Rhodesian Light Infantry

[Ash]

Came across these during a bit of random net surfing, Rhodesian RLI troopies and Selous Scouts. From a company called under fire miniatures
Very nicely detailed minis (I even recognise some of the poses from pictures I've seen of actual soldiers), Only slight negative is they are 20mm, I'd have preferred 28mm as the camo pattern is hard enough at 1/35 scale!

I picked up RLI set 1, RLI 2 & Selous scout 2. Each set has a different number of minis (?) but by mixing them around and pinching one of the scout models I've got three sticks, each with a leader (radio/FN), 2 X FN and an MAG (one is an RPK, but looks cool) plus three left over scouts (for doing test paintjobs)

Here's where they are at, cleaned, sanded, based and some primer (even managed to get my smallest drill-bit into the FN barrels:










These were some of the 1/35; pouches are wrong, bit of a test that was never finished . . .:

[Ash]

Done with these troopies for the moment, not bothered with dotting eyes etc yet (need smaller brush).
These are the smallest little blokes I've tried to paint yet

Rhodesian Light Infantry (stick 1)



Rhodesian Light Infantry (stick 2)

[Ash]

Rhodesian Light Infantry (stick 3)



Selous Scouts



Size comparison with IG grunt:

[Codsticker]

I don't dot the eyes at 28mm so I don't see why you should have to dot them at 20mm. The models look very realistically proportioned for 20mm.

[IAMNOTHERE]

Really like the camo, its difficult to do at the best of times.

[Ash]

Start of the Air wing:

[IAMNOTHERE]

Mate the RLI never went heavy, always light.

Do you know the story's of the prison breaks?

[Ash]

Que? & nope . . . Go for it.

[IAMNOTHERE]

Not 100% clear on this but...

When one of their guys got captured on a recce in a neighbouring country they were going to go in and smash him out; what prompte me was I think he was their chopper pilot.

[Ash]

No European soldiers were captured in action during the war, other than Captain Martin Broadman (Selous Scouts) who was arrested at Lusaka airport in Zambia, whilst attempting to leave the country after trying to keep an eye on Joshua Nkomo's house.
From what I've read there were plans drawn up to raid the prison in which he was held, but never followed through. He was finally released from prison sometime in the 1980's.

Quite a few black African security force personnel were abducted from rural areas whilst on leave, I believe several were rescued during an external raid into Mozambique late '70's.

[IAMNOTHERE]

That's the one; the guys on the ground had to get reigned in before they caused a proper incident with the Jail break.

[Ash]

Another eBAy find




Rather chuffed, it's in absolutely mint condition, considering it's thirty years old this month. It even has the decal sheets still attached inside.
Came in a sealed bag, and from the look of it it's been in there since first bought.

[Ash]

Another one to add to the to-do pile:


And got some guns to try and build around, need to try and make five more of the .303 Browning:

[Ash]

Found this on eBay, box looks fairly ancient but all good inside:



And a final Alouette III



I'm quite surprised how easy it was to get hold of all the aircraft, I was under the impression these kits were as rare as hen's teeth!

[mannyuk99]

nice, looking smart

[Ash]

Over the last few weeks I've been picking up 1/72 Alouette III models from eBay, so far averaged about eight quid a piece inc p&p, so I'm rather glad I went the 20mm route with my little Fireforce as the one 1/48 scale Alouette III that I saw went for ₤46!! Also managed to find a Cessna 337 to convert into a Lynx (hopefully)


Picked up some pilots from Elhiem Figures
Got enough for a pilot for each aircraft + a commander for the K-car; just waiting for some 'gunner' figures to arrive to turn into techs.


They also do some very nice Brownings for the G-cars.

[Ash]

Started chucking some paint at the tiny little pilots . . . still waiting for the gunners to turn up.

[Sniper Kelly]

Really great stuff, keep up the good work!

[Ash]

Cheers SK. Finally made a start on these:



Going to need a fair amount of conversion; Made up the extra armour for the pilot's seats, then cutting the clear canopy to have doors open, replacing a couple of struts that will disappear with the doors, shifting the seats around and making up some weapon mounts. Air intake filters and the anti SAM exhaust shroud May take a while.

[Ash]

Picked up some basing materials and tarted up the bases:









Also got some more helicopter crew from the Platoon 20 range, from East Riding Miniatures.