white (PVA for those in the UK) glue is really the preferred adhesive, as it's far more forgiving than super glue for this sort of thing. 

The second floor, sans balcony

As I said, the model itself was a total snap. I think I had the basic kit together in about ten to fifteen minutes tops. 

I did make some improvements to the kit as suggested by Tactical Painter, first, I used some decorative toothpicks to make some nicer-looking columns for the balcony, and I used the remains of said toothpicks to make columns for the front of the building. I then used Woodland Scenics Foam Putty to hide the joins. That didn't work as well as I would have liked, but it did the job mostly. I will probably just use some regular home spackle next time.

I stopped my work once I got to the windows, as I wanted to get some emulsion or house paint to do the initial coat for the building. I know a lot of folks tell me that normal acrylic is going to get absorbed by the wood, and you need something a bit hardier. I don't wanna get the full-sized containers, hard to store. And I don't need that big, samples are fine for me. 

We'll see, as I have yet to paint any of my MDF as of yet. But if I can make this work, then I should be able to make the rest work well. Does anyone know a cheap source of samples online?

Here are the final results, thus far.

More to come as this project continues! 

So, What's New?

 Hi all,

 Been doing a lot of work on non - Twilight:2000 projects. That would include some stuff for Battletech, a novel I've been writing, and some other potentially paid gigs. That said, I am working on some miniature items of interest that I have recently come across, including...

• Some "rescue dog" M1 tanks I am fixing with the aid of some aftermarket parts and my spare bin. 
• A few kits I managed to source from fellow fanatic Jorge De Rio, who sold me some parts I needed for fixing the other rescue dogs, and some M551 Sheridan kits, a M106 Mortar Carrier, and a Leo 1.
• Rebasing and modernizing my 20mm lead collection. I am not happy with what they're based on right now, and I know I can do better.
• Writing my first real adventure "Charters of Freedom" for Version 2.2, and I am going to see if I can make it into something fun and miniatures suitable. 
• Discovered the joys of MDF buildings, and there's a few of interest to the T2K gamer that I'll be talking about shortly, including BILLBOARDS!!!! Nothing says "the world has gone to hell" like a peeling billboard. (Currently working on these, and I see it as an ongoing series).

So, if you like what this portends, stick around, I promise I'll have more out. I know I've been infrequent, but hey, when you're a working writer, deadlines and paying clients take precedence.

That said, if you'll notice the red "Buy Me Coffee" button, and you feel inclined? Throw me a couple of bucks. It helps me get more stuff to add to the collection, review and gives me more stuff to talk about here on the blog. You don't have to, but I'd appreciate it.

Anyhow, that's it for now, figured I'd let people know we aren't dead.

Plus, tomorrow, I turn 50. It was time to take stock, and think about a few things. And I admit, I missed this place.

The Things You Find When Reading Rulebooks!

  So, I was reading through my copy of Normandy Firefight and I happened on the designer's notes. The designer of the rules, Warwick Kinrade, who is also the designer of the awesome Battlegroup rules (I am a bit biased...) admitted that the game was "old school" and deliberately so...

Taken From Board Game Geek

 To quoth Warwick:

"This is because [the game] is a throwback to the games I played growing up, with influences from the likes of Rudis (a fine game of detailed one-to-one gladiatorial combat I still play), Twilight: 2000 (italics are mine), and the daddy of detailed modern firearms combat - Phoenix Command. With the exception of Rudis, I don't play those other games now - I don't have the time - but I did want a game in their spirit that would last an hour or less."

Well, Mr. Kinrade. I am asking, was there thoughts to doing a modern version? Or will your new project Nam '68 be a nod to that?  So, now I am inspired. Is Normandy Firefight the rules set for Twilight: 2000 table firefights I have been seeking all along? I mean, yeah, it's World War II, meant for 54mm figures (It does have conversion rules for 25mm/28mm and 20mm) and it's meant for small groups of miniatures, but it's a pretty cleanly written set of rules, and the engagement ranges we're playing at means not much has changed except EVERYONE is more than likely carrying some form of fully auto weapon, so I don't think the work to convert it would be all that hard. Might be a bit harder when you get into night vision gear, body armor, and some other modern accoutrements. But again, I don't think we're too far off the mark here. 

