Ambush Alley Force-On-Force: modern military forces blog

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Apart from the gunner who I didn't even start to paint yet, the ZPU-4 gun for my Iraqi army is done.

20mm metal kit by RH Liberation. Painted in Russian Green (Vallejo), washed with thinned down oil paint Viridian (Norma oil paints), chipped with Dark Angels Green (GW) and Scorched Brown (GW) as well as Saddle Brown (Vallejo). Tires are NATO black (Tamiya).
The whole model was dusted using MIG pigments and Tamiya weathering powder.

Not the best kit made by Rolf, but painted I do really like it.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Playing a lot of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising lately, I also did some more painting over the weekend.

I have finished the first of three mechanized infantry squads for the Chinese PLA (people's liberation army).
These will face my USMC (in woodland) for a fictional campaign called "battle for Skira" which is based upon the FPS game made by Codemasters.

Within the game the PLA is presented with some of the latest gear made by the Chinese military. As I only have a limited selection of models available, my miniatures will carry older stuff and gear, but I'll stick to the PC game as close as possible.



Detailed shots of the miniatures and squad loadout can be found in my blog.

[mdauben]

I have finished the first of three mechanized infantry squads for the Chinese PLA (people's liberation army).
These will face my USMC (in woodland) for a fictional campaign called "battle for Skira" which is based upon the FPS game made by Codemasters.

Very nice looking, Chris! Their woodlands camo looks fantastic and I notice you even have flag patches painted on their shoulders!? Your 20mm moderns collection seems to be expanding in all directions at once!

Are we going to see some Chinese 20mm AFV in the near future? I noticed S&S have pics of a couple really nice looking ones on their website.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Are we going to see some Chinese 20mm AFV in the near future?

Oh, yes. More than S&S offer though.

Type-92 IFV
Type-99 MBT
PTL-02 Wheeled Tank Destroyer
SX2190 Missile Launching vehicle
Mil MI-171V5 Armed Transport Helicopter
Z-9 Transport Helicopter
J-10 (in ground attack role) fighter aircraft
Hard-Car for General Han
and a couple of SAM and radar sites for mission objectives

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Six mini-dioramas have just been finished.

Apart from the QJC-88 HMG, these basicly are mission objectives for the "Battle For Skira" campaign, but can act like normal weapon teams following FoF rules. Better pics in a few hours, when paint and glue have dried completely.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Finished the first PLA weapon teams (mission objectives). Mostly RH Liberations minis from Iraqi or French range of miniatures, couple of S&S minis (PLA range) and three Elhiem West-Germans (Cold War range). Bases were done using washers in different diameters, stones, sand and various flock and foliage.

QJC-88 12,7mm heavy machine gun emplacement


HJ-8 "Red Arrow" ATGM tank hunter team waiting in hidden ambush position


Forward Artillery Observer (FAO) team with QBU-88 Marksman Rifle tracking enemy movement


QW-2 shoulder-launched SAM (surface to air missile) in wait for USMC invasion force helibourne troops



weapon teams so far....



more pics of other sides can be found in my blog (later, today).

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

My next PLA squad is on their bases. Hadn't much enthusiasm to paint infantry, so I grabbed S&S models' ZTZ99b tank and had a go.

This is early WIP, it is by no means finished!

Basic layer


first camo blotches in green


second series of camo blotches with a darker green and pin-wash around all panels


The wash needs to dry and that's it for today. I got to travel down to Munich as Children Of Bodom and Ensiferum are live on stage tonight.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Oh, what a day. Got out of bed late, but spent the day over my painting table. Result: ZTZ99b from S&S models has been finished *yahoo!*

I know Shaun has expected to see this way earlier but this tank was sitting on the shelf untouched for nearly 1 1/2 years. But not any longer.

ZTZ99b of the People's Liberation Army of China, adding its superior firepower to the battle for Skira (infantry NCO shown for scale)



left side

right side


front view


rear with drums and towing cable taken from a Revell T-72

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

top view with camo nets in the stowage bins


turret details, optics and QJC-88 machine gun


turret details, PLA badge, unit number (decals found at ebay HK) and ERA armour as well as the Laser-Dazzler Active Protection System


trackguard weathering with mud, rust and torn plates


Shaun, my kudos to you for making the Chinese PLA possible in 20mm. This is by far my favourite model of my whole collection now.

