New Progress - Terrain & Miniatures

As I mentioned before I've been working away on things and have had my painters also keeping busy.  Posting a mix of things here from new terrain to new miniatures.

First up, 28mm shipping containers.  I had six of the plastic AT-43 shipping containers laying about in my collection along with five of the new plastic shipping containers from Reaper Miniatures.  I downloaded a bunch of logos and used my decal sheets to print off custom decals for this project.  I wanted them to look properly weathered for use in Iraq or Afghanistan (or even Europe or elsewhere).  I think they came out great.  I order the clear decal sheets (for a laserjet printer) from Amazon (link).  This is the same approach I used for making the modern markings for my vehicles.  With the ribbing in the side of the containers you need to use a 50/50 mix vinegar and water to soften up the decals before applying.

I also did up some boxes of produce that I've had for a while from Ainsty Castings.  I can use these for all sorts of periods from French & Indian War, WW2 and modern.

AT-43 shipping containers repainted for modern.

AT-43 shipping containers repainted for modern.

Reaper Miniatures plastic storage containers.
$8.29 each - not a bad deal.
(link)

Boxes of produce from Ainsty Castings.

I've not forgotten about my WW2 Omaha Beach project at all and there is progress on that front.  The beach landing scene would not be complete without casualties.  Therefore, that is what I have here - 40 x US infantry casualties that can show the terrible losses suffered by those first waves of brave troops.

US Casualties from West Wind Productions
(Berlin or Bust range:  link)

In general I'd like to add British and German casualties to my collection (in smaller numbers, probably do 15 or so for each).  Placing casualties on the table during a game adds another layer to the visual depth of the game.

Next up is some new modern stuff.  Iraqi civilians and more insurgents.  I also have a British officer now (using two models on a base for officers, one for a squad leader).

Painted By:  Steve Dake

28mm Iraqi Civilians from Eureka Miniatures

28mm Iraqi Civilians from Eureka Miniatures

Insurgent Leader from Spectre Miniatures

Insurgent Cell from Empress Miniatures
(LMG is from Spectre Miniatures)

Insurgent Cell from Empress Miniatures

British Officer

Last but not least in my Cobra helicopter.  I've actually finished making the bases for all three of my helicopters (Apache, Blackhawk and the Cobra).  When I was young and played modern micro armour, we would use small round plastic circles for the rotor blades of the helicopters.  Something about an airborne helicopter with a static set of rotor blades just bugs me so I thought I would apply that same principle to 28mm.  I went down to Tap Plastics here in Fremont and had them cut me three 12" diameter circles of clear plastic 1/8" sheet (the thinnest they had).  I also had three 2.5" diameter circles cut for the rear blades.  I then used magnets to attach both the main and rear rotor blades to the helicopter - and I kept the blades I cut off - that way I can remove the plastic circles, put the helicopter of the ground as a "crashed" terrain element - using the cut blades as scatter terrain for the downed helicopter.  Photographing the result was a bit tough but you can see it below.

1/48th scale Cobra attack helicopter
with 1/8" plastic rotor blades attached by magnets.

1/48th scale Cobra attack helicopter
with 1/8" plastic rotor blades attached by magnets.

That's it for today -- I have some excellent stuff arriving in the post today (desert mat, snow mat and a large order from Crescent Root ... hooray!).  I'll be posting some more pictures of that stuff over the weekend.