In short, this might be an easier conversion process than first thought? So, to set my brain to motion.... 

An Interview With Chris Lites, part of the Free League Publishing Twilight: 2000 team!

I know it's been a while, but I wanted to have some more information on what's going on with the upcoming Twilight: 2000 4th Edition Kickstarter campaign by Free League Publishing! We've seen some interviews online with the design team here, I am not a big video person myself, having been told once that I had a "face for radio, and a voice for television."

But I digress, in any event, I have here the questions and responses from Chris Lites, who is part of the design team, and his thoughts on where the team wants to go. Chris was extremely responsive, and gracious considering the amount of development time he is putting into the release we hope will be sometime next year! (My thoughts, noone elses, please don't bug FGL about it!)

The interview is below, the questions were either formulated by myself, or submitted by readers. Chris's responses are in italics.

1.     Will Character Generation be limited to Army characters, like in the 1st Edition will it be more diverse like in the 2nd Edition?

You can play military or civilians from the start.

 

2.       Will there be setting sourcebooks that do more modern apocalypses?

I’m not sure what the future holds. We’ve discussed an option that might lead to a contemporary sourcebook...possibly.

 

3.       What can you tell us about the proposed mechanics?

One set of mechanics is a more detailed version of the Year Zero System. It includes a much heavier focus on combat. We are also playtesting an alternate ruleset. I can’t say more now.

 

4.       Have you brought anyone on from the old GDW team?

Marc Miller is involved.

 

5.       How many of you are fans of the game?

I don’t think anyone involved isn’t a fan of the old game. I started playing it in about 1986 as a kid. I was pretty obsessed with all things military. I memorized cyclic rates for NATO and Warsaw Pact small arms at one point. Twilight: 2000 was probably the third game I played after D&D and Recon. It was pretty much designed for kid me.

 

6.     What made you all decide to keep the game in 2000, considering younger players are, well, barely aware of the Cold War and all that came with it?

We kept the game where it is because it’s the most plausible scenario and the one fans are familiar with. I think the idea of apocalypse never gets old. Given our current world, certainly, “the end is nigh” is very much in the air. The specifics of what any causal factor were pale in comparison to what we, as a society, deal with mentally: the aftermath. We were perilously close to apocalypse in the Cold War and find ourselves in a different, longer apocalypse now. One that is multi-causal. However, the effects of a Third World War have most of the trappings of what we’d see if everything that can go wrong now continues to do so. While new players might not get the Cold War sense of doom, I think younger generations can relate to the feeling of a dark cloud over the world. Setting it in a recent era makes it realistic but still a bit escapist.

 

7.       Will you be re-issuing old adventures for the new system?

The old adventures serve as a road map. You’ll see the Poland campaign but, in true sandbox style, we present it in such a way that is can be set in the UK, Germany, Sweden, wherever you want.

 

8.       Miniatures, what scale and whom if anyone, have you approached? Or can you talk on that?

Miniatures have been discussed. I am a huge minis gamer. Nothing is decided. The RPG certainly does not require them.

9.       If there’s one thing you want to tell the fans, what is it?

 I’d tell the fans that I was a huge fan of Twilight: 2000, studied the Cold War as a kid while it was going on and both myself, and Tomas intend to do the old game right while making it mechanically modern.

 

10.    Do you think, with what’s going on in the world now, and the rise again of PA entertainment over the last few decades, has Twilight:2000’s moment in the sun finally come?

