28mm Rhodesian African Rifles

The Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) was one of the key government units of the Rhodesian Bush War. Operating in the Fireforce role, troops could be both heli- and par-borne in their actions against ZIPRA and ZANLA insurgents. 

Here are the first eight figures in what will eventually be set of thirteen, made up of three 'sticks' of four plus a European officer.

Those attending Salute in the UK will have the opportunity to pick up a set from the Eureka Miniatures stand where Nic Robson will have a limited number of sets available.

I would very much like to thank military and aviation artist John Wynne Hopkins for sharing both his photos and  his generous advice. John Wynne Hopkins served in 3 platoon (Simanjemanje), Acoy 1 RAR and was the last European Adjutant in the Battalion. The miniatures are much more accurate thanks to John's help.

You can also check out John's wargaming blog here.

These figures have been much anticipated so thanks everybody for your patience! 

Painted 28mm Red Army infantry and tank-crew.

With Eureka Miniatures head-honcho Nic Robson heading for Salute in the UK this month, I needed to dust off my brushes and get some painted figures ready for the Eureka stand. 

Here are some shots that I took in today's overcast Melbourne light, and a first look at some Soviet tank-crew wearing gas masks, inspired by a certain late '80s war film.

The Crew of the Beast

The figures mostly carry the shortened AK-74 which is confusingly called either the AK-74su or the AKS-74u, rather than the AKM rifles carried in the film.  I had already made an LPO-50 flamethrower for Eureka's chemical warfare Sovs, and since one is seen on screen this was a great opportunity to tool up one if the figures with this unlikely weapon. Also worth mentioning is that the Ti-67 tank carries a crew of four, rather than the five dudes who emerge from the tank in the movie.

Soviet Motorised Infantry paints used.

I have to confess that I have a total chaos system for painting figures - I mix up colours as I need them or to match reference, and often lose track of which colours have been used. I have in the last few years started to keep notes of colour combos to make life easier for myself. 

Vallejo colours:

KLMK suit base: 967 olive green + small amount 979 Ger. cam. dark green.

KLMK suit highlights: as above + white.

KLMK suit spots: 819 Iraqi sand.

Body armour + pouches: 879 green brown.

Belts + Y-straps base: 847 mahogany

Belts + Y-straps highlights: 818 red leather.

Helmet base: 979 Germ. cam dark green.

Helmet highlights: as above + 967 olive green.

Happy modelling and painting!

28mm Soviet Motorised Infantry

First set of mid-1980's Soviet soldiers have been completed and cast. These have been in the planning and pre-production stage for months and are the start of a major new range. 

These Motorised Infantry wear the lightweight 'KLMK' camouflage suit and are kitted out with 6B-2 body armour. I wanted a pretty uniform appearance for this group and all wear the old fashioned marching boots. The (then) latest Kalashnikov, the AK-74, is carried along with the RPD-74, SVD sniper rifle and RPG-7. A soldier with an underslung grenade-launcher equipped AK-74 is also represented. 

The Red Army belt in the above photo is a gift that a friend of Eureka Miniatures brought back from Afghanistan for me. 

It can be seen that many of the figures are depicted carrying their spare magazines in Chi-com style chest-rigs. The Soviets were never shy about adopting successful items from their enemies and by the mid/late period of the Soviet-Afghan war Soviet-produced chest-rigs, as well as those taken from the Afghan guerillas were being used. 

I have a very busy 2014 planned, both plugging some gaps in the existing Eureka Miniatures modern ranges and forging ahead with the Soviets.

More to come!

Long-Dormant Project: 1/72 Bristol Bulldog

    Last week I resurrected this Airfix 1/72 Bristol Bulldog model and it feels great to have done so!

The colours are of a Bristol Bulldog serving with Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War.

I originally intended to complete the model as a simple wargaming piece but things got out of hand when I added rigging and reproduced the spoked wheels using photo etched brass. The rigging is done with thin copper wire and while it certainly is a little too thick I'm happy with the result. I also added a ring of bolts to the front spinner.

The photo above shows how the model looked up until last week. I had a nice colour profile to work from showing a heavy green and brown mottling over a sandy base so I fired up the airbrush and finally tackled the camouflage. There is still some neatening up and re-touching to do, plus a small numeral to add to the tail. I need to dig out the transparent part for the windscreen and glue that on too.

Heck it's only a small scale biplane fighter and I've completed loads of projects while it sat unfinished. Nonetheless the Bulldog seemed symptomatic of my common modeller's habit of starting and not finishing projects, so when it began to interest me again I knew that I had to take steps.

Modern Afghan National Police in 28mm

These six Afghan National Police (ANP) are hot out of the mould and I couldn't resist getting some paint on them. They are actually pre-production castings and the final figures will have one or two slight differences, like an ammo backpack for the RPG guy.

Another six ANP wearing kevlar helmets, are on my workbench.

To say that the ANP aren't the most glamorous combatants in the world today is a massive understatement. Be that as it may, they are very much under (or un)represented in miniature, and so are an important addition to the range.

As usual, these 28mm figures will be available from Eureka Miniatures.