Spruce-trees en masse

 Just before Christmas I looked at the TEMU-range online and 

found some cheap spruce-trees that would be very suitable for 

wargaming in the 15 mm-scale. I also think that I could use 

these trees together with 20mm-figures if I am not to strict on 

the scale. I also found some small houses for 6mm-scale and 

some civilians in the same scale eventhough they are 2mm too 

tall. :)

Arriving I found the miniature-trees very good and sturdy. I started 

looking in my hobby-inventory to add some extra details when 

making small groups of trees. I found out that I would need a lot of 

bases and cut out the bottom of grocery-cans and attached the 

trees using PVA and sand. Next step will be to paint them and I 

am already thinking of basing my collection of miniature-trees 

with leaves.

Preparation for Flames of war nationals 2024 that never reached the tournament...

In 2024 I worked very hard and on top of this I also struggled 

to be a good father and this resulted in a painful herniated disc 

in the neck (6-7 vertebral column).

The accident ejected when I came home from the office and 

removed some tires to be used for the winter. This happened on 

a friday and on saturday the 30th of november.

I planned to participate in the swedish nationals in Flames of war.

This never happened because I could not use my right hand and 

my shoulder and arm were also in pain. Weeks of hobby-work was 

wasted for nothing and I started a long

period to recover. Very sad time in my life but now I am feeling 

much better and I look at my life with different eyes and feel so 

grateful that the operation gave me a second chance. On the 

pictures you can follow my hobbywork. I converted a Sdkfz 251/252

to a rare recon-vehicle with a 2cm-auto gun. I also repaired 3 models 

Sdkfz 251/252 with triple-AA-guns using the teeth of a plastic comb.

I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures but hope to inspire 

anyway.

 

Baseplates in various sizes

I have 3d-printed a lot of models and the wheels and 

tracks can sometimes be fragile and to save my little 

gems as much as possible I have chosen to base

them. I have chosen to use thin steelplate because 

the will not warp and are easy to cut and use. 

The only base-plate on the pictures that not are fitted with

the measurements is the circular and it is both thicker than 

the rest and has a diameter of 40mm. The circular-baseplate 

will primarily be used as a flight-stand for my aircrafts and 

helicopters in the 1/300-scale.

To keep track on all my baseplates I have made a small hole 

in each an fitted with a cord and this is very good when you 

try out the right size for each model.

All these bases come from roof-sheets that were leftovers 

after a renovation in a house nearby and the are painted 

black on one side and black on the other.

Beutepanzers and recoveryvehicles

Finally we have come to my beloved "beutepanzers"(translated 

from german: looted tanks).

These gems are 3d-printed and I like them a lot. First up is the 

heavy KV-1 with a replaced german gun (PAK 40) instead of 

the soviet standard. This model made after a rare photograph 

taken on the eastern fron during world war 2 and the history 

says it was a testmodel and never used en masse. The germans 

were skilled to reuse almost anything that they came across to 

help their army to become more mobile. Next are T-34/76 soviet 

medium tanks that has been upgraded with schuerzen (extra 

armour-plates) and a cuppola. The T-34-tanks in german service

were also fitted with a radio. To make the leading tank more 

visible on the gaming-table I also added a tank-commander.

Two soviet T-70 light tanks will be used as one soviet and the 

other as a german beutepanzer, both are fitted with a tank-

commander. On the eastern front a lot of tanks broke down 

and had to be recovered and I have bougth 2 very nice 

models that I have fitted with soviet tankdrivers to show 

that they are lend lease from the USA. The recovery vehicles 

are Sherman ARV and the second is a Grant ARV.

Last but not least the very nice german Berge-panther with 

a lots of extra details added.

All models will be very nice to paint. To be continued. :)

Octagon-dicetrays, homemade

I have been sitting on wooden parts for years and after the operation I

wanted to let these come to use. Walnut, maple and a bottomplate made of

pine will become my dicetray number 3.

I have not decided if I will lacquer all parts in a clearcoat or only the octagon and

paint the bottom in white.

To add that extra "cosy" dicefeeling I also added a  soft rubber-inlay that will be fitted

with either blue or green felt.

This dicetray will be used in all games and also to inspire my children to start playing

RPG-games and miniature-skirmish-games.

I also made a nice second hand-find, a wooden teabag-boox that will store most of my

collection containing dices and game-accessories.

To be continued.

Damaged STUGs are salvaged

 One of my favourite 15mm-models in the german collection are the STUG´s and STUH´s.

I bought some of these new and some on second hand in various condition.

If you speak about the working horse of the german tank-force you must choose the

Panzerkampfwagen IV and also the STUG. Later in the war the STUG was upgraded with a

powerful cannon (PAK 40) extra protection (sideskirts etc).

Working on my pile of shame I also fix my finnish collection with 3d-printed models(STURMIS).

I like 3d-printed models but cannons and small details can be very fragile and I have bought

a small second-hand stash containing bits to 15mm-models made of tin.

I also added a tank-commander and I will also upgrade with camo-nets and ammo-boxes etc

to add that extra feeling and diversity to the models.

To be continued.