I think the current state of the world makes the return of Twilight: 2000 as timely as it was when it appeared in 1984. We live on the edge of a vast unknown, a very likely dark abyss, and it permeates our global culture. If you can turn that experience into an exercise for fun, you might find it cathartic. At least in our game, players have agency. In the real world, as individuals, we are very much subject to the agency of others save when we come together. If we’re going to get out of this era’s looming end times, it’ll require global movements from the people who will suffer the consequences. That said, it is a game at the end of the day and the object is to have fun. But, as a writer, I’m very aware of how close some of the scenarios in the game are to what might happen in the not too distant future. There is, for example, a virus in game as an optional plot thread. I wrote that prior to COVID. I hope other things we’ve put in the game remain conscripted to the land of “might have been.”

So, that is our interview thus far. I plan to do another one, hopefully before the beginning of the kickstarter in August! So, send me your questions care of the blog!

 

In other news, there's been quite a bit coming out via Battlefront Miniatures, including this curious development! 

Image taken from Battlefront Website

 Yes, reader, your eyes do not deceive! LAV-75s in 15mm! Yeah, I know, there must be a T2K player at Battlefront. It's the only explanation. They are due to be released in July, and I do my T2K gaming in 20mm, but I might get some for my 15mm Sci-Fi armies. I'll keep ya posted. 

 In other news, my 20mm projects have been slowly humming along. Well, not so much mainly because I have a literal ton of 15mm projects to work on in the sci fi realm, then some WWII, so I am doing the Twilight: 2000 miniatures projects as I can, when I can. But some progress has been made!

A Revell M2 Bradley, a Trumpeter LAV-25 (third one of these I have built) and a S&S GAZ-66 Flatbed, all in 20mm

Another view of the above pictured.

The completed Elhiem "Cover Stars" pack, along with the HMMWV that goes with. Need to weather the HMMWV, but they're almost ready. Good figures that paint up great.

For future installments, I plan on doing a review of Battlegroup: NORTHAG, and perhaps writing some ideas for T2K for it, as well as reviews of Spectre: Modern Operations, and Contact Front, two newcomers (relatively) on the block for potential T2K Miniature gaming fun. I also plan on showing off some of the moderns I picked up recently second hand, and from Butler's Printed Models. I'm also got an idea to doing some Twilight War orbats for Fistful of TOWs, as well as doing a series on where to get the miniatures! 

Shameless Plug

Almost forgot, my new scenario book, "Red Star, Burning Streets" hit the shelves at Cavalier Books in February. I'm rather happy to finally get a book in print, and all I can say is, BUY THE BOOK!

I'd love to write more, but we'll see where this one goes?

So, what is it about? It's a miniature wargaming supplement set in an alternate 1983 where the Warsaw Pact and NATO came to blows. While it was written for "The Zone" skirmish rules, it would not be hard to adapt to any set of rules for the period. The book has 11 scenarios detailing the 2nd Battle of Berlin, as as information on the combatants, and suggestions for special rules for urban combat.

I promise, my next post will return you to your regularly scheduled apocalypse.

A Submission of One Reader's Army in 20mm!

US Forces in Poland
by Jorge Del Rio
An article for 500 Miles to the German Border

This article is solely an overview of the Forces that our group has met or will meet in their attempt to leave Poland.

The troops are mostly members of the NATO Allies that were fighting in the area in June of 2000. 

The primary members are small groups of troops from the 4-12 Cavalry, which was 5th IDs Divisional Cavalry Squadron, the 1-11th Infantry and 3-11th Infantry. The 5th ID was destroyed recently near Kalisz, however multiple small groups of troopers are scattered everywhere. Several groups ended up south of Kalisz in hiding where the Command Group encounters the commander of the local Polish Home Army.

The Command Group
The Command Group is what I call the primary group of explorers; they are not exempt from getting killed especially if they suck at rolling their dice. Most of us have several player characters in the game at the same time.

