If you are reading the blog and wondering about what vehicles to get, perhaps no more than two, in order to try a bit of Winter of '79 for yourself, then I suggest you take a look at Ellis Replicas for inspiration.
Ellis produce some really stunning 1/60 (around 25mm) replica British Army and security forces vehicles/AFVs, permanently mounted on textured bases. Like this Shorland Armoured Patrol Car and Humber 'Pig' APC in the picture above.
I dunno. There's just something about the groupings I personally gained inspiration from, and led me to start collecting a wider range of British Army vehicles in 20mm than just those more commonly associated with the Cold War. In turn this widened the initial scope of my Winter of '79 collection.
These mini dioramas allowed me to easily envision the likes of the Humber Pig and GRP Land Rover pair or the Shorland Armoured Patrol Car and Humber 'Pig' on patrol somewhere in the West Midlands, on the welsh border, or on the streets of Tooting Broadway. Small scale skirmish scenarios screamed at me from the images, which I will be bringing to life this year.
So, if you want to know where to begin with something like Winter of '79, then the Shorland, Humber Pig and two bricks or even a full Section of British Infantry; and you have your Government forces. Add a GRP Land Rover together with a third brick or a command/specialist element and you have a versatile tabletop force fit for any number of small actions. Then at some stage maybe tack on an SAS brick, a Westland Scout or Gazelle and Ambridge is yer oyster!
Cheers
Mark
Pedant Alert - The SAS had Troops and Patrols, us Grunts had Bricks and Platoons, the brick being for street patrols which the sass didn't do much of, they tended to out in the bondoo of bandit country...a brick having four corners...yes I can hear Ronnie Barker trying to make a joke there!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
Hugh
Nice stuff- Hobby den have just released a nice Shorland- have you seen one yet?
ReplyDeleteHi Hugh. Not pedant at all. Thanks for the correction. Feel free to jump in anytime!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pete (SP). LOL! You've pre-emptied my follow up post tomorrow, which looks at the availability of Shorlands for 20mm gaming!
Cheers
Mark
LOL sorry, I'll look forward to the update.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
I've been following the blog for a while and great post. I've always thought the humber pig and armoured landrovers used in NI were cool items.
ReplyDeleteHave you experience with these minitures for NI vehicles? http://modelshopbelfast.com/index.php/model-kits.html?cat=85 Particularly the flying pig or land rovers?
Cheers and hope for more great posts. :)
Hi Jack
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I've not dealt with the Model Shop Belfast as the models are all from BW Models and I bought straight from them. I do own their Humber Pig (no screens) and a couple of the GRP armoured Land Rovers. I was disappointed by their finish which totally surprised me as to how poor it was. The general fit of body parts - eg the separate back of the vehicles was also poor.
Barry at BW was really good and sent replacement parts but it just seemed I was swopping one problem for another. So I started to scratchbuilt replacement parts, when I became unwell and unable to complete the models.
A year later, and I feel ready to take on the challenge.
Cheers
Mark
Pedants corner part II....out of sheer idle curiosity, was BONDOO a typo, shorthand for boondocks or a UK version of boondocks from a different - colonial perhaps - source?
ReplyDeleteI know, I know, I'll try to get out more, perhaps to buy four candles
Cheers, New Years to All
Maff