405th Murica: Arms: Other

     Ugh. This constant rain has really threw me off. Between the occasional power glitch and illness, it's been rough and I have not really posted when I should.

     This is the final post for the 405th related to arms. Tomorrow's post will be about the Albion Grenadier Guards.

 http://anvilindustry.co.uk/regiments-hands
     These are in question right now. It depends on the weapons and how they interact with the Anvil Industry arms.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/robotic-hands

     Now these are cool. These are perfect for veterans and commanders. Gotta keep those elites combat ready.

https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_18&products_id=277

     Again, these look mighty useful for veterans and spec ops. 

https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_18&products_id=262

     These look useful for variety reasons. The idea is too make no two troops look alike as much as possible.

https://puppetswar.eu/product.php?id_product=211
     Might need these arms for the "Termos" suit guys who will be my "Ogryns".
And that is that. Please forward all q's, suggestions to https://www.facebook.com/theofficerfactory/
And complains will go un-noticed. Nah. Just kidding.
     On another note, I will be delaying this project until September due to financial reasons. I am not happy about it but that's the way it is.

Albion Grenadier Guards: Matilda

     Sometime last year or two years I believe, it was announced that Victoria Miniatures was producing a sweet looking tank that was an alternative to the venerable Leman Russ and its looks was perfect four our WW2 themed British Empire force so I bought one.

     This is what you basically get. One tank and multiple gun options for both turret and hull. We always ran our Leman Russ tanks with hull-mounted Lascannons and thus I put one on.
     The kit also came with a Bren LMG (light machine-gun) that mounts on the turret and so we are gonna count that as a storm bolter.

     Here are some infantry standing next to the Matilda. As far as assembling the tank, it went together well. But for cleaning, it was a bit of a pain cleaning the road wheels out of flashing and there were some excess resin on one of the sides of the hull that required my dads belt sander to smoothen. Belt sanders people is an excellent tool to have.

     Picking through years of bits, I kitted out the tank. I even found an old Imperial Guard tank commander that with a wooden peg fits in there snugly.

     One of the neat things about this kit is that the sides here are removable because of their add-on sponson set that has a wide array of weapons. I made sure that the stowage is clear of these pieces. It has holes for magnets to fit in but it fits in there tight enough that it really does not require them.

https://victoriaminiatures.com/collections/vehicles-and-bits-1/products/matilda-tank-sponson-set
     As said, a wide array of weapons.

     And here is the Matilda all painted up. The cannons if you have not noticed by now are swappable and fit in there tightly. I must warn you though, be very careful doing this if you have the bren up on the turret. Same thing for turning it. It fits together TIGHTLY that I had to take a file and take the primer off on the turret mount so it could rotate some without forcing it.

      The rather bitter tank commander.

     For an unrelated project, I bought some Bolt Action British Armored Guards Divisions decals and with our force named the Albion Grenadier Guards, I figured why not use them on this tank.

     Here is a link to the US Warlord Games page for the decals used.
Bolt Action British Guards Armoured Division Decal Sheet

     And a link to where this beauty can be bought.

https://victoriaminiatures.com/collections/vehicles-and-bits-1/products/copy-of-matilda-boss-battle-tank

     As regulated, please submit all comments, complaints, suggestions and questions here or to HQ: The Officer Factory.

Murica 405th: Arms: Command

     We resume our post today with today's list being command arms I intend to use for the 405th.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/fatigue-arms-banner
     This is a neat one. Although I think a mechanized force will have little doings with a bugler and a standard banner but a standard banner has so many nifty buffs as the bugler maybe for decoration.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/Fatigue-Command-Arms
     Lots of nifty options in this set. Many of these can make even ordinary soldiers more interesting.

https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_18&products_id=115
     A bionic hand and one that looks like he is holding binoculars. Excellent.

https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_18&products_id=223
     For posing reasons.

https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_18&products_id=224
     Not only for posing reasons but already dedicated towards my first commander.
     As per protocol, have a comment, question, suggestion or wish to file a complaint, please do so here or at my facebook page, the Officer Factory.

Albion Grenadier Guards/ "Ogryns"

     Allow me to tell a short tale. Many years ago, seven years to be precise, me and my brother were being forced out of Warhammer 40000 due to expenses. The hobby became too expensive for us and we left but we never sold our collection due to the fact that we worked too hard and spent a lot of time and money on them so they sat in their trays; never to see the light of day again. Until a year ago.

     When 8th edition came out, there were so many promises, so many rave reviews that I felt compelled to return. On my birthday, June 21, I took the first step and bought the indexes. With that, we began to plot our return. We paint stripped all of our Imperial Guard minis in October and painting commenced and still continues but a bit on that later.

     During this process, we were finding WW2 British Ogryns but found none to our surprise so, being this is Warhammer 40000, why not go the power suit way. Easier said than done. But, we found something and ... BEHOLD!