The Battalion Commander Major Jeremy Rivers is the former Squadron Operation Officer for the 4th/12th Cav, he has a 4 member team with him in his M1165A1 command HMMWV, the team is composed of Elhiem and Hotspur miniatures and one of the many HMMWVs that I have from Ken Overby.

Sergeant Major Steve Webber’s team – Sergeant Major Webber was my former partner and he was a 30 year veteran, who was whip smart and has sharp wit, his team is specialized, he has 9 other troopers, including 4 Air Force Special Tactics, Special Weather and JTAC personnel as well as a K9 Named Wolf, the other members of the team are 5 Covert Action Group operators one of which is his XO and wife using 2 M1114 armored HMMWV, they are a command level group that is also a Direct Action team.

The Squadron Command Section – in 2 M1165A1 command control communication vehicles they were giving a briefing to the Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Platoon, which was part of the Corps Long Range Reconnaissance Company. The Captain in the operation cell is the 4-12th Squadron’s Intelligence Officer and 2 of his people round up the 10 personnel in this section of troops. In addition there are 10 Military Policemen that are the security element for the headquarters in 2 M1098 Hummvs with .50 cal HMG.

The Command Group, Picture by Author

The Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Platoon, commanded by 1st Lieutenant Travis Kaminsky and Lieutenant Ryan Christopher USN, the platoon was 40 personnel in strength until they were ambushed and lost 15 personnel, now 25 strong they have Polish GROM and PsK Marines as part of the platoon. They have 1 M1165A1, 1 M1114, 4 M1025/1028 and 2 M35A2 2.5 ton trucks, 1 of them, an Armored truck with 4 .50 caliber Machine Guns and 2 81mm Mortars, the other carrying all the heavy supplies of the platoon include half of the ammunition for their weapons, the vehicles Hummvs from Ken Overby and the Academy 2.5 ton trucks all the miniatures are from Elhiem Figures. The platoon also has 3 sniper teams. This Platoon and 3rd Platoon of Team Alpha became Team Bravo, 1-11th Infantry.

Team Alpha, 1-11th Infantry

The 1-11th Infantry Regiment, was organized into 2 infantry companies and a heavy Mechanized Infantry Combat Team, comprised of the battalion's remaining armor.

This Company was found south of Olesnica in the town of Nieciszow. The Company has 18 HMMWV (M1025/1028/ 1165 and M998 weapons carriers all from Ken Overby), 88 troopers most of these Elhiem Figures.

After meeting the Headquarters elements and RSTA platoon the decision was made by the Commander to take 3rd Platoon and attached it to the RSTA and reorganized as Team Bravo, 1- 11th Infantry, both companies and the Headquarters elements are currently in the vicinity of Prosna Creek, south west of Chotow, Poland.

Team Bravo, Picture by Author

Team Bravo 1-11th Infantry

This company is made up of 3rd Platoon from A Company 1/11th Inf and the Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Platoon combined to form a Company to give the group some depth on the ground like D Troop they have 8 M1025 Hummvs with 4 carrying TOW II Launchers, a Command Section of 1 M1165 and 1 M1114 Armored Hummv, and 1 M35 A2 Gun Truck. The reorganization of the 1-11th Infantry came about after meeting with the Polish Home Army Commander in Slawin, Poland.

4/12 Cav, Picture by Author

C Troop, 4-12th Cavalry 

The troop was part of the security screen for  5th Division. The troop was almost wiped out if not for the prudent and analytical mind of a young platoon leader. Realizng the platoon was cut off and had been bypassed, the unit hid in a nearby wood and played dead for hours. Once darkness fell, they repaired their vehicles and  quietly slipped south to a wood area at a road intersection south east of the town of Slawin, Poland. The Troop consists of 24 Elhiem Figures, 4 M3A2 (Trumpeter) and 2 M1A1 (Trumpeter) and 2 M987A4 Fuel Tankers. This unit was merged with Combat Team Crowe to reinforce the Combat team

