Memoir '44 - US Paratroops

 My final batch of soldiers consists of a load of US paratroopers.  The figures are by ESCI, which I think look OK when painted.  That's me done as far as painting figures for this little project is concerned.  I will now focus on some of the terrain pieces to see if they could be improved.

US Airborne:

Memoir '44 - British Infantry.

 To represent the British tommy in the game it is a difficult choice.  The game manufacturers do produce some British infantry, but they are dressed for the desert campaigns.  Fortunately I had a couple of boxes of the latest Airfix production, which was their rather odd WW2 British Infantry set.  I had no other use for these figures and so decided to paint some of them for use in some of the scenarios.  Strangely some of the figures are wearing their gas mask container on their chests, B.E.F. style, yet they have PIATs, which are late war items.

Anyway, splashed some paint on them, based them and here they are:

The last group to be painted will be some US airborne troops.  I have a number of choices but in the end settled on ESCI figures, largely because I have plenty in my spares box!

British infantry advancing in Normandy:

Memoir '44, some British Paratroopers

 A couple of scenarios in Memoir '44 involve british Airborne forces and I just couldn't bring myself to use US infantry to represent Howard's and Frost's, so I decided to make up some airborne troops.  I used some spare Revell paratroopers, mounted on similar size bases to those used for the game miniatures.  

I enjoyed painting these and will equally enjoy deploying them on the game board:

"Hold until relieved, hold until relieved".

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.