Team Yankee - M1 and M1 IPM1s

In the spares box were four M1 abrams.  I have made 3 M1s and one as a IPM1.  I will add another IPM1 later this month.  I also have a couple of M113 hulls left over which I will press into service for the VADS and ITV variants as well as normal troop tracks.

The initial build was two plain M1s. The later models had additional stowage added.  They are all finished in in VJ Dark Green FS 34079 which equates to Forest Green.  I have faded the base coat with some Dark Yellow but worried these are a bit flat. So looking for ideas to brighten these up a tad

The

World at War - Another boardgame conversion to Minis

I wanted something to bridge the gap between the 1:1 game and the 1:5 "operational" level games.  And a change look at Colours and the cracking 1/200th game using "Blood and bridges" sent me thinking.  My mate and I have have access to the rules in the World at War series (Eisenbach Gap, Blood and Bridges and Death of 1st Panzer) and a simple reading through and measuring leads to the following ideas:

Counters in the game effectively show a unit can take 1 hit or 2 hits. a 1 hit counter is 1 or 2 vehicles, 2 hits represent 3 or 4. Replace "hits" with model vehicles and you have a game on table with about 5 - 10 NATO vehicles against 10 - 25 WP.  Sounds doable with my collections. For example "Team Yankee" (yes that one) in the board game is HQ, 2 Tank Platoon Counters, Infantry Platoon Counter, M113 Transport Counter, ITV.  Replacing with models becomes 5 M1, 2 M113 (with Infantry) and 2 ITV Models. Other scenarios add or remove about a platoons worth of equipment.

The hex size represents 150 metres/yards.  1" per 50m is used on a number of operational rules so isn't a massive leap with 3" replacing 1 hex.  This makes a 13 hex map 39" wide.  So a 4' wide table sounds doable.  6 - 8' in length.

Rules for most things are already present. Helos, Arty, Mortars, ATGW, AAGW, Smoke, Jamming etc etc.  Might get a play test in on Sunday :)

M109G - In Progress

The M109 has come to the painting table.  To make a M109G I needed to add some smoke dischargers and change the cupola over.  To do I that I have used the spare SD from the Leopard 1A3/4 Kits. They aren't correct but are good enough. For the cupola I am going to use a spare M113 one with my standard brass wire MG mount.

I have also tried out using the decals for the Battery and Gun marking. Not 1985 correct but I have evidence that the M109A3 G adopted it at some point.  I am not going to add any more and I think it is a little over the top

British Armour 1944-45

Tried the AK SCC15 with a drop of Dunkelgelb to lighten on the British Armour