“Combat Team Crowe” 1-11th Infantry
“Combat Team Crowe” C Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry- consists of the battalion’s Heavy Company with 10 M2A2 Bradleys and 4 M1A1 Abrams. The battalion was heavily engaged in Kalisz and attempted to withdraw, but were overrun and destroyed piecemeal. The only survivors are the Command Element, in 2 M2A2 Bradley 12 personnel, 1st platoon with 4 M2A2 and 24 personnel, and 3 M1A1 Abrams battle tanks from the Company Armor Platoon. All the Vehicles are Trumpeter and the figures are a mix of Elhiem, and Combat series, with a pack of the original Twilight: 2000 US infantry figures.

Combat Team Dawes, Picture by Author

Combat Team Dawes, 3-11th Infantry
On the night of the 18th of July, while hiding in the woods north of the town of Chotow, Poland, what is left of L Company of the 3nd Battalion, 11th Infantry in 6 M113A1, 2 M901, 2 M106A1 and 1 M1A1 with a Mine plow joined C Company to give nearly full strength. Fuel and Ammo had been a major issue as the team was fighting and running they have made it to a dude ranch in the Polish Resort town of Slawin. The M113A1 are armed with twin Machine gunners, each of them also has a M2. 50 Cal gun team and 6 Riflemen for a total of 11 personnel, which would be deployed to form the perimeter defense for whatever base they form. The M106A1 have a 81mm Mortar team as well, as the crew members for the 120mm mortars with 7 crewmen for the 2 mortars. The M901 each have 2 Javelin teams with 3 Riflemen as support for a total of 7 personnel per carrier. This team’s strength was 84 personnel.

All the Vehicles are Trumpeter and the figures are a mix of Elhiem, and Combat series, with a pack of the original Twilight 2000 US infantry figures.

The 3rd Battalion, 11th Infantry S3 Operations Officer and the crew of his HMMWV had joined the 3rd/11th Platoon once they joined up with the other groups in the town of Olobok, they merged into the Squadron HQ

SF Teams, picture by Author

Special Force Operational Detachment Alpha A311

US Army SF ODA A311 were members of the 3rd Battalion 20th Special Forces Group, team of operators was working deep in the Polish countryside alongside a Polish Special Operation Unit GROM Group using Soviet captured vehicles, and US Army ¼ ton trailers, with a M1077 truck with a 500 Gallon fuel bladder for their supplies.

The SF team had the mission to locate the SS-25s that were in the field, finding it they notified their C detachment which started the chain of events leading to the Death of the 5th Infantry Division, the team in their hides were able to pin point the attack that was under way, they reported it up the chain, only to be ignored.  

The team and their GROM Counterparts are currently just west of the village of Slawin, Poland in a truck repair yard, repairing their M1077 which had a broken axle.

Task Unit “Ardent SARCAP”, Intelligence Support Agency
The Intelligence Support Agency was created in 1981, in the aftermath of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, under the US Army Intelligence and Security Command. The team is composed of 20 troopers they are using Polish Civilian vehicles and a couple of Russian Jeeps. This team was broken down into 4 sections command/support, HUMMIT, SIGNIT and a Direction Action team of 8 shooters which ,were to protect the other personnel.

Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Grade Mariana Davalos, a sultry Polish-American Blonde oversaw the HUMINT team, with 3 others, all dressed like peasant workers, they would travel around on horseback most of the time. They were in the St Laurent Catholic Church meeting with a contact from the Polish Home Army, when the 5th Division was destroyed to their north, the team remained in place trying to determined what happened to US troops. 

The rest of the Ardent SARCAP team had set up operations headquarters alongside a team from the 30th Royal Marines Commando S Commando Company, SIGINT in an abandoned ranch southwest of Olobok, Poland.

