Memoir '44 Refresh, the Allies

 Here are the Allies, or in my case the US forces.  I plan to have British infantry, as well as US and British paratroopers.

Again the figures are hard plastic and the detail is nicely defined:

I have painted my models in a similar way to the Germans, the Sherman tanks:

US Infantry:

And some much improved US artillery, 105mm howitzers:

I am now working on some British airborne troops.

Memoir 44 Refresh

 Over the last week or so, I have been working through the playing pieces that come with the updated version of Memoir '44.  I had this game but passed it on a couple of years ago, but as circumstances have changed (I am now virtually a full time carer) and my visits to the upstairs war room are reduced, I have been looking for games that can be played on the dining room table.  Memoir '44 fits the bill.

The new version has some better looking models, which are just begging to be painted, German tanks and artillery:

I have finished painting the Germans and they create quite a force.  The tanks are Panzer IVs:

The guns, I think, are 10.5cm Field Howitzer 18s:

And the infantry are all brandishing what looks like the MP40:

I have almost finished the Allies (Americans) and will post some pictures of them soon.

Blitzkrieg Commander

 Bob Black and I have been dabbling in Blitzkrieg Commander, spurred on by the release of Victrix 12mm WW2 figures.  We both bought a box of the company's starter sets, which has a handful of tanks and some infantry.  To get the ball rolling I bought some Normandy style houses:

I had a lot of fun painting and basing these, using a variety of paint sample pots from my local DIY store.  Some cardboard bases, cardboard walls and flock hedges and the results are quite nice:

I then set about painting the tiny tanks and figures, again a lot of fun.  Now, I am embarrassed to say that in the process I found some metal figures from Minifigs that I bought years ago and never got around to using, so I painted these first.  I put 10 figures on a base representing either a platoon or company, depending upon the scenario.  The tanks are all on single bases.  Here are some sample shots:

Panzer IVs

British Infantry and Cromwell tanks:

British Shermans

I still have some support weapons to paint and plenty of spare infantry.  I am looking forward to Bob coming over when we can give the rules a go.

Norman's WW1 Collection

 Norman Paterson has shared some more images of his extensive and beautiful collection of military figures.  This time it is the First World War, with a mix of french, German and British figures set up in the most dramatic and striking poses.  

The figures are a mix of Britains and King and Country castings. Although not historically accurate given the mix of figures, the display is quite stunning.

The Great Plastics Revival - More British

 Some touching up and rebasing sees some Italeri Highlanders (always thought that these figures looked a bit odd) and another ESCI Royal Horse Artillery gun and crew. These will now join the growing British plastic army:

The Great Plastics Revival - Airfix Prussian Landwehr

Another couple of battalions roll off the production line.  On this occasion it is a pair of Airfix Prussian infantry.  The figures, painted as East Prussians, were painted from scratch after they had spent a couple of weeks bathing in Dettol to remove the old paint.

I am quite pleased with the results and tempted to paint another two units:

The Great Plastic Revival - Prussian Cavalry

 This is the third batch of Prussians to be completed, in this case the cavalry.  When I went through the boxes there were lots of cavalry in odd colours, mainly white and gree.  I think they were supposed to be part of the Austrian army, however, they did not look quite right.

On closer inspection I worked out that, apart from some Revell black hussars and early war Revell Cuirassiers, the bulk were in fact ESCI/Italeri British Scots Greys wearing oilskin shako covers. I thought that with a dab of paint they could be passed off as Prussian dragoons.  Here is the result:

From a couple of feet away they don't look to out of place.

Next, I might tackle some of the Airfix Prussian Landwehr, but these are completely unpainted and will take a little longer.