Kit Bash: British Airborne 6pdr Gun

Over the Xmas break I've been busy with my British airborne project and have continued on my quest to replace all metal models with plastic conversions. Next up on my list was a 6pdr gun with the aim of both converting the crew and making a scenic base for the gun. 

British airborne troops with a 6-pdr anti-tank gun in Hamminkeln, Germany 1945

I was inspired by the many 'diorama' bases I've seen online that people make for their artillery pieces and wanted to try my hand at something similar. I started with a 9.5cm X 8.0cm piece of plastic card as the foundation and positioned where I wanted the gun and crew to be on the base. I then built up some ground and dirt using milliput. I also left some spaces for bases of the crew so they can be removed as casualties easily while playing. 

WIP of the gun and base. This is my second time making a metal 6pdr and it was still an absolute dog of a model to put together.

Everything was then covered in PVA and sand and then spray painted and painted up just like the bases on my usual British airborne infantry. I was aiming for a look that was on the edge of a city. Maybe on the outskirts of Arnhem firing into the German counter attack? I made the shrubs from tissue paper soaked in PVA and water then covered them in flock.The ammo boxes and shells all came with the gun. 

The finished diorama base.

Next up was the crew. In bolt action 6pdr guns have a crew of three but nearly every photo I've seen on them has at least 4 people working around the gun so not sure what is correct. The conversions were extremely simple and I think they have effectively represent a gun crew.

The gunner

First up was the gunner. This was a simple conversion that only used British airborne parts. The right arm is the arm holding the Sten gun with the gun clipped off and the left arm is direct from the airborne sprue. I imagine he is looking down the sight and ready to fire.

 

The loader

The loader was another simple conversion. All British airborne parts with the shell taken from the Rubicon Pak40 plastic kit (a dreamy kit compared to the metal warlord one!). The right hand is actually a left hand but you can't really tell when its all on the table haha!

The spotter

Finally is the spotter. This model was made from British airborne parts and Waffen SS bits. The left arm is from the SS sprue and the right hand holding binoculars is from the German Grenadier sprue. I imagine he is about to bring down his arm and yell "FIRE!".

Here is the final product all together:

Overall I'm very happy with how it all turned out. I think I've captured a dynamic scene of the crew frantically loading the gun while under attack. I was a little dubious about the diorama bases as while they look great, they aren't the best for gameplay and moving pieces around terrain. I decided with it anyway as models are on the display case 99% of the time and the gaming table 1% so net worth it in the end.

Looking forward to another year of Bolt Action and hobby fun!

Singing off,

Chewie

 

 

Kit bash: British Airborne Mortar Team

Continuing on with my British Airborne project I have completed a medium mortar team including spotter with all the crew replaced with kit-bashed plastic kit. As mentioned in my Panzerschreck post I don't like warlords metals and the fact that they are slightly off scale to their plastics has always bugged me.

Real British Airborne with 3" mortar (from http://www.justordinarymen.org.uk)

 

Inspired by other wargamers who have done similar things (mainly the excellent work from Ste) I set about making my crew from a series of British Airborne and SS plastic bits. The mortar is the metal mortar which comes with the British airborne army box. The results of the crew are below:

My Bolt action British Airborne with 3" mortar.

 

Each crew member was built as follows:

The yelling loader guy was made from British airborne parts and is holding a PIAT shell in his left hand (I know not historically accurate but it gets the job done). His right arm is an SS hand which was holding a Kar98 which I've just clipped out. I imagine he is about to yell out "Fire in the hole!"

The map reader is another simple enough arm swap. The left hand holding the map is from the SS box and was an easy fit onto the airborne body. I tried to make him look focused on the map and he is preparing to write some note on there.

Next up is the ammo box loader guy. This was a simple conversion with a polish airborne head and British Airborne arms. The left hand was clipped from the hand holding the sten magazine and put onto an extended arm. The ammo box is from the US airborne sprue and the 'mortar' shells are spare PIAT shells from the airborne sprues. I like to imagine he's fiddling with the traversing knob or perhaps even the elevating crank!

Finally we have the spotter who had a simple handswap to be holding the binoculars and a pointing hand from the SS sprue. He also has the map case and pistol from the SS sprue. I suppose this guy could also double as an air/artillery observer.

All in all I think they capture the look and feel of a mortar team in action and these few simple conversions have given me a dynamic and unique team in plastic which I really prefer. This was a fun little project and my next one will be to make a plastic gun team for the 6pdr Anti-tank team!

Signing out,

Chewie

Battle report: The battle of Oosterdam

We recently had an awesome game of bolt action where I debuted my British Airborne Army which is currently a WIP. We played the scenario 'Supply Drop' which I got from TabletopCP on youtube. The rules are as follows: At the beginning of turn 4 a total of 3 supply drop objectives will land on the board in a random location determined by a scatter dice. The first supply drops in the centre of the board, and the other two are 6" +3D6" away from it in opposite directions. Holding an objective at the end of the game awards 3 victory points and 1 victory point is gained for each enemy unit totally destroyed. 