SBS Boat, Picture by Author

SBS Boat, Picture by Author

45th Commando, Picture by Author

W Company, 45th Royal Marines Commando

W Co. 45th Royal Marines Commando, is a 2 teams of British Royal Marines force, the first team is a Special Warfare Intelligence Team, 17 Royal Marines, belonging to 30th Royal Marines Commando, the intelligence and general support commando., in my little world they are a SIGNIT, signal intercept team, and intelligence operators, commanded by Captain Danielle Start, a character that is the combination of two of my coworkers, yes both blonde and both very British, the team has 3 Land Rovers with ¼ ton trailers, or travel on horseback when they split up into smaller teams. This team ends up working with the Command Group. All the figures are Elhiem figures, as are the 4 Quad Runners; the 3 Land Rovers 110 are Airfix models

W Company 45th Commando Royal Marines were part of the NATO Mobile Force Brigade GCE (Ground Combat Element), in the Baltic, W Company was tasked to provide security for the SOE resupply base at GK Driveline 17 to which they provided a reinforced platoon which served together with the local Home Army Battalion that help control the city of Olesnica.

The company other 2 platoons of Marines in what are known as Close Combat Troops, and a Weapons Troop (platoon) with 3 L16A1 81 mm mortars and 4 GPMG on tripods, were sent to Poland to assist with the Offensive, and find a missing SS-25 missile Launcher and a S-300 Battery that was protecting the SS-25.

The Company was being airlifted via 9 HC-1 Special Operations Helicopters from Royal Air Force 34th Special Operation Aviation Squadron, when 4 were shot down. This nearly half of the unit on the ground at the GK Driveline 17 plant in Olesnica, Poland. Where they have a large Factory like building in which they are hiding the 2 HC1 Chinook that remain operational, and the senior Marine on the Ground is the 1st   Lieutenant in charge of the 1st Platoon, the 2nd Platoon and parts of the weapons troop. The decision was made to leave the GK Driveline Plant and take all the personnel on the 2 operation HC1 to a location north near Gdansk, Poland, where the Royal Marines would meet with Polish Special Forces Unit Formosa and set up operations. 

Command of W Company will be turned over to the newly promoted Major Danielle Start, RM when she rejoins the company, currently she remains south at the compound that her section is sharing with the American Special Operations Intelligence Unit, Ardent Sarcap.

I am trying to find BV202 for their standard transports, I will probably get 3 or 4 one for each troop to carry their supplies, and the Land Rovers going to the weapons troop to transport the mortars and the ammo.

The US Air Force 752nd Special Operation Group
This group is based in the United Kingdom, and provides Special Operation Aviation Support in the European Theater; they have MC130, MV22, MH60H, and MH53G aircraft as well as the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, with the conflict going as long as it has some of the operators had been attached to various units in the conflict, the members of this unit must have been service members in another Special Operation unit prior to entering the Air Force Special Tactics community (that was a requisite in 1998, since 2001 it has changed with the higher operations tempo) So I have scattered throughout my units Combat Controllers (CT), Para Rescue men (PJ), JTAC Operators and others. Most the personnel will be seen with elements of W Company Royal Marines and Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 311.  These miniatures are Elhiem Figures.

 
In my current adventure, the possibility of coming across a resupply by the Air Force 752 Group or the Royal Air Force 34th Special Operation Squadron which also operates the MH 47G.in the form of 2 MH47G or the single MV22 Osprey which remains operational.

The US Air Force 321st Special Tactics Squadron (STS)
This squadron, combined with the unit’s sister airborne units in the 752nd Special Operations Group allowed the group to be capable of handling situations within a 4300-km range of RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom or further with fuel stops and make up the special operations forces element of the United States Air Forces in Europe, their specialized training and support structure make them a very versatile unit.

