6MMRPC: Tanks and Trades

Hi folks,

A quick update before the weekend (and lots of packing) starts. Today was my final day of work in Glasgow, so I am looking forward to starting in Middlesbrough in a weeks time and not having to spend 3+ hours a day commuting! Tonight I celebrated by getting primer on my three Stuart M3A1's and Crusader AA tanks.

These pics are post black primer, so don't show much. I managed to do a little work through the week on stowage - running out of canvas rolls and jerry cans - and also managed to add a hull MG barrel to the Stuarts.

I had enough stowage to have a bash at one of the M10C's, adding a .50cal MG and patches of camo netting. I'm thinking on these guys to try a new thing, and have been looking at options for foliage branches in 15mm. There are a few options out there, I just need to pick one then have it delivered to my new address (I have the same issue with ordering more stowage).

My thinking with the foliage is that these Self propelled guns were normally used from defensive or ambush positions. Also, with them being a Canadian addition to my army, I wanted them to be visually a little different. The inclusion of foliage on the models will really depend on whether I can make it subtle enough. I've seen lots of models with clumps of horrible rubberised hair and the likes on them - or clumps of clump foliage - and I don't want to go down that route. The key will be getting decent looking 'branches' and leafs. 

I also picked up a Dremel like tool from EBuyer. Called the Xenta 163 Piece Rotary Tool it costs a whole £14.99. I'm waiting on it being delivered but the reviews sound OK and at that price if it only lasts a few months I won't complain. What it will let me look at doing it magnetising my turrets.

Also this week I managed to trade my 3 Stuart Honey tanks I asked for in error at Christmas time. I managed to arrange a trade of the 3 tanks and a small sum of money for 3 plastic  PSC Churchills and 4 plastic BF M5 Halftracks. I'm not too sure what to do with the Churchills, but the M5's will be for my Recce company infantry. The Churchills might end up as an extra support option or as base kits if the conversion kits for PSC Churchills ever materialize. I'll think about it but they can stay on the sprues for a while yet. I should probably count this as a Joker for the challenge, but it was a small amount of cash and that was only because we needed to even out the trade value.

And... I managed to move the vehicle crews onto the shelf as they are now ready to be varnished.

I've not posted the pics of the Stuarts or the Crusader AA as the black primer makes them just large black blobs in the pictures. More to follow when I get the base coat on them.

6MMRPC: Burnt Joker - Full Thrust Ships

As stated previously, I have a bit of a Full Thrust ship purchasing issue!

This month Jon over at GZG is celebrating 30 years of being in business, and is offering a special 30th Birthday offer. Basically purchases of £30 or more get some random freebies that match their purchase. I had been wanting some 'Spider' fighter stands so decided to splash out and get a few bits that have been on the wish list for a while.

Unfortunately I selected the wrong fighter stands so needed to order the correct ones. Combined with some birthday money I ended up placing another £40 order! So the joker I earned from finishing the Heavy Mortar platoon I then spent on more ships!

Anyway, here's what this package contained;

My freebies - I was missing some parts from my UNSC ships, so was going to order replacements. Jon included them in my freebies. Also included were a merchant ship and a NAC Escort Carrier!

Salvage ship - I've wanted one (or two) of these ships for a while.

Escort Carrier included for scale!

Landing Ship, Orbital with Escort Carrier for scale.

Both the LSO ships. These would also work as carriers between Escort and Light Carriers.

Bottom right are some 'Luxury Yachts' which I plan to use as generic system defence ships. Top right are the wrong fighter stands. Escort Carrier for scale!

Also included in the package were these;

Which are a multi page colour version of the Full Thrust Lite rules. This gives some quick play rules to use with the ships you've just purchased. Very straight forward and well laid out. The ship plan pages (of which there are two) match what ships you get with the starter fleet deals Jon offers.

Posted with Blogsy