     Our count-as Ogryns ladies and gents! Just how and what did I get? Allow me to explain.

https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=76_167_185&product_id=1149
     When we began our army, we bought these heads to take the roll of veterans in the command squads and thus we had lots of left overs.

     https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_84&product_id=190

     We had gotten these heads for our 2 Veteran Squads and wow, could they decimate my then Tau Fire Warriors whom I also need to strip and repaint when I am done with our LONG neglected Space Wolves which as of now may not be til the fall time.

https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=192_68_137&product_id=750

 https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=192_68_137&product_id=747

https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=192_68_137&product_id=748

     I had seen these and showed them to my brother and he said why not. So I had gotten them and wow. It took a bit of cleaning with the mold lines and bits of flashing but once that was done, I filled in where the heads go with a white modeling sculpting putty and rested the sarge's head in with a touch of super glue. When that was done, I painted his model with the Plastic Soldier Company Tank Warspray British.

https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=192_68_137&product_id=748

For those living in the USA.

https://www.michtoy.com/michtoy_search_product.php?&Vendor_ID=Plastic%20Soldier%20Company%20Ltd&Types=Paint,%20Glues%20and%20Finishing%20Supplies&action=listing&typeofSEARCH=powerSEARCH

     My brother found leftover bazooka fronts from the heavy weapons squads that we had purchased and they went on after I had painted the other 2 but a quick splash of Tamiya brush-on primer did the job.

      Now comes adding on their gear and such. Note; the Delta Bombs are count-as Frag Bombs.
   

      And some time later, done!

     As per protocol, if you have any questions, suggestions or comments, leave them here or on my facebook page The Officer Factory.

Murica 405th: Combat/ Support Arms

     Today's post shall resume our daily posts on parts I intend to use for this project. Today's theme are the combat and support arms.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/fatigue-arms-shooting?search=fatigue%20arms
     Looks like Anvil Industry will love me or hate me. Take your pick. Anyway, these arms are designed mostly for Anvil Industry's own line of weapons but I am confident that with some cutting, any weapon will fit.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/fatigue-arms-mixed
     These arms are mixed; obviously. They are various poses that shall add variety to the force, thus hopefully eliminating the "cookie cutter" effect that most systems suffer from.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/Regiments-Fatigue-Specialist-Weapon-Arms?search=fatigue%20arms

     These arms are for those special weapons and hot shots that we see with the Astra Militarum (Astra what? This is the guard, son). I hope that with good glue and probably a good knife to scrape the putty away will end up looking better than what we see here.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/fatigue-arms-heavy-weapon

     A platoon has attached to it a heavy weapons squad and I intend to mimic a modern infantry platoon for wargaming as much as possible. This includes HMGs and such.

http://anvilindustry.co.uk/fatigue-arm-mortar
     Also attached to a platoon is a mortar team. Where I should place them amongst the established codex is up for debate.

https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_18&products_id=173
     Gasp! Something not from Anvil Industry! From Mad Robot Miniatures who will also love me or hate me are their own brand of heavy weapon crew arms. I love variety and I am curious to see how these fit into the army when most of it will be from Anvil Industry. We shall see in due time.

https://puppetswar.eu/product.php?id_product=202

https://puppetswar.eu/product.php?id_product=201
     These two from Puppets War (another who may love or hate me) will be used for my "Ogryns". I need a name for them. Anyway, these guns look like they will make neat "Ripper"guns. This just leaves frag bombs. I may go with out of scale grenades or something along those lines.
    As usual, if you have a question or a comment, please leave a comment here or on the FB page The Officer Factory.

Post Historicon Report

     Historicon. This year's convention was held in Lancaster, PA instead of Fredericksburg, VA. Which was good for me since I live about an hour away from Lancaster. More like 45 minutes.

     Despite a snafu which delayed my entry by a few minutes, it went well. Set up took a while due to the size of the game which to be honest was WAY too big and that 4 out of the six players were new. My fault.

     I am a member of the H.A.W.K.S. (Harford Area Weekly KreigspeilerS) and we have a room all to ourselves; pretty sweet. In the past 3 years, they've always put me in the back but this yer, I was front and center right there by the door and drew lots of wondering and curious eyes. As an emissary to the HAWKS and to Dust, I think I did a good job.

     Anyway, the first game of the day was  game of Dust 1947. A massive 250 AP game of Axis vs Allies. The gentleman photos here is a client of mine as well as a huge Dust fan and a friend of mine; Paul Steinert. He seemed to enjoy helping the 4 new players as we had a gentleman who came all the way from Colorado just to field his marines. Despite not finishing the game, it was clear that the axis with their vehicles and heroes were beginning to overwhelm the allies. This also is due to the fact that I do not have that many heroes and vehicles for the Allies. Oh well. Always next convention to get it right.

          After a quick clean-up and a long reset, it was time for my staple of these HMGS (Historical Miniature Wargame Society) Eastern division meets, my own gundam game. I created the rules and bought the models and terrain and such. Whew. It gets EXPENSIVE! Anyway, the rules are called Mobile Suit Gundam: The Gravity Front and this battle is about a force of Principality of Zeon trying to break through an Earth Federation Ground Forces unit that is to keep the Zeons surrounded and bombed to oblivion!

     After 4 turns, time was up and the Zeke's won. 

My thoughts on the event? Despite ongoing renovations and the SNAFU, it went pretty well. The gundam game was a bit of a drag due to the fact that I never encountered someone who never heard of the series. It usually draws a decent crowd but this year only had 2 players.
     The Dust game as mentioned earlier, was too large but everyone had fun. I may return to Fall-in in November with these 2 games again and maybe even my own Muv-Luv game but that is another story for another time.