The town of Oosterdam

September 1944 - A rag tag paratroop from the British 1st Airborne Division have found themselves massively off course and landed in the small Dutch town of Oosterdam. Luckily the Luftwaffe units defending the village were easily startled and retreated giving the British troops time to regroup and organise. Hopelessly outnumbered and in disarray 2nd Lieutenant Phil Cromwell has requested a supply drop directly onto the town to give his men the much needed food, water and ammunition to hold back the Germans until friendly troops can arrive. Just as luck would have it, the ruthless SS-Untersturmführer Von Schnitz had been on leave in the area and upon hearing of the British airborne assault tasked himself with destroying the Brits before they can receive their support from the incoming armored divisions.

The paras advance under the cover of the Jeeps MG.

Sergeant Harris placed the MP40 down on the banks and filled his canteen from the river coursing through the town. He wished he hadn't lost his rifle on the jump but the German machine pistol would have to do until those supplies came. Suddenly the peaceful drink break was interrupted by the rumble of tracks and engine from the Western side of town. Harris saw a German Hanomag filled with SS men advancing across the fields and towards the bridge in the centre of town. "BRING UP THE PIAT!" he yelled to his men who were taking cover in the nearby buildings. "The Germans are attacking!" 

Pvt Evans gets the PIAT into position.

SS-Untersturmführer Von Schnitz watched the British airborne scramble to action and to take up their positions through his binoculars. He ordered the Sdkfz 251 to advance while his sniper, MG42 team and Luftwaffe supporting units ran across the fields towards the cover of the towns buildings. Machine gun fire from the airborne jeep peppered the German infantry pinning them in the open. The paratroopers advanced under the cover of the jeeps fire and made their way for the very same buildings the Germans had in their sights.

Pvt Evans wasted no time in getting the PIAT into position to destroy the Hanomag before the SS troops could dismount. He stuck to the edge of the bombed out buildings to avoid the machine gun fire and advanced slowly and cautiously. A German sniper shot rang out and clanged off the bonnet of the jeep causing the driver to go down and startling the crew. Small arms fire between the Luftwaffe squads and the Paras resulted in casualties on both sides and a well placed Panzershreck shell blasted the building Sergeant Harris was now sheltering in, showering the old sergeant in plaster and dust.

SS troops taking cover in the rubble.

Suddenly the Sdkfz 251 streamed forward firing its machine gun into the paratrooper squads amongst the ruins. Stg44 fire crackled as a torrent of bullets tore through the brickwork and caused many casualties to the paratroopers despite them hitting the deck. The Bren gun in a neighboring squad returned the favor and peppered the SS fanatics, killing their SS-Unterscharführer as they took cover amongst the ruble. Following this, a well place sniper shot made sure the SS soldiers kept their heads down.  Meanwhile on the opposite banks of the river, the Luftwaffe squads entered the buildings by the road and began to fire at Cromwell and his paratroopers as they crossed the field.

The paras capture the building from the Germans

As the battle raged on, none of the soldiers heard the supply plane flying overhead until the cargo canisters landed right before them with a hard thud. One supply drop landed amongst the British men, another next to the German sniper team taking cover in a bombed out apartment and the final one landed square in the centre of the bridge over the river. Lieutenant Cromwell knew this was the moment for action and the battle would be lost if his men did not secure those supplies. With a mighty cry of "Wooahh Mohammad!" he charged into the nearest building Sten gun blazing. His men cried out with him and charged into the neighboring building and a bloody melee ensued. Cromwell and his adjutant took down two Germans before the young Lieutenant was fatally struck with a sharpened entrenchment tool. The paratroopers in the building next door, however, were successful in capturing the building and killed every last Luftwaffe soldier within right before the eyes of Von Schnitz!

Evans firing his PIAT.

Inspired by the war cry of his comrades, Pvt Evans rushed forwards towards the Hanomag and readied his PIAT. With a clink the large spring sprung and launched a shell directly through the frontal armor of the halftrack. The shell rattled the crew within and showered them with a spray of dust and shrapnel. The SS Fanatics advanced into the crater Evans and his loader were hiding in and executed the men with Stg44 fire. In swift vengeance a nearby paratrooper squad charged into the same crater and killed the SS fanatics in a brutal combat that left the British with many casualties.

The supplies are secured!

 

 The sudden surge and terrifying cries of the British Airborne began to take its toll on the Luftwaffe soldiers, they wanted this war to end and weren't ready to die for an SS Untersturmführer. The soldiers pulled back and fired wildly into the buildings hiding the British paratroopers. Despite being heavily pinned and unable to move the stubborn paratroopers held on and did not flee their position. At this critical moment Sergent Evans rallied his men and charged forward onto the bridge to capture the vital supply drop. SS-Untersturmführer Von Schnitz surveyed the field and realized he had no choice but to pull his men back  - with a final Seig Heil he retreated from Oosterdam to wait for reinforcements. He only hoped that his reinforcements would arrive before the British armor!

A convincing British victory with 9 points to 5 and it was an absolute treat to get the new army on the table. The scenario was a great one and a change in the position of the supply drops could have easily swung the result of the game either way as the British right flank (where the supplies ended up dropping) was well reinforced compared to the left. As always it was awesome to play some bolt action and I'm already looking forward to our next game!

Signing out,

Chewie