Mighty Mite and Recoiless Gun for my Marines

 After spending most of my time concentrating on figures I finally added a couple of larger pieces. The Mighty Mite and Recoiless Gun for my Marines, they don't all have to walk and get the opportunity to bring up some extra fire power. They are more gorgeous looking models from Empress Miniatures, most of the vehicles I have are plastic or resin with only a few metal parts. So it was a learning curve with all metal parts for the two new pieces that I've added, going forward hopefully I will be able to make a better job of any that cross my paint table in the future. 

   So on to the models   

                                                          The Mighty Mite 

The vehicle comes with a trailer, stowage and 3 crew members. The trailer is about the only drawback, the Mighty Mite and the Jeep only come with the trailer has a set. Hopefully going forward they will come without the trailer, it would certainly encourage me to purchase a few more. The stowage features camo netting, fuel cans, tarps other bits and pieces, but I reckon the best one is the radio! I had completely forgotten about it until writing this, I will get it painted and added at somepoint. So quick review of the parts, the body, seats and axels are all cast in one piece, you get 5 wheels, separate windscreen, and separate tailgate, and steering wheel. The 3 crew are nice figures as always, minimal flash and clean up required. The guy in the back with the walkie talkie will be a great addition when I decide to where I'm going to use him. 

My Mighty Mite in all its glory

The colour of Marine vehicles were a different colour from the army's equipment so I decided to go for a colour that would stand out as different. I went for reflective green, highlight with the valejo colour I use for DAK tunics. I've had it so long I can't remember what it's called and to make matters worse the name as rubbed off completely. It may not be historically correct but it's good enough for me. I used my usual dry brush to highlight and then picked out separate details. The grimy rust I think sits nicely on the green and the mud which is purely just paint adds enough rather then going OTT with mud! It's taken a while to finish it up but it's lead me to my next model.

The Recoiless Gun

I absolutely love this model, the fact that when you buy it you also get the mule with a mounted gun and a version that stands alone with crew. Once again you get stowage with it and spare shells, the stowage is once again fuel cans, camo nets, tarps and other bits and pieces! Have I mentioned I absolutely love this model! Looking at the photo below I hoping you can see why. 

The Mule 

Pictured below the full set, the Mule with mounted gun and the gun deployed ready to supply a bit more punch! Once again the mule is WIP and all metal, learning curve part 2. I will post pictures once it's finished, but back to the kit. The gun and stand are very clean flash wise, I pinned the gun to the stand although I don't think I needed to. Like I said I have limited experience with all metal kits so I was maybe a tad cautious. Some of the equipment had quite rough mould lines in this set, which is completely different to the stowage that came with the Mighty Mite. It may be a one off but it seems out of character from Empress so I may just of been unlucky with this one. The Mule I will cover once I've finished it up and it's ready to be seen by the world. The two crew men are as always up to scratch, one carrying a shell and the other kneeling covering his ears. After seeing one of these guns in a documentary its a case of user beware, you certainly wouldn’t want to be stood in the wrong place when it was being fired. 

 

The Gun

I'm hoping I've pretty much covered every angle of the gun and crew, I think the amount of photos may just give away my fondness for the model. The size of the base gave me a chance to add a bit more detail and make it a bit more of a centre piece. The empty shells hopefully give the impression the guns giving valuable support, the detailing on the shells is really good and once again speaks volumes about Empress and the quality it produces. 

So that's about it for another post, my collection shows no sign of slowing down or where it will stop. So keep looking and I will keep posting.

Takecare and all the very best 

         Cheers Russ 

Vietnamese civilians

 My latest round of recruits adds a bit of local flavour to my collection, the scenery part things is slowly going on in the background so these will add that bit more realism to that side of things. There is also the fact the enemy blended into the surroundings and were quick to pick up arms to defend themselves and their villages. Empress released villagers for the Vietnam War in both civilian and combatant versions. So the locals can arm themselves and rise up and fight! So onto the figures 

                                     peaceful civilians going about their everyday business 

Once again Paul Hicks as captured these perfectly, clean castings with little flash to clean up and prep. Lovely poses and nice detail, they all look natural and certainly capture the flavour of Vietnam. 