The 321st STS provides a quick reaction, rapidly deploy-able force to establish and provide air to ground control during special operations or conventional missions. Its combat controllers and Pararescuemen conduct the reconnaissance, surveillance, assessment and creation of assault zones sites and provide air traffic control and long range secure command and control missions.
Currently deployed in the field in 4 member teams, there are 4 teams from the 321st STS on the ground, 1 of these teams is with Command Sergeant Major Webber’s team. The other 3 teams are scattered in the area south west of Olobok, where they have been coordinating air drops for the Polish Home Army.

 
2nd Platoon, Regimental Reconnaissance Company, US 75th Ranger Infantry Regiment
The Ranger Reconnaissance Company is a deep strike reconnaissance force, basically the most badass of all the Ranger bad asses. They operate behind enemy lines usually in small teams capable of gathering intelligence, conducting surveillances and conducting surgical strikes that require absolute finesse. 

The platoon has 24 members divided into 4 small 6 member teams with 1 acting as a headquarters, they have 1 M1028 Hummv and 3 M984, 5 ton trucks that they use to keep all their worldly possessions, the team was assigned to link up with W Co, 45th Royal Marine Commando and become its 3rd platoon. Currently operating in Poland at large, no known location for the teams, all the teams were ordered to withdraw on foot back to their home base which is north of the city of Olawa, Poland. 

Polish Special Operation Unit Formosa, 3rd Platoon, Seal Team 4
The Polish Special Operations Community was always very close with the Western Military units, Formosa was no different, working with the US Navy Seals and Riverine Warfare units and British Special Boat Squadron.  

When the war broke out Formosa, did its job conducting patrols in the Baltic and protecting Polish interests, when the war got closer the unit’s interest remained pro west, when the US 2nd Marine Division came to Gdansk all that change with the unit openly allying itself with the NATO forces and 3rd Platoon Seal Team 4 which was part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces. 

Formosa moved its headquarters away from the Port of Gdansk and into the town of Swibno, Poland at the mouth of the Vistula River. 3rd Platoon Seal Team 4 remained behind when the 2nd Marine Division began there push towards the German Border along the coastline. With them stayed 2 MH60L, 1 SH60F, and 3 MH6F and additional crew members they have set up an airbase of sorts near the port, the helicopters extremely well hidden to avoid detection. Currently their strength is 123 personnel, 47 of those are US Navy personnel. In addition to the helicopters, unit Formosa has 3 CPB90, 6 Seal MK V Boats, and 7 Rigid Raider Boats. 

Where are, we going to go…?
The heroes of our games are engaged in a lot of cloak and dagger,
1) Destroy an SS-25 missile, which does not work and the supporting forces, they are going to be operating in the area south of Olawa, Poland.
2) Where they will encounter the Polish People’s Army in larger encounters as they try to accomplish their own missions in support of their Soviet Masters.
3) Assist the Royal Marines Captain in making it to the Baltic Coast, where her command is awaiting her arrival.
4) Air base 39, an abandoned Warsaw Pact Air base in Olesnica, Poland poses an interesting number of scenarios that I have yet to explore.
5) Move north towards the Polish Home Army’s area of control, which is west of Warsaw to the Baltic Coast.

Diecast Car Conversion for 20mm or 1/72 Scale Wargaming

Here is another contribution from our resident modeling talent, Evil Von Scary!

Welcome gentle reader to another post from "It's 500 Miles to the German border". 

I started modifying die-cast and cheap dollar store plastic toys as stand ins for my own Twilight: 2000 campaign. We use 1/72 (20mm) models, terrain and figures sometimes to resolve combats in the rpg as a sort of rpg/table top hybrid.

Some 1/72 is either difficult to get or next to impossible or if available cost prohibitive. Die-cast is very cheap. I found out about a game called "Gaslands" that uses die-cast cars modified to look post Apocalypse in a sort of death race game versus other vehicles. I won't get into that game in this article but I do recommend that readers look into it to see if it offers anything that might be of use to your own campaigns or war-games.

