After beavering away this weekend I have managed to finish my T-55AMs and I'm really happy with the finished tanks. A final drybrushing and highlight using GW Karak Stone has really brought out all of the raised surfaces.
I have used some Volksarmee decals to denote the pair as East German tanks - after all, being in the Warsaw Pact means everyone working together, right?
These tanks were definitely worth the wait and the expense, they'll hopefully give my NATO and US forces something to worry about. So what's next in my Team Yankee pile of plastic? Well I do have another 4 T-55 models to put together. However, I have also liberated two S-model tanks from storage in Kent - a US Sheridan and a Soviet BMD-2, so decisions, decisions!
Whilst awaiting the arrival of my T-55s I came across a 28mm scale tabletop wargame called Konflikt 47, set in an alternative reality where nuclear weapons have created 'rifts' across the world that are being used to prolong World War 2. In the narrative of the game the war has continued into 1947 and thanks to the rifts all nations have weird and wonderful Steampunk technologies, employing walking robotic tanks and downright creepy human / animal experimentation.
Inspired by this I set about creating a 1/72 scale representation of Tesla Troopers from the iconic computer game Command and Conquer: Red Alert. Despite the fact I have so many other projects to work on, this task was fully justified by the rule of cool.
I decided to use the Tesla Troopers from Red Alert 3 as a template for these figures. I found they looked very similar to Games Workshop Tau Stealth Suits, so I picked up a box of three suits and gave them a little customisation to reflect their computer game inspiration.
For the lightning / electricity effect I used various layers of Games Workshop acrylic blues, followed by white to form the lightning. This was then washed with an electric blue. Not perfect but as I don't use an airbrush the end result was better than I expected, especially when seen from a distance. I repurposed a spare German tank commander head for the Commissar / unit leader - the other helmets are simply blue tac shaped into balls and painted over.
Overall I really enjoyed creating my own Tesla Troopers. I am usually loathe to purchase Games Workshop miniatures but it was a chance to create something unique. Hopefully they'll be a shocking surprise when I create some wargaming rules for them.
"Tesla Troopers, fully charged!"
At the end of February I received my two boxes of the new T-55s from the Plastic Soldier Company. Due to other commitments (alas real life gets in the way of models all the time) I haven't had chance to do a review to date so here's a preview.
I have assembled the first pair of T-55s as modernised T-55AMs - these have more gadgets and attachments to make them more effective on the modern battlefield. These additions include additional armoured 'cheeks' on the turret, a unique barrel for the main gun and distinctive side skirts. The models went together well but I had to use reference photos (cheers Google) to try to get most of the turret furniture as correct as possible. A particular challenge was the smoke grenade launcher on the right hand side.
Keeping with the remainder of my Soviet forces I am painting the tanks in Tamiya acrylic XF-73, a greyish green that I really like. I have recently inked the base coats in GW Athonian Camoshade (dark green ink) which has really helped to bring out the details on them.
In my OHW Team Yankee wargaming rules I will keep these particular tanks flexible, to be considered as main battle tanks or medium battle tanks as necessary. This saves me both space and short term expense buying other Soviet MBTs. The other four T-55s will be made up as older T-55As - that way they can be used as medium battle tanks in Team Yankee, but are also able to be employed in earlier wargaming periods, eg as NVA tanks in Vietnam.
Here are some before and after photos of my US and British tanks. The new paint schemes have really brought them to life after a few years of gathering dust in my 'modern forces' cardboard box. Back in Kent I have a BMD-2 infantry fighting vehicle and a spare Sheridan (both from S-model) still to assemble but as aforementioned the Plastic Soldier Company T-55s are inbound. I really need to sort out a prototype set of One Hour Wargames rules to go with them all!
So my British repaints have now been completed. I'm really happy with the camouflage on the hulls and weathering on the tracks. The fire extinguishers in a subtle red add a little colour to the Warrior but I'm happy with the drab appearance of the Challenger.
As the Plastic Soldier Company released their 1/72 T-55s yesterday I'm expecting to receive my two boxes sometime next week, so there will soon be some armoured adversaries for my US and British vehicles. After finishing my science fiction / Weird World War 2 project (more on this soon), I'm going to begin a squad of Italeri 90s US infantry so the tanks aren't unsupported by the footsloggers!
Here's some photos of my British repaints for Team Yankee so far. I've managed to get the camouflage colours how I want them through liberal inking and I'm happy with my drybrush highlighting of the vehicle surfaces.
My Challenger 1 is pretty much there, just need to apply some Games Workshop Karak Stone around the tracks and track guards to give it that finishing touch of dust and grime.
The Warrior needs some brown inking on the two fire extinguishers (these are probably not red in reality, but I wanted to break up the drab camouflage with a feature or two). Then the obligatory dusting of the tracks and underbelly.
I haven't decided on a role for my Warrior model - it could be a reconnaissance vehicle or a transport for some infantry. With the sadly snapped-off main gun (the Rarden cannon should be longer) another option is a representation of an AA unit.
I'm looking forward to getting these finished and arranged with my American tanks in a 'before and after' comparison photo.
Here are the finished tanks, after many an ink and some drybrushing, I'm quite happy with how the camouflage came out.
In my OHW wargaming rules I will consider the M1 Abrams as a main battle tank. It will be able to take large amounts of damage and deal out plenty of hurt in return. Main battle tanks will be one of the most numerous units in my rules as they take the 'infantry' slot of the One Hour Wargames unit types. With the iconic Soviet tank columns in my mind, I don't want a game where tanks are few and far between. Along with the Abrams, other tanks I consider MBTs are the British Chieftain / Challenger, the Soviet T-80 and, perhaps controversially, the Soviet T-72.
Comparatively, the older brother of the Abrams, the M60A1, will be designated a medium battle tank. This unit type is an alternative choice to the Main battle tank; instead of one tough tank you can use two less powerful tanks. This gives you flexibility and numbers over heavy armour and devastating firepower. Other tanks I want to include in the medium battle tank category are the German Leopard 1 (if the Plastic Soldier Company bring them out in 1/72) and the second rate Soviet T-55 and T-62. Consequently I need to pick up another M60 at some stage to accompany the 'A1.
Here are a few photos of my first two tanks for my 1/72 Team Yankee forces. I loaded the stowage racks and stripped the Revell M60A1 of the majority of its reactive armour. I applied a coat of Deathworld Forest Green followed by an ink coat of Athonian Camoshade before starting the MERDC camouflage scheme from the Team Yankee rulebook. Not quite finished yet but very happy with how they look so far.