These guys and gals are the armed versions of the above figures. The weapons are varied and as you would expect some soviet weapons mixed in. The figures are basically the same figure but this time armed, they look the part! Local militia or just people out to defend what they have, either way they are beautiful little sculpts. 

The painted versions 

This guys dumped his burden and is running to defend moma San.

I decided to have some fun with the base with this one, the lady in question is preparing her vegetable patch, once again more then willing to up a gun and fight. 

One minute your walking down the street in your village and the next minute your arming yourself.

Poppa San ready to fight and die!

Group shots, in my humble opinion I think I captured the look pretty well.

I finished up a fifth figure which belonged to another pack so here she is 

 Well this brings my post for this time to a close, absolutely love these figures, I'm not sure how many figures I've added to my collection but these definitely won't be the last. 

So thanks for looking, stay safe and I will post again soon 

Cheers for now Russ 

 

 

Incoming NAM!

 I've not updated my blog in a while so I have quite a few figures to share, I'm really enjoying myself with these figures it's mainly getting the time. Life does so get in the way at times! Real life that is. So my NAM collection is still growing and I really can't see that changing anytime soon. So on to the figures 

                                                            I AM THE LAW

Apologies if you were expecting a Judge but it's not that kind of law 

This guys come in various stages of carrying and firing so pretty much cover all the poses you need. As always nice clean castings and super detail just waiting to be painted. Once again Paul Hicks as done a beautiful job on these guys. I'm no expert on uniforms and equipment but these guys look spot on.

The helmet graffiti is fun to do although my rendition of Mickey Mouse looks a tad evil, but afterall he is in a war zone. Its crazy to think Vietnam was raging on when I was born, its a conflict that has always resinated with me. All wars are terrible and some even pointless but Vietnam seems one of the most brutal and pointless I can think of, although WW1 comes under the same heading in my book.

GNY SGT AND PRIVATE PYLE 

These two guys need no real introduce, classic characters from a classic film. These guys never got to Nam but all the same it would be unfair not to add them to my collection. Once again I can't fault the figures, private Pyles warface is there to see in all its glory. Gny looks to be barking orders or his he still on private Pyles case, either way Pyle looks ready to let the lead fly. 

Once again the figures are clean little castings, very little clean up required. The figures only need the bipod for the M60/pig glueing on so the prep is minimal. The detail is fantastic even down to the studs on the water bottle case. There doesn't seem to be any detail on these guys that's been fudged, I know I sound biased but this range just ticks all the boxes. I've probably mentioned it before but I always wanted a Vietnam collection, platoon 20 was my first attempt very very many years ago. I couldnt paint 20mm so the project never got of the ground, then along came Empress Miniatures! The rest is history! 

 

THE 4 HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE 

These guys from left to right Lt Col. Cheatham, Dale Dye, Gny Sgt Frank Thomas, Captain Christmas.

This time real life Vietnam characters, Dale Dye is probably one of the most famous of these four. Carrying his camera and spare film cannisters tapped to the strap, this guy looks like what he is a true soldier a true marine. His service record and his film career are truly impressively.

Once again Paul Hicks as captured these guys perfectly, all one piece castings, mold lines are minimal and they were soon ready for paint. Lt Col Cheatham was a large built guy and it shows, he looks every bit a leader. Dale Dye looks every bit a soldier a true warrior. Gny Sgt Frank Thomas is carrying the Stars and Stripes inside his flak jacket and last but not least Captain Christmas. 

Well that brings another post to a close, hopefully if nothing else the figures speak for themselves. I'm hoping to get more figures added soon although life isn't in a cooperative mood on that one. 

So has always thanks for looking, feel free to comment and catch up with you all soon.

   Cheers for now Russ 

Marine Mortar Team

My next batch of figures for Vietnam are ready to go, it's more figures to reinforce my Marine force. Once again Empress Miniatures have hit the nail on the head with these guys, the pack contains two mortar crews. One firing and one on the move, I'm no expert on Vietnam but that's not stopping me. The figures are very nicely done, the crew moving is a nice addition one which I'm not sure many other manufacturers make. I could be wrong but it's not something I've seen. As always very little in way of prep required, the mortar us in two pieces, the front legs are separate and the mortar barrel and plate are a one piece casting with the figure holding it steady. Lovely piece of sculpting and the fit of the pieces is spot on. 

