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Tuesday 5 June 2018

Army Reforms - Afrika Korps

I enjoyed my Arnhem game very much, which promted me to dig out some of my old plastic WW2 figures. I thought I could reorganise them to be used in future Memoir '44 engagements.  The first figures that I stumbled across were my WW2 desert forces and these old Airfix Germans, along with some Roco Minitanks make up a useful 1942 force:
There are two infantry groups with supporting machine guns, light anti tanks guns and engineers:
Armour consists of some Mark 3 tanks:
Some Mark 4s:
An anti aircraft unit:
Assault gun:
And artillery:
The same box has some Airfix 8th Army figures that will allow a similar force to be generated. Some desert battles coming up, I think.







14 comments:

  1. Nice to see the first edition Airfix Afrika Korps and "Rommel" directing the artillery.

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    1. I have many Rommels and they make rather good over weight senior officers - perhaps I should paint one as the great man!

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  2. Brilliant! I loved the original 8th Army (my first Airfix figures in 1970) and DAK. They were chunky and easy to convert, as the great John Sanders showed. The later figures were probably better sculpts but too spindly for constant play.

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    1. I agree, despite the simplistic style, they are the right size and look good when painted. They go well with the Roco vehicles as well.

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  3. Great stuff! I've just done a desert Memoir 44 scenario with my 6mm toys, but the old Roco/Airfix combo looks so much better.

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    1. I am thinking of doing a Tobruk breakout scenario, which involed 3 or 4 battalions and a regiment of tanks. Just a few more figures to base though.

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  4. I still have my old 8th army and DAK in boxes somewhere. Good to see that your collection is going to see some action.

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    1. I found that a few had crumbled to dust, which is a bit of a worry, so best use them before they fall apart. Old soldiers fading away and all that.................

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  5. Lovely toys Bob...

    They bring back memories of reading John Sanders articles in Airfix Magazine.

    All the best. Aly

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    1. I have the Aifix guide to the 8th Army, written by Sanders. I agree his conversions were excellent.

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  6. What a fine-looking formation! You make those early Airfix guys look good. Let's see - I have a few of them kicking around somewhere... Most of my Airfix Desert War are 2nd generation Airfix and Matchbox, but some of the earlier figures are great for conversions (especially the bren gunner into a Boys AT Rifleman). The early Vickers I reckon make the fine basis for Soviet Maksim MMGs.

    I used to have John Sandars's Airfix Guise to the 8th Army. I sold it. What a klutz I am - what am I?

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  7. I could never be without my old Airfix guides - great little books. I have had a go at some convesions and will show pictures in my next post.

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