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Tutorial for PLA Tanks and vehicles:

http://smallscaleoperations.blogspot...inese-pla.html

And the ZSL-92 IFVs that were finished this morning:


Details of the weathering:




Side view:


Back view:


More details in my blog (see Signature below)

[Caiphas Cain]

Wow . This stuff is all great, you've made me wanna start . I just don't know where to . I want to make a modern (90's at the earliest) Russian force. What should I start with?

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

Wow . This stuff is all great, you've made me wanna start . I just don't know where to . I want to make a modern (90's at the earliest) Russian force. What should I start with?

With an idea of what Russian force.

There is airbourne units (VDV), there is regular army (both, infantry and mechanized infantry, the latter in wheeled BTR or tracked BMP sort of vehicles), or GRU special detachments as were used in Chechnya and Ossetia.
If your statement was related to the above shown stuff - these aren't Russian forces, but Chinese.

[Caiphas Cain]

With an idea of what Russian force.

There is airbourne units (VDV), there is regular army (both, infantry and mechanized infantry, the latter in wheeled BTR or tracked BMP sort of vehicles), or GRU special detachments as were used in Chechnya and Ossetia.
If your statement was related to the above shown stuff - these aren't Russian forces, but Chinese.

I know these are Chinese, I read posts .

I was thinking about regular mechanized force. The russian army still uses BTR-80s, right? What would be a good site to place a purchase?

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

So, Mechanized it's going to be...

Hm, I'd start with searching for BTR-80 ready-built and pre-painted diecast models. There is the cheap Altaya (IXO) diecasts or there are plastic ones from EasyModel (Trumpeter's diecast) - both are really good models in 1/72. I'd check ebay, there you get them for bargain.
For modern Russian forces don't miss
http://www.underfireminiatures.com/page13.htm
which is expanding their range fast.

[Caiphas Cain]

Thanks for the help . It's very appreciated .

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is a special operations unit of the United States Army that provides helicopter aviation support for general purpose forces and Special Operations Forces. Its missions have included attack, assault, and reconnaissance, and are usually conducted at night, at high speeds, low altitudes, and on short notice. The 160th SOAR is headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 160th SOAR (A) are also known as the Night Stalkers and their motto is "Night Stalkers Don't Quit".

Hi,
so I finally started with a my Nightstalkers helicopter fleet. As they took part in about every campaign since Grenada, they will be very useful for my FoF US Army and Special Forces. I am planning on a MH-6, AH-6j, MH-60K, MH-60L DAP and an CH-47E.

I began working on the smallest of them all: the "Little Birds". I used Tamiya kits, Italeri kits and lots of scratchbuilding to get me two variants:

MH-6 with its typical benchs for the SOF guys to sit upon (crew is SHQ if I remember correctly, SOF guys are Caesar plastics - unsure if they will be added)


MH-6 side shot, note the new tail and the FLIR turret as well as the added GPS antenna.


MH-6 front:


MH-6 details: note the support struts on the bench (scratchbuilt) and the mounted (scratchbuilt) FRIES (=FastRope Insertion and Extraction System) over the rear doors:

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

the armed "Little Bird":
AH-6j with M134 Miniguns (7,62mm) and M260 Hydra pods (2.75" FFAR) with seven shots each:


AH-6j side shots reveals details of the scratchbuilt weapons mount and the added details (tail, FLIR etc like above on my MH-6)

[donuter]

Man i love helicopter. MOAR!!!!!

[Farnsworth]

Hey Veritas - nice looking 'copters.

My copy of Force on Force turned up yesterday. It was a purchase inspired by two things; your blog and the 40% off price on Amazon. First impressions are very favourable.

I've not tried any sort of modern wargaming before, so I feel like a kid in a candy store - too many new shiny things to look at, not sure where to start.

Keep up the good work!

[VERITAS/AEQUITAS]

@Farnsworth
Just keep asking questions. I am glad wherever I can be of help.