Britannia LCA

A recent addition to the fleet, Britannia partly sunk LCA

Raventhorpe British Commandos

After far too long a break from posting here, here are photographs of a Battalion Pack of Commandos, based for Rapid Fire:

Raventhorpe British Paratroopers

Inspired by the new RapidFire! Normandy Battlegroups and Normandy Battlegames books, as well as the earlier D-Day scenario book, I have focused since the Spring on assembling a 250 point RF Battlegroups 6th Airborne force, while also keeping an eye of having the Airborne forces for Scenario 8 in the D-Day book.

To this end, here are two of the Battlegroups battalions - smaller than the "traditional" organization, with 2 fewer troops per company and a smaller HQ company.

They are photographed in a home-made Normandy farm courtyard:

While not part of the Battlegroups battalion, here are a 2" mortar team and a Forward Observer team:

British Engineers

Some recent additions - from the Britannia British 1943-45 range:

British Paratroopers - Normandy

Way too long between postings; somehow the time got away from me.  Now back with lots to post over the next while.

I finally started assembling Britsh paratroopers, starting with a Britannia order, followed by a Raventhorpe order, with another Britannia order to follow.

First up, the initial Britannia order.

Pathfinders.  The basic 6 figure set plus a command figure from the HQ set, I still need a PIAT armed figure to complete an 8 figure company:

Support company plus some extras:

Left to right, back row: 2" mortar, 3" mortar, FO, reconn / FO Jeep

Front row: Vickers MMG and canister set

Anti Tank Support

Airborne 6pdrs and Jeeps

17 pdr and crew

Brigade HQ 

Based for inside building or outside

HQ stands with Jeeps

Italeri Tiger I

I picked up a box of the easy to assemble war gamer friendly Italeri Tiger I, with two tanks per box. While I like the completed model, box art showed each tank with zimmerit applied; unfortunately the actual model inside does not have this mid-late war feature added. Aside from this, I am pleased with the kit, an easy and inexpensive way to add to my Tiger I complement.   While lacking the detail of other manufacturer's kits, they painted up nicely. Note added track and the pair of helmets hanging off one of the turrets were added and are not part of the Italeri kit.

21st Panzer Division Normandy French Half-Tracks

I haven't posted in far too long, and have not enjoyed the time to do much painting.   Nonetheless, I have managed to complete some AFV's for Normandy.

The vehicles are a mix of Ready to Roll and Raventhorpe, with Britannia crews; you'll see the SPW Flak20mm still requires a gun crew to be added.

 

RTR SPW P107 half tracks, the middle vehicle armed with a PaK 37mm anti tank gun.

Raventhorpe SPW P107 PaK 40 (left) and Somua Flak 20mm (right)

Raventhorpe Somua rocket launcher half track

Churchill Crocodiles

Completed the Britannia Churchill Crocodile tanks - crews are Britannia, with the usual mix of stowage. I'll need to purchase a few more Crew figures to fill the empty hatches.    Not sure there would be a Rapid Fire scenario that called for four Croc's at the same time so I have varied their basing, including an attempt to simulate a Churchill crashing through a Normandy wheat field on its way to take out a German bunker...sounds like the background for a future scenario!

British Armour - Britannia Churchill Tanks

My final posting today - Five Britannia Churchill tanks, three armed with the 75mm, one with a 6pdr and a Churchill Armoured Recovery Vehicle.  

Crew members are all from Britannia; added track protection is from the PSC Churchill kit (on the 6pdr turret) and spare Tiger track (see one of the 75mm armed models).  

Crew in the recovery vehicle is made up from the Britannia ARV Crew (figure sitting with beret and map), 25pdr Crew (figure sitting with helmet) and British command sets (figure standing inside ARV).

British Armour - PSC Churchill

While the majority of my Churchill kits are Britannia, with the odd Airfix added for good measure, I also have 4 PSC Churchill tanks.  The kit goes together very well, and they complement my Valiant British infantry, which is why I purchased them in the first place.   However, they are noticeably larger than any of my other Churchill models.   

Here are two PSC Churchill IV's, each with the 75mm gun - besides addition of stowage the only modification was the removal of the front mud guards (quite easy to do):

British Armour - Stuarts

The Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) Stuart kit is a delight to assemble and paint.  Since you get three is a box, I made one a "turretless" version.  Crew is PSC or Britannia and the usual suspects when it comes to stowage:

British Armour - Cromwell

It's been a while since I've had the chance to post, so today I'm making up for lost time with pictures of what I have completed recently.  

First up, three Britannia Cromwell tanks, including a close-support version with a 95mm gun.
Crews are Britannia, with the usual mix of stowage from Sgts Mess, RAFM, and Britannia:

Churchill Crocodiles

Assembled three Britannia Churchill Crocodile flame thrower tanks, the last of my resin kit backlog. Crew are also Britannia, while vehicle stowage is a combination of Sgts Mess, RAFM, and Britannia.  The weather has turned and I doubt I'll get a chance to prime these before Spring!  

Churchills and Cromwells

I finally assembled some Britannia kits I picked up second hand; they are the "older" versions of the models available today as the tracks came as separate metal castings, the Churchill IV's at least, are now made with an all resin hull and track assembly.  

Group shot of all 8 tanks, assembled, stowage added, and ready to be primed.  Stowage is from Sgts Mess, Britannia, and RAFM.  Crew figures Britannia, with others to be added after painting:

Britannia Churchill IV's with 75mm main gun armament:

Britannia Churchill Armoured Recovery Vehicle (left) and another Churchill IV, this time armed with a 6pdr in the turret.   Add track is from the PSC Churchill kit:

Britannia Cromwell close-support tank with 95mm gun and two 75mm armed Cromwells: