Russia Resurgent Project Update #1

Hello everyone!

My apologies for the lack of posts recently.  We hit the holidays here and I've been busy with family (camping and such).  Rest assured though, progress has been made at a steady pace.  So, what have I managed to get done?

Well, I order lots of stuff, and most of it has arrived.

Modern Russians

I've managed to get all the vehicles assembled as pictured below.  They are just about to start getting painted.  12 vehicles in all, 3 x T-90, 3 x T-80, 3 x BMP-3, 1 x BTR 80, 1 x BTR80A, and 1 x ZSU-23-4 Shilka.  Lots of firepower here!

Next up in my Russian infantry platoon with support.  I sent these figures off to the most excellent Steve Dake and he is already finished painting them ... they should be shipping back to me very soon for basing.  He sent me a couple of preview pictures ... not the best quality pictures but it gives you the general idea.

So the Russians are coming along nicely.  The vehicles will be done in about 3-4 weeks depending on how timing works out.  I'll get the Russians based and take proper pictures when I get them done up.  I'll be in Las Vegas for work next week, so it will likely be the week after next that I get them done.

I've also started putting together my Hind ... :-)

Modern French

I ordered 1:48 scale kits from Gaso.Line (from www.quarter-kit.com).  I took a risk here as there are "large" and "regular" scale 1:48 kits.  The regular scale 1:48 kits mix well with the Empress 1:50 and HLBS 1:48 scale kits.  Large 1:48 are just too big ... border line 1:43 scale IMO.  I have mostly good news on this front (since French armour is very difficult to come buy, and Gaso.Line has just about everything for modern French you can imagine).  I had ordered:

1 x Leclerc MBT
1 x ERC 90 Sagaie
1 x VBCI IFV
1 x VAB (specifically GAS50203K)
1 x AMX 10 RC Giat

The Leclerc, ERC 90 Sagaie, VAB, and AMX 10 RC Giat all worked great with the Empress Miniatures vehicles (pictures below with comparison).  Only the VBCI was out of whack ... and I mean waaay out of whack ... it was larger than teh Leclerc MBT (the MBT is 9.7m long whereas the VBCI is about 7.5m long ... and the VBCI kit is longer and larger than the MBT ... something is off there with the kit ... it says 1:48 but is easily 1:43).

Left to right:
VAB, ERC 90, AMX 10, Leclerc MBT

So great news as I'll use the VAB for my French infantry transports/IFVs.  I order 2 additiona VABs and 1 x command VAB, along with another AMX 10 and Leclerc MBT ... 9 vehicles in all will fill out the French armour.

Here are some comparison pictures with an Empress Leopard 2A6 and my WIP Canadian LAV III conversion ... I reverse the position of the vehicles so you can see how the depth of the photo changes the perceived scale ...

My order from Eureka Miniatures with my modern French infantry showed up today and they did a great job getting me all my requested miniatures.  I have the following:

1 x Officer
1 x Medic
1 x Sniper team
2 x Milan ATGM teams
3 x Infantry sections (2 x 3 man teams each)

Pictured below ... I need to clean them and ship them off to Steve Dake for painting.

French infantry platoon
with support elements
from Eureka Miniatures.

So now I'm just waiting for the remaining armour that I've ordered from France and then I'll have everything I need for my French force.  I expect to be playing my first game of Russians versus French by mid-August.

Modern Canadians

I've started pulling together what I need for the Canadians.  I'm still waiting for the infantry packs to be released by Full Battle Rattle miniatures.  I have what I need to do my LAV III and Bison conversions.  The base of my LAV III conversion is the Empress Stryker body with the LAV 25 turret.  For the Bison I'm using the LAV 25 body and the MG turret from the Stryker.

I got the basic assembly of one of the LAV III's done ... the turret is just sitting on top of the hull at the moment ... still a lot of work to do but the basic premise is there ...

WIP LAV III

WIP LAV III

I've also assembled 2 of the 3 Leopard 2A6 tanks I'll be using for the force ... here is one pictured below ...

I'll be converting 3 Bisons total ... 1 command and 2 APC's that will carry support teams and such.

So there you have it ... forward progress and gaming in sight!