 

(picture curtesy of Empress Miniatures website)

The two crew moving the mortar look perfect posing from the photos I've seen, I imagine lugging this thing around was no fun especially in the heat and with all the other gear these guys carried. There are some really nice pieces of detailing gone into these guys I've already mentioned but the amount of gear these guys adorned their helmets with is a real eye opener. Toys, cigarette packs, gun oil, bug repellant, playing cards, tooth brushes and thats before we even get into the graffiti written on the helmet covers. The graffiti extended to flak jackets which I will admit I may of got carried away with but hey these guys probably had hours of boredom to fill! 

First up, team USA! It didn't stand out enough in just plain black so Red, White and Blue seemed appropriate. Maybe not the most realistic but a few images I found did include a bit of colour. 

The eyeballs on the helmet and a very basic flag on the flak jacket, once again fun to paint and a chance to add a bit more character. 

I've looked at other ranges but Empress seems to have ticked all the boxes for me. I'm no gamer and haven't been for a lot of years now, but painting and collecting is just as much fun if not more for me. I really can't fault this range so far! The collaboration between Paul Hicks and Empress Miniatures is a perfect match in my eyes. I'm hoping there will be more to come from them, I know what I like and these guys are definitely it. 

I keep saying I will finally get around to painting my ARVN but I'm still steadily working my way through my Marines. The VC/PAVN are slightly outnumbered which is something I will be rectifying in the near future! Well that about rounds up this post, thanks for taking the time to read my humble or just looking at the pictures. My blog will never set the hobby world ablaze but that's not what it's all about! So keep looking and I will keep posting. 

  Cheers Russ

   

Medic!!!!

 I've completed the next round of recruits, every army suffers casualties so there's got to be a medic or two to help patch the guys up and get them back into action. Once again it's Empress Miniatures and the beautiful sculpting that can only be at the hands of Paul Hicks. The guy is a legend and Empress miniatures is co-conspirator in trying to either get me divorced or make me bankrupt! Either way I'm not quite sure they realise what they have started! 

  So on to the figures, the pack contains 5 cracking little figures, all figures are cleaning cast and very little clean up was needed. The medics are certainly getting put through their paces, the first one is a double casting of a medic helping support a wounded figure walking. I'm always amazed how great these guys look even before a lick of paint, the single medic is wearing glasses and certainly looks the part.

The next figures are two separate pieces but they join up perfectly. I like the research which Mr Hicks as done and its always to come across the same images as the ones he has taken his inspiration from. The medic is a fantastic little sculpt but so is the poor guy who needs his expertise, they really do make for a stunning little piece

As you can tell I'm certainly a fan of this range and there are more to come, more then anything it's finding the time to get stuff done.

Unfortunately my painting skills are lacking in certain areas, but I have tried to add some helmet graffiti. Some of the helmets were works of art in their own rights, peace symbols, blood types and even names and symbols where added on the flak jackets. How anyone manages painting these things in smaller scales then 25mm is beyond me. 

So as always thanks for looking, please feel free to comment or just enjoy looking at the pictures, either way keep looking and I will keep posting. 

Cheers for now Russ 

The enemy ranks swell

 I've managed a few bits for my Vietnam collection, they are more figures from Empress miniatures. I really am loving painting these guys, this time it's a command section with a little bit more firepower. The sculpts are beautiful little figures, I know I'm getting boring repeating it but that's how I see it. The figures clean up nicely, a minor amount of work required to get them ready for paint. Then it's the fun bit colouring them in as I like to call it. Research is always a fun part of painting and I think I managed to get the camo Cape looking better this time, I know colours would vary in real life and wear and tear would have an effect on clothing so trying to replicate is have the fun. I'm no expert when it comes to most of the figures I paint but I like to think they are reasonable in their appearance. So on to the figures and hopefully I've at least managed to capture enough of the essence of The Nam.

I'm never keen on every figure looking identical in matching uniforms.

The MG is the first of the more heavy support for my squads.

The character and detail is just waiting to come to life.

As always the photos are average but hopefully good enough to get a good idea of how superbly these guys paint up.

So what's next? Only time will tell! I have some transports to paint and build so they may just be my next post.

   As always thanks for looking, all the very best Cheers for now Russ