1:72 African village hut master

My African wargaming adventures are missing typical African terrain, therefore I commissioned a good friend [Michał from Black Grom Studio], to design some. After all how many times can you burn a forest or destroy a farm field...

Below is a sample, a basic round African hut with separate roof, suitable for 1:72 [25mm / 20mm] miniatures as well as other scales.

There are several other types of bottoms and tops being completed currently. The huts will be available single and in packs in resin and possibly in ultra hard dental plaster.

From left to right, we have a GW Goblin, two Pole Bitwy 15mm [17.5mm] miniatures, a Rebel Minis 15mm miniature and a Revell 1:72 [25mm] plastic soldier.

Expect more terrain real soon ;)

Higher resolution images:

Comparison with miniatures

Separate

Fanatical religious zealots mob miniatures

Those old ESCI Arab warrior miniatures look perfect for creating a religious militia force. For better compatibility with modern times, I will add some select AK-47 / RPG-7 armed African / Arab miniatures from Caesar contemporary sets. Based 3 or 4 on a base they will surely look like a rag tag militia.

Plastic madness continues

During a recent visit to a modelling shop [I was only planning window shopping honest], I saw several 1:72 scale kits discounted by 50% and my pile of as yet unfinished plastic kits grew once more. This time I got a Sukhoi Su-22 UM-3K Fitter G attack aircraft and a Battlefield LYNX AH.7 helicopter. While the Sukhoi Su-22 might be assembled as a crashed / shot down wreckage, I plan to glue and paint the Lynx in UN colors. It even has all the necessary decals included in the box. I just need to rethink what miniatures to use as Peace keepers, since I originally planned to get the Caesar mixed modern French / Chinese set for use with the Heller 4x4 VAB. What readily available 1:72 kit would modern British forces use...

Daring rescue scenarios ?

Following the daring rescue of Britons from Benghazi by RAF C-130 Hercules planes, I searched for a suitable 1:72 model. I found one from Italeri kit nr. 1255, C-130J Hercules. I am quite sure it will find use in many airport scenarios, from civilian evacuation to supply and/or military unit transportation, the possibilities are endless. One thing is sure, such an advanced plane must be owned by a suitably high tech force.

Incoming plastic reinforcements

More plastic 1:72 kits have arrived:

ACE AML-60 Mortar Carrier.

Together with its twin AML-90, one of the most popular armored vehicles in Africa.

Any aspiring military leader should have a few unless he goes shopping in the Eastern Block.

The kit looks very daunting with the ultra tiny photo-etched parts...

Revell HMMWV M 998 Cargo / Troop carrier and M 1025 Armament Carrier.

What a bargain ! Two vehicles in one box ! :o)

Seriously Italeri or another manufacturer could create a fast and cheap snap-fit / no-glue wargaming version of this popular vehicle. Those Humvees will join 4 metal 1:72 diecasts bought really cheap with a local bi-weekly magazine.

Another dirt cheap Mastercraft AH-1G attack helicopter [8.50 PLN = 2 Euro / 1.75 GBP !!]

This is another variant of the same vehicle with a different box cover. For reasons I don't quite understand my local shop always has only one copy of any of the different versions at any given time.

Oh well, while the image above clearly shows the artist must have been testing some strong chemicals affecting his central nervous system, the vehicle inside is a clone of the previous helicopter. All together quite a good wargaming purchase, could be sturdier and has some stability issues with the tail being heavier than the front, but that can be expected at this price and is quite easy to fix with a piece of lead.

I got the above kit second hand still in sprue for less than 2 Euros. Still undecided on what will be its use.

Attack helicopter camouflage

Thinking about interesting camouflage patterns for the AH-1G and military vehicles in general. The above are modern South African attack helicopters. I am sure 1:72 kits will look splendid in this camouflage...

New year, new purchases

Thanks to my new IT job I am able to buy more toys now like the helicopters shown in this post.

I still haven't decided which faction will receive them but the uses for a Mil Mi-2 transport can range from a luxury VIP aerial limo to airmobile special forces transport... The AH-1G quite possibly will be employed alongside the Mi-2 as its armed escort. Decisions, decisions...