I learned from a local hobby shop in discussion about using diecast is that they call it "box scale" in comparison to other model scales. Meaning being that it is whatever fits into the box. Most peg die-cast (hotwheels, maisto, etc) as being 1/64 ish scale. So I usually carry a 1/72 figure around for when I happen to look through die casts to get one that's about the right size. I will have links throughout the article to highlight or go into greater detail various aspects.

Todays project is a Hotwheels 1970 Roadrunner. 

Disassembly: drill out posts and pry it apart, lay out parts left to right.

Be sure to take pictures (especially if doing multiple vehicles), so you remember what parts go where.

Next, strip the paint from main body: I used pine-sol in a lock-tight container and dropped parts into it. I was trying to find a more "enviro" way of stripping paint. It worked but took the better part of a week to erode the paint enough.

Modifying: I made use of various parts from my parts box. I've also seen online (from Gaslands Hobbyists) people using jewelers saws, etc. to chop out parts of the die cast body. (As always, please take your time and be careful).

For this car, I added a driver, mesh for front windscreen, created extra fenders, back window armor, and added .30cal MG and pintel mount as well as some "bolt on armor" made from polystyrene and drilled (for the bolts). I then used some rigged rebar for protecting the headlights, etc.

Painting:   Where to start on the subject of painting? I have found trial and error and/or whatever works well for you is best. 

I started this project with standard flat black primer then did a dry brush white to highlight details. Then I began to think about rust, weathering and what was this cars original paint job. Most of the car and its metal parts should be rusty and NOT the same color as the cars original paint. I rusted and weather the car then splashed/blotted/dry brushed on a lighter shade of "original color" then "re-rusted" and weathered the model. 

I then went back and added ink for highlights and then finally used the original color, dry brushing ir on mostly with a few thicker strokes to give the impression of rust from underneath the paint.  I then painted the interior and the driver.

Reassembly:  I then put the model together again without the windows. It all pretty well snapped together without much trouble and voila!! I will say that looks a little more bad assed than the sissy paint job from Hot-Wheels, lol.

I hope you enjoyed the article and pics and that it inspires you to try it out for yourself. Thanks for tuning in. - Evil von Scary

The completed model-various angles

Had a productive weekend!

I've been painting this mess of Soviet vehicles for a long, long time. And well, I finally finished them. Lord knows, it took a while. I used a method I found on the old Guild website, that I've slightly modified, but it works well and gives the vehicles a nice "worn" look.

As soon as I find a copy of the method, I will post it here, but I wanted to show off the vehicles in their glory. Lemme know what you think gang!

Overall, am I as good a modeler as some of what I've seen on the net, nope. But am I happy? Yep.

3 Butler Printer Models T-64s. they're fairly rough on the detail and l/76th as opposed to 1/72. But I do look them for what they are, decent looking Russian tanks. 

2 S-Model BMD-2. I liked the ease of construction. Didn't like the fragility of some of the parts, such as the treads, and the brass parts seemed a bit unnecessary. 

The Trumpeter T-55 to me is a great kit. It was a bit unexpected to screw together the halves of the hull, but I liked the kit overall, assembled it in an afternoon! 

3 BMP-2 from Butler's Printed Models. They're 1/76th as opposed to most of my collection being 1/72nd, but they look decent painted up. The detail is rough, as most folks have said, but for a wargaming piece, they're serviceable, and paint up well.

2 Revell T-80s, I built one with no reactive armor and a Liberation Minis crewman in the hatch. He turned out pretty decent, and a Model Collect T-72, which looks awesome. The Model Collect was a joy to put together for such a complicated kit.

A S &S ZSU-23-4. She looks awesome painted up. Yeah, the details can be a bit rough, but I was pretty impressed overall with the ease of the assembly, except for the radar mast. All in all, I was pretty happy with the kit.

A pair of PSC T-55s. Detail was a bit meh, but I liked the options out of the box. They assembled quickly enough and I was darn happy with